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.
A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here
This summary is provided by the STA:
Pahor and Steinmeier hail EU idea in memory of Wall fall
BERLIN, Germany - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked Slovenia for being a committed member of the EU along with Germany, after meeting President Borut Pahor over a working breakfast amid celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Pahor laid a wreath at the Berlin Wall Memorial and addressed a conference marking the anniversary. He described the Berlin Wall's fall as one of the most inspiring historical milestones of the 20th century and linked it to the European idea.
Šarec sees no alternative to EU membership for W Balkans
GENEVA, Switzerland - Prime Minister Marjan Šarec told the Strategic Dialogue on Western Balkans, held under the auspices of the World Economic Forum, that there is no alternative to EU enlargement in the region, echoing Slovenia's long-standing position that countries such as North Macedonia and Albania must join the EU as soon as possible. The prospect of EU membership is important for youths in the region and key keeping membership hopes alive an important motivation for continuation of reforms, stability, and resilience against third parties, Šarec said according to his office.
PM, aide to be quizzed about SOVA hiring
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Marjan Šarec, his state secretary Damir Črnčec and a number of senior officers of the intelligence agency SOVA will be questioned by the Commission for Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services over the agency's staffing. The decision by the opposition-controlled commission comes in the aftermath of reports implying Šarec had intervened to secure a job for a female acquaintance of his at SOVA. Commission chair Matej Tonin said the goal was to "secure comprehensive civilian oversight of intelligence and security services in a normal, sober way".
Intel commission adopts report on arbitration spy scandal
LJUBLJANA - The Commission for Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services adopted a report about intelligence aspects of the the Slovenia-Croatia border arbitration that commission chair Matej Tonin says reveals at least one person had lied. The commission examined the circumstances of 2015 wiretaps of communication between Slovenia's agent in the procedure and the Slovenian member of the panel of arbiters that led Croatia bail out on the arbitration declaring that the procedure has been compromised beyond repair. Only about ten percent of the 150-page report will be made public, presumably next week.
Cooperation opportunities with Vietnam in logistics, ICT and tourism
HANOI, Vietnam - Slovenia and Vietnam listed logistics, information and communications technology (ICT) and tourism as areas with most untapped potential for cooperation at the second session of the Slovenian-Vietnamese intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation, chaired by Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and his counterpart Tran Tuan Anh. The ministers met ahead of the session, noting the potential to strengthen cooperation in particular in transport and logistics, ICT and tourism
Bankers want dialogue with central bank about lending curbs
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Slovenian bankers discussed the consumer lending restrictions introduced by the central bank on 1 November, calling on Banka Slovenije to engage in dialogue with key stakeholders and calling the measure excessive and premature. Banka Slovenije Governor Boštjan Vasle urged waiting for the effects first. Bank Association director Stanislava Zadravec Caprirolo said that "all macroeconomic and macroprudential measures which were introduced by Banka Slovenije ... should have been taken after dialogue with key stakeholders."
Slovenia sees double-digit growth in foreign trade
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's foreign trade continued to grow apace in September with merchandise exports increasing by 15.2% year-on-year to EUR 2.96bn and imports rising by 13.6% to EUR 2.93bn, the Statistics Office reported. The country recorded a trade surplus of EUR 29 million and an export/import ratio of 101%. Exports in the first three quarters of the year rose by 9.6% to EUR 25.11bn and imports increased by 11.8% to EUR 25.14bn.
Industrial output up slightly in September
LJUBLJANA - The value of industrial production in Slovenia in September was 0.4% up compared to August, when it decreased by 2%, and 1.9% higher year-on-year, show the Statistics Office data. Industrial output in September in manufacturing increased on a monthly level by 0.3%, while in electricity, gas and steam supply, as well as mining and quarrying it was down 0.1% and 2.7%, respectively. Sales revenue in industry decreased by 0.2% compared to August, while it was up 1.3% year-on-year.
Petrol supervisors say ex management submitted misleading documentation
LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of energy trader Petrol, which had been subject to mounting criticism in recent weeks for failing to explain October's unexpected management board overhaul, said the former management had never put forward credible documentation to support plans that substantially departed from the company's strategy. The existing "material contained errors in the magnitude of several hundred millions when it comes to calculated cash flow and the amount of new debt needed to finance the investments". The former management meanwhile retorted by accusing the supervisory board of withholding information.
Syrian dies in front of police station in Ilirska Bistrica
ILIRSKA BISTRICA - A 20-year-old Syrian died on Thursday in front of the police station in Ilirska Bistrica due to hypothermia and exhaustion despite medical assistance and resuscitation attempts. According to the Koper Police Department, the 20-year-old called his brothers, who live in Germany as refugees, on the phone, asking them to come find him and sent them his coordinates. The brothers found the 20-year-old, taking him to the nearby police station, where the man died despite medical attention.
Ljubljana mayor potentially facing hefty tax bill
LJUBLJANA - Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković is potentially on the line for a significant tax bill stemming from transactions with companies owned by his sons, web portal Siol reported. The Tax Administration put a specific type of lien on his family house to the tune of EUR 335,000, a move it typically resorts to if it intends to issue a tax bill. While Janković has refused to comment on the details of the audit, Siol says the tax liability stems from payments the mayor had received from Electa Group, owned by his sons Jure and Damijan Janković.
Slovenia aims to lead circular economy transition in region
BLED - The Environment Ministry hosted an international conference on the circular economy, as Slovenia aims to become the leading country in the circular economy transition in the region and bringing together other countries to put in action this sustainable concept. The meeting titled Circular Economy in the Region - Integrated for Sustainability and Growth, was attended by representatives of Austria, Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia, including experts and environment ministers or ministry officials from these countries.
Visiting Ljubljana? Check out what's on this week, while all our stories on Slovenia, from newest to oldest, are here
If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here
