OtherOther Economy

Kechnec-based Plant of Getrag Ford Transmissions Has New Chief

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - Getrag Ford Transmissions (GFT) on Thursday appointed Chris Hinton as the new director of its plant in the Kechnec industrial zone near Kosice, Karin Burgmer of GFT's communications department told TASR later in the day. Hinton took over from Bernard Maury, who retired at the end of 2009. "Hinton's experience in manufacturing engineering,… read more

Pociatek: We\'ve Declared €365.143 to Brussels for Social Enterprises

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - To date, Slovakia has declared as much as €365,143 with the European Commission to fund the so-called social enterprises launched last year by the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry. "Out of that total, €294.370 is sourced from the European Social Fund (ESF)," Finance Minister Jan Pociatek said in Parliament on Wednesday. However,… read more

Economy Ministry Rebuffs Claims of Worsening Business Conditions

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - The Economy Ministry is open to constructive dialogue and is always ready to receive input from experts concerning actual proposals and solutions. But, in light of repercussions of the crisis hitting the whole of Europe, it can't afford to waste time on "politically-motivated" disputes via the media. Thus reads a statement that ministry… read more

Coalition and Opposition Ally Forces to Pass Bill on Origin of Property

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - Both the Coalition and the Opposition on Thursday managed to team up in Parliament, passing the broadly-discussed bill on the origin of property disclosure with 112 votes into second reading and, at the same time, enabling legislation was passed (109 votes) entailing a constitutional amendment. Among those who voted against the amendment… read more

Former Premier to Observe Presidential Election Runoff in Ukraine

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - Former Slovak premier and Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) founder Jan Carnogursky told TASR on Thursday that he will be monitoring the presidential election runoff in Ukraine this Sunday as an observer of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano told TASR that the ministry is… read more

Beltz Becomes US Steel VP for Commercial Operations in Europe

Pittsburgh/Kosice, February 4 (TASR) - Robert J. Beltz has become the US Steel Corporation's new vice president-commercial for Europe, with president of U.S. Steel Kosice (Slovakia) George F. Babcoke (who is also senior vice-president for European operations) as his immediate superior, TASR learnt on Thursday. Beltz is to replace Peter J. Alvarado, who has returned to… read more

Public Said to Underrate Possible Complications of Novel Flu Infection

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - Medical workers and people at risk are underestimating the danger of serious complications brought about by the influenza pandemic given the low numbers of people at risk who have received inoculation against the virus, the Public Health Office (UVZ) said on Thursday. Inoculation by Panenza vaccine, which Slovakia purchased from French… read more

Caplovic: We\'re Doing Everything to Ensure Steady Flow of EU Money

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - The Government is doing everything it can to ensure a systematic flow of eurofunds from Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister Dusan Caplovic said during Question Hour in Parliament on Thursday. Caplovic was responding to a question by opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) MP Martin Fronc, who wanted to know what will the Government do to avoid… read more

Fico: First-class Roads Soon to Be Tolled Again

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - After a break of more than a month, the first-class roads in Slovakia could soon be tolled again. This is according to Prime Minister Robert Fico, who made the announcement following his meeting with road transporters, representatives of the National Highway Company (NDS), road toll system provider SkyToll and Transport Minister Lubomir Vazny… read more

Fico Wants SAV Develoopment Strategy to Focus on Human Dimension

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico thinks the Slovak Society Development Strategy – being developed by the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) – has to have a more social and human dimension rather than focusing on economic matters, he said in Bratislava on Thursday. "The focus has to be put mainly on a person, and on how we imagine their… read more

RUZ: Business Environment in Slovakia Exacerbates

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - Business conditions in Slovakia have taken a sharp turn for the worse due to dysfunctional anti-crisis policies, low-quality legislation and limited social dialogue, said Republican Union of Employers (RUZ) President Marian Jusko on Thursday. According to Jusko (former governor of the Slovak National Bank/NBS), the economy's consolidation… read more

Kalinak: No Real Explosives Put In Luggage for Training Anymore

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - Slovak Police continues with the practice of sniffer dog trainings, however the procedure where an actual explosives sample is put into travellers' luggage has been banned, said Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak at a press conference in Bratislava on Thursday. The move follows an incident last month wherein an unwitting passenger… read more

Kalinak: Number of Victims on Roads Fell by 37.8% in 2009 Year-on-Year

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - The number of road-accident fatalities in 2009 fell by 37.8 percent year-on-year to 347, according to police statistics presented by Interior Minister Robert Kalinak and Police Corps Vice-chairman Stanislav Jankovic at a press conference on Thursday in Bratislava. "Last year (2009) was one that exceeded our expectations," said Kalinak,… read more

Tothova Wants Reintroduction of Mobile Courts to Prosecute Rowdy Fans

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - LS-HZDS MP Katarina Tothova has proposed the establishment of so-called mobile courts to deal with vandalism cases at sport venues, with Parliament passing her proposal to second reading on Thursday. Via this Penal Code amendment, Tothova aims to prosecute vandals and individuals who behave inappropriately at sporting events right on the… read more

LS-HZDS Reissues Call for Easier Unemployment Benefit Conditions

Bratislava, February 4 (TASR) - People who have been insured against unemployment for two out of the past three years and lose their job should be entitled to receive the benefit, claims LS-HZDS party, submitting their amending proposal to the Government's amendment to law on employment services on Thursday. "The situation on the labour market is not stable, so that we're… read more