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This summary is provided by the STA:
EU finance ministers cautiously optimistic at Brdo meeting
BRDO PRI KRANJU - EU finance ministers were optimistic about the health and economic situation in the EU and eurozone, noting it was significantly better than expected months ago. However, they also cautioned that the danger was not over yet and plenty of challenges remained as they held talks in Brdo pri Kranju. European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni said an ECDC analysis confirmed the EU's vaccination campaign had been a great success, while ECB President Christine Lagarde said the current situation was better than expected months ago, urging ongoing decisive action and cooperation.
Janša named CEE person of the year at Karpacz Economic Forum
KARPACZ, Poland - Prime Minister Janez Janša received the award for person of the year in Central and Eastern Europe at the Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland. In his speech, he underlined the region's key role in the bloc and its Christian heritage. "Central Europe is defined by Christianity. In this the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity as core ideas of European integration were born from Catholic teachings. What is more, Central Europeans have defended the European way of life through history," he was quoted as saying. Janša also appeared at a panel on post-Covid recovery along with the Polish and Ukrainian prime ministers, Mateusz Morawiecki and Denys Shmyhal.
Janša meets IMF executive director, OECD sec-gen
LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša met IMF executive director Kristalina Georgieva and OECD secretary general Mathias Cormann to discuss the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global economy and recovery plans. The meeting with Cormann also focussed on other challenges OECD members are currently faced with. Cormann also met Foreign Minister Anže Logar, with the pair expressing optimism about the global economic recovery and noting the need to change international standards in taxation of digital economy.
Georgieva and Cormann are in Slovenia for an informal session of EU finance ministers.
Pahor, Poklukar and Covid advisors urge over-50s to vaccinate
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor hosted a meeting with Health Minister Janez Poklukar and members of the government Covid advisory group held over the coronavirus outbreak. They called for vaccination, especially for all over 50 years of age, with Poklukar announcing the government could declare a state of epidemic again if deemed necessary as hospitals were filling up with Covid-19 patients of all ages. Poklukar said around 24,000 people got a job so far this week.
Almost 1,000 new coronavirus cases confirmed on Thursday
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 998 new coronavirus infections for Thursday with the positivity rate standing at 19.2%, show the latest official data. Hospitalisations continued to rise as four Covid-19 patients died, government data shows. A total of 278 patients were hospitalised this morning, up by nine on the day before, including 61 in intensive care, down by two. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population increased by 22 to 416.
Slovenians distrustful of government on EU recovery funds
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenians are the least likely of all EU citizens to trust their government that EU recovery funds will be used properly, according to a Eurobarometer survey. The other countries where people are least likely to trust their government are Slovakia and Hungary, while Luxembourgers, Danes, Finns and the Dutch trust their governments most. The EU average stands at 44%. The survey was carried out ahead of the State of the Union speech by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Over 60 ethnic Slovenians repatriated from Venezuela
LJUBLJANA - A total of 63 ethnic-Slovenian residents of Venezuela have so far been repatriated to Slovenia. All of them are doing well, with many of them already in employment, and students included in the education system, the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad said. So far no major problems have been detected in the repatriation process, said the office after the second session of the inter-ministerial government task force in charge of coordinating the process.
Pahor pays tribute to former Portuguese president
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor offered his condolences to his Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on the death of the country's former President Jorge Sampaio. In a post on his Twitter profile Pahor described Sampaio as a great statesman who promoted dialogue, solidarity and freedom. Pahor said Sampaio "will be remembered in Slovenia as a genuine friend who contributed to friendly relations between Slovenia and Portugal as early as 1990s".
No progress on social dialogue after first round of talks
LJUBLJANA - Although social partners seemed ready to restore dialogue on the Economic and Social Council (ESS) at a meeting with President Borut Pahor at the end of last month, the first round of talks brought no progress. Trade unions called it a "big disappointment", saying the government still did not understand the role of the ESS. The unions said the government insisted the ESS was a government advisory body although ESS rules say it comprised of three equal social partners.
KSJS urges govt to meet its financial obligations towards STA, RTV Slovenija
LJUBLJANA - The KSJS confederation of public sector trade unions called on the government to meet its obligations towards the public media, chiefly to pay for the public service performed by the STA and provide adequate funding for public broadcaster RTV Slovenija. KSJS said the state's obligation is to ensure that public media function and develop. However, as things stand now, the implementation of the public service in the media, "and thus the communication rights of all of us", are hampered.
Crunch meeting calls for DeSUS MPs to resign
LJUBLJANA - The Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) held an in-camera meeting to discuss the relationship with the party's MPs. Party leader Ljubo Jasnič said the meeting had proposed for the party council to call on the MPs to resign. If the council supports the call on Thursday but the MPs fail to heed it, Jasnič is not ruling out his resignation. He indicated the same if the council failed to support the call for the resignation, which would however not be binding on the MPs.
Avto Aktiv acquired by Hungarian group
BUDAPEST, Hungary - The Hungarian group Autowallis is expanding in Slovenia, having submitted a binding bid for the takeover of car dealership Avto Aktiv after acquiring the BMW dealership segment of the company A-Cosmos last year and being a certified representative of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in the country, and as of this year Opel as well. Avto Aktiv, which sells BMW, MINI, Jaguar, Land Rover, Toyota and Suzuki, and provides maintenance services, has an annual turnover of over EUR 50 million.
Ljubljana graphic arts biennial paying tribute to Iskra Delta
LJUBLJANA - The 34th Ljubljana International Biennial of Graphic Arts opened in several venues in the capital. Running until 21 September, the biennial runs under the title Iskra Delta, the name of a former Slovenia-based computing company and one of the largest producers of computers in Yugoslavia, which went bust just before the collapse of the former state. But it also also looks towards the future by featuring young artists.
