Slovakia - Factors To Watch on Sept 26

...     
    ENERGY LIBERALISATION CONFERENCE 
    Economy ministry and European Commission officials will take 
part in a conference on EU energy market liberalisation. 
     
    HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION 
    Transport Minister Lubomir Vazny will hold a news conference 
on highway construction. 
     
    SLOVAKIA SAYS EURO GOAL SAFE DESPITE BUDGET RECOUNT 
    Slovakia's goal of adopting the euro in 2009 is not in 
danger despite a Eurostat demand to recalculate its budget 
deficit data, leftist Prime Minister Robert Fico said on 
Wednesday. 
    [ID:nL26901200] [RTRS-EUR-POL-FRX-SK] 
     
    GOVT CLEARS NEW ENERGY TAXES FOR 2008, 2010 
    The Slovak government approved on Wednesday a draft law, 
aiming to introduce new energy taxes next year to comply with EU 
rules, a move that may raise inflation before the planned 
adoption of the euro in 2009. 
    [ID:nL26566678] [RTRS-EUR-ELG-SK] 
     
    PRESS DOEGEST 
    ------------- 
    MINIMAL WAGE 
    The minimal wage will rise to 8,100 crowns ($335.8) from 
October. The minimal wage will copy increases in the average 
nominal wage from 2009, unless employers, trade unions and the 
government agree otherwise. 
    Sme, page 6 
     
    LOWER VAT ON BOOKS 
    The government has approved a cut in the value added tax 
(VAT) on books to 10 percent from current 19 percent, effective 
from 2008. The move is projected to reduce budget revenues by 
137 million crowns. 
     
    EURO LAW 
    The government has approved a law setting technical 
framework for euro adoption. 
    Pravda, page 22 
     
    KIA AGREEMENT 
    South Korea's car maker Kia Motors Corp.  has 
reached a three-year agreement with trade unions after nine 
months of negotiations. The average wage at Kia's Slovak 
assembly plant will rise by 7 percent. 
    Pravda, page 22 
 
    For news on upcoming events in the United States and other 
Group of Seven countries, see . For a diary of 
forthcoming Slovak events, double click [SK/DIARY], and a 
calendar of east European economic indicators, see [CONV/DIARY]. 
     
    News editor of the day: Peter Laca on +421 2 5341 8402; fax: 
+421 2 5341 8403 
    E-mail: editorial@reuters.sk 
    Reuters Messaging: peter.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net 
     
    For real-time index quotes, double click in brackets: 
    Warsaw WIG20   Budapest BUX   Prague PX50 
 
 Other related news: 
 Slovak equities      [SK-E]  E.Europe equities           [.CEE] 
 Slovak money         [SK-M]  Czech debt                  [CZ-D] 
 Slovak Indicators  [SK-ECI]  Emerging forex          [EMRG/FRX] 
 Eastern European     [EEU]   All emerging markets        [EMRG] 
 Hot stocks           [HOT]   Stock markets                [STX] 
 Market debt news     [DBT]   Forex news                   [FRX] 
 TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets                         [TOP/EMRG] 
 TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch                        [TOP/EAST] 
  
  
 ($1=23.98 Slovak Crown) 
 ($1=.7087 Euro) 
 ($1=24.12 Slovak Crown)