OtherOther Economy

Fico Urges Orban to Meet Him to Discuss Dual Citizenship Bill (UPDATE)

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - Slovakia, via its Ambassador to Hungary Peter Weiss, has asked its southern neighbour for talks at prime-minister level to be held as soon as possible, Slovak Premier Robert Fico announced after a government session on Wednesday. Fico added that he would like to meet Hungary's Prime Minister designate Viktor Orban before Hungary goes ahead… read more

SDKU: Dual Citizenship Act No Reason to Summon Slovak Parliament

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - If the amendment to the Dual Citizenship Act is passed by the Hungarian Parliament, it will come into effect as of January 2011, so it's time to start negotiations, said SDKU-DS election leader Iveta Radicova at a press conference in Bratislava on Wednesday. "We want to find a solution that would suit both sides. There's no need to frighten… read more

Think-Tank Awards Government D Grade for Healthcare Policies

Bratislava, May (TASR) - The halting of the transformation of hospitals into joint-stock companies and the abolition of payments to see doctors are among the most detrimental healthcare policies adopted over the past four years, the Health Policy Institute (HPI) think-tank said on Wednesday. The acquisition of political control over the Healthcare Supervisory Authority… read more

Fico: I\'m Sorry for Hanzel, His Claims Are Utter Hogwash

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - Allegations made by entrepreneur and former Smer-SD party MP Bohumil Hanzel are "utter hogwash", Prime Minister and Smer-SD chairman Robert Fico told a press conference on Wednesday. "He's basing his accusations on some sort of notes (of his). They're utter hogwash, I feel sorry for him," said Fico, adding that Hanzel is striving to create… read more

Head of German Bundestag Lammert Opens Exhibition in Bratislava

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - Slovak Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska and his German counterpart Norbert Lammert on Tuesday evening opened a multimedia exhibition in Bratislava Castle named "The Wall Is Gone - The Velvet Revolution and the Overcoming of Separation", which presented the long and hard process of Germany's unification. Photographs and over 100 short films… read more

Government Backed 8,467 Jobs in First Quarter of 2010

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - In the first quarter of this year the Government granted 1,261 applications with a total cost of €11.83 million as part of anti-crisis labour-market measures to create or maintain 8,467 jobs, reads an Economy Ministry report on the subject approved by the Government on Wednesday. 'We can claim that we're over the most difficult period, as… read more

Ministry: Crisis Had No Impact on Good Conditions for Investing in Slovakia

Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - The economic crisis hasn't had an adverse effect on good conditions for investing in Slovakia, states a report drafted by the Economy Ministry and discussed by the Government at its session on Wednesday. 'According to the results of a survey by the European Commission in September 2009, Slovakia was the only EU country in which only 1 percent… read more

EPP to Convene for Roundtable Discussion of Hungary\'s Dual Citizenship Bill

Brussels, May 18 (TASR) - The European People's Party (EPP) would this month hold roundtable discussions to settle disputes over the bill amending dual citizenship legislation in Hungary that was submitted to Parliament there by the Fidesz - Christian Democratic People's Party coalition, Slovakia's opposition SDKU party leaders said after negotiations with EPP chairman Wilfried… read more

Ondava River Water Safely Away from Trebisov, No Need to Evacuate

Trebisov, May 18 (TASR) – Evacuation of people living in Trebisov (Kosice region) due to flooding won't be necessary as water flowing through the gap in a dam on the Ondava River (only a few kilometres from the town) is not moving toward the town, it was reported on Tuesday evening. A breach in the dam, caused by heavy rains and rising water levels, has grown to around… read more

US Scholar Encourages Slovaks to Introduce University Tuition Fees

Bratislava, May 18 (TASR) - Visiting Professor of Economics at Ohio University Richard Vedder recommended that Slovakia drop free full-time university studies and follow the example of the USA and institute across-the-board tuition fees as a way of improving academic results. Within a decade Slovakia will be forced to do this anyway, as it will need funding for its increasingly… read more

Conference: Public Debts Do Have Limits, We All See It Thanks to Crisis

Bratislava, May 18 (TASR) – The global economic recession is a "lesson " for people everywhere, and many of them have now realised that public debt can be a bottomless pit, according to Professor of Economy at the University of Geneva Victoria Curzon-Price, speaking at an international conference devoted to consolidation of public budgets in Bratislava on Tuesday. "The… read more

Csaky: Paska Cancelled House\'s Ceremonial Session on Fear of Fiasco

Bratislava, May 18 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska made the decision to cancel Wednesday's ceremonial parliamentary session in an effort to avert a possible fiasco if Opposition parties don't show up, ethnic-Hungarian SMK party leader Pal Csaky told TASR on Tuesday. Paska's move has nothing to do with a session of the country's Security Council earlier in… read more

Deadline for Settling Financial Issues of PPP 1st Package Delayed Again

Bratislava, May 18 (TASR) - Completing financial issues concerning the construction of selected stretches of the D1 motorway within the first package of public-private partnership (PPP) has been put off again - this time until May 31, following the first postponement from April 30 to May 18, TASR learnt on Tuesday. The Slovak Transportation, Posts and Telecommunications… read more

Belousovova Agrees With Putting Parliament on Standby

Bratislava, May 18 (TASR) - The decision of Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska (Smer-SD) to cancel Wednesday's ceremonial parliamentary session in order to keep Parliament on standby in case legislative measures are needed in reaction to the Hungarian Law on Dual Citizenship was correct, Slovak National Party (SNS) vice-chair Anna Belousovova told TASR on Tuesday. "However,… read more

Lajcak: Slovakia Not Only One Reacting Negatively to Dual Citizenship

Bratislava, May 18 (TASR) - The amendment to the Dual Citizenship Act that may be approved soon by the Hungarian Parliament has provoked negative reactions not only in Slovakia, said Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak on Tuesday. "We have various signals that the new Hungarian Parliament's measure is viewed with incomprehension, confusion, but also with an… read more