Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 20 July 2019

By , 20 Jul 2019, 02:04 AM News
Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 20 July 2019 JL Flanner

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Lenarčič highlights environment, research as portfolios of interest

LJUBLJANA - Janez Lenarčič, Slovenia's candidate for EU commissioner, highlighted environment and research as portfolios he is interested in, as he spoke to Slovenian correspondents in Brussels. "Personally and for Slovenia, I think portfolios that Slovenia used to have are very interesting, in particular environment as well as research and regional policy," he said. He also mentioned digitalisation, international development cooperation and enlargement. Lenarčič will be heard by the parliamentary EU Affairs Committee next Thursday. Its opinion is not binding on the government.

SID bank could become Slovenia's systemic bank

LJUBLJANA - Finance Minister Andrej Bertoncelj told the weekly Mladina in an interview that the SID Bank, Slovenia's development and export bank, had great potential to become the country's systemic bank following the privatisation of NLB. He expects a debate about this at the level of the state, after SID management draws up a new strategy. The minister announced that legislation to introduce a real estate tax would be drafted by the end of the year and could kick in on 1 January 2021.

Court of Audit to get more powers in state-owned companies

LJUBLJANA - The Finance Ministry has submitted for public debate a draft bill on the Court of Audit that expands the state auditor's powers in comes to companies co-owned by the state or by municipalities. The court can already audit legal entities of public law, as well as private companies that have received aid from the EU, the state or local budgets, which provide a public service or public goods as concessionaires and those with majority state or municipality ownership. Now its auditing powers are to be expanded to entities where the state, municipalities or public entities hold at least 20%.

State acquires another 21% in spa company Terme Olimia

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) announced it had acquired a 20.9% stake in spa operator Terme Olimia from NKBM bank, without disclosing the value of the deal. The acquisition will increase the state's interest in the bank to over 77%, so SSH will publish a takeover bid for remaining shares. The move is part of the government's plan to consolidate ownership in tourism and hotel companies under one roof, to be incorporated under the name State Hospitality Fund.

Corruption watchdog's panel complete again

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor confirmed the appointment of Simon Savski, a Justice Ministry security adviser, as one of two deputy heads of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption. Savski is joining Uroš Novak and the commission's head Boris Štefanec to complete the watchdog's three-member panel. Savski, who performed various tasks in the police force and the Interior Ministry in the past, is filling the spot vacated by Igor Lamberger, whose five-year term ended in June.

EU funds for reconstruction of Ljubljana marshes pile dwelling

LJUBLJANA - A project entitled the Interpretation of Biodiversity and Heritage of Pile Dwellings in the Ljubljana Marshes has been okayed for funding by the government. The EU-backed project will celebrate pre-historic life in the wetlands south of the capital with an interpretation centre, a reconstructed pile dwelling and connecting pathway. EUR 2.3 million has been earmarked in support of the project, of which nearly EUR 1.3 million will come from the European Regional Development Fund.

Four NASA space travellers of Slovenian origin

WASHINGTON, US - After Neil Armstrong claimed the Moon for the very first time 50 years ago, four US astronauts of Slovenian descent have visited space - Ronald Šega, Jerry Linenger, Sunita Williams and Randy Bresnik. All four of them have paid a visit to Slovenia and taken Slovenian symbols to space, including a national flag and a kranjska klobasa sausage. Bresnik met the legendary Neil Armstrong on his first day in his job in NASA in 2004. [More on this story here]

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