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This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia imposes stricter rules on border with Croatia to prevent imported coronavirus cases
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will impose stricter rules on its border with Croatia starting on 19 June to prevent the import of new coronavirus cases, after the bulk of new cases in recent days was found to have originated abroad. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia were put on a black list of countries from where arrivals are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine regardless of residence status in Slovenia or nationality, while the number of quarantine exemptions was reduced and conditions for exemptions tightened. Eight new coronavirus infections were confirmed on Wednesday and 26 in the past two weeks. Half the cases were imported and the majority of the other new cases contacts of the arrivals.
Pahor urges electoral reform, says Slovenia could descend into political chaos
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor warned MPs against any delays in securing Constitutional Court-ordered electoral reform, saying a situation could occur where it will not be possible to execute a legitimate election. "This would push our county into a constitutional crisis or even political chaos and must not happen," he said. This was only the second time a Slovenian president addressed the National Assembly of his own accord.
Projects worth almost EUR 8bn to get priority treatment
LJUBLJANA - The government compiled a list of key investments that will be given priority treatment in administrative procedures so as to help kick-start the economy. The list currently features 187 investments worth EUR 7.7 billion and will be updated on an ongoing basis, Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak said. This new approach could halve the duration of certain administrative procedures. The list includes major investments such as the second unit at the Krško nuclear power plant, the Koper-Divača rail upgrade and the north-south expressway known as the third development axis.
Minister sees Slovenia achieving NATO spending target by 2026
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia could achieve the NATO goal of spending 2% of GDP on defence by 2026 after having laid out plans to invest EUR 780 million in defence over the next six years, Defence Minister Matej Tonin said after a two-day meeting of NATO defence ministers. The law securing the investment funds was finalised and might be adopted by the government next week, in what Tonin said was "a big step forward".
PM highlights role of Eastern Partnership for EU future
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Janez Janša took part in a videoconference of Eastern Partnership leaders. He stressed the strategic and geopolitical importance of the Western Balkans and Eastern European partners for the future of the EU. Janša said the bloc's future could not be outlined without all Western Balkans countries and at least some of the six Eastern Partners as its members.
Slovak poet Mila Haugova wins this year's Vilenica Prize
LJUBLJANA - Slovak poet Mila Haugova is the winner of this year's Vilenica Prize for Central European literature, which will be presented at the conclusion of the 35th Vilenica International Literary Festival in September. Born in Budapest in 1942, Haugova is considered one of the most esteemed and prolific Slovak poets and has been widely translated. She appeared as a guest at Vilenica in 2000.
Minister presents ventilator numbers, says more intensive care beds needed
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia presently has 680 medical ventilators, 439 of which are suitable for Covid-19 treatment, Health Minister Matjaž Gantar told the press as confusion about the ventilator numbers continued in recent weeks. The minister pointed out this number by far exceeded the number of intensive care beds as well as properly trained staff. Gantar said that the 168 figure he provided during his ministerial confirmation hearing at the start of March had been given to him by health centres and referred to ventilators suitable for Covid-19 and available at the time.
Slovenia among countries with highest Covid-19 prison release rates
STRASBOURG, France - Slovenia released 16% of its prisoner population during the coronavirus outbreak, one of the highest rates in Europe, according to a Council of Europe report. European countries freed more than 122,000 prisoners in prevention against the spread of infections during the pandemic. The largest proportion of prisoners, as many as 35%, was released in Turkey, followed by Cyprus and Slovenia, which let 16% of their prisoners out of jail, and Portugal with 15%.
Slovenian workers of Magna paint shop sent to Graz
HOČE - The automotive multinational Magna has decided against reopening its car paint shop near Maribor for now an is instead reassigning the bulk the 200 workers at the new Slovenian location to its facility in Graz, Austria. The head of Magna Steyr Maribor-Hoče David Adam said that the plan was to get through the current uncertain stage as calmly as possible, which is why the decision was made to offer all employees work in Austria until operations are resumed in Slovenia.
Ex-infrastructure minister says key rail project going south
LJUBLJANA - Former Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek warned that the transfer of 2TDK, the company in charge the new Koper-Divača railway line project, onto another legal entity, as planned by the coalition, and potential changes to the tender for the main works would significantly increase the cost and prolong the project. The implementation of the project "is going in the wrong direction," she said, adding that any changes would disrupt ongoing procedures.
Bank profits halved in first four months
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian banking system generated EUR 96 million in pre-tax profit in the first four months of the year, which is less than half of the profit recorded in the same period in 2019. In April, the growth of loans to the non-banking sector decreased to 5.5% at the annual level, showed a monthly report by Banka Slovenije.
Transavia link to Amsterdam being restored
LJUBLJANA - Dutch low-cost carrier Transavia, which will fly between Ljubljana and Amsterdam three times a week, has become the sixth airline to return to Ljubljana airport after regular passenger transport was restored there on 29 May. More routes are expected to be revived in the coming weeks, but it is not yet clear when the links with Munich and Zurich will be back.
Accommodation booking portal launched
LJUBLJANA - Moja Slovenija, an accommodation booking portal, was launched as the Slovenian tourism industry is trying to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Only around 60 Slovenian tourism companies are featured for now, but the idea is to bring together as many as possible. the portal will offer all sorts of facilities, from mountain huts to the most luxurious hotels, said Viljam Kvalič, a co-founder of www.mojaslovenija.org.
Rarely seen, damaged Jakopič works go on display
LJUBLJANA - Rarely seen paintings by Rihard Jakopič (1869-1943), a pioneer of Slovenian Impressionism, will go on display at Moderna Galerija, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, today. Many of the works will be shown in various stages of the conservation process, as the exhibition wants to highlight the conservation challenges.
23 September declared Slovenian Sports Day
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed legislation proclaiming 23 September Slovenian Sports Day. The new public holiday will not be a work-free day. 23 September marks the day in 2000 when Slovenian athletes first won Olympic gold medals since the country's independence.
Slovenia get Denmark, France and Montenegro at handball euro
VIENNA, Austria - The Slovenian woman's handball team will play at the European Women's Handball Championship in December in the preliminary group A in Denmark's Herning along with the host nation, France and Montenegro, determined Thursday's draw in Vienna.
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