OtherOther Economy

Sramko: Slovakia Can\'t Tackle Effects of Crisis Alone

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - Due to its structure, Slovakia's economy has objectively low chances of tackling the effects of the economic crisis alone, outgoing central bank (NBS) governor Ivan Sramko has told TASR. The small internal market and the pronounced openness of the Slovak economy have led to huge dependency on developments in the economies of its biggest… read more

Fico: Need for Constructive Approach in Slovak-Hungarian Relations

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - Slovak Premier Robert Fico speaking about developments in strained Slovak-Hungarian relations stressed the need for officials on both sides to address potential issues constructively in order to prevent a further escalation of tension. Fico sounded a warning note vis-a-vis the right-wing Fidesz party in Hungary, which according to him… read more

Fico: We Can\'t Tackle Unemployment Without Economic Growth

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - After a year that was marked by the economic crisis, signs of a revival - albeit a very feint ones - have begun to emerge, Prime Minister Robert Fico has told TASR. "We are working with information cagily but optimistically. It's good news, as a revival in economic growth is the only way to resolve the problem of unemployment, which is… read more

Jahnatek: Only Three Companies Quantified Impact of Gas Crisis

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - Only three companies have responded to the Economy Ministry's appeal to quantify their losses related to the gas crisis in January of this year, Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek has told TASR. "We contacted around 1,500 companies, asking for data on the economic impact of the cut in gas supplies. Sad to say, we've received only very few… read more

Dzurinda Takes Critical Look at Outgoing Year

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - Looking back at the outgoing year, the leader of the strongest opposition party SDKU-DS and two-times premier Mikulas Dzurinda bemoaned the fact that not only did the current government spend what it found on the table but also put people heavily in debt. "It throws money around in an unheard-of manner ... The bad news is the unreal corruption… read more

Vazny to Meet Carriers Demanding Delay in Road-toll Introduction

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Lubomir Vazny on Wednesday will meet transport companies that are unhappy with the launch of the electronic road-toll system as of January 1, ministry spokesman Stanislav Jurikovic told TASR on the same day. Small and medium-sized carriers want to present 11 demands to the minister, with… read more

SUSR: Fuel Prices Rose Before Christmas, Except for 95-octane Petrol

Bratislava, December 30 (TASR) - The average consumer prices of motor fuels in Slovakia went up in the 51st week of this year (December 14-20) with the exception of 95-octane petrol, whose price dropped slightly, Slovakia's Statistics Office (SUSR) announced on Wednesday. The price of 98-octane petrol rose by 4.9 euro cents or by 3.9 percent to €1.305 per litre, while… read more

Slovaks Found Downbeat on Their Future in 2010

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - The latest poll out on Tuesday shows that Slovaks are rather sceptical about their future next year, with 48 percent of respondents being sceptical about their prospects for success in 2010, 32 percent describing themselves as optimistic while 19 percent are pessimistic. The survey was conducted by KMG International agency on a sample… read more

Poprad Airport Recorded 30-percent Increase in Passengers in December

Poprad, December 29 (TASR) - Poprad-Tatry airport recorded an increase of approximately 30 percent year-on-year in passenger numbers in December, said the airport's director Ivana Herkelova on Tuesday. She added that the new regular routes to London, Manchester and Dublin, in operation since November, helped to achieve this growth. "During Christmas, there were also added… read more

Installation of Onboard Units for Road Toll Marked Down by €23

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - Private companies CESMAD and SkyToll installing special devices into 3.5 ton trucks required for a toll-collection system to be used on the highways from January 2010 agreed on Tuesday to cut their installation charge by €23 to €111.90, doing so at the request from state-owned highway management company NDS. The mark-down was agreed… read more

Jahnatek: Oil Pipeline Line to Austria Has Been Politicised

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek, contemplating the alternatives to importing crude oil through Ukraine from Russia after disputes between the two over the terms for oil and natural gas transit to Europe nearly triggered another energy crisis, said that this topic has been politicised instead of allowing itself to be guided by technical opinions.… read more

Jahnatek Speaks About Plans of Alternative Oil Imports

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - A day after Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary saw a looming oil crisis fade after supplier Russia resolved a dispute with Ukraine, which was seeking higher transit fees, Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek on Tuesday expanded on Slovakia's plans to import oil via other routes. Jahnatek stressed the importance of linking the Druzhba… read more

Meciar: Everyone in HZDS Is Free to Speak Their Mind

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - LS-HZDS enjoys an extraordinarily effective internal mechanism of democracy that allows every member to speak his or her mind, LS-HZDS chairman Vladimir Meciar told TASR on Tuesday. "This internal democracy of ours goes to a much larger extent than in other political parties. We don't have a centralised decision-making process or a centralised… read more

Foreign Ministry: Slovaks Arrested in Frankfurt Haven\'t Asked for Help

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - None of the Slovaks involved in a heated row with Lufthansa airlines personnel at Frankfurt Airport that resulted in arrests and allegations of an excessive reaction by police have asked Slovak representation offices in Germany for help, Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano told TASR on Tuesday. The Slovak and Czech passengers… read more

Fico: Tax Growth No Issue, Slovakia Relies on Economic Growth

Bratislava, December 29 (TASR) - Tax increases or the introduction of progressive income taxes aren't issues for the near future, TASR was told by Prime Minister Robert Fico in an interview on Tuesday. Fico said that the Government relies on economic growth, and that with good economic growth and sensible management the country is able to exist even with comparatively… read more