Recent rises in the prices of foodstuffs have the government concerned, so it is drawing up an array of measures aimed at mitigating the effects on citizens while also adopting measures that will curtail rapid price growth, Prime Minister Iveta Radičová told a press conference on Tuesday, February 22.
“The significant price rises mainly come down to developments on global markets. We do have a few options when it comes to responding to such developments,” said Radičová, as quoted by the TASR newswire. One of the moves that the government has already chosen and which it says is expected to bear early fruit is the abolition of a law on retail chains that was passed when former premier Robert Fico was in office.
Agriculture Minister Zsolt Simon also spoke about the issue. “In order to address the situation of those who are worst-off, a public tender to process 45,999 tonnes of grain is to be announced. The grain will be used to produce flour and pasta that will then be given away to those on the minimum subsistence allowance,” Simon announced. The costs incurred by the measure are to be covered by the EU.
The Economy Ministry is also set to contribute to the price-cutting drive. “Slovakia has the highest energy prices among the V4 countries [Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland] and the second-highest energy prices for industry in the whole of Europe. This is unparalleled; we can’t countenance it,” said Economy Minister Juraj Miškov. He blamed the energy prices for Slovak agriculture’s lack of competitiveness and high prices.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
