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Also Slovakia asks EU to change debt calculation

Nine member states asked European Commission to change debt calculation. Common letter was signed also by Slovak minister of finance Ivan Mikloš.

Slovakia will not help Greeks

Slovak parliament voted against bilateral loan for in-debted Greece. Slovakia broke the principle of solidarity, European Commission said.

EU´s Juncker Says Slovakia May Reconsider Help to Greece

Euro zone member Slovakia will have strong reasons to reconsider its help to indebted euro group member Greece, the Eurogroup Chairman Jean-Claude Juncker was quoted as saying.

Poland pushes for solidarity in EU budget review

On his first visit to Brussels, Polish President Bronisław Komorowski stressed his continued backing for European assistance to poorer regions and farmers ahead of EU budget talks later this year.

Old EU diplomacy for old members only. Will the new one be any better?

Among 115 heads of EC delegations in the world, only two are diplomats from the new member states, according to the study by PISM.

Renewables by 2020: In Slovakia no. 1 - Biomass

The Slovak Action plan for renewables confirms the feasibility to produce 14 % of the energy from renewable sources by 2020. The biggest role would be played by biomass and the support of combined production of heat and electricity.

KDH and SaS achieved the most in European issues of the new coalition

The incoming government coalition has agreed programme outline. Which party was able to push trough its view on European policies in the most effective way?

Europe´s emergency loan vehicle hits Slovak snag

Various EU officials say that a way will be found to overcome the signs of Slovakia´s resistance to the European Stabilization Mechanism.

EU steps up efforts on pension reform

As pension reform reaches the top of the EU agenda to counter market speculation over the sustainability of public finances, a pool of eight commissioners is set to meet for the first time on Friday (11 June) to give the green light to a comprehensive roadmap centered on "adequacy" and "long-term sustainability".

French government plans to increase retirement age

It is expected that France will increase its legal retirement age. Trade unions plan protests, government argues with threatening collapse of the pension system and the need to balance public finance.

Liquids to be allowed on board of aircrafts in three years

The limits for the amount of liquids that may be taken on board of an aircraft will be abolished in 2013 at the latest.

Eyjafjallajökull shows we need railways

A volcanic ash cloud that has grounded flights across Europe has served to highlight the region´s dependence on air travel and prompted calls for the European Union to develop a better and faster rail network.

Floods: Slovak MEPs ask EU for help

Slovak MEPs work on the EP resolution asking for the activation of the EU Solidarity fund for the affected regions in V4, Germany and Austria.

The main obstacle for Slovak businesses is corruption

Slovak business environment further deteriorates due to unstable laws, taxes and corruption, Business Alliance of Slovakia survey uncovers.

Experts: EU pension proposal will hit women much harder than men

A European Commission roadmap for reforming EU pensions to be presented later this month has received a broad welcome, though some experts warned that the proposals fail to take sufficient account of gender issues and "would hit women much harder than men".

Parliament calls for EU-wide truckers´ fines

The European Parliament yesterday (18 May) called for EU-wide rules to fine truckers who break existing health and safety regulations. Supporters of the motion claimed it would improve safety on EU roads, while opponents argued that MEPs were trying to interfere with a strictly national issue.

EU agrees to speed up joint control of sky

European transport ministers have agreed to establish safety guidelines for flying in volcanic ash and to swiftly unify European airspace, but they are wary of granting financial aid to airlines grounded by such crises.

Eastern EU members struggle to make voices heard

Despite their special interest in areas like energy security or neighbourhood policy, the East European countries that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 have not yet become agenda-setters in Brussels, according to a new study.

EU, US restart talks to clinch June anti-terror deal

The European Commission and the US Treasury yesterday (11 May) began a series of talks on the contested financial data sharing deal to combat terrorism in an effort to clinch an agreement before the end of June 2010, Commission sources said.

Romania accepts US invitation to host anti-missile shield

President Traian Basescu announced on Thursday (4 February) that Romania´s Supreme Defence Council had accepted an invitation from US President Obama to host an anti-missile shield. EurActiv Romania reports.

Elections 2010: EU in the election manifestos

EurActiv.sk analyzed the manifestos of eight political parties with the biggest chance to reach the 5 % threshold need to be represented in National Council focusing on the EU and European issues.

Foratom: Nuclear waste to become european issue

The representatives of big energy companies operating nuclear facilities, representatives of public sphere and European institutions met in Bratislava. On the Foratom platform they discussed the problem of nuclear waste and the lack of experts.

Researches´ Night 2010: Art and photo competition

On the occasion of science-popularization event "Researchers´Night" to be held in Bratislava, the organizers have announced two competitions - the competition of painted works "Biodiversity 2010" and the photographic competition "Portraits of the researcher".

Czech PM: The challenge is to increase the acceptance of nuclear waste disposals by public

Talks about the nuclear is no longer taboo, said in Bratislava Mr. Jan Fischer, Czech prime minister. According to him, nuclear energy faces two challenges these days: to choose appropriate technology for nuclear waste management as well as improving the public perception of nuclear disposals.

Minister Jahnatek: New nuclear reactor in Bohunice probably by 2020

Slovakia has the preliminary plan to open one or two new nuclear reactors in Jaslovske Bohunice by 2020, said economy minister Lubomir Jahnatek during the press conference at European Nuclear Energy Forum in Bratislava.

European Nuclear Forum starts in Bratislava

Today (25th May), European Nuclear Energy Forum in Bratislava takes the place. The main topics are: nuclear waste management, nuclear in low-carbon economy and the role of public in issue of nuclear waste disposal building.

Russia asked Poland to be the partner in nuclear power plant

Russia has asked Poland to participate in the construction of the Baltic Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Polish Minister of Infrastructure Cezary Grabarczyk said on Friday.

Commission proposes "European Heritage Label"

The European Heritage Label should be established as an EU-wide initiative, Culture Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou suggested yesterday (9 March), presenting plans to highlight historical sites across Europe that "symbolise European integration, ideals and history".

Slovakia´s language law under fire from critics

Action at grassroots rather than EU level holds the key to ensuring the survival of minority languages such as Galician, heard a major conference at the European Parliament last week, with participants calling for an end to oppressive legislation like Slovakia's language law.

The best project for film with European dimension is in Polish language

Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou announced the winner of European Talent Prize, which is awarded to the best project for a film with a European dimension. It is film Sisters of mercy in Polish version by UK based director Pawel Pawlikowski.

EU: Bank levy could raise up to 50 billion a year

The European Union may pioneer an extra tax on banks that could raise up to 50 billion euros annually, according to a European Commission report.

Call for EU budget reform to match green priorities

The EU´s budget must shift funding from agricultural policy to energy and climate spending to reflect the block´s changing priorities, think-tank representatives argued.

Slovakia slow in spending EU money

European Commission issued a report evaluating the regional EU spending. The document shows that there is a significant gap among states in this area. With the rate of spending just around 18,6 per cent, Slovakia bottoms the chart- with only Greece and Romania having worse record.

Euro looses its potential to become a global reserve currency

The euro´s position as a world reserve currency may be vulnerable due to flaws that Greece exposed in the eurozone´s fiscal framework.

EC allows destruction of euro notes

European Commission published set of recommendations what can be and what can not be done with euro banknotes and coins. For example total destruction of banknotes and coins by individuals in small quantities should not be prohibited.

EU funded trails put Slovaks on their bikes

The "bicycle trail without frontiers" project connects Slovakia with neighbouring towns in Austria and Hungary, helping to build interregional links and eco-tourism.

Mundell: EMF would be a colosal waste

According to recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics Robert Mudell Greek problem is not problem of euro. After 10 years of its existence he considers common European currency as extraordinary success and stresses that EU and USA should cooperate in monetary policy.

Smaller town face discrimination in EU funding

Small cities spending the money from the Regional development programme have to count with the 19 per cent flat tax. They are not allowed to deduct it because it is not considered an authorized cost in Slovakia.

Cohesion policy should be more than a handout, says Spanish Presidency

Removing cohesion policy from the EU´s list of top priorities would be a mistake, though changes may be required to prevent it from being a mere redistributive tool, Spanish EU Presidency representatives and regional experts meeting in Spain declared yesterday (16 February).

Central Europeans more sceptical about euro

Citizens of former communist countries that joined the European Union in 2004 and 2007 are increasingly hesitant about adopting the euro currency quickly, a Eurobarometer survey showed yesterday (25 January).

Czech energy giant slowly turning green

The Czech Republic´s leading power company, ČEZ, has promised to turn to energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly projects, but local NGOs say it must still improve its green energy strategy. EurActiv Czech Republic reports.

Hungarian climate law postponed over job concerns

Hungary could have become the second EU member state after the UK to pass an overarching climate framework bill. But the ruling socialist party backed down on Monday (22 February) citing job concerns after heavy pressure from the industrial lobby. EurActiv Hungary reports.

EU, Poland move to settle carbon quota row

Poland and the European Commission reached an agreement on carbon quotas yesterday (19 April), after Brussels accepted Warsaw´s revised plan for allocating emission allowances. Slovakia found accord with European Commission some time ago.

Visegrad countries hold mini-summit in Brussels

Prime ministers from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary – the so-called Visegrad group – are meeting this morning (25 March) ahead of a two-day EU summit in Brussels to hammer out common positions on the EU´s future diplomatic service and economic issues.

Will Polana region be energetically self-sufficient?

Region of Polana has not yet exploited the potential of renewable energy, agreed the participants of conference titled "The best practices: Coordinated use of EU funds in energy sector".

SMEs need partners when entering new markets

Only a few of Slovak SMEs have discovered the potential of internal market. According to experts they need partners when entering foreign markets.

Commission rejects "renovated Roma ghettos"

The second European Roma summit starts is launched today in Córdoba, Spain. European Commission called on the member states to use the structural funds for Roma integration more.

Slovakia asses its foreign policy

The main topics of the annual conference which asses the foreign policy of the Slovak republic were membership in EU and NATO, economic crisis and Visegrad cooperation.

Business Alliance: Government fulfilled requirements of entrepreneurs by 14,5 %

Requirements of entrepreneurs aimed to improve business environment were fulfilled by government only by 14,5 %, results from evaluation of so called Wish list 2006, Business Alliance of Slovakia informs.

Slovaks and Czechs have a good knowledge of CAP

Majority of Europeans has a low knowledge of CAP, survey of European Commission finds. The highest percentage of correct answers on questions about European farming. is noted in Netherlands, the Czech republic and Slovakia.

Creative cities at centre of EU 2020 goals, says Barroso

Cities with thriving cultural and creative arts sectors are key to achieving the "smart, sustainable and inclusive growth" called for by the 'Europe 2020' strategy, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said. Slovakia tries not to be behind. The European capital of culture 2013 is Slovak metropolis Košice.

Slovakia has to return tri million euro of CAP expenditure

Twenty Member States will have to return 346,5 million euro of CAP expenditure due to non-compliance with EU rules of inadequate control procedures. European commision will recover 3 millión euro from Slovakia.

Climate target divides environment ministers

EU environment ministers are meeting today (15 March) to debate their strategy for international climate negotiations, but no consensus is emerging about whether the EU should raise its target for greenhouse gas emission reductions for 2020.

Czech renewable energy boom tests grid safety limits

The installed capacity of wind and solar energy projects approved in the Czech Republic is nearly four times what can be safely fed into the country's electricity grid, energy distributors said on Wednesday (10 March).

Commission approved state aid for Slovak farmers

European commission approved state aid for Slovak farmers to overcome impact of the current crisis. Support of 3,32 milion euro will take form of a direct grant of up to 15,000 euro.

Ministers seek measures to reduce price volatility of agro commodities

Majority of mamber states, including Slovakia, consider current tools of market regulation as inefficient. According minister of agriculture Vladimir Chovat they do not offer enough space to react on natural market volatility, recently under attack of speculators.

PAS: Slovakia business climate deteriorates further

Business climate in Slovakia further deteriorated in the last quarter of 2010 due to insufficient government activities against crisis and business barriers, The Business Alliance of Slovakia (PAS) says.

Eurovision 2010: Who will go to Oslo?

The Eurovision Song Contest 2010 is the 55th Eurovision Song Contest. It´s taking part in Oslo, Norway´s capital and the home of the last year´s winner Alexander Rybak.

Government promises balanced budget by 2015

Slovak government has two goals - to lower deficit under 3 % by 2012 and to achieve balanced budget in 2015.

Sefcovic had hard times

Slovak commissioner-designate Maros Sefcovic had to face difficult hearing. At the very beginning he had to explain his alleged anti-Roma statements, then he was grilled on couple of difficult institutional issues. First reactions indicate that he has sailed through these dire straits.

Šefčovič eases through hearing, fends off accusations

Veleriu Nicolae, author of the paper with Sefcovic´s statement on Roma, said he considers the EPP attack on Slovak candidate "unbelievable".

EU confirmation hearings take nasty turn

Put in a difficult position by Rumiana Jeleva's weak performance at her parliamentary hearing earlier this week, the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) is threatening to counter-attack by asking for a socialist head to roll.

Slovak government behaves like the energy monopoly

Two years ago, Robert Fico's government decided to make energy customers pay special fee, when changing energy supplier. Today, retail customers in Slovakia loose one alternative supplier.

Nord Stream "a waste of money" says Poland

The Nord Stream pipeline project is "a waste of European consumers' money," Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski told the Polish National Assembly´s foreign affairs committee last week.

EU governments seek to offload flu vaccines

Governments in Western Europe are selling off surplus stocks of H1N1 flu vaccine and cancelling orders for additional supplies due to low demand from the public. However, the World Health Organisation is warning that flu transmission is still on the rise in Central and Eastern Europe.

EC shocked by Roma settlements in Slovakia

At the end of september 2009 EC delegation visited Slovakia to study Roma problematics. According to delegation leader Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director General of DG Regio of European Comission, the EU Officers were shocked that in the 21st century there are people living the similar way like in the Middle Ages.

Pan-European Coordination of Roma Integration

Pan-European Coordination of Roma Integration is to support innovative and integrated projects promoting the inclusion of Roma through educational, social, and economic activities, cross border cooperation and exchange of best practices while integrating existing (local, national, European and international) instruments.

Sefcovic on changes awaiting the EU

Lisbon Treaty defined the basic framework of changes in the position and competences of the EU institutions. Now we have to agree on details, says Maros Sefcovic, who should take responsibility over the institutional issues in the new Commission.

Oil crisis in Slovakia averted

On Monday, Russia warned EU before cutting oil supplies due to problems with Ukraine. Later in the afternoon, Moscow and Kiev reached the agreement on oil transit in 2010. The risk of oil crisis in Slovakia, Hungary and Czech republic had been averted.

U.S. missile shield holding up nuclear deal: Putin

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday U.S. plans for a missile defense system were the main obstacle to reaching a new deal on reducing Cold War arsenals of nuclear weapons.

Slovakia voted. Do you want to know how?

Institute for public affairs (IVO), Bratislava based thin-tank introduced its new publication on European and presidential elections in Slovakia entitled "Slovakia votes".

Smer-SD formalized its PES membership

European socialists party Congress in Prague formalized the membership of party Smer-SD of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Only Belgian and Hungarian delegates voted against.

Operational Programme Information Society: Calls for proposals worthy of half of billion euros

Representatives of Slovak government met today with journalist in order to keep them informed about the progress under Operational Programme Information Society, supported by EU money.

Netherlands lifts veto on Serbia

After 18 months Netherlands agreed to unblock trade agreement between Serbia and EU. The impulse came after main prosecutor of ICTY said country is progressing with cooperation.

Portfolio attributions puzzle Eastern EU countries

Public opinion and politicians alike are questioning the weight and importance of the portfolios attributed to their national commissioners, a roundup by EurActiv's network in Eastern Europe reveals.

Long way to go for EU common health care system

On the 27th of November the second regional debate in the framework of the European Citizens Consultations (ECC) was held in Bratislava, Slovakia. The debate involved experts from Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria to discuss the recommendations and further issues related to the subject of health.

Criminals cashing in on fake swine flu medicines

European medicine authorities are growing increasingly alarmed by the number of bogus swine flu remedies being sold over the Internet. The news comes as MEPs gear up to debate new rules covering counterfeit medicines.

Citizens expect stronger involvement of EU in health

Bratislava will be the place of discussion on citizen´s recommendations in the field of public health. European Commission has promised to listen.

Barroso II: Sefcovic to reign interinstitutional relations

The president of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso announced the attribution of portfolios in the new executive. Šefčovič will be one of his seven vice-presidents.

Barroso´s choice - Šefčovič´s opportunity

Slovakian designate-commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is believed to have received important and influential portfolio.

Russians proposed "common security"

Russia published on 29 November its proposal for a new Euro-Atlantic security treaty that would restrict its ability to use military force unilaterally if the United States and its European allies agreed to do the same.

Eastern commissioners compete for energy, enlargement

Four Eastern European commissioners are finding themselves in competition after their countries expressed preferences for the energy and enlargement portfolios in the next European Commission.

The gas crisis: It can reoccur

Slovak Foreign Ministry hosts 2-day conference "EU Common Energy Policy and Energy Security of Slovakia". The panelists did not exclude the possibility of repeating the gas crisis, but added that Slovakia has prepared much better than it had been one year ago.

Female entrepreneurs still vastly outnumbered in Europe

As the European Commission pushes for greater gender balance in its own ranks, the EurActiv network takes a look at how women across Europe fare in the business world.

SMEs pay for administrative burdens more than 91 million euro

Administrative burden costs Slovak entrepreneurs 91 million euros, according to latest measuring made by Slovak economy ministry.

Slovak female enterpreneurs have 8 female ambassodors

National Agency for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (NADSME) with associated partners chose eight Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors from 38 national candidates. Their role is to encourage more Slovak women to become entrepreneurs and start their own companies.

Jerzy Buzek celebrated 20. anniversary of Velvet revolution in Slovakia

In 1989 we embarked on the immensely important process of building a new European identity, said Jerzy Buzek in Bratislava.

Kosovo regional elections relatively quiet

PM´s party PDK won the most votes in the first regional elections in Kosovo. International observers say that the voting was "generally fair".

Visegrad 20 years after

Slovaks are now closer to Czechs in perception of November 189 and the development that followed afterward. However, Hungarians are deeply disappointed with the democracy building in their country. These are some of the outcomes of the opinion poll carried out in Visegrad countries.

Slovak parliament approves protectionist law

Slovakia"s parliament approved on 5 November a widely-criticised law which protects so-called strategic companies from bankruptcy by giving the government the option to buy, restructure and find new investors for a firm.

EU leaders fail to hammer out climate funding details

EU leaders have agreed on the need to provide €100 billion a year to fund climate efforts in developing countries, but failed to define any specific sums, as pushed by the group of 9 new member states, delaying their decision until after December"s UN conference in Copenhagen.

World Bank sees Eastern Europe contracting 4.2 % in 2009

The European Union"s 10 ex-communist economies will contract by 4.2 percent as a whole this year and eke out growth of around just 1 percent next year, the World Bank said in a report on Wednesday.

Extremists of (nearly) all countries unite!

Another attempt to establish a pan-European extreme-right party was made in Budapest last weekend (24-25 October) by extremist forces from a variety of European countries, targeting better representation in the European Parliament. But because Jobbik is one of the key initiators, Slovak and Romanian nationalists stay out.

Poland about to sell emissions to Spain and Ireland

Poland is about to sign agreement on selling carbon credits to Spain and Poland, Polish minister announced. Warsaw will get 40 mil. EUR.

Kaczynski signed the Treaty

Polish President has signed the Lisbon Treaty on Saturday. Now everything is in hands of his Czech counterpart, Václav Klaus, who has recently demanded Czech opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Czech President claims that on ots basis, Sudeten Germans expelled after the WWII could claim back their properties through the EU courts. It remains to be seen if this was his final demand, or just another part of his hold-back tactics.

V4 ministers to Balkans: Help each other!

Foreign ministers of Visegrad countries expressed their wish to enable Western Balkan countries to benefit from successful transformation and Euroatlantic integration, just like V4 countries have.

Slovakia faces EU budget discipline action

European Commission launchced disciplinary action against Slovakia over excessive budget deficit. Twenty of the EU"s 27 member states are now facing disciplinary procedures.

Slovakia strengthens ties with Macedonia

Slovakia hopes row with Athens will not block accession process of Macedonia for much longer. Bratislava eyes more business oportunities with Macedonia, but not privatization of strategic assets, said Prime Minister Robert Fico during the visit of his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Gruevski in Bratislava.

Ukraine awaits stronger cooperation with EU, Slovakia will face another gas crisis

Slovakia will support European path of Ukraine as well as the perspective of membership, if there will be a real opportunity, experts said. However, they seems to agree that Slovakia won"t probably avoid another gas crisis.

Russia triumphant as EU’s Georgia war report sees light

Russia has expressed satisfaction with an independent report on its five-day war with former Soviet Republic Georgia in August 2008. The report was commissioned by the EU and published yesterday (30 September). Poland has led a number of initiatives in support of Saakashvili since the conflict, in conjunction with the Baltic countries and the Czech Republic, but this initiative seems to failed.

Areas

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Legal expert: No never-never land with Lisbon Treaty

Ivo Šlosarčík is a lecturer of European and international law at Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles Univesity, and New York University in Prague. He is an expert on legal issues of European integration, judicial and police cooperation in the EU, and Czech reform of civil service and judiciary. He participated in the seminar on the ways how to influence European legislation in the new legislative framework after the Lisbon Treaty organised by the Institute for European Policy Europeum.

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