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This summary is provided by the STA:
PM says Slovenia must do its homework regarding defence spending
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Arriving at a NATO summit, Prime Minister Janez Janša said Slovenia would not be able to reach the NATO target of 2% of GDP in defence spending by 2024, but it must do its homework. He noted that under the current government the spending trend had been reversed. In 2014, NATO members set the target of defence spending at 2% of GDP by 2024, of which a fifth for investments. Janša expects that by 2030 Slovenia will be able to say: "We're glad you're providing for our security but we can provide for our shared security in equal measure as well."
Janša sees China as NATO's key challenge
BRUSSELS, Belgium - China is NATO's key challenge, PM Janez Janša said ahead of a summit of NATO leaders he is attending together with Defence Minister Matej Tonin. "If we want the world not to be faced with a new fatal arms race or a hot conflict in the coming decades then NATO must be aware of that and stay strong," he said. "The world has changed in the last three decades and threats have changed as well. Some have remained, some are gone, but others have emerged," Janša said, adding that China was definitely a topic that will dominate not only this but future summits as well.
Logar, di Maio discuss bilateral issues, EU presidency
ROME, Italy - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Italian counterpart Luigi di Maio chaired the 7th session of the Coordinating Committee of Ministers between Slovenia and Italy. Bilateral issues were discussed along with Slovenia's upcoming presidency of the Council of the EU. In a joint statement signed after the meeting, the ministers voiced the desire for stronger cooperation in security and migrations, infrastructure, sustainable mobility, industry, the green transition, agriculture and forestry, science and higher education.
Labour minister presents presidency priorities at EU ministerial
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Janez Cigler Kralj, the minister of labour, family, social affairs and equal opportunities, presented the priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency under his brief to fellow EU ministers in Luxembourg, while he also held meetings with Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli and Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit. Slovenia is to work for a successful post-pandemic recovery, for a resilient and inclusive labour market that would ensure a decent living to workers in the EU and for a society that would not leave the most vulnerable behind.
Police commissioner presses charges against Left
LJUBLJANA - Police Commissioner Anton Olaj filed a criminal complaint against the opposition Left on suspicion of making false accusations against him in response to the party filing a complaint against him on suspicion of abuse of office. "The police will continue to act in an unbiased manner and under the legal principle of equality before the law. I will continue to defend freedom of expression under the framework of respectful discourse," said Olaj, highlighting that he had never urged an investigation against any political party.
Slovenia confirms 24 new cases of coronavirus
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 24 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, the lowest daily figure since late August last year. Just over a thousand PCR tests were confirmed, for a positivity rate of 2.3%, the latest government figures show. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population thus dropped to 130 and the rolling seven-day average of daily cases declined to 147. The number of people in hospital declined by one to 134, of whom 42 were in intensive care, down by three. Two persons with Covid-19 died yesterday, bringing the death toll to 4,722 since the start of the pandemic.
NLB shareholders to get dividends again
LJUBLJANA - While the NLB bank did not pay out dividends last year, this year shareholders will receive EUR 1.24 gross per share in two instalments in line with a decision adopted at a shareholders' meeting. NLB's distributable profit reached EUR 342 million in 2020, of which EUR 24.8 million will go for dividends in line with a proposal by the management and the supervisory board. CEO Blaž Brodnjak said dividends could be higher but were restricted by the regulator.
Fiscal rules mostly respected in the epidemic year of 2020
LJUBLJANA - The Fiscal Council found the implementation of the Slovenian budget to have been mostly in line with fiscal rules in the epidemic year of 2020. However, no measures were adopted to mitigate the expected negative effects of structural, mostly demographic pressures on the public finances. A deficit of EUR 3.9 billion or 8.4% of GDP was generated last year mostly due to the epidemic, which is the second largest deficit of the general government sector so far, the council said in a report.
TAB to launch production of lithium-ion cells in Prevalje
MEŽICA - TAB, the Mežica-based maker of starter batteries for cars and industrial batteries, has founded a joint venture with the Chinese company Haidi Energy Technology to produce lithium-ion cells in Prevalje. TAB CEO Bogomir Auprih told reporters TAB-Haidi was expected to launch production in spring 2022. Valued at about EUR 100 million, the plant is to create 300 jobs in the first phase. It will be the first production facility for lithium-ion cells in Slovenia.
STA supervisors appeal to govt to restore financing
LJUBLJANA - The head of the STA supervisory board called on the government to restore financing of the agency to make sure it survives as a going concern. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Janez Janša, chief supervisor Mladen Terčelj says the agency had delivered the documentation that had been requested. "The supervisory board finds this situation with the sent documentation unusual. It does not reflect the government's desire to examine the documentation, request additional information as needed and restore regular financing of the STA public service," said Terčelj.
Row over funding dominates debate on STA annual report
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Culture Committee got acquainted with the Slovenian Press Agency's (STA) annual report for 2020. The debate mainly revolved around ongoing suspension of STA funding and the new government regulation that details how the STA should perform its public service. Presenting the report, STA director Bojan Veselinovič noted a growth in the number of news items and social media followers as well as the agency's NewsMapper, an advanced article-tracking tool, making the European Commission's list of the best European innovations in 2020.
EUR 30m in EU funds on hand for digital transformation of SMEs
LJUBLJANA - A total of EUR 30 million in funds will be allocated to small and medium-sized enterprises in Slovenia as part of a call for applications for digital transformation of SMEs (P4D React EU), with the entire amount will be contributed by the European Regional Development Fund. The Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy said this was the 5th investment under the React-EU initiative promoting a recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.
Telemach rolling out 5G network
LJUBLJANA - Having acquired frequencies for wireless broadband in a national auction in April, the telecommunications provider Telemach announce the launch of its 5G network for 15 June. The service will initially be available to users in Ljubljana's town centre and commercial district BTC. Telemach was one of the four bidders to acquire frequency bands for the 5th generation wireless technology in April. It paid EUR 51.6 million for the frequencies to increase its spectrum 3.5-fold.
Share of undecided voters rises in latest Delo survey
LJUBLJANA - The average mark for the government's performance slightly increased for the second month in a row, from 2.43 to 2.47. in the latest poll run by the newspaper Delo, however more than half of respondents remain unsatisfied with the government. The ruling Democrats (SDS) remain in the lead, polling at 17.3%, roughly the same as a month ago. The share of undecided voters rose to almost 20%.
Slovenia ranks 9th in Agenda 2030 implementation
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia climbed three spots to 9th among 165 countries in the implementation of the Agenda 2030 sustainable development goals, according to a report compiled by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network under the wings of the UN, the Bertelsmann Stiftung foundation and the Cambridge University Press. Slovenia has fared best in eradicating extreme forms of poverty, providing for dignified work and economic growth, and guaranteeing peace, justice, and strong institutions.
Suspended sentences for four officers who sought to frame minister
LJUBLJANA - Four former and current police officers who organised a police patrol to pull over and breathalyze Public Administration Minister Boris Koprivnikar in 2015 received suspended sentences as the Ljubljana District Court wrapped up trial proceedings. Vojko Marguč, Miha Sakač, Zoran Petrović and Denis Kadirić were found guilty of organising via a private Facebook group a sting to pull over the minister, who at the time headed talks with the police who were on strike. The quartet had been dismissed from the force, but one of them had been reinstated after challenging the termination.
Maribor Theatre Festival kicks off
MARIBOR - Still Life - Nine Attempts to Preserve Life, a show by the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre directed by Tin Grabnar, lifted the curtain on the 56th Maribor Theatre Festival, while the competition programme starts on Friday. Running until 27 June, the Maribor Theatre Festival will be held fully in person. Last year's festival lasted only a day due to the epidemic, just to confer the Borštnik Ring, the country's main award for theatre acting.
