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This summary is provided by the STA:
Interior Ministry draws up bill to reform asylum system
LJUBLJANA - The Interior Ministry announced it had drafted changes to the international protection act envisaging solutions for a more effective strategy to tackle a growing number of asylum seekers and prevent any abuse of the system. The proposal re-introduces a possibility of bringing an appeal before the Supreme Court, the ministry said, highlighting that instances of such an abuse were on the rise as well. Slovenia saw some 3,820 requests for international protection in 2019, more than 30% up on 2018. The bill has entered public consultation and could be debated until 22 July.
Eleven new Covid-19 cases confirmed out of 843 tests on Thursday
LJUBLJANA - In a total of 843 tests performed in Slovenia, 11 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, while no deaths were recorded, according to the most recent data from the government. This brings the total tally to 1,558, while the death toll remains at 111. Eight patients required hospital treatment, two were in intensive care. Four cases were confirmed in Škofljica, three in Škofja Loka and one each in Ljubljana, Prebold, Kobarid and Ljutomer.
Slovenia welcomes EU Commission's efforts to aid members overcome crisis
LJUBLJANA - Cohesion ministry representatives of the Visegrad Group and Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia and Slovenia shared in a video conference on Thursday, expressing the view that EU cohesion funds would play a key role in overcoming the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences. Representing Slovenia, Monika Kirbiš Rojs, state secretary at the Government Office for Development and Cohesion Policy, welcomed EU's crisis recovery plan.
Mladina's editorial board files criminal complaint against Počivalšek
LJUBLJANA - The editorial board of the weekly paper Mladina has filed a criminal complaint against Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, suspecting him of abuse of office in the procurement of protective and medicinal equipment during the coronavirus epidemic. The magazine reported the complaint had been filed with the state prosecution on Wednesday and that Počivalšek is suspected of enabling illegal gains to certain private companies by abusing his office and overstepping his powers.
Officials praise police on Police Day, promise full support
TACEN - Addressing the main ceremony ahead of Police Day, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs and Police Commissioner Anton Travner thanked members of the police force for their professional work and sacrifice. Hojs promised stepped up action against paramilitary groups if needed and support in the protection of the border. The event at the Police Academy was tied to the day in 1991 when police clashed with the Yugoslav People's Army at a border crossing with Austria on the first day of the 10-day Independence War, Hojs and Travner also commented on some of the recent developments involving the police force.
Left wants 80% compensation for all workers sent into quarantine
LJUBLJANA - The opposition Left submitted to parliament a proposal to reinstate 80% pay compensation for workers ordered in quarantine irrespective of the circumstances. Workers are presently only entitled to 50% after coronavirus stimulus measures regulating this were lifted on 31 May. The party argues that 80% is required because of the need for basic justice and social protection as well as to prevent people choosing not to report contacts with infected individuals.
Brdo-Brijuni summit postponed
LJUBLJANA - The summit of the Brdo-Brijuni Process of cooperation in the Western Balkans that President Borut Pahor was scheduled to host next Monday at Brdo pri Kranju has been cancelled due to the deteriorated epidemiological situation in Balkan countries. Pahor's office said that upon being briefed on the latest situation in the initiative's participating countries, the president had to inform his counterparts that he needed to postpone the meeting. A new date has not yet been set. Participation had been confirmed by the presidents of all participating countries, and the interest expressed is one of the reasons why Pahor hopes the epidemiological situation will improve and allow the meeting to take place soon.
SAF rotation in Kosovo executed after two-month delay
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) executed a new rotation of a part of their contingent in NATO's KFOR mission in Kosovo, the first after the eruption of the coronavirus pandemic. All the rotated members tested negative before being sent home, but they will still be subjected to 14-day self-isolation in Slovenia. A part of the next rotation, the 41st, is taking over, while the remaining members of the 40th contingent are expected to return at the start of July, the Defence Ministry said. The rotation was delayed in line with a decision taken by Defence Minister Matej Tonin at the start of April.
Protesters voice opposition to govt and fences, put poet in chains
LJUBLJANA - Anti-government protesters took to the streets of Ljubljana in what have become traditional Friday rallies. They packed Prešeren Square where they protested over police erecting fences and put chains around the monument of Slovenian leading poet France Prešeren in a symbolic move to warn about the cultural crisis. Several thousand then toured the capital, but kept away from Republic Square even though the venue, otherwise a popular place for assemblies and rallies, was not fenced off this evening as it was previous Friday, a government decision that has raised a lot of dust.
Cannabis use among Slovenian youngsters above intl. average
LJUBLJANA - The National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ) highlighted on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse the problem of widespread cannabis use among Slovenian adolescents. An international study places Slovenia among the countries with the highest shares of 15-year-olds using cannabis. The institute pointed to the 2018 HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children WHO collaborative cross-national survey) report that showed an average of 13% of 15-year-olds in the 45 participating countries have already used cannabis. The share for Slovenia is 21%, which ranks the country 7th.
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