1. Introduction of euro as of January 1, 2009 at the rate of 30.126 SKK/EUR _______165.6
2. Court executors to be paid on basis of amount recovered from debtor, ____________69.2
not on basis of amount owed (amendment to Regulation
on Compensation for Court Executors)
3. Slovensko 21 modernization program, (short-term and mid-term reform _________55.6
plans in research and development, innovation, education, employment,
business environment, regulation and transparency)
4. Reduction of limits and rejection of contracts for purchase of in-patient __________40.1
care at 39 smaller hospitals on the part of health insurance companies
as of July 2008
5. Ratification of Lisbon Treaty in parliament (allows for simplified transfer ________29.2
of national powers to EU, strengthening of powers of national parliaments
and European Parliament, reduced number of commissioners and MEPs,
reduced weight for smaller states in voting, increased requirement
for qualified majority in other areas, possibility to leave EU)
6. General reduction in drug prices by 7.4% due to stronger domestic currency ______23.1
(projected savings of Sk900 million)
7. Tender for issue of vacant wireless mobile frequencies by Telecom Bureau ________23.0
(winning bid submitted by Orange Slovensko for Sk40 million)
8. Amendment to the Act on the Slovak Land Fund (publication of all contracts, ______21.0
including past contracts, on Internet)
9. Abolition of tax on Liquefied Petroleum Gas serving as fuel as of July 1, 2008 ______18.1
(until then tax was Sk4.29/liter – amendment to the Act on Consumer Taxes
on Mineral Oils)
10. School reform – new Education Act (70% or curriculum content set by state, ______9.2
30% by each school individually; cut in required hours; requirement
of two foreign languages; textbooks must be approved by Education Ministry;
home schooling allowed; maximum class sizes reduced; enrollment numbers
limited in 8-year secondary schools; stricter criteria for private school
financing; increased state power over nomination of school principals;
final year of nursery school free of charge)
11. Increase in value of food tickets provided to employees by employers ____________1.1
from Sk89 to Sk98 daily
12. Cut in reimbursement for use of private vehicle for business purposes __________-23.5
from Sk6.20 to Sk5.50 per kilometer
13. Proposal allowing developers to choose whether they will conform _____________-31,9
to the local zoning plan that was valid at time their application for a planning
permit was submitted, or whether they will abide by any new zoning plan
passed since then (proposed amendment to the Act on Zoning Plans
and the Building Code)
14. State subsidy of Sk91 million for the launch of the new sports channel (Trojky)___-46.9
on the public service Slovak Television network in 2008
15. Act on Inappropriate Conditions in Business Relations (greater regulation _______-61.1
of contracts between suppliers and customers; ban on contract conditions that
are very advantageous for one side with possible fines up to Sk10 million)
16. Press Act (universal right of reply even in cases the information published ______-72.4
was correct; fines of up to Sk150,000)
Source: INEKO, September 2008, www.ineko.sk
