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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:
Slovenian soldiers staying in Iraq for now
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian soldiers deployed in the German-led international operation Inherent Resolve will remain in Iraq for now since they are in a relatively safe region in Erbil. In the event of a deterioration of the situation, they can be pulled out on short notice, Slovenian authorities said. Due to increased risk, several measures have been adopted at Erbil base where six Slovenian soldiers are stationed. Defence Minister Karl Erjavec said Slovenia could pull out its troops "within hours" if needed.
Court upholds Mercator share seizure
LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana District Court has fully upheld the Competition Protection Agency's decision to temporarily seize Mercator shares from the retailer's owner, Croatian group Agrokor, rejecting the latter's appeal. The anti-trust watchdog announced the court's decision upon receiving it today, while Agrokor's successor Fortenova announced it would use all legal means available to have the seizure annulled. The agency seized 70% of Mercator shares from Agrokor on 16 December to ensure the insolvent Croatian group pay a EUR 53.9 million fine for failing to notify it of the 2016 takeover of Slovenian-based bottled water company Costella.
Slovenia issues EUR 1.5bn bond at record low interest rate
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia successfully completed a EUR 1.5 billion ten-year eurobond issue, leveraging market appetite for fixed assets to secure a record-low coupon interest rate of 0.275%. The last bond issue a year ago came with a coupon rate of 1.188%. The bond issue makes Slovenia the first eurozone country to tap the bond market this year and the issue size covers almost the entire planned borrowing of EUR 1.58 billion for 2020.
Slovenia advocates easing of tensions over Iran
LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Miro Cerar has voiced support for a de-escalation of tensions in the conflict between Iran and the United States. "It is necessary to calm down the situation, prevent the triggering of any violence or threat," he said. "Slovenia's position is that we have to do everything to de-escalate tensions, to prevent the conflicts from escalating. It is also important that civilisational norms and international law be respected," Cerar added. "Any attacks on civilians, diplomatic and consular missions or cultural monuments are inadmissible."
Left wants Slovenia to pull out of NATO mission in Iraq
LJUBLJANA - The opposition Left called on the government to withdraw immediately from the NATO-led Inherent Resolve mission in Iraq and bring home the six Slovenian troops serving there and an officer deployed at the US military command centre in Tampa, Florida. The call follows the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani by the US. The party also plans to request a session of the Foreign Policy Committee to discuss the situation in Iran. The party wants the body to condemn the violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity by the US targeting Iran.
Cerar finds EU enlargement increasingly likely
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Foreign Minster Miro Cerar believes that with the new European Commission, EU enlargement to the Western Balkans is increasingly more likely. He also announced the region's EU prospects would be a priority of Slovenia's EU presidency in the second half of 2021. Speaking at an event on the Western Balkans organised by the Institute for Strategic Studies in Ljubljana, Cerar said the region should be given the prospect of an EU future. "I'm increasingly optimistic about enlargement, even if we had some bitter moments last year," he said.
Jobless total up in December due to fixed-term jobs elapse
LJUBLJANA - The number of people out of a job registered with Slovenia's Employment Service increased in monthly comparison in December as many fixed-term contracts expired at the end of the year. A total of 75,292 persons were registered as unemployed at the end of December, up 4% from November but down 4.1% from December 2018. A total of 7,954 people registered as freshly unemployed in December, which is 31.8% more than in November and 9% more year-on-year. Most of the newly unemployed, 4,668, were workers whose fixed-term contracts expired at the end of the year.
Bank bailout documents released by central bank
LJUBLJANA - The central bank has released documents related to the erasure of holders of subordinated bank liabilities in the 2013 bank bailout, under a law that provides legal recourse to those affected. Released are the documents relevant to the wipe-out of EUR 963 million worth of qualified liabilities affecting up to 100,000 individuals, shareholders and holders of junior bonds. They include decisions ordering measures for each of the banks bailed out by the state, and documents revealing the content of contractual relationships with the entities involved asset quality reviews, stress tests and property appraisals.
Court upholds law banning pharmacies from owning wholesalers
LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court announced it had rejected a petition in which Lekarna Ljubljana, the company operating a chain of pharmacies in greater Ljubljana, challenged a law prohibiting pharmacies from owning or controlling drug wholesalers and advertising pharmaceutical products.
Fugitive tax debtor apprehended
LJUBLJANA - Following three months of police search, runaway tax debtor Zlatan Kudić was apprehended on New Year's Eve, reportedly in central Ljubljana. One of the biggest tax debtors in the country, Kudić will await the end of his tax fraud trial in detention. The Financial Administration (FURS) should not hold out much hope of recovering EUR 25 million worth of his debt. Moreover, it is questionable whether Kudić formally has any assets left at all.
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