OtherOther Economy

Ivan Svejna Becomes A Fourth Most-Hid Party Vice-Chairman

Trencin, November 21 (TASR) - The ethnic-Hungarian Most-Hid party delegates have elected economic expert Ivan Svejna as their fourth vice-chairman at a third party congress in Trencin on Saturday. Svejna will focus on the economy issues. Up until Saturday, the Most-Hid had only three vice-chairs: Zsolt Simon, Edita Pfundtner and Rudolf Chmel. Svejna was nominated… read more

Media: Slovak Television And Markiza Protest Against Meciar\'s Criticism

Bratislava, November 20 (TASR) - The Slovak Television (STV) and privately-owned television Markiza protested on Friday against LS-HZDS party chair Vladimir Meciar's statements, in which he objected to the way his interviews regarding the Velvet Revolution were edited. Meciar said at a press conference on Friday that both television stations edited his opinions into a… read more

Topvar to Close Down Brewery Plant in Topolcany in February 2010

Bratislava/Topolcany, November 20 (TASR) - The Pivovary Topvar breweries in Topolcany (Nitra region) announced on Friday that it intends to close down beer production in its plant located in the traditional brewing town of Topolcany at the end of February 2010, TASR learnt later in the day. The move is mainly due to a long-term drop on the Slovak beer market, which has… read more

Lajcak to Discuss Number of Issues with UN Secretary General

New York, November 20 (TASR) - Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, currently visiting the United States, is to meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon late on Friday to tell him of his country's resolve to boost its military engagement in Afghanistan, activities in the Balkans and its work involving UN security reform. Regarding Afghani engagement, Lajcak wants to… read more

EU Commission Launches Action Against Slovakia over Health Insurers Act

Brussels, November 20 (TASR) - The European Commission has started legal proceedings against Slovakia because of the Health Insurance Providers Act amendment, spokesman Oliver Drewes for the EU Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services Charlie McCreevy told TASR on Friday. On the basis of a complaint received in 2008, the European Commission decided to send a… read more

European Commission Starts Action Against Slovakia over Air Quality

Brussels, November 20 (TASR) - The European Commission on Friday launched proceedings against eight EU member states, including Slovakia, for insufficient advancement in the improvement of air quality, TASR learnt later in the day. Member states were obliged to adopt measures by 2005 in order to ensure compliance with daily and yearly limits for small airborne particles… read more

SBA: Tens of Slovaks Endangered By Debit Card Data Loss

Bratislava, November 20 (TASR) - Slovak banks have blocked some 1,000 bank cards because the data-processing centre in Spain suffered a loss of data that might have compromised their security, Slovak Bank Association (SBA) Executive Director Ladislav Uncovsky told TASR on Friday. "The number of clients actually harmed is considerably smaller –probably in double digits.… read more

Petrobras to Mull Investing in Energy Business in Slovakia, Says Jahnatek

Bratislava, November 20 (TASR) - Slovakia is in talks with Brazilian energy giant Petrobras to invest in natural gas storage projects and construction of gas-fired power stations, according to a Slovak economy ministry spokesman reporting Friday on Minister Lubomir Jahnatek's recent business trip to Brazil. "On Thursday, Petrobras said the company would consider entering… read more

Strofova Meets Sudanese Ambassador Designate in Vienna

Bratislava, November 20 (TASR) - Sudanese ambassador-designate to the Slovak Republic Mahmoud Hassan Elamin, based in Vienna, presented his credentials to Slovakia's Foreign Ministry State Secretary Diana Strofova on Thursday in Bratislava, the foreign affairs ministry reported next day. The ambassador laid out his programme priorities focusing on building bilateral… read more

EU Commission Halts Proceedings Led against Slovakia over Thorny Tender

Bratislava/Brussels, November 20 (TASR) - The European Commission (EC) has halted proceedings against Slovakia in the case of the so-called notice-board tender because the Construction and Regional Development Ministry has already ended the controversial contract, the European Commission Representation Office in Slovakia told TASR on Friday, adding that investigations involving… read more

Sefcovic: Van Rompuy and Ashton Have High Credibility in EU

Bratislava, November 20 (TASR) - The newly-elected President of the Council of the EU Herman Van Rompuy and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Baroness Catherine Ashton are personalities with a great deal of credit in the EU, said Slovak EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on Friday. "I hope that they'll fulfil their functions in a way that there will be a high degree… read more

Zahradnik Supports Bajan in Second Round of VUC Elections

Bratislava, November 20 (TASR) - Branislav Zahradnik, a candidate for Bratislava governor in the first round of the higher territorial unit (VUC) elections will support Vladimir Bajan (independent with the backing of Smer-SD, LS-HZDS, Green Party of Slovakia and HZD) in the second run-off round of the elections, he announced at a press conference on Friday. According… read more

Habanik: We Have to Step on the Gas in Terms of Life-long Education

Bratislava, November 20 (TASR) - LS-HZDS vice-chairman Jozef Habanik thinks that Slovakia is falling well behind the EU average when it comes to educating adults (aged 25-64), he said at a press conference on Friday, adding that Slovakia has to step on the gas in order to improve the situation. According to Habanik, the Government legislative proposal on life-long education,… read more

US Marks Anniversary of End of Communism in Former Czechoslovakia

Washington, November 20 (TASR) - A series of events were held in the United States of America to mark the 20th anniversary of Velvet Revolution on November 17 which toppled the communist regime in the former Czechoslovakia. The House of Representatives unanimously approved a Resolution on Thursday congratulating Czechs and Slovaks on their achievements in the past two… read more

President Gasparovic Signs 2010 State Budget Act

Bratislava, November 20 (TASR) - Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic on Friday signed the 2010 State Budget Act, which was passed by the Slovak Parliament earlier in November. The state budget for 2010 is aimed at cutting the public-finance deficit from this year's 6.3 percent to 5.5 percent of GDP next year and estimates a deficit of €3.75 billion, with state revenues… read more