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This summary is provided by the STA:
EPPO appoints Slovenian prosecutors for full terms
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - The College of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) appointed Tanja Frank Eler and Matej Oštir as Slovenia's European delegated prosecutors for five-year terms, same as all the other delegated prosecutors. This was after the Slovenian government referred the two nominees, picked up by the State Prosecution Council nearly a year ago, to the EPPO last week, as what it described as a "temporary solution". Frank Eler and Oštir said they were pleased with the appointment and eager to start working. The EU Commission has also welcomed the two appointments.
Changes to appointment of EPPO prosecutors proposed
LJUBLJANA - The Justice Ministry put forward amendments to the act on the public prosecution that would give the government greater say in the appointment of Slovenian prosecutors delegated to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). The proposal stipulates that the Justice Ministry would get the power to propose candidates in the event that an insufficient number of prosecutors applied in the public call. The final decision on the appointment would be in the hands of the government, and not the Public Prosecutors' Council.
Janša and Morawiecki note similar views on border protection
LJUBLJANA - Hosting his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister Janez Janša pledged Slovenia's support for Poland in light of the migrant crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border. He said the EU should fund all measures to protect the bloc's external borders, arguing that physical barriers at the borders have proved to be effective in preventing illegal migration and violence. He noted that Slovenia had been striving to drum up major support for Poland in the migration crisis as the country that is currently at the helm of the Council of the EU.
MEPs acknowledge improvements in Slovenia, lament delays
STRASBOURG, France - The European Parliament conducted a debate on fundamental rights and the rule of law in Slovenia. MEPs acknowledged there have been positive steps made recently, but they also criticised the government for delays, in particular in the appointment of European delegated prosecutors. There were warnings that despite progress on certain key issues, in particular the prosecutors, there are still threats to democracy, highlighting issues such as reduced funding of the media, cyberbullying, SLAPP lawsuits, and threats against critics.
Janša says restrictions work if people comply
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša reiterated his call for vaccination against Covid-19 as he indicated in an interview for the Catholic Radio Ognjišče that a tightening of restrictions was not in the cards at present. He said that the closure of certain activities and services, if properly adhered to, can bring relatively quick relief in epidemiological terms. "But if we comply, measures related to the PCT rule can contribute significantly as well," he said in reference to the country's recovered-vaccinated-tested rule.
Logar discusses Bosnia's situation in EU Parliament
STRASBOURG, France - Foreign Minister Anže Logar raised concern about the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina as he addressed the European Parliament on Tuesday evening. Logar, who took part in the debate on behalf of the Council of the EU, called on the country's political leaders to give up provocative and divisive rhetoric and actions, including such that undermine the country's territorial integrity, and to commit to reforms. MEPs also expressed concern about the developments.
Coronavirus infections continue to fall
LJUBLJANA - The number of new coronavirus infections continued to fall on a daily and weekly basis, as 3,144 people tested positive on Tuesday, but the situation in hospitals remains alarming. The government reported that another 11 patients died, while 1,168 continue to be treated in hospitals, including 283 in intensive care. Health Ministry State Secretary Franc Vindišar said hospitals were so badly stretched they could no longer provide adequate level of service in case of a multiple casualty event.
Illegal migration down almost 40%
LJUBLJANA - Police dealt with 8,144 instances of illegal crossing of the border in the first ten months of 2021, nearly 39% fewer than in the same period last year. The most frequently processed illegal migrants were from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, who accounted for almost half of the total number. The police said the rise was currently slower than expected, with the area covered by the Koper Police Department remaining the most exposed.
Long-term care bill passes second reading
LJUBLJANA - The bill on long-term care passed second reading in parliament after it was heavily amended by the coalition. The bill offers institutional care, home care, care for a family member and financial compensation. All beneficiaries but those receiving institutional care would also be eligible for services aimed at strengthening and keeping their independence. It does not immediately solve the issue of financing, which will be dealt with in a separate act to be passed in 2024. Until then, the gradually rising costs of the new regulation are to be covered by the state budget.
Jasmina Cibic wins the 2021 Film London Jarman Award
LONDON, UK - Slovenian artist Jasmina Cibic won the 2021 Jarman Award handed out by Film London, worth EUR 10,000. The jury highlighted her projects NADA and The Gift, which was recently screened at the London Film Festival. Cibic was announced the winner at an event at the Regent Street Cinema on Tuesday. Based in London, Cibic (1979) works in film, sculpting, performance and installation. She broaches issues such as national identity, emergence of a state, soft power and relations within Europe in her works.
Actors urge debate on issues in culture sector
LJUBLJANA - The Association of Theatre Actors (ZDUS) sees the resignation of Igor Samobor as the director of Ljubljana's SNG Drama theatre as an opportunity for the public to get acquainted with issues in arts and culture and to call on politicians to act responsibly for the common good. They say the resignation is a result of "irresponsible cultural policy". Simoniti would not comment on the resignation until he was given the opportunity to appear on the late night news show on TV Slovenija like Samobor. He is due to appear there tonight.
Business sentiment improves in November
LJUBLJANA - Business sentiment in Slovenia improved in November after a brief slump, as the relevant indicator was up by 0.8 percentage points compared to October, and was 15.9 points higher year-on-year, the Statistics Office reported. Contributing the most to the improvement were the sub-indicators for sentiment in manufacturing and retail, which were up 1.1 and 0.4 percentage points, respectively.
Hydrogen filling station launched in Anhovo
ANHOVO/NOVA GORICA - A hydrogen filling station was launched outside cement maker Salonit Anhovo in western Slovenia as part of plans to make it one of the first carbon-neutral cement plants with minimum environmental impact by 2035. Tomaž Vuk, a member of the management board, said the filling station was the first step for the company on the path to carbon-neutral transport of cement. Anhovo is only the second such facility in the country after the first one opened in Lesce in north Slovenia in 2013.
Snowboarder Grilc dies in accident on Sölden slopes
SÖLDEN, Austria - Marko Grilc, one of the most accomplished Slovenian snowboarders, was killed in a snowboarding accident in the Austrian ski resort of Sölden on Tuesday. Media reports say the 38-year-old was part of a film crew inspecting a site for filming as he fell and hit his helmless head on a snow-covered rock in a closed section of the resort. Grilc had four podium finishes in the World Cup, with the sole victory coming in London in 2010 in acrobatic jumps.
