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Radicova: NKU to Look into Commissions Given to Hayek Consulting

Bratislava, September 24 (TASR) - The coalition partners agree that there are certain doubts when it comes to the state commissions that were awarded to private company Hayek Consulting, which was co-owned by Economy Ministry State Secretary Martin Chren (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) and Transport Ministry State Secretary Ivan Svejna (Most-Hid), but they don't agree on what action… read more

FinMin: Tax and Levy Incomes Should Be Higher Than Expected

Bratislava, September 24 (TASR) - Public-administration tax and levy incomes should increase by €108 million this year, which represents 0.3 percent of GDP, when compared to predictions made three months ago, according to the current tax prognosis published by the Finance Ministry on Friday. According to Finance Minister Ivan Miklos, total incomes should rise by €771… read more

Analysts Increase Estimate for 2010 GDP Growth to 4.1 percent

Bratislava, September 24 (TASR) - The bank analysts that are regularly approached by Slovakia's central bank (NBS) for their predictions have increased their estimates for the country's GDP growth in 2010 to 4.1 percent year-on-year in fixed prices, TASR learnt on Friday. The latest assessment represents a 0.1-percentage point increase on the figure expected in August.… read more

Kazimir: Consolidation Package Cynical, Hitting Hardest Less Well-off

Bratislava, September 23 (TASR) - The Government's consolidation package is cynical, as it will mainly affect the most vulnerable groups of society, Opposition Smer-SD MP and former Finance Ministry state secretary Peter Kazimir said at a press conference on Thursday. "The only good news is that we have the budget (for 2011)," said Kazimir. The opposition lawmaker… read more

Analyst: \'Hayek Group Case\' May Result in Coalition Horse Trading

Bratislava, September 23 (TASR) - The 'Hayek Group case' may result in some horse trading within the governing Coalition or cause a rupture, political analyst Rastislav Toth told TASR on Thursday. "If Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) chairman Richard Sulik doesn't receive anything interesting [in compensation for sacking his nominee], he will want to keep him [Economy Ministry… read more

Miklos: Despite Bad Legacy in Finance We Produced a Good Budget

Bratislava, September 23 (TASR) - Despite the difficult situation which the current Government inherited from the previous government of Robert Fico (Smer-SD), the Government has succeeded in preparing a good budget proposal for 2011 on time, said Slovak finance Minister Ivan Miklos (SDKU-DS) at a press conference in Bratislava on Thursday. "A good (budget) because it… read more

Svatopluk Equestrian Statue to Remain in Place

Bratislava, September 22 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik, who earlier this year initiated a commission to judge the wisdom of having the 'King' Svatopluk equestrian statue in the courtyard of Bratislava Castle, announced his decision on Wednesday to leave the statue in place. Sulik said that the statue will remain in place at least until the completion of… read more

Governments OKs Higher Tax on Tobacco; Envisages Plus €16m in 2011

Bratislava, September 22 (TASR) - Government on Wednesday gave a green light to the planned increase in the consumer-tax rate on tobacco products. This move is expected to bring an extra €15.9 million into the state budget next year, and another €21.2 million in 2012. The relevant law has been decided to be amended in view of meeting the requirement by the European… read more

Dzurinda Meets Lavrov and Clinton to Discuss Foreign Policy Issues

New York, September 22 (TASR) - Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday, TASR was told by the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry's press department on Wednesday. The two officials discussed energy co-operation. "We'll certainly come to an agreement… read more

Next Year\'s State Budget Deficit Set at €3.8 bn (UPDATE)

Bratislava, September 22 (TASR) - The state budget should feature revenues on €13.1 billion and expenditures €16.936 billion next year, meaning that the deficit will be €3.836 billion, according to the budget proposal published by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday. The essential parameters of Slovakia's state budget for 2011, okayed by the Coalition Council late… read more

Government: VAT Rate to Rise to 20 percent as of Next Year

Bratislava, September 22 (TASR) - The basic VAT rate will rise on a temporary basis from the current 19-percent flat rate to 20 percent as of next year, while the 6-percent VAT rate for produce sold from farms will be abolished, the Government decided on Wednesday. The VAT increase is part of the Government package designed to restore the health of public finances. The… read more

Trade Unions Set Country-wide Protest Against Government Package

Bratislava, September 22 (TASR) - A country-wide protest by trade unions against the Government's austerity package will take place in Bratislava on October 12, the presidium of the Trade Union Confederation (KOZ) decided on Wednesday. According to KOZ spokesman Otto Ewiak, individual unions will organise protests in several regions of Slovakia on the same day. KOZ will… read more

Radicova: Fines for Breaking Language Act Remain, But Limited Scope

Bratislava, September 22 (TASR) - The fines related to the State Language Act that were introduced by the former government will most likely remain in place, albeit with reduced scope, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) told journalists on Wednesday, referring to the Coalition Council session on Tuesday. "There's an agreement that as for public information, information… read more

Labour Unions Ready to Stage Protests Over Tax Hikes

Bratislava, September 21 (TASR) - The labour unionists plan to organise protests against the upcoming hikes in taxes, with the Confederation of Labour Unions (KOZ) executives to decide on what kind of protests will take place on their Wednesday's (September 22) session. This is because the labour unionists failed to reach any agreement with the Government at the Tuesday's… read more

Minister Lipsic to Enhance Security at Football Stadiums

Bratislava, September 21 (TASR) - The Interior Ministry plans to enhance security at the football stadiums and expel hooligans that threaten decent people, Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic (Christian Democratic Movement/KDH) said after holding talks with the Union of League Clubs representatives on Tuesday. To this end, Lipsic plans to tighten up a number of regulations.… read more