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Tomanova: If Social Enterprise Violates Contract, I\'ll Back Out of It

Bratislava, April 14 (TASR) - If a social enterprise violates the agreement, Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Viera Tomanova is ready to terminate co-operation with it, she said after a Government session on Wednesday. Tomanova, however, refused to comment on whether such concerns may be fulfilled. Contracts with two of the eight pilot social enterprises… read more

Vazny: Increasing Speed Limit to 160 at Some Sections Still Possible

Bratislava, April 14 (TASR) - Raising the allowed speed limits at chosen sections of Slovak motorways to 160 km/h is still realistic, but it can't be too expensive, conceded Transport Minister Lubomir Vazny after a Government session on Wednesday. "I still have a feeling that we could agree on the 160 km/h limit, but first I have to see the analysis. If it has some economic… read more

Razsochy Hospital Should be Completed via PPP by 2017

Bratislava, April 14 (TASR) - Completion of the partially-built hospital Razsochy in the Bratislava borough Lamac will be carried out as a public-private partnership (PPP) project, the Government decided on Wednesday. Finance Minister Jan Pociatek and Health Minister Richard Rasi were assigned to work out the project proposal (for gaining the financial support to proceed… read more

Govt Declares Day of Mourning Sunday for Polish Victims of Plane Crash

Bratislava, April 14 (TASR) - Slovakia's Government on Wednesday declared a day of state mourning over the Polish victims of Saturday's air crash near Smolensk between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for this Sunday (April 18). President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria Kaczynska and another 94 people died in the plane crash. Apart from the presidential couple, there were many Poland… read more

SDKU: Law Needed to Make Sure Public Finaces Are Truly Public

Bratislava, April 14 (TASR) - Public finances must be truly public and Slovakia is in need of a law that would make it obligatory for the Government to provide clear and accurate information concerning spending of state funds, Opposition SDKU-DS party vice-chairman Ivan Miklos told a press conference on Wednesday. "We'll set precise rules for local authorities and we'll… read more

Employment Seen Falling Across the Board

Bratislava, April 14 (TASR) - Employment in Slovakia dropped in all measured sectors year-on-year in February, with wholesale trade recording as much as a 20-percent fall in its working population, the Slovak Statistics Office said on Wednesday. Other sectors saw the following decreases for the month of February: restaurant and catering activities - 13.3 percent; IT and… read more

Fico Expresses Condolences to Polish Nation

Bratislava, April 13 (TASR) - In my name and on behalf of the entire Slovak Government, I express my condolences to the bereaved as well as to the entire Polish nation, Slovak Premier Robert Fico wrote in the book of condolence at the Polish Embassy in Bratislava on Tuesday. According to his spokesperson Silvia Glendova, Fico didn't want to give statements to media, because… read more

Lawmakers to Finally Decide on Fate of Patriot Act This Month

Bratislava, April 13 (TASR) - Chairman of Parliament Pavol Paska on Tuesday called the next session of the legislature for April 27, rather than in May as had originally been expected. The session agenda includes 10 points, among which will be a debate and voting on the widely talked-about Patriot Act that was drafted by the co-ruling Slovak National Party but vetoed… read more

Slovak Companies to Cooperate with Croatia in Energy Sector

Bratislava, April 13 (TASR) - Slovakia is set to develop active cooperation with Croatia in the field of energy, according to Tuesday's meeting between Slovak Trade and Investment Development Agency (SARIO) head Juraj Kiesel and the Croatian delegation headed by Croatian Economy Ministry state secretary Natasi Vujec and Croatian Ambassador to Slovakia Tomislav Cara. The… read more

SMK Blasts Slovakia\'s Drawing of EU Funds as Abysmal

Bratislava, April 13 (TASR) - The ethnic-Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) on Tuesday criticised Slovakia's efficiency in drawing European Union funds as abysmal as the middle of 2007-13 programme period approaches. "According to the Finance Ministry's analysis, as of this day Slovakia has drawn 6.1 percent or €692 million of the total €11.4 billion," Deputy SMK Chairman… read more

Investment Volume Above EU Average, But Effectiveness Questionable

Bratislava, April 13 (TASR) - The volume of private investment in Slovakia is reported to exceed the EU average by some 5-7 percentage points, with a 25-percent share on Slovakia's GDP compared to an average GDP share of 18 percent in the Union. However, it's debatable whether these investments bring the desired effects to the national economy, according to an economist… read more

Supreme Court Senate Chairman Kandera Stepping Down

Bratislava, April 13 (TASR) - Supreme Court Senate Chairman Jozef Kandera, presiding in the case of alleged eastern Slovak organised crime boss Branislav Adamco and the so-called 'acid gang' that dissolved corpses of its victims in acid, has resigned from his post on Tuesday. Kandera announced his decision in writing to Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic and Supreme Court… read more

KSS: Social State Is Only Possible with Communists in Parliament

Bratislava, April 13 (TASR) - Making Slovakia a strong social state is only possible with the Slovak Communist Party (KSS) in Parliament, KSS chairman Jozef Hrdlicka told at a press conference on Tuesday in Bratislava. According to Hrdlicka, the current Government hasn't done anything to protect the working class in Slovakia, which earns only one fifth comparing to some… read more

Analysts: Consumer Prices Turned Around due to Low Comparison Base

Bratislava, April 13 (TASR) - The acceleration of the year-on-year growth of consumer prices has been mostly caused by a low comparative base in foodstuff and transport prices reported last year, claim economic analysts approached by TASR on Tuesday. According to the methodology of the Statistics Office, consumer prices have turned around, with their year-on-year growth… read more

Motor Show Opens in Bratislava, Over 30 Car Brands to Be Showcased

Bratislava, April 13 (TASR) - Close to 130 exhibitors from the Czech Republic, France, Poland, Austria and Slovakia – representing more than 30 car brands – are showcasing their new car models at the 20th annual Autosalon motor show, which opened at Incheba Exhibition Centre in Bratislava on Tuesday. More than 60 car models will have their debuts in Slovakia at the… read more