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Government Red Lights Creation of New Tourism University

Bratislava, September 8 (TASR) - Government on Wednesday rejected the application of private university International University Unicentrum to teach tourism in Piestany (Trnava region), Prime Minister Iveta Radicova announced on Wednesday. Listed among the reasons for rejection is that Unicentrum was granted accreditation based on a system which has been found wanting… read more

Growth in Slovakia\'s Industrial Output Slowed in July to 16.82 percent Y-o-Y

Bratislava, September 8 (TASR) - Slovakia's industrial output rose by 16.82 percent on the year, compared with annual growth of 23.52 percent in June, the Slovak Statistics Office said on Wednesday. Output was largely driven by the key manufacturing segment, which was up by 21.5 percent, and a 0.3-percent rise in the delivery of electricity, steam, natural gas and cold… read more

Mandate and Immunity Committee Backs No-confidence Motion in Sulik

Bratislava, September 8 (TASR) - Members of the parliamentary mandate and immunity committee on Wednesday approved a Smer-SD proposal to dismiss Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) from his post. The proposal passed largely due to the absence of several coalition MPs, with Smer and fellow opposition Slovak National Party (SNS) MPs voting… read more

NBS Blames Crisis for Decline in Banks Profits in Report

Bratislava, September 8 (TASR) - Last year saw the global economic crisis spilling over into Slovakia's banking sector, with the profits of domestic banks sinking by 50 percent year-on-year to €250 million, partly as an adverse effect of euro-adoption, wrote the Slovak central bank (NBS) in its 'Report on the State of Financial Market for 2009', which was approved in Parliament… read more

FinMIn: Deficit Will Exceed €5 bn and Reach 7.8 percent of GDP in 2010

Bratislava, September 8 (TASR) - The current estimate for the this year's public-finance deficit stands at 7.8 percent of GDP, meaning that it will be €1.403 billion higher than the originally-planned 5.5 percent, reaching €5.109 billion, the Finance Ministry stated in its report on the state and development of public finances, which was approved by the Government on Wednesday.… read more

Tax Changes to Bring In Additional €600 Million to State Budget

Bratislava, September 7 (TASR) - Planned tax changes and non-tax incomes are estimated to bring an additional €598 million into the state coffers next year, amounting to 0.9 percent of GDP, reports the Finance Ministry on Tuesday. The ministry representatives added that the impact of the prepared changes to the deduction system is still being calculated and is due to… read more

BSK to Compensate Bereaved after Massacre in Devinska Nova Ves

Bratislava, September 7 (TASR) - Chairman of Bratislava regional self-administration Pavol Freso (SDKU-DS) said in the Bratislava borough of Devinska Nova Ves on Tuesday that the regional government will provide financial support to the bereaved after the massacre that took place in the borough on August 30. The compensation will reach €300 for each of gunman's seven… read more

Miklos: EU Will Try to Change Our Minds on Greece, But We Won\'t Budge

Brussels, September 7 (TASR-CORRESPONDENT) - Finance Minister Ivan Miklos's meeting with EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn in Brussels on Tuesday showed that the European Union isn't laying down its arms in response to the Slovak Government's decision not to provide Greece with a bilateral loan and it will probably try to change it. The Slovak… read more

Petition Committee Presents Signatures Against Megacasino

Bratislava, September 7 (TASR) - Eleonora Mackova, chair of the Petition Committee against the building of a megacasino in Bratislava - a project promoted by former finance minister Jan Pociatek - presented a public petition with 125,640 signatures to Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik (SaS) on Tuesday. Sulik pledged to do his best to have the petition debated in Parliament.… read more

Gov\'t Wants Makeshift VAT Rate at 20 Percent as of Next Year

Bratislava, September 6 (TASR) - As of next year, Slovakia's VAT tax rate will go up from the current 19-percent flat rate to 20 percent, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said after the Coalition Council session on Monday. Radicova added that the lowered VAT rates on books and medicaments won't change and will stay on 10 percent. The VAT rate is planned to be higher only… read more

Employers: Radicova Promised Not to Raise Levies Long Term

Bratislava, September 6 (TASR) - Prime Minister Iveta Radicova has made a promise to us that the Government won't raise social contributions long term, head of the Association of Employers' Unions (AZZZ) Tomas Malatinsky said following his meeting with Radicova on Monday. "The overall objective is to cut contributions. Measures that may raise some items within contributions… read more

Expert Commission Recommends Removing Statue of Prince Svatopluk

Bratislava, September 6 (TASR) - The much-discussed statue of the 9th-century ruler of Great Moravia Prince Svatopluk on the courtyard of Bratislava Castle should be removed from its current location, according to the conclusions of an expert commission that has assessed the statue from the historical and artistic point of view and presented its findings at a press conference… read more

Slovak Wines and Mineral Waters Attract Interest at EXPO 2010

Shanghai, September 4 (TASR correspondent) - Slovakia's mineral waters, wines and glass products have attracted the largest number of investors to the Slovak exposition at the World EXPO in the Chinese city of Shanghai, TASR learnt on Saturday. General Commissioner of Slovakia's representation at the event Ivana Magatova said that several contracts have to this day been… read more

Slovaks Arrested in Africa Have Been Released

Addis Ababa/Bratislava, September 3 (TASR) - The Slovak citizens who were seized in the Central African Republic (CAR) by the army on Wednesday have already been released, Slovak ambassador to Ethiopia Milan Dubcek told TASR on Friday. This information was confirmed by Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Lubos Schwarzbacher. According to him, the arrest of the seven Slovaks… read more

Lady Ashton Visits Slovak Exhibition at World EXPO in Shanghai

Shanghai/Bratislava, September 2 (TASR) - The Slovak exhibition at the World EXPO in the Chinese city of Shanghai was visited by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policies and European Commission Vice-chair Lady Catherine Ashton on August 31, the press department of the Foreign Affairs Ministry has told TASR. During her visit, Lady Ashton was interested… read more