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This summary is provided by the STA:
Janša, von der Leyen discuss rule of law
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Rule of law was one of the main topics discussed during the visit by the College of Commissioners. Prime Minister Janez Janša said that in a rule of law, final decisions are in the hands of courts. "We have problems with independence of courts in Slovenia, we acknowledge that and we've never concealed it. We discussed this today in an intensive debate with the European Commission." According to Janša, the fundamental problem with rule of law in Slovenia is that "we have largely not satisfied the recommendations that we got when we entered the EU." Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was important to always respect the rule of law and European values. She said trust was the EU's most valuable asset. This includes trust in an independent judicial system and in independent media, with sufficient financing.
PM says procedure to appoint EDPs could be concluded by autumn
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Prime Minister Janez Janša said the procedure to appoint European delegated prosecutors (EDPs) from Slovenia could be wrapped up by the autumn, as he answered a reporter question at a press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Janša said that Slovenia had its own legislation on the basis of which it would appoint its European delegated prosecutors, adding that the procedure was being repeated due to "complications". "How fast the procedure will be depends on those who participate in it ... in my assessment it could be concluded by the autumn if everybody does their job."
EU enlargement a response to strategic challenges, says Janša
BRDO PRI KRANJU - EU enlargement is one of Slovenian EU presidency priorities and a response to strategic challenges, Prime Minister Janez Janša said after a meeting between the government and the EU Commission delegation marking the start of the presidency stint. In the next six months there will be a return to addressing enlargement as a strategic response to open issues. EU enlargement is a strategic response to many challenges, he said. "In the past decade, when [enlargement] was not at the forefront, we have seen that someone else has been extending to the Western Balkans and not to spread freedom and the rule of law." The Slovenian presidency will work on resolving dilemmas and reaching a consensus on enlargement among member states, he said.
Post-covid recovery front-and-centre of Slovenian presidency
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Prime Minister Janez Janša and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the EU's post-covid recovery as a major issue that Slovenia's EU presidency will deal with. The events over the past 15 months had shown that "the EU has been part of the solution during this time," according to Janša, who said resilience, recovery and the EU's strategic autonomy were among the Slovenian presidency's priorities. Von der Leyen said Slovenia was taking over the presidency at an inflection point for the bloc. "The Slovenian Presidency will be decisive. The tasks will be challenging. It is no less than laying the ground for our future prosperity... And in this endeavour, you can count on my constant support and the College's cooperation."
Von der Leyen expects STA financing to be sorted out
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Media freedom was one of the topics that the College of Commissioners discussed as they met the government at the outset of Slovenia's presidency of the EU. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expects that Slovenia will swiftly sort out the financing of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) and ensure its independence. She said free and critical media which exercise oversight of governments were "the central element of any democratic society", noting that the Commission's concerns regarding the STA were well known and that the Commission had repeatedly voiced the expectation that the issue would be resolved. Prime Minister Janez Janša said that after the government recently adopted a regulation on the STA's public service, "we've now hopefully arrived at a solution and that this issue will be off the agenda".
EU Commission endorses Slovenia's recovery plan
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission endorsed Slovenia's EUR 2.5 billion national recovery and resilience plan. Pending confirmation by member states, Slovenia will be able to draw EUR 1.8 billion in grants and EUR 705 million in loans. Slovenia will spend the funds, equivalent to 5.4% of the country's GDP, to support 33 reforms and 50 investments laid out in the plan. Slovenia's plan earmarks 42.4% for green goals and 21.4% for digital goals, with 30% set aside for the promotion of smart and inclusive growth, 15% for health, and 13% for digital transformation.
Opposition not calling a truce during presidency
LJUBLJANA - The centre-left opposition rejected the coalition's call for a political truce during Slovenia's EU presidency. They are determined to continue to use all the available means at their disposal and are not ruling out a new attempt at a vote of no confidence. The LMŠ said that if they gave up the instruments at their disposal as the largest opposition party they would also give up democracy. Similarly, the Left said it "could not and must not" change its positions about the the ruling coalition's record in office for the sake of the presidency. The SAB said the opposition would continue to "keep an eye on the government".
Commissioner Timmermans eschews family photo
BRDO PRI KRANJU - The European Commission's Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans did not participate in the family photo after a meeting of the College of Commissioners and the Slovenian government, reportedly due to Prime Minister Janez Janša's comments about links between Slovenian judges and the Social Democrats (SD). Matjaž Nemec, an SD deputy, said on Twitter that Timmermans refused to join the photo in protest at Janša showing a photo from a May Day picnic at which several judges were in the company of SD politicians, construing it as proof that the party controls the judiciary. Several international media confirmed the version of events.
Appeal by two non-appointed delegated prosecutors struck down for being premature
LJUBLJANA - The Administrative Court has struck down an application by the pair of prosecutors who have been approved for Slovenia's European delegated prosecutors before the government annulled the appointment procedure on procedural grounds. In a decision announced today, the court said it had set aside the lawsuit and the request for a temporary stay on the government's decision because the plaintiffs filed the suit before actually receiving the government's decision on the matter.
Pahor to call on govt to revive social dialogue
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will propose that the government try to find adequate solutions for resuming social dialogue as soon as possible, Pahor's office said after the president held a meeting with representatives of largest trade unions, who presented the reasons for suspension of social dialogue and Economic and Social Council. The trade unions warned that some key decisions and laws on social and economic policies had been adopted without social dialogue. Despite their numerous calls for respect for relevant rules, the situation has not improved.
New Ljubljana airport terminal welcomes first passengers
BRNIK - The new passenger terminal at the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport received its first passengers in what the airport operator labelled as a landmark in Slovenian aviation history. "It is a great event ... as Slovenia has gotten infrastructure that it had long desired," Fraport Slovenija director Zmago Skobir told the press.
Slovenia reports 23 new coronavirus cases for Wednesday
LJUBLJANA - A total of 23 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in Slovenia on Wednesday in 1,623 PCR tests, the National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ) announced. Both the 7-day average of new cases and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population currently stand at 25. There were no Covid-19 deaths yesterday for the sixth day in a row.
NE region promised investment boost as govt visits
MARIBOR - Podravje, Slovenia's second largest region, was offered the prospect of EU-subsidised investment for a development breakthrough as the government toured the north-east on Wednesday with Prime Minister Janez Janša saying the goal was to keep young people, in particularly the highly-educated, at home.
Congress Square to be centre stage of this year's Ljubljana Festival
LJUBLJANA - A concert by the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev, will kick off the 69th Ljubljana Festival tonight. As the Križanke open-air venue is under renovation, Congress Square will be this year's main venue. The events will move to the Cankarjev Dom art centre and the city's main fairgrounds in case of bad weather.
