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This summary is provided by the STA:
Criteria met for orange tier easing of coronavirus restrictions
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 357 coronavirus infections on Monday from a total of 11,253 tests and 945 patients with Covid-19 were treated in hospitals, in what continues to an improvement in the epidemiological situation. The country thus met both thresholds for entering the orange tier of restrictions - the number of hospitalisations and the seven-day average of new cases below 1,000. The government will decide on the further easing tomorrow.
All pupils through third form back at school
LJUBLJANA - Pupils in the first three years of primary school throughout the country - that is including in the last three regions - returned to face-to-face teaching in line with last week's government decree. Both parents and teachers have welcomed the move, expressing hope that the remaining students may soon follow suit. All kindergartens also reopened, but some had significant staffing issues due to sick leaves unrelated to Covid-19.
Secondary school students boycott remote learning
LJUBLJANA/VELENJE - A number of secondary school students around the country boycotted remote learning to demand in-person teaching at secondary schools. The boycott came after the Education Ministry failed to respond to the We Want School! group's call for a meeting over the issue by 8 February. A local youth organisation in Velnje also staged a protest, while Maja Kalin of the DOS organisation of secondary school students said a little less than half of all students wanted to go back to school.
Additional shops reopen much to delight of clerks and shoppers
LJUBLJANA - Additional stores reopened as the government allowed in-person shopping in all stores under 400 square metres. The shops could have opened on Saturday, but most reopened today since they had trouble testing their staff. Employer representatives meanwhile said they expected that, as agreed, that state would cover the costs of coronavirus tests. They would like the matter to be regulated as part of a new legislative stimulus package.
Troop presence in Kosovo to be reduced, but W Balkans remains priority
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will reduce the number of its troops in the NATO-led KFOR mission in Kosovo, its biggest contingent in the Western Balkans. Its military presence in operations and missions in the region nevertheless remains one of the key priorities, but quality will be preferred over quantity, explained the head of the Defence Ministry's Defence Policy Directorate, Uroš Zorko. Part of the troops from the region will be redeployed to other operations and missions, such as the ALTHEA operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the EUTM mission in Mali and restructured missions in Iraq.
MEP Zver signs letter urging EU foreign policy chief to resign
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenian MEP Milan Zver (EPP/SDS) is among more than 70 MEPs who have signed a letter urging the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to resign after what the critics see as his "humiliating" visit to Russia on Friday. His party colleague Romana Tomc has not signed it, but expressed great disappointment with the visit, which she said was a diplomatic fiasco. Klemen Grošelj and Irena Joveva (both Renew/LMŠ) meanwhile said the letter was a response to "the humiliation the EU experienced" during the visit, but concealed a key problem of the EU not having a uniform foreign policy.
Slovenia's exports down 2% in 2020 as imports fall 6%, figures up in December
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia saw its goods exports fall by 2% to EUR 32.9 billion last year as imports declined by 6% to EUR 32 billion. As a result, the country recorded a surplus of EUR 900 million, the second highest in a decade, after posting a deficit in 2019, official statistics show. Releasing fresh data, the Statistics Office reported that exports had decreased mainly due to a decline in trade with EU member states (-8.8% to EUR 21.995bn), while trade with countries outside the EU increased (+15.3% to EUR 10.881bn).
Slovenia calls for cooperation in dealing with Covid fallout at 17+1 summit
LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek expressed Slovenia's willingness to work together with China and the other 16 Central and East European countries involved in the 17+1 initiative in tackling the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, as he addressed a virtual summit of the initiative. Chinese President Xi Jinping as the host of the 9th summit focused in his address on the battle against the pandemic and the post-pandemic recovery, connectivity and green cooperation between China and the 17 CEE countries.
Macron accepts Pahor's invitation to Brdo-Brijuni summit
LJUBLJANA - French President Emmanuel Macron officially accepted an invitation to attend the Brdo-Brijuni Process summit to be hosted by the Slovenian and Croatian presidents in Slovenia this spring in a letter to Slovenian President Borut Pahor. Because of the epidemic, the exact date of the summit has not been set yet. The summit marking the 10th anniversary of this initiative for the Western Balkans has been postponed twice already due to the epidemic.
Health Inspectorate examining minister's meeting
LJUBLJANA - The Health Inspectorate is looking into an event Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek attended on Friday in the aftermath of media reports suggesting his meeting with local officials and businessmen in a restaurant may not have been held in compliance with coronavirus restrictions. Počivalšek denied the allegations, saying that business-to-business services were permitted and that the local small-business chamber had picked "a place that complied with preventive measures".
EU Commission approves aid scheme for public transport providers
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission approved Slovenia's EUR 20 million scheme to help public transport companies overcome the coronavirus pandemic, during which public transport has been either suspended completely or significantly limited. One of the conditions for the aid is that funds for an individual company do not exceed EUR 1.8 million and that they be granted no later than the end of this year.
Slovenian minority calls for spirit of reconciliation on Italian memorial day
TRIESTE, Italy - The two umbrella organisations of the Slovenian minority in Italy have written to the Slovenian and Italian presidents, Borut Pahor and Sergio Mattarella, expressing hope that the Italian National Memorial Day of the Exiles and Foibe would be observed on Wednesday in "the spirit of sincere reconciliation".
Hungarian Slovenians get recognition for helping out during pandemic
SZENTGOTTHARD, Hungary - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch visited the Slovenian minority in Hungary to reward with with a special medal the two umbrella organisations for helping Slovenia during the coronavirus pandemic. She also meet their representatives to discuss current challenges and future plans and congratulated Porabje editor-in-chief Marijana Sukič on the upcoming 30th anniversary of the only Slovenian newspaper in Hungary.
Writers opt out of independence anniversary celebration
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Writers' Association (DSP) announced on Monday that it would not take part in the celebration of Slovenia's 30th independence anniversary following revelations that PM Janez Janša has banned some government officials from speaking to the press. President Borut Pahor, who heads the organising committee, said in a response that he would like to see the DSP continue participating in the preparations for the anniversary celebrations.
Protest after riot police enter Metelkova compound
LJUBLJANA - Several dozen riot police entered the AKC Metelkova alternative culture centre on Monday evening, ostensibly to check whether clubs are closed, a move that prompted protests by the proprietors of Metelkova clubs and the artists and craftsmen who have studios there. The officers entered the compound after policing two protests in central Ljubljana, but the police dismissed allegations of intimidation attempts. The opposition Left intends to request an emergency session of a parliamentary commission as it believes the developments are moving the country towards the reign of terror.
Screen exposure of Slovenian children more than doubled during lockdown
LJUBLJANA - During last spring's lockdown, Slovenian children spent 6.69 hours a day in front of screens on an average school day, of which schooling accounted for 3.85 hours. This is much higher than the European average for 2018 of 2.6 hours a day for all activities altogether, showed an international survey on the experience of children and youth with on-line risks during the first lockdown today to mark Safer Internet Day.
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