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This summary is provided by the STA:
Janša says EU recovery plan must be agreed before summer break
BRUSSELS, Belgium/LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Janša underlined that the EU must come to an agreement on the coronavirus recovery plan before the summer break, as he addressed his counterparts in a video-conferenced summit. Delays would have detrimental effects on the financial markets, he said, adding that a week "may mean billions".
Two new coronavirus cases confirmed on Thursday
LJUBLJANA - Two new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Slovenia on Thursday, one in Ljubljana and the other in Koper, bringing the total number of infections since early March to 1,513, the latest government data show. 902 coronavirus tests were carried out yesterday, and eight Covid-19 patients were in hospital, of whom one needed intensive care. The death toll has remained at 109 since the last Covid-19 patient died on 31 May.
Unsuitable masks delivered to hospitals, only fraction returned
LJUBLJANA - Yet another faulty personal protection equipment (PPE) deal has been uncovered in Slovenia, after it transpired that 150,000 masks unsuitable for use in healthcare had been distributed to hospitals. When this was determined about a month later, only some 26,400 had been returned to the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. The masks were delivered by the company ART-PE, which signed two contracts with the Commodity Reserves Agency to deliver a total of just over EUR 1 million worth of protective masks and gloves suitable for use in healthcare.
Advisory meeting stresses need to restore and upgrade exports
LJUBLJANA - The need to restore and upgrade Slovenia's export routes, which are the main driving force of the country's economy, was highlighted as the council for internationalisation, an advisory body to the government, met under the leadership of Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Foreign Minister Anže Logar. The ministers said that the session had focused on the kick-starting of the economy after the epidemic and the need for coordinated government measures to achieve this.
EU Commission allows Slovenia to redistribute EUR 275m cohesion funds
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission has approved Slovenia's plan to redistribute EUR 275 million in cohesion policy funds for measures to alleviate the effects of the coronavirus epidemic in the country. The funds will be spent in healthcare, programmes for SMEs, job preservation, protection of vulnerable groups and digitalisation of education.
NSi leader hopes demographic office, fund to be in place in autumn
LJUBLJANA - New Slovenia (NSi) leader Matej Tonin said demographic challenges were now a key topic under discussion in the coalition. If the coalition works hard enough, Slovenia could have a national demographic fund and a demographic office up and running already in the autumn. The fund, which has been long in the making, should not only provide funds for the elderly, for pensions, but for the entire population, encouraging a higher birth rate and attracting highly-skilled Slovenians back to Slovenia, Tonin said.
SMC leader says it's time to calm political passions
LJUBLJANA - Now that it has successfully tackled the coronavirus epidemic, Slovenia should close ranks to unlock the political and economic potential to the benefit of the country, Modern Centre Party (SMC) leader Zdarvko Počivalšek, economy minister, said as he assessed the Janez Janša government's first 100 days in office. He highlighted restarting the Slovenian economy, digitalisation, R&D investment, cutting red tape, balanced regional development, and calming political passions and disharmonies as the main tasks ahead.
Logar discusses strengthening of bilateral cooperation with Ukrainian FM
LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar talked to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba over the phone, with the pair agreeing that bilateral cooperation between Slovenia and Ukraine should be further strengthened. Apart from discussing the preparations for a potential second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the ministers also touched on the security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
Slovenian army successfully completes Leap exercise
CERKLJE OB KRKI - A ceremony was held at the army airport Cerklje ob Krki to mark the conclusion of Leap 2020, the biggest military exercise this year. According to Defence Minister Matej Tonin, the exercise has shown the Slovenian army is alive and well, and at the country's disposal. Noting that 59 municipalities had supported the exercise, Tonin stressed that the government was working on improving the situation in the army, including by improving the working conditions of soldiers, and creating the basis for the army's long-term development.
Man stopped at gunpoint at border denies orchestrating incident
LJUBLJANA - The man who was stopped at gunpoint by a Slovenian soldier on the Slovenian-Italian border in early May denied allegations that he had orchestrated the incident. "I have nothing against the military, nothing against the soldier," Daniel Malalan told RTV Slovenija on Thursday. Malalan, a member of the Slovenian ethnic community in Italy, said he had wanted to remain anonymous, but when some media outed him and accused him of radical leftist views, he decided to speak up.
Police physically remove protesters reading Constitution
LJUBLJANA - Anti-government protesters again took to the streets across Slovenia. In Ljubljana, some of the protesters entered the square outside the Parliament House which had been completely fenced off, to read the Constitution. After refusing to move, they were physically removed by the riot police.
Over 20,000 employees already registered for short-time work
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian employers have submitted requests for short-time work subsidies for 20,556 employees just a week after the scheme designed to help businesses weather the crisis came into effect, show data by the Employment Service. Short-time work subsidies are the centrepiece of the latest economic stimulus package and are available until the end of the year.
Consumer confidence slowly up after April's plunge
LJUBLJANA - After a sharp drop in April amid the coronavirus lockdown, Slovenia's consumer confidence improved in June for the second month, rising by 9 percentage points compared to May, but still remaining 16 points below the long-term average, show the latest Statistics Office figures released. The consumer confidence indicator is now 29 points lower than in June 2019 and 26 points lower than last year's average.
SIJ will not pay out dividends this year
LJUBLJANA - The general meeting of Russian-owned steel maker SIJ unanimously decided to leave the entire least year's distributable profit of EUR 108.6 million undistributed, the company said on the web site of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange. Steel manufacturer SIJ posted a net profit of EUR 44.9 million for 2019, a 816% year-on-year increase, which is largely the result of the sale of poultry producer Perutnina Ptuj. Group sales revenue declined by 3.3% to EUR 767.4 million and profit before income tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was up 4.7% to EUR 58.8 million.
Slovenia violating Human Rights Convention in sending migrants to Croatia, debate hears
MARIBOR - A day before World Refugee Day, a debate in Maribor heard that Slovenia is in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights because it has been sending illegal migrants back to Croatia, knowing that their human rights would be violated. Organised by the Institute of Ethnic and Regional Studies, the debate discussed the situation along the Balkan migration route.
Ministry plans new legislation to improve Roma situation
NOVO MESTO - Minister Janez Cigler Kralj visited Novo Mesto to meet local authorities and representatives of the Roma community. He announced his ministry would prepare a set of legislative measures to address the Roma situation by autumn, but did not elaborate, saying they should be first thoroughly examined by all stakeholders. His visit comes after a group of eleven mayors from the south-east of the country wrote to Prime Minister Janez Janša last week complaining about the problems with the Roma community, especially regarding violence and crime.
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