OtherOther Economy

SNOPK: Slovakia Germany\'s 23rd Most Important Trade Partner

Bratislava, August 23 (TASR) - Germany is the largest customer of Slovak products, with Slovakia being in 23rd place among Germany's most important foreign business partners, TASR was told by spokesman of the Slovak-German Business and Industry Chamber (SNOPK) Markus Halt on Monday. At the same time, the trade balance between the two countries is roughly balanced, said… read more

Entrepreneurs Embrace Planned Abolition of Tax and Levy Exemptions

Bratislava, August 23 (TASR) - Entrepreneurs embrace the planned abolition of tax exemptions but suggest that public finances should also be consolidated via raising excise taxes, head of the Slovak Business Alliance (PAS) Robert Kicina told TASR on Monday. "We fully back rectification of the deformations in the system of taxes and levies, which nowadays include several… read more

Judicial Council Asks Gov\'t to Exempt Sector From 10% Salary Cuts (2)

Bratislava, August 23 (TASR) - The Judicial Council wants the Government to exempt judges and senior court officials from the planned 10-percent salary cuts because such a move would slow down trials and offer scope for corruption, Council chairman Stefan Harabin said in a statement on Monday. According to him, the initiative would only hurt low-earning senior court clerks… read more

Alojz Hlina Running for Mayor of Bratislava

Bratislava, August 23 (TASR) - Entrepreneur Alojz Hlina, who became well-known after stealing the Slovak state flag from Slovak National Party (SNS) headquarters in Bratislava and engaging in various types of political action, announced on Monday that he will stand for the post of mayor of Bratislava at the local elections in November. Hlina said that he will launch his… read more

Rosova Wants Education Minister Left Out of Professor Appoinments

Bratislava, August 23 (TASR) - SDKU-DS lawmaker Tatiana Rosova said on Monday that she has submitted to parliament an amendment to the Universities Act proposing that the Education Ministry should be excluded from the process of appointing university professors. Rosova, who expects the bill to be voted on in September, argues that the minister acts only as an intermediary… read more

Foreigners Outnumber Domestic Visitors for 1Q10 in Bratislava Region

Bratislava, August 22 (TASR) - The number of visitors to Bratislava (BSK) region in the first quarter of 2010 dipped by 0.4 percent to 144,424 year-on-year, the Slovak Statistics Office reported on Sunday. The total number includes 81,079 foreigners, reflecting a y-o-y increase of 7.4 percent. The lion's share came from the Czech Republic (22 percent), ahead of Germany… read more

Gasparovicova: Too Much Focus on Registered Same-sex Partnerships

Bratislava, August 22 (TASR) - The number of children becoming addicted to drugs every year is alarming, said Slovak First Lady Silvia Gasparovicova in a wide-ranging exclusive interview for TASR on Sunday. Gasparovicova thinks the possibility of decriminalisation of marijuana (part of coalition Freedom and Solidarity/SaS party's programme) should be reconsidered. She… read more

Dutch Foundation Sends Aid to Roma Community in Hlboke

Liptovsky Mikulas, August 22 (TASR) - The Dutch foundation Hulpprojekt Slowakije has in the past few days donated eight computers, plus clothes and toys as part of an aid project for the Roma community in Hlboke (Zilina region), village mayor Jan Blchac has said. "We are striving to help children facing poverty, discrimination or disease. Last year we focused our attention… read more

SACR: Portal www.slovakia.travel Viewed by 200,275 People in July

Bratislava, Augusta 21 (TASR) – A record of 200,275 visitors on the www.slovakia.travel website about Slovak tourism was registered in July 2010. This was the most viewings this webpage has received since it was set up in 2007, when the portal was viewed by 40,000 people. Out of the record number exceeding 200,000 visits, 58 percent was Slovaks. Polish visitors were… read more

Almost 6 million cubic metres of Gas Consumed in Slovakia in 2009

Bratislava, August 21 (TASR) - The consumption of natural gas in Slovakia in 2009 reached 5.9 million cubic metres, with the domestic gas output reaching 103 million cubic metres, according to a recent report released by the Economy and Construction Ministry. The ministry expects the domestic output to fall in long-term, if new deposits are not discovered. At any rate,… read more

Economy Ministry: Government Won\'t Build Pipeline Through Zitny Ostrov

Bratislava, August 20 (TASR) - The Government won't allow the Bratislava-Schwechat oil pipeline to be built through Zitny Ostrov, an area containing Slovakia's largest reserves of drinking-water, Economy and Construction Ministry spokesman Darius Bosjak told TASR on Friday. Bosjak was reacting to Agriculture, Environment and Regional Development Minister Zsolt Simon's… read more

Supreme Court Broadens Criminal Complaint Against Miklos

Bratislava, August 20 (TASR) - The Supreme Court has broadened its criminal complaint against Finance Minister Ivan Miklos (SDKU-DS) over what Supreme Court chairman Stefan Harabin describes as unlawful attempts to carry out an audit at the Court, the Supreme Court press department told TASR on Friday. "Miklos imposed an administrative fine on Supreme Court chairman Stefan… read more

Gasparovic: I Might Not Sign Competencies Bill

Bratislava, August 20 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic said on Friday that he isn't in favour of an amendment to the Competencies Act that would allow the re-emergence of the environment ministry as of September 1 and that he will discuss his objections with all those involved in order to decide whether to sign it into law. Speaking at a news conference, Gasparovic… read more

Entrepreneur Arrested for Embezzlement Involving Tender Procedures

Bratislava, August 19 (TASR) - Police have brought criminal charges against an entrepreneur – thus far unidentified – who allegedly engaged in embezzlement involving tenders worth €1.73 million at the Defence Ministry and enriched himself to the tune of at least €173,000 in the process. "The Special Prosecutor's Office has filed a motion before a pre-trial judge… read more

SP to Benefit by Millions of Euros from Social Insurance Bill

Bratislava, August 19 (TASR) - A Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family statement reaffirmed on Thursday that its amendment to the social insurance legislation will have everyone earning a taxable income - namely employees, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons - subject to social insurance payments. The bill introduces a common base for determining social insurance… read more