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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:
Authorities seek to reassure public over coronavirus
LJUBLJANA - In the wake of the novel coronavirus spreading in Italy, health authorities in Slovenia said no additional protective measures were needed for healthy population in the country. They denied the rumours of patients testing positive for the virus in Slovenia. After the Secretariat of the National Security Council met to discuss the situation, PM Marjan Šarec said proportionate measures would be taken in coordination with neighbouring countries. He said Slovenia would close its border with Italy should that prove necessary.
Pahor to meet Milanović on Thursday
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will host his new Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanović on his first trip abroad in Otočec in eastern Slovenia on Thursday. Pahor's office said that the two heads of state would meet over a working lunch at Otočec Castle after which they will address reporters. This will be the first meeting between the pair since Milanović was sworn in as Croatia's president on 18 February. He made mending relations with Slovenia one of his election promises.
Cerar urges reform progress in W Balkans
THESSALONIKI, Greece - Foreign Minister Miro Cerar urged Western Balkan countries to make reform headway as he addressed a high-level conference in Thessaloniki designed to push forward the stalled EU enlargement process to the region. Cerar highlighted "the need for in-depth reforms, in particular in rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime". But he added that reforms needed to go in lockstep with the enlargement process to motivate countries in the region to take reforms.
POP TV poll latest to detect SDS surge
LJUBLJANA - Janez Janša's Democrats (SDS) continue to surge in the polls, with a survey commissioned by POP TV the latest to show them overtaking the party of outgoing Prime Minister Marjan Šarec. The SDS added over four points on the month before to 18.2%, whereas the LMŠ lost almost two points to 13.4%. The Left in third held steady at 7.3% while the Social Democrats lost just over a point to 6.1%. Over a fifth of respondents were undecided and almost a tenth did not opt for any of the parties listed or refused to answer.
Assembly for Republic calls on parties to be inclusive
LJUBLJANA - As the talks on the formation of a centre-right coalition government are ongoing, the right-leaning outfit Assembly for the Republic called on the parliamentary parties to be constructive, inclusive and cooperative. In what is a third public letter sent by various groups to the parliamentary parties in recent weeks, the civil society organisation urged MPs to endorse "statesmen capable of displaying greater political culture and commitment to the country."
Protest, book launch mark start of hearing for extraditing Assange
LJUBLJANA - A protest was held in front of the UK Embassy in Ljublja as Britain started hearing a US case requesting extradition of WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange. Much like in other towns around the world, the protesters called for media freedom and the freedom of speech. Publisher Sanje launched Assange's unauthorised autobiography today, a first-person narrative based on the interviews that writer Andrew O'Hagan had made with Assange.
Opposing bills filed on contentious issue of vaccination
LJUBLJANA - Modern Centre Party (SMC) MPs tabled amendments to the contagious diseases act, aiming to improve the immunisation rate to 95% by limiting access of unvaccinated children to kindergartens. The step coincided with the non-parliamentary party For Healthy Society submitting to parliament a proposal to abolish mandatory vaccination altogether. The party collected 5,000 signatures in support of its proposal and believes it can garner enough support for its passage.
Coronavirus so far not affecting Slovenian economy
LJUBLJANA - The novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak has so far had no profound effect on Slovenia's economy, but problems have arisen in certain areas. Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said that the government was deliberating mitigation measures, such as subsidies to compensate for shorter working time. The minister pointed out though that any measures to protect public health must not interrupt the flow of goods.
Business sentiment improves for third consecutive month
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian firms appear to be upbeat, although still more pessimistic than a year ago. The business sentiment index rose over a percentage point in February, the third consecutive month of growth, on the back of improved sentiment in manufacturing and retail, the Statistics Office said. Business sentiment is almost four percentage points lower than a year ago: all sectors except retail are more pessimistic than in February 2019.
Start-up support fund invests EUR 4m in five companies
LJUBLJANA - A new fund established by the start-up support community Silicon Gardens has raised EUR 4 million from successful Slovenian companies in three months to invest in five digital start-ups. The Silicon Gardens II fund is targeting to raise EUR 5 million to help start-ups enter foreign markets. The investors include the Slovenian subsidiary of the Swiss sports data analyst Sportradar, video game developer Outfit7, software company Cosylab and e-commerce companies Studio Moderna and Mimovrste.
Paradajz investing EUR 6m in new tomato greenhouse
TURNIŠČE - A subsidiary of Paradajz, the produce maker based in Turnišče in north-eastern Slovenia and best known for its tomato brand Lušt, will construct a 2.4 hectare greenhouse to grow tomato in the autumn and winter in an investment worth EUR 6 million. The investment, which is expected to create between 20 and 25 jobs, has won a EUR 1.7 million state subsidy.
Ancient rhino remains unearthed at rail constriction site
ČRNI KAL - Preparations of the site for the construction of the Koper-Divača rail track have unearthed 120,000-year-old rhinoceros bone fossils. The excavations will continue for the next three weeks, with the rail project put on hold during this period, said 2TDK, the company managing the project, on Monday. The excavation site is a filled Karst cavity, with three major bones and a number of small, fragmented pieces dug up so far.
Festival of Mountaineering Film kicks off
LJUBLJANA - The 14th Festival of Mountaineering Film opened with the screening of The Sweet Requiem, a film about a Tibetan refugee who escaped to India with her father as a child. Running until 1 March in six towns across the country, the festival will see 37 films in the competitive section. The entries from 20 countries will compete in four categories: mountaineering, climbing, mountain nature and culture, and mountains sports and adventure. The awards will be given out on Saturday.
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