BRATISLAVA, November 2, (WEBNOVINY) — On Tuesday, President Ivan Gasparovic appointed Jozsef Nagy as the new minister of the resurrected Environment Ministry. The Cabinet recalled Nagy from the post of Agriculture, Environment and Regional Development Ministry State Secretary at its last session effective Monday, November 1. Nagy is a nominee of the MOST-HID party. The Environment Ministry was canceled at the initiative of former Prime Minister Robert Fico (SMER-SD) because of saving reasons. As of July 1, 2010, its competencies were passed on to the Agriculture Ministry, which was renamed the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Regional Development.
During the ceremony, President Gasparovic said he is happy that the coalition agreement was fulfilled in the point regarding the resumption of the ministry’s operation. This department is not here for rest, said Gasparovic, pointing at problems, which the environmental sphere has to cope with in Slovakia. He expressed hope that Nagy will not get into a conflict with other departments and will not yield to lobbyist groups either.
“I am ready for the post, I know what is ahead of me,” said the new minister shortly after his appointment. He underscored that he had worked for several weeks as the state secretary of the Agriculture, Environment and Regional Development Ministry where he was responsible for the environment. He said he plans to focus on anti-flood measures, old environmental burdens and Slovakia’s legal obligations towards the EU. He underscored that the environment ministry is not only the ministry of protection of the environment but also the ministry of its creation.
The Environment Ministry has renewed its operation as an independent department as of November 1, 2010. 2010 even without the president’s signature on the corresponding amendment to the competence law. President Ivan Gasparovic vetoed the bill and recommended not to approve it as a whole, but the parliament overturned his veto. The restoration of the ministry was supported by 76 deputies which is needed for approving a president-vetoed piece of legislation.
The former government scrapped the Environment Ministry because of saving reasons. The new ruling coalition decided to renew it with all previous competencies, as anchored in the government program statement. Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said that the ministry’s operation was resumed also because of the situation after this year’s floods.
SITA