Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.
This summary is provided by the STA:
Rule of law report raises alarm over prosecutors, media situation
BRUSSELS, Belgium - In its second Rule of Law Report, the European Commission's raised concerns over delays in Slovenia in the appointment of state prosecutors and the country's two European delegated prosecutors, as well as about deteriorating media freedom and pluralism. Presenting the report, Commission Vice President Vera Jourova and Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders called on the Slovenian authorities to ensure a stable financing of the STA. Reynders pointed to potential measures over non-appointment of European delegated prosecutors come autumn. Commissioner Janez Lenarčič, who comes from Slovenia, said the Commission had serious concerns about the rule of law in Slovenia.
EU ministers exchange views on Fit for 55, COP26 conference
BRDO PRI KRANJU - EU environment ministers conducted a preliminary exchange of opinions on Fit for 55, the EU's new energy and climate package, at an informal ministerial. Slovenia's Andrej Vizjak said the package was seen as a good basis for talks. "The guiding line has to be fairness among member states, solidarity, ambition and effectiveness," Vizjak said as he summed up the proceedings. The ministers also discussed preparations for the UN climate conference COP26 in Glasgow in November with Vizjak pledging Slovenia would work for the conference achieve concrete results.
One-month high of 88 new coronavirus cases confirmed on Monday
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 88 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, the highest daily figure since mid-June. The positivity rate jumped to 5.1%, show data by the National Institute of Public Health. A total of 1,734 PCR tests were performed along with almost 28,000 rapid antigen tests. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population is now 37, up one from the day before. The situation in hospitals improved slightly as 28 patients were hospitalised and nine were in intensive care this morning.
C5 foreign ministers say pandemic is not yet over
PRAGUE, Czechia - The epidemiological situation has improved, however the coronavirus pandemic is far from over, the foreign ministers of Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary warned after a meeting of what is known as the C5 group. Slovenia's Anže Logar lauded vaccine solidarity and said Slovenia's EU presidency was focused on developing the European Health Union and boosting the EU's strategic autonomy.
Justice Ministry state secretary steps down
LJUBLJANA - Anže Erbežnik, a state secretary at the Justice Ministry, stepped down after less than a month on the job. Erbežnik was named to the post on 22 June, a week after Marjan Dikaučič was appointed minister following the resignation of Lilijana Kozlovič over the government's refusal to appoint two European delegated prosecutors. Dikaučič told the STA Erbežnik had resigned due to "diverging views on the management of the portfolio and the role of the state secretary".
Deputy anti-graft tzar Uroš Novak steps down
LJUBLJANA - Uroš Novak, one of the two deputy heads of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (KPK), stepped down, citing new professional challenges as the reason. President Borut Pahor received Novak's letter of resignation today. Apart from giving the reason for the move, Novak also thanked Pahor for trust and support. Novak was appointed to the post by Pahor in March 2018, and he assumed his duties in April that year. His five-year term would have ended in less than two years.
Bad bank chairman steps down
LJUBLJANA - The Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC), Slovenia's bad bank, announced that Franc Dover resigned as chairman of the BAMC's board of directors in a decision effective from 21 July and prompted by personal reasons. Dover was appointed a BAMC non-executive director by the government in February to replace Boris Novak, who was dismissed. Dover was to serve as a non-executive director until the end of 2022.
UKOM sends agreement for STA to sign
LJUBLJANA - The Government Communications office (UKOM) sent the Slovenian Press Agency a final draft of the agreement under which the STA is to provide the public service, expecting the agency to sign the document immediately. UKOM said the agreement, valued at EUR 2.028 million, took into account the costs of individual services of the public service as submitted by STA director Bojan Veselinovič. However, Veselinovič said UKOM failed to take into consideration a single of the STA's key remarks, calling for a new round of talks.
Social partners and regions get greater say in conference on EU future
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The executive board of the Conference on the Future of Europe decided to allocate more seats in the Conference Plenary to both regional and local representatives, and social partners, the Slovenian EU presidency said. The changes mean that the current 534-strong plenary will become a body with 550 representatives. "Today's update ... aims to bring Europe further beyond its capitals and gives greater voice to citizens from every walk of life," said Foreign Ministry State Secretary Gašper Dovžan, who co-chairs the board.
Amendments tabled to help foreign students
LJUBLJANA - A group of 40 MPs tabled legislation revoking the requirement that foreign students must provide proof of sufficient funding for their entire stay in Slovenia, which was enacted in May. Left MP Primož Siter said the legislation had unduly tightened conditions for studying in Slovenia by requiring students prove they have at least EUR 5,000 on their bank account. Previous legislation merely required that students present a statement from their parents to the effect that they will finance their children.
German donation for renovation of Jewish Cultural Centre
LJUBLJANA - The Jewish Cultural Centre Ljubljana and the German Embassy signed an agreement under which the German government will provide EUR 25,000 for renovation works. With the financial support, the centre's synagogue can be completed this year and reopen for worship in late autumn. Robert Waltl, director of the Ljubljana Jewish Cultural Centre, told the STA that the total investment for the renovation of the whole building is valued at EUR 1.2 million. The works are about halfway completed.
Eid al-Adha celebrations begin
LJUBLJANA - The Muslim community celebrates Eid al-Adha from 20 to 23 July. The main ceremony took place in the morning at the Muslim Cultural Centre in Ljubljana, with Mufti Nevzet Porić leading the prayer and stressing the importance of vaccination and personal responsibility. He endorsed calls by health experts for vaccination against Covid-19, expressing hope that closures of places of worship will not happen again.
Taxes and levies up 25% in first six months year-on-year
LJUBLJANA - The Financial Administration (FURS) collected EUR 9.34 billion in taxes and other levies in the first six months of 2021. This is up 24.6% year-on-year and also 8% more than in same period in 2019, show preliminary FURS data.
