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A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here
This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia's EU presidency priorities: Safe, sustainable bloc ruled by law
LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a first draft of Slovenia's priorities during its stint as the presidency of the EU in the second half of 2021. The priorities are divided into three sets, focussing on a safe and sustainable EU which is based on the rule of law. Security and international affairs will give a certain focus on the Western Balkans and migration. Apart from measures to enhance the rule of law and basic EU values Slovenia will focus on dealing with challenges of sustainable development.
Minister reiterates police in control of migration
LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar is known for saying the Slovenian police are fully in control of migration. "If this was not the case, we would have more illegal migrants in the country, at railway stations, cities and abandoned buildings," he told the STA in an interview. "Slovenia being a safe country is a fact confirmed by international comparisons and many countries envy us on this," Poklukar said. He also praised police cooperation with Croatia and Italy.
EU asylum agency calls for faster procedures
BLED - The executive director of the European Asylum Support Office, Slovenian Nina Gregori, told the STA on the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum that asylum procedures should be made more efficient and swifter, and member states' standards for granting the asylum status should be unified. Gregori, who took over as the EASO head in June, said that the EU receives 50,000 requests for international protection per month on average. Last year's total exceeded 600,000.
Govt adopts amendments for effective legal remedy in public contracting
LJUBLJANA - The government adopted legislative amendments to provide effective legal remedy against infringements in public contracting procedures and boost the independence of the National Review Commission. The amendments will make it possible to challenge decisions by the National Review Commission in the Administrative Court. Candidates for commission members will be selected by a vetting commission appointed by the Judicial Council and endorsed by parliament.
Court of Audit rubbishes emergency departments project
LJUBLJANA - The Court of Audit lambasted the Health Ministry for poor planning of ten emergency departments around Slovenia, an EU-subsidised investment valued at around EUR 76 million. The project was not based on fact analysis, disregarded the geographical needs for new casualty departments, and was planned in such a way the departments could not be completed in time or within the budget. The court's report said that only 64% of all funds spent on the new departments (EUR 48.7 million) were by the book.
Conductor Zubin Mehta receives presidential decoration
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Borut Pahor conferred the Golden Order of Merit on the world-renowned Indian conductor Zubin Mehta, who was recognised for his contribution to music and the inspiring effort to connect people and nations with this form of art. The ceremony came ahead of a concert by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Mehta, which wrapped up the 67th Ljubljana Festival.
Filmmaker Andrej Zdravič wins Badjura Award
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian independent filmmaker and sound artist Andrej Zdravič will be honoured with the Badjura Award at the opening of the 22nd Slovenian Film Festival in Portorož on 17 September. Despite focussing on different subjects, resorting to different approaches and using different technologies, Zdravič's films are "an integral whole". Zdravič, 67, has made almost 40 films, as well as several video installations, which explore life and nature in relation to human and his or her spirituality.
Slovenia among top EU countries in reducing VAT gap
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia is among the top EU member states in reducing the share of uncollected value added tax (VAT) revenue, or VAT gap, according to a study for 2017 released by the European Commission. Slovenia reduced its VAT gap by around three percentage points to 3.5%. The most successful country was Malta, which reduced the gap by seven percentage points. The trend of the decreasing VAT gap was observed for the fifth year in a row in 2017, and is estimated to have decreased further in 2018.
Postal operator cleared to acquire logistics company Intereuropa
LJUBLJANA - Pošta Slovenije, the state-owned postal operator, received clearance from the Competition Protection Agency to acquire logistics company Intereuropa. The postal company acquired a 72% stake in Intereuropa from six banks in May and is now expected to publish a takeover bid for the outstanding stock. The value of the deal has not been disclosed, but the business daily Finance has reported the transaction being in EUR 40 million range, or EUR 100 million together with debt.
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