European Union, page 21
News on the European Union
NGOs urge public to educate themselves on migrant issues
MOST top Slovak politicians have expressed their opposition to the European Commission’s proposal for the quotas on distributing migrants from the Mediterranean region across all EU member states. Non-governmental organisations accuse political leaders of distorting what the EC actually wants us to do.
People disagree with accepting refugees
SLOVAKIA should not accept the European Union’s plan to take refugees from the Middle East and North Africa.
Education Ministry changes law in response to EC criticism
THE EDUCATION Ministry has prepared changes to the Education Act with the aim to improve education for children from a socially disadvantaged environment.
Slovakia reduced CO2 emissions the most in EU
SLOVAKIA reported the best results in reducing the CO2 emissions from fossil fuels combustion, according to the Eurostat data.
Statisticians will not pay
THE SLOVAK Statistics Office (ŠÚ) does not have to return €5.397 million to the European Union funds for the alleged flaws in the project on, among other things, creating a new website or the introduction of a new vote-counting system.
Hollande to attend V4 prime ministers’ summit June 19
French President Francois Hollande will attend a summit of the Visegrad Four (V4) countries’ prime ministers in Bratislava on June 19 after the government passed a proposal for extending the summit on June 10.
Energy Union head Šefčovič pushes efficiency
ENERGY efficiency has become a new, essential source of energy for the EU, said European Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič at a seminar entitled Slovakia amid Energy Efficiency in the EU Context in Bratislava on June 4.
EC warns Slovakia of future pension problems
IN ITS 2015 Ageing Report, the European Commission is raising doubts about the sustainability of Slovakia's future pension system.
Prime Minister Fico leaves for Moscow talks
SLOVAK Prime Minister Robert Fico has left for Moscow on June 1, with transit of Russian gas via Slovakia, crude oil supplies, spent nuclear fuel and the closure of the cyclotron case from the era of Vladimír Mečiar being among the official topics to be discussed.
Kaliňák: Migrant redistribution proposal is hypocritical
IN A TELEVISED political talk show O 5 minút 12 (Five Minutes to Twelve), Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák described the European Commission’s migration proposal as “insincere, hypocritical, and purpose-built”.
Government points to Roma incest
THE EUROPEAN Commission (EC) has launched a legal action against Slovakia for discrimination against Roma pupils, citing the high number of Roma in special schools. The government attempted to defend itself by claiming that many Roma children are mentally disabled and alleging that this is because they are the products of incest, the Sme daily reported on May 26, quoting the EC’s official document.
Slovakia to take migrants, opposes resettlement scheme
THE EUROPEAN Commission has published a specific proposal for the resettlement of migrants, with an eye towards alleviating the burden of Greece and Italy, the two southern countries that have faced long-term influx of migrants from across the Mediterranean Sea.
Bratislava region sixth richest in the EU, beating Vienna and Prague
IN 2013, the region surrounding the Slovak capital was the sixth richest in the European Union, trailing only places like London, Luxembourg, Brussels or Hamburg. Even Prague – ending ninth – and Vienna (12th) were worse off, according to Eurostat.
EC to look into stripped support for producers of power from RES
THE removal of support for producers of electricity from renewable energy sources (RES) will be investigated by the European Commission, as has been confirmed at talks between Slovak energy producers in Brussels, said Slovak Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPI) acting director Pavel Šimon.
President Kiska supported EU enlargement in Riga
SLOVAKIA fully supports the enlargement of the European Union, Slovak President Andrej Kiska said at the Eastern Partnership and EU summit in Riga, Latvia. He added that the vision of possible EU membership is “crucial from the point of view of implementing reforms in the due countries”.
EC recommends focus on tax, social policies
THE COLLECTION of taxes, long-term joblessness and the business environment are areas where Slovakia still has much to improve, the European Commission stated in country-specific recommendations issued in mid May.
Kiska: Slovakia will never recognise Crimea annexation
SLOVAKIA will never recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea, the country’s president Andrej Kiska said after meeting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during his official visit to Kiev on May 20.
Lajčák cuts ribbon of new building of Slovakia’s Representation to EU
FOREIGN and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák officially opened the temporary building of the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the European Union in Brussels on May 18.
Fico opposes EU quotas
MORE than 300 “international displaced persons in clear need of international protection” could come to Slovakia as part of a European resettlement scheme if the EU approves a new quota-based strategy for dealing with immigrants presented on May 13 by the European Commission. However, the Slovak government has expressed its strong opposition to the plan.
Kaliňák’s cynicism
HUNDREDS of thousands of migrants will again set sail across the Mediterranean this summer, fleeing war and poverty in North Africa.
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- The president and the stolen fur: A stage drama that traces the wartime fates of Slovakia’s Jews
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- News digest: PM Fico presses Brussels, Minister Blanár calls time-out on Russia sanctions
- Slovakia’s bet on Russian gas via Turkey hits a wall
- Slovakia ranks near bottom in EU prosperity. What went wrong? More articles ›
