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Slovakia to Take Over V4 Presidency as of July 1

Bratislava, June 9 (TASR) - During its upcoming one-year presidency of the Visegrad Four group, Slovakia wants to continue the successes achieved by previously presiding countries, according to the V4 presidency programme proposal that was approved by the Slovak Government on Wednesday. Slovakia will take over the rotating presidency as of July 1, meaning that it will… read more

Preliminary Estimate Puts Flood Damage in May and June at €267 mn

Bratislava, June 9 (TASR) - The damage to property caused by the floods that hit Slovakia in May and early June is estimated to total €267.8 million, including €156.8 million and €73 million in the hardest hit regions of Kosice and Nitra, respectively, the Environment Ministry told the Government in a report on Wednesday. The estimates are preliminary, as many flood-affected… read more

Government Wants Cuts in Money to Parties for Votes in Elections

Bratislava, June 9 (TASR) - Political parties, movements and coalitions should receive lower state contributions for the votes that they are given in parliamentary elections, the Government decided on Wednesday, approving amendments to the Act on Political Parties and Movements and the Act on Parliamentary Elections. At the same time, this year's contribution for parties… read more

Survey: Corruption Now Ranks as Biggest Problem for Businesses

Bratislava, June 8 (TASR) - The four most intense problems in the Slovak business environment are the same as four years ago, according to a Slovak Business Alliance (PAS) survey carried out by analytical unit TREND Analyses as part of the Report on the State of Business Environment in Slovakia. Like four years ago, businessmen see the poor quality of law enforcement,… read more

Fico: First €6.03 Million Going to People Affected by Floods

Bratislava, June 9 (TASR) - People most affected by floods in late May/early June should receive financial aid from the state, Slovak Premier Robert Fico said at a press conference Tuesday, promising that €6.03 million will be distributed in the first round from the €25 million aid package allocated for humanitarian aid by the Government. The resources meant for helping… read more

Election 2010: Polling Not Endangered in Any Flooded Village

Bratislava, June 8 (TASR) - Nowhere in the villages hit by the recent floods is the situation so bad that it could inhibit the parliamentary elections from taking place on June 12, the Central Election Commission (UVK) records clerk Livia Skultetyova told TASR on Tuesday. "So far, we have no information about elections not taking place," she said, adding that all involved… read more

SkyToll and Q-Free Entangled in Legal Battlle

Bratislava, June 8 (TASR) - A dispute between electronic road-toll system provider SkyToll and Q-free, one of the contractors involved in the project, will end up in court, as Bratislava District Court has registered a damage compensation lawsuit filed between the two companies. The lawsuit was filed on May 11, 2010. "The court is taking initial steps and procedures in… read more

Only 6.3 percent of Candidates Ready to Disclose Wealth More Fully

Bratislava, June 8 (TASR) - Only 6.3 percent of all the candidates of the 18 political parties (each party has up to 150 candidates) running for parliamentary seats in the June 12 elections are willing to increase the disclosure of their wealth in public, Fair-play Alliance (AFP) CEO Zuzana Wienk told reporters on Tuesday in reference to a survey carried out by the organisation.… read more

Paska: Parliament to Discuss Bill on Party Funding on Thursday

Poprad, June 8 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska (Smer-SD) said on Tuesday that he expects the Government at its meeting on Wednesday to draw up proposals for legislative changes to facilitate aid to flood-hit areas, with Parliament then holding an extraordinary session on Thursday to discuss the bill via a fast-tracked procedure. "The discussion will be on… read more

Ministers to Redistribute €15 million in State Aid

Bratislava, June 8 (TASR) - The Government is set to hold the last regular meeting of its term in office on Wednesday, when, among other things, it will take decisions on how to distribute nearly €15 million in state investment aid between four applicants recommended by the Economy Ministry. Semecs hopes to receive €4.69 million to expand its electronic circuit-board… read more

Figel: Fico\'s Government Fit Only for Fair Weather

Bratislava, June 8 (TASR) - The ability to resolve crisis situations is an important pre-requisite for a good government, but the current Cabinet is a fair-weather one only, opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) chairman Jan Figel said at a press conference on Tuesday, accusing Robert Fico's Government of idleness when it comes to adopting anti-flood measures. "The Government… read more

Energy Intensity of Slovak Economy 1.9-times Higher Than EU Average

Bratislava, June 8 (TASR) - The energy intensity of the Slovak economy is 1.9-times higher than the average for EU countries, said Slovak Technical University (STU) vice-chancellor Frantisek Janicek at the 7th Slovak Energy Congress EN.KO in Bratislava on Tuesday. "The current situation is unsustainable, because high energy demand prevails. At the same time, Slovakia… read more

New D1 Highway Section Opened Between Presov and Svinia

Presov, June 7 (TASR) - A new section of the D1 highway between Presov and Svinia was opened on Monday in Presov, with €96 million required to build a 7.5-kilometre section provided by the European Investment Bank and the state budget. The ceremonious opening was attended by Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska, Premier Robert Fico, Transport Minister Lubomir Vazny and… read more

SaS and Most-Hid: Fico\'s Cut-Party-Budget Initiative Endlessly Populist

Bratislava, June 7 (TASR) - Extra-parliamentary parties Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and Most-Hid, both of which have a chance to make it to Parliament on June 12, have rejected the idea of changing the legislation in order to facilitate the allocation of roughly €4 million from money designed for political parties to cover the damage in flood-hit areas. The intention… read more

Four Chinese Construction Giants Want to Invest in Slovakia

Bratislava, June 7 (TASR) - Four major investors from China are interested in placing their investments in Slovakia, Chinese Ambassador to Slovakia Chen Jianfu confirmed for TASR. The four companies, all of which in the construction industry, include Beijing Urban Construction, China Road and Bridge Corporation, Shanghai Construction Group, and China Railway Group.… read more