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Merkel: No Doubt Slovakia Will Be Responsible Partner

Berlin, August 25 (TASR) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has no doubts about Slovakia and its new Government being a responsible partner in the future, she said after meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova in Berlin on Wednesday. Merkel said this in connection to Slovakia's refusal to provide its share of a loan to Greece, a step that she repeatedly expressed… read more

Zitnanska Presents Draft of Judges Act Amendment

Bratislava, August 25 (TASR) - Making court rulings public, selecting judges exclusively via transparent selection procedures and abolishing bonuses for judges feature among a proposed amendment to the Judges Act that Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska presented on Wednesday. "These measures constitute possibly the largest opening up of the judiciary to public scrutiny,"… read more

SDKU MP Rosova Running for Mayor of Bratislava Old Town

Bratislava, August 25 (TASR) - SDKU-DS MP Tatiana Rosova has become the joint candidate of four centre-rigtht parties SDKU-DS, the Christian Democrats (KDH), the Civic Conservative Party (OKS) and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) for the post of mayor of Bratislava Old Town, TASR learnt on Wednesday. "An agreement has been reached between these centre-right parties. We are… read more

Gasparovic Appoints Mitrik as New Intelligence Service Head (UPDATE)

Bratislava, August 25 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic on Wednesday appointed Karol Mitrik as the new director of the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS). The nominee of Premier Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS) replaced Jozef Magala, who was nominated by Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) government four years ago. Mitrik was introduced at the ceremony by Transport Minister and First… read more

Most Jobs Up for Grabs in Bratislava Region, Kosice Region in Last Place

Bratislava, August 25 (TASR) - People in Bratislava region are most likely to be able to find a job, as they can choose from the largest number of vacancies, with Kosice region at the other end of the list, the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Office (UPSVaR) announced on Wednesday. A total of 1,642 jobs were available in and around Bratislava in July, with Nitra… read more

Figel: Fico\'s Legacy in Public Finances Unsustainable

Bratislava, August 24 (TASR) – According to Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) chairman Jan Figel, the Wednesday’s Coalition Council confirmed the bad situation of the public finances. "The legacy, which remained after (former Prime Minister Robert) Fico’s government in the sphere of public finances, is unsustainable. Measures are inevitable for stabilisation and… read more

Radicova to Meet Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday

Bratislava, August 24 (TASR) - Mutual economic co-operation and current economic and financial issues in European politics will be the main topics of discussion between Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday. Radicova will start her one-day visit to Germany by meeting the country's President Christian Wulff. They… read more

Krajcer Plans Changes in Public Media as of January 2012

Bratislava, August 24 (TASR) - The Culture and Tourism Ministry announced plans on Tuesday to rewrite the way in which public-service media Slovak Television (STV) and Slovak Radio (SRo) are financed by the end of next year, describing the changes as one of the ministry's priorities. Minister Daniel Krajcer told TASR in an interview that the changes will include the replacement… read more

Defence Ministry Paid for Training That May Never Have Taken Place

Bratislava, August 24 (TASR) - The Defence Ministry signed contracts for lectures and consulting services between 2007-10 that were worth more than Sk1 million (€33,000), but there's no proof that the services were in fact delivered, Defence Ministry spokesman Richard Sumeghy said on Tuesday. The so-called media training courses were provided by a certain Lubica Mizickova.… read more

SE: Completion Work on Blocks at Mochovce Nuclear Plant Continues

Bratislava, August 24 (TASR) - Electricity-generator Slovenske Elektrarne (SE) is continuing work aimed at completing the 3rd and 4th blocks of the nuclear power plant at Mochovce (Nitra region) in line with the schedule, Economy Minister Juraj Miskov (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) learnt during his meeting with SE representatives on Monday. "The aim of the first meeting… read more

Employers Disapprove of Raising Levies to Consolidate Public Finances

Bratislava, August 23 (TASR) - Employers are opposed to the Government's plan to consolidate public finances via, inter alia, raising levies, Martin Hostak of the Republic's Union of Employers (RUZ) told TASR in a statement on Monday. "An additional burden placed on labour would complicate dealing with the society-wide problem of unemployment," reads the statement.… read more

Hrusovsky: Learning About Gov\'t Policies from Media Unacceptable

Bratislava, August 23 (TASR) - The planned changes in the tax and deduction system as announced by Finance Minister Ivan Miklos (SDKU-DS) and Labour Minister Jozef Mihal (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) last week will be the focus of the Coalition Council session on Tuesday, TASR learnt on Monday. The joint press conference of Miklos and Mihal last week provoked criticism… read more

Statistics Office to Cut Budget by 30 percent in 2011

Bratislava, August 23 (TASR) - The Statistics Office plans to its budget by almost 30 percent next year to €20.8 million, Statistics Office spokesperson Eva Kelemenova told TASR on Monday. Within the planned austerity measures, the Stats Office is set to cut salary expenditures, which will be borne out in proportional staff reductions. At the same time, all planned… read more

Harabin Visits Jerusalem, Meets Israeli Supreme Court Chair

Jerusalem, August 23 (TASR) - Supreme Court chairman Stefan Harabin in Jerusalem on Monday apprised his Israeli counterpart Dorit Beinisch of the planned legislative changes involving the Slovak judiciary, the Supreme Court Press Department told TASR on the same day. "I'm pleased that our friends in Israel are well informed about the course of events in Slovakia," said… read more

PSA Peugeot-Citroen Resumes Production in Trnava

Trnava, August 23(TASR) - The Slovak subsidiary of French car-maker PSA Peugeot-Citroen has resumed two-shift production following a three-week shutdown for a company-wide holiday, a spokesperson told TASR on Monday. This week's afternoon shifts will last an extra hour in order to satisfy customer demand. The PSA unit in Trnava, which produces the Peugeot 207… read more