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This summary is provided by the STA:
Fit for 55 package in focus as Slovenia's EU presidency starts
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia presented to reporters in Brussels the priorities of its presidency of the Council of the EU with the Fit for 55 legislative package attracting the most interest. Slovenia's Permanent Representative to the EU Iztok Jarc said Slovenia hoped for a breakthrough in accession negotiations with Northern Macedonia and Albania by September to provide for a better atmosphere ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Slovenia on 6 October.
MEPs call on European Commission to take action on Slovenia
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Five MEPs and a German MP called on the European Commission and the European Council to take measures regarding the situation in Slovenia. They think that the Commission should trigger the mechanism under which funds are conditional upon the respect of the rule of law due to pressures on the media and judiciary. The call was made in a letter signed by MEPs Daniel Freund and Sergey Lagodinsky (Greens), Stelios Kuloglu (GUE/NGL), Ramona Strugariu (Renew) and Lara Wolters (S&D) and the German MP Franziska Brantner.
Koritnik calls for cross-Atlantic partnership in digitalisation
LJUBLJANA - Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik called for Europe to make use of cross-Atlantic partnership in its digital transformation as he took part in an online panel organised by the think-thank GMF, which was also attended by Andre de Aragao Azevedo, the Portuguese secretary of state for the digital transition, and Karan Bhatia, vice president for government affairs and public policy at Google. Koritnik argued that digital transformation and development of innovation in the EU would only be possible if Europe stayed open for new technologies and digital solutions.
Pahor to host Austrian and Croatian presidents in mid-July
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will host his Austrian and Croatian counterparts, Alexander Van der Bellen and Zoran Milanović, respectively, on 15 July. The trilateral meeting will discuss the future of the EU and challenges the bloc faces in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The presidents will focus on post-pandemic recovery that should be used as a stepping stone to environmentally-friendly sustainable development as much as possible, Pahor's office said.
Reserve police being called in ahead of EU presidency
LJUBLJANA - The government decided to call in reserve police to make up for absences as active police force members take on additional tasks to protect the events during Slovenia's presidency of the Council of the EU. The force also needs help to secure the border and to provide the security at sporting events. About 2,000 reserve police deployments are estimated to be required, with an additional 240 at the monthly level if checkpoints similar to those during the Covid-19 epidemic were required.
EBRD upgrades Slovenia's GDP forecast to 5% growth this year
LONDON, UK - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) upgraded by 1.5 percentage points its GDP growth forecast for Slovenia in 2021 to 5%. The institution expects that Slovenia's economy will expand by a further 4% next year. The bank said that the key factors of the Covid-related contraction were private consumption and investments, which were down 9.7% and 4.1%, respectively. Slovenia, as a small and open economy strongly integrated in global value chains, also felt shocks in international trade, although exports of goods started recovering by the end of last year, it added.
Slovenian army to test, train on Pipistrel aircraft
AJDOVŠČINA - Slovenian military pilots are to train on and test aircraft produced by the light aircraft maker Pipistrel under an agreement signed by Defence Minister Matej Tonin and Pipistrel director Ivo Boscarol in Ajdovščina. The sides also agreed a special partnership that includes efforts to obtain EU and NATO funds for development projects. Tonin said the Slovenian Armed Forces would be testing Pipistrel aircraft to become "greener" and contribute to greater representation of the Slovenian defence industry in the national defence system.
Brussels Airlines returns to Ljubljana airport
LJUBLJANA - Air carriers keep returning to Ljubljana airport as, after more than a one-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a Brussels Airlines aircraft touched down at Brnik again on Monday. The Belgian flag carrier currently operates three flights a week to and from Ljubljana, and the number of flights is expected to increase. At first, the largest Belgian airline that returns to Ljubljana airport just about Slovenia is to assume the six-month EU presidency will be operating flights on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays.
Slovenian-Chinese business cooperation discussed
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian-Chinese Business Council hosted a debate on opportunities of international companies in Slovenia in Chinese or mixed ownership and the experience of their Slovenian managers, who said that the experience was a positive one despite certain challenges. The debate also featured Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Chinese Ambassador Wang Shunqing, with the former assessing that China is the most important trade partner to Slovenia outside the EU.
Luka Koper shareholders get EUR 1.14 gross per share dividend
KOPER - The port operator Luka Koper will pay out dividends of EUR 1.14 gross per share as shareholders endorsed a counter-proposal by Slovenian Sovereign Holding. The decision means that EUR 15.96 million will be paid out for dividends, and the remaining EUR 30.64 million in distributable profit for 2020 will remains undistributed. Five Luka Koper supervisors, capital representatives, were appointed at at the initiative of the state assets custodian.
35 coronavirus cases confirmed on Monday
LJUBLJANA - Out of 1,643 PCR tests performed in Slovenia on Monday, 35 returned positive for the positivity rate of 2.1%. There were no Covid-19 deaths reported for the third day in a row, show fresh official data. The number of hospitalised patients dropped by three to 71 this morning, and the total of those in intensive care also fell by three to 19. The 7-day average of new cases now stands at 29 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population has dropped to 31.
Waters act debate hosted by Pahor expectedly hears divergent views
LJUBLJANA - A debate on the amended waters act ahead of the 11 July referendum, hosted by President Borut Pahor, saw the proponents and opponents of the changes expressing divergent views. The former believe that the state of waters will improve or at least not deteriorate, while the latter warned about various interpretation possibilities. The University of Ljubljana also joined the debate ahead of the referendum, saying that the changes enabled exceptions for construction on water land. Adding exceptions for construction on sensitive areas opposes the goals of the EU water directive, it added.
Ceremony at Holmec remembers first Slovenian police casualties
HOLMEC - A ceremony marking Police Day and the 30th anniversary of the independence war battle at the Holmec border crossing was held on Monday, noting the importance and achievements of the Slovenian police and the challenges ahead. On the occasion, the former border facility was named after the two police officers who fell in the battle. President Borut Pahor said at the ceremony that Holmec was a symbol of determination, courage and sacrifice of Slovenian police officers, who together with the Territorial Defence had managed to defend the border crossing.
20 years since agreement on succession to Yugoslavia signed
LJUBLJANA - It is exactly 20 years since an agreement was signed by the countries successors to Yugoslavia to divide the obligations and property of the former common state. The office of the high representative for succession has told the STA that Slovenia is constantly striving for active resolution of open issues. The agreement, mediated by the international community, was signed on 29 June 2001 in Vienna by the foreign ministers of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (legal successor is Serbia) and Macedonia (now North Macedonia).
President to decorate Pogačar, Roglič and Garnbret
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will decorate riders Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič and climber Janja Garnbret with the Golden Order of Merit for their exceptional sporting achievements, for establishing Slovenia in global sports and for being an inspiration to people, his office announced. Roglič and Pogačar rank at the top of the UCI rankings, while Garnbret is a serious contender for gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the first time that climbing will be included in the Games.
