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This summary is provided by the STA:
MPs pass amendments to communicable diseases act
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed changes to the communicable diseases act in a 49 to 20 vote. While coalition parties backed the bill because it rectifies the segments of the law that were found to be unconstitutional, the opposition Democrats (SDS) voted against, and New Slovenia (NSi) decided not to oppose it by abstaining. The bill, which was drafted by the NGO Legal Network for the Protection of Democracy and was tabled by coalition MPs, imposes parliamentary oversight of Covid measures after the previous government's unconstitutional rule-by-decree.
SDS initiates referendum on act on the composition of government
LJUBLJANA - The opposition SDS initiated a referendum on the act governing the composition of government in a bid to thwart the new government's plans to expand the number of ministries. The party submitted 2,500 voter signatures at the National Assembly, which, once the signatures are counted, triggers a 35-day period during which the party must collect the 40,000 signatures needed to call a referendum. Since this window would fall on summer holidays, the signatures will be collected after 1 September.
SDS motions for referendum on RTVS fee and for changes to STA act voted down
LJUBLJANA - MPs rejected the Democrats' (SDS) motion for a referendum on the opposition party's own legislative proposal to scrap the compulsory subscription fee for public broadcaster RTV Slovenija. Also voted down was the SDS's proposal to have the government as opposed to parliament appoint the state's supervisors at the Slovenian Press Agency (STA). A number of other opposition-filed legislation proposals were rejected in parliament today, including an SDS motion addressing rules on the awarding of public licences to pharmacies deemed unconstitutional in some aspects by the Constitutional Court.
PM says Slovenia should meet NATO commitment of 2% of GDP sooner
MADRID, Spain - The government is expected to prepare a roadmap on the implementation of NATO commitments on defence spending within six months, said PM Robert Golob in a doorstep statement on the second day of the NATO summit in Madrid. Slovenia is currently expected to reach the 2% of its GDP mark in 2030, but this will need to be stepped up due to the global developments, he noted. A review of a deal involving the purchase of 45 Boxer APCs that was signed under the previous government will not have a significant impact on the implementation of the commitments, according to Golob.
Committee endorses Sweden's and Finland's bids to join NATO
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee endorsed motions for Slovenia to sign the NATO accession protocols of Sweden and Finland. Both countries decided to apply for NATO membership due to Russia's attack on Ukraine, and every country has the right to decide autonomously which alliance to join, committee members noted. The debate featured many condemnations of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, as well as some critical views of the Alliance and mainly the US. The coalition Left is against the motions, but PM Robert Golob said this was not a big deal.
New army force commander to take office on 1 August
LJUBLJANA - Major General Robert Glavaš, the chief of the general staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF), has relieved Major General Miha Škerbinc of his duties as the force commander, according to a report by the news portal 24ur.com which has been confirmed by the SAF. He will be succeeded by Glavaš's deputy, General Major Roman Urbanč, on 1 August, in what the SAF said was a "regular" replacement.
NBI gets new head in Boštjan Mlačnik
LJUBLJANA - Boštjan Mlačnik, who has so far served as the head of investigations, is taking over from Petra Grah Lazar as director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the police said. Igor Lamberger has been replaced as the head of service of the director general of the police by Uroš Lepoša, Grah's predecessor. Acting Police Commissioner Boštjan Lindav also appointed Stanislav Vrečar, so far the deputy police commissioner, to a senior position in the police force.
Brežan says latest Fit for 55 measures address climate challenges
BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU environment ministers on Tuesday endorsed a plan to end sales of vehicles with internal combustion engines as of 2035 and agreed on a general approach to all other legislative acts as part of the Fit for 55 package. Slovenia's Uroš Brežan said that the proposed measures adequately addressed climate challenges and the green transition, read a press release by his ministry. "In the negotiations, we succeeded in making Slovenia a beneficiary of funds from the Modernisation Fund," Brežan said.
Govt approves EUR 1.83m in subsidies to ten airlines
LJUBLJANA - The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology decided to distribute almost EUR 1.83 million to ten airlines in a public tender for subsidies to improve Slovenia's air connectivity with the world. The selected airlines will perform more than 700 flights between Ljubljana and other countries as part of the deal. The funding will support the existing air links provided by eight airlines and establish two new routes - Ljubljana-Dubai and Ljubljana-London.
Minority in Hungary urged to get organised ahead of census
FELSŐSZÖLNÖK/SZENTGOTTHARD, Hungary - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon has urged the Slovenian minority in Hungary to get organised ahead of the census in Hungary so as to maximise the number of those who pick Slovenian as their ethnicity. "The first challenge that awaits us is the census in Hungary, which is essential for the preservation of the national community," he said during an introductory visit to the community.
NGOs will not be evicted from Metelkova compound
LJUBLJANA - After her predecessor launched proceedings for the eviction of several NGOs renting out the Culture Ministry's premises in Ljubljana's Metelkova Street, Asta Vrečko, the new culture minister, announced that the procedures would be terminated. The ministry has also cancelled plans to give the premises to the Museum of Natural Sciences and announced that talks on a renovation of the building would start in the summer.
Melamin slowly getting back on track
KOČEVJE - After the deadly accident in May, the Kočevje-based Melamin chemical company is slowly restarting production. The biomass-fuelled boiler room and one manufacturing unit are in working order again, while the wood and the paper industry units are expected to restart by mid-July, director Srečko Štefanič said. 140 out of the 220 employees are back at work, others are furloughed or on annual leave or temporarily working for Melamin subcontractors.
Gorenje served by dedicated trains from Trieste
VELENJE - Slovenian home appliances maker Gorenje will be supplied by a new dedicated train from the Port of Trieste, which will deliver raw materials and components to Velenje twice a week. The first delivery with the Hisense train was made on Tuesday, the company said. In the future, the new train line will also ship end products from Velenje to Trieste and from there all over the world. The Trieste port has been chosen by the logistics firm Cosco, while Slovenia's Koper remains the main port for Gorenje, the company said.
Covid case count more than doubles week-on-week
LJUBLJANA - The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed in Slovenia on Tuesday is more than double of the figure from a week ago, as 1,056 cases were detected. The number of patients hospitalised with Covid as their primary condition was slightly down on a daily basis, and there were no Covid deaths yesterday. The 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 population rose by 28 on a daily basis to 389, and the 7-day case average is at 697, which is 55 more than on the day before, reported the national health authorities.
Plečnik in the eyes of Geoffrey James on display in Vienna
VIENNA, Austria - An exhibition of photographs by the acclaimed Canadian photographer Geoffrey James that marks the 150th anniversary of birth of the great Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik will open this evening at Architekturzentrum Wien in Vienna. It focuses on the social and emotional aspects of the transformation of Ljubljana done by Plečnik. It features photographs taken at different times of the day and seasons to explore the complexity of Plečnik's urban spaces.
Slovenian wins diatonic accordion European championship
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Danaja Grebenc won the 18th Diatonic Accordion European Championship in the Italian town of Attimis in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region on Sunday with the jury giving her a score of 100/100 points, her mentor Klemen Rošer announced. She was recognised for the most innovative arrangement of an original composition, won first place in her age group, and received a trophy as the absolute European diatonic accordion champion for 2022.