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This summary is provided by the STA:
Requirements for daily cross-border commuters simplified
LJUBLJANA - One day into the implementation of a changed decree that sets the coronavirus-related rules for border crossing, the government changed the decree once more to make it simpler for daily cross-border commuters and students. The rules that entered into force today required cross-border commuters and students to provide a negative test no older than seven days. Under the changes to enter into force on Saturday, the negative test will only have to be submitted for arrivals from countries whose 14-day number of cases per 100,000 population is higher than Slovenia's. At the moment, these are only Spain, Portugal and Czechia.
Stores and repair shops up to 400 m2 to reopen, provided staff get tested
LJUBLJANA - Additional businesses will be allowed to reopen under a government decree that is expected to take effect on Saturday, which significantly expands the testing mandate. Some but not all businesses which are currently open will have to test their employees on a weekly basis, including grocery shops, effective from 12 February. For some types of businesses that will now be newly open, both providers and customers will have to be tested.
Thursday's coronavirus count below 1,000
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 959 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the first time since late October that the daily increase in infections fell below 1,000 on a weekday, except for Christmas and New Year's Day, as the 7-day average fell to 1,076. 14 Covid-19 patients died. 779 infections were confirmed from 5,247 PCR tests and another 180 cases from 7,657 rapid antigen tests, for positivity rates of 14.8% and 2.4%, respectively. The tracker site covid-19.sledilnik.org shows the PCR positivity rate has not been this low since the first half of October. Hospitalisations fell by one to 988 and the number of intensive care patients by four to 161.
Advisory body recommends restricting AstraZeneca vaccine to under 65s
LJUBLJANA - The national advisory committee on immunization recommended restricting the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 to people aged 18 to 64, due to a lack of data on the vaccine's efficacy in older people. However, the committee, which acts as an advisory body to the National Institute of Public Health, recommends giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to immobile persons at home, regardless of their age. Slovenia is the latest European country to limit the vaccine to persons under the age of 65.
Four opposition parties file motion to oust culture minister
LJUBLJANA - The opposition Social Democrats (SD), Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), the Left and the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) filed an ouster motion against Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti. Talking to the press, opposition MPs listed a number of arguments, among them ineffective Covid crisis measures in the culture sector. The opposition holds the minister accountable for refusing to pay pre-agreed funds to film makers and for attacks on media freedom and independent journalism. It also believes he failed to uphold the principle of separation of church and state and tried to bend the culture sector according to the SDS policy.
Logar discussing EU and Mediterranean cooperation in Malta
VALLETTA, Malta - Foreign Minister Anže Logar was on a working visit to Malta meeting Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Evarist Bartolo, President George Vella and Speaker Angelo Farrugia to discuss a number of EU topics ahead of Slovenia's EU presidency in the second half of the year. Logar and Bartolo called for closer cooperation, including in tackling key issues in the Mediterranean, such as migrations.
Pahor and Janša address diplomatic corps
LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša and President Borut Pahor looked back at the country's achievements in 2020 and highlighted the priorities for 2021 as they addressed diplomats accredited to Slovenia as part of the annual, albeit virtual New Year reception. Janša pointed to trust, cooperation and solidarity as the key values and principles of cooperation in the neighbourhood and at regional level. He said Slovenia would build its policies in 2021 on the experience of cooperation, consolidation of mutual trust and solidarity from the pandemic year 2020.
Central bank says risks to financial stability remain high
LJUBLJANA - Risks to financial stability remain high at the start of 2021 as the economic situation remains tough, Banka Slovenije said, pointing to revenue and credit risks. Without quick and extensive economic policies the situation would be much worse, the central bank added. Despite the deterioration of the epidemiological situation and harsh business conditions in 2020, the banking system had generated a relatively high profit until November 2020. The central bank said a merger of two banks had a major impact on this.
EIB ready to co-fund Slovenia's post-crisis recovery
LJUBLJANA/LUXEMBOURG - The European Investment Bank (EIB) vice-president Lilyana Pavlova expressed the bank's willingness to help Slovenia financially after the Covid-19 crisis. The EIB has been active in Slovenia since 1977 and in this period it has allocated more than EUR 7 billion for various projects, Pavlova noted. In the past decade, it has invested over EUR 3.7 billion to support SMEs and infrastructural projects. Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj stressed the importance of investment for post-epidemic recovery.
Preliminary environmental approval issued for Magna expansion
HOČE - The Environment Agency issued a preliminary environmental approval this week for an expansion of the factory of the automotive giant Magna near Maribor. The document has been sent to the planing authorities. Magna's application will now be reviewed, whereupon a public consultation will follow involving environmental and other groups, and then an environmental approval can be issued as a precondition for a construction permit.
Govt keen to secure more places for medical, care students
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Prime Minister Janez Janša announced the government would secure extra funding to increase enrolment places for medical students, as the government met representatives of higher education and business on Thursday before it decides on the university enrolment plan. Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj argued that demand for healthcare and social care staff would remain the strongest in the future, as both him and Janša listed labour market surpluses of law, management, social sciences and similar graduates. University chancellors taking part in the debate urged the government to approve the uni enrolment plan.
Two petitions to review latest retirement provisions at top court
LJUBLJANA - Equal Opportunities Ombudsman Miha Lobnik filed a petition to the Constitutional Court to examine two provisions in the seventh economic stimulus law after trade unions represented on the Economic and Social Council already did that in late January. The provisions enable employers to unilaterally terminate the employment contract when a worker meets old-age retirement criteria - being 60 or 65 years old and having 40 or 15 years of pensionable service, respectively.
Slovenian MEPs say EU must insist on equal treatment over UK visa fees
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Several Slovenian MEPs from different political groups called on the EU to insist on equal treatment of all its citizens, as they responded to a report that citizens of five EU countries, including Slovenia, will have to pay more for their UK work visas. The news portal Politico reported that citizens of Slovenia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania and Romania are not eligible to a GBP 55 visa fee reduction enjoyed by nationals of all other EU member states.
Slovenia's annual deflation rate at 0.7% in January
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's consumer price growth remained negative in January, as the annual deflation rate stood at 0.7% mainly due to lower prices of fuels and energy (by 9.4%), the Statistics Office said. Year-on-year, prices of services increased by 0.4%, while prices of goods fell by 1.2%. Slovenia also recorded deflation at the monthly level, running at 0.4%, due to winter sales of clothing and footwear.
Three die in workshop explosion near Radovljica
RADOVLJICA - Three people have died in a blast in a carpentry workshop near Radovljica, the police said. The cause of the blast is unclear at this point. Kranj police spokesman Bojan Kos said it appeared the blast originated in a wood stove in a workshop that was not in active use.
Ski jumps: Double victory for Slovenian female team in Austria
HINZENBACH, Austria - Slovenia celebrated a double victory at the Women's Ski Jumping World Cup as Nika Križnar bagged her first World Cup victory, followed by Ema Klinec. "It's a dream come true. I've been wanting to win a World Cup event for a long time," Križnar said.
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