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This summary is provided by the STA:
No change in China position as Slovenia, Taipei to open representative offices
LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar told the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee that Slovenia and Taipei intend to open mutual economic and cultural representative offices, the committee's chair Monika Gregorčič told the press after the session. This does not mean that Slovenia's position on one-China has changed. Logar said as he headed into the session called because of PM Janez Janša's recent statements on Taiwan that there had been "no divergence from our position".
Govt acquainted with Slovenia's rule of law report
LJUBLJANA - The government got acquainted on Thursday with responses to the European Commission's questionnaire which is part of preparations for the next EU's Rule of Law Report. Although these are confidential, N1 news portal obtained the draft document, saying it contains value judgements reflecting the views of the ruling SDS as it problematises some judges' appointments. The government authorised the Foreign Ministry to forward the document to Brussels, which should happen in the coming days.
Lenarčič hopes forces in favour of EU values win election
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Janez Lenarčič, Slovenia's European commissioner, expressed the hope that forces which are sincerely in favour of fundamental EU values such as the rule of law win the Slovenian general election in April, as he warned against a return to one-party rule of the kind Slovenia had experienced in the past. The EU is more than just a single market, it is a union of values and it is not possible for every member state to have its own view on the rule of law based on its traditional values or historical experiences, he said in an interview with Slovenian correspondents in Brussels.
Health and social care unions call strike for 16 February
LJUBLJANA - Trade unions representing staff in health and social care announced a strike starting on 16 February citing the government's failure to resume talks to resolve the remaining pay disparities as agreed. The unions demand for talks to start immediately and for norms and standards in healthcare and social care to be adopted in agreement with the 2018 strike demands. They are angered because the government adopted negotiating positions for talks with doctors but not with them.
Over 16,500 coronavirus cases on Thursday
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 16,571 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, the second highest daily tally since the start of the pandemic, after an all-time high on Tuesday. Seven more Covid-19 patients died, as the number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 increased by 11 to 719. ICU cases were up by nine to 134, government data show. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 people increased by 458 to 7,272.
Committee wants vetting of judges with Yugoslav bar exam
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Justice Committee asked the Judicial Council to conduct an analysis of whether judges who had passed the bar exam in former Yugoslav republics qualify for the job. Another resolution asks the government, Supreme Court and Judicial Council to draw up legislation that will ensure the transparency of the judiciary, shorten procedures, and provide appropriate oversight. The session had been called by the coalition SDS and NSi and the opposition SNS, which framed the debate as an attempt to restore people's trust in the judiciary and safeguard its independence, while the centre-left opposition walked out.
Police bust international tobacco-smuggling ring
MARIBOR/CELJE/LJUBLJANA - An international criminal ring that illegally manufactured tobacco products in Slovenia and smuggled them across the EU has been dismantled by the Slovenian police and the Financial Administration (FURS), in cooperation with French security authorities and Europol. More than 38 tonnes of tobacco, machinery and other materials for illicit production were seized in total, a joint statement by the police and the FURS said.
Retail revenue up almost 19% last year
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian retailers recorded a surge in business last year as revenue in retail in real terms was up 18.9% from 2020 and up 6.9% compared to 2019. The Statistics Office reported the largest rise, by almost 33%, was recorded by shops specialised in sale of motor fuels. Retail sales of non-food products went up by 17.4% and retail sales of food by 7.3%. Retail revenue in December was up 44.2% year-on-year, and up 24.8% compared to December 2019.
Survey unemployment rate slightly down in December
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's ILO-compatible survey unemployment rate stood at 4.6% in December last year, down by 0.1 percentage point on November and 0.7 percentage point year-on-year. The Statistics Office estimates there were some 49,000 unemployed people aged 15-74 in Slovenia in December. Men accounted for roughly 60% of this estimate and women 40%. The unemployment rate was 5% among men and 4.2% among women.
Hisense Europe to hire up to 400 new workers
VELENJE - The Hisense Europe Group, which includes the Velenje-based maker of household appliances and TV sets Gorenje, is looking for new employees to respond to new orders. Hisense wants to hire between 250 and 400 new staff, alongside an additional 60 technologists, machinists, goods handlers and engineers. The company said it would recruit staff abroad if it could not find them in Slovenia, and offer them free Slovenian language courses.
UniCredit Slovenia posts lower 2021 profit
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian subsidiary of UniCredit, the Italian banking group, saw its net profit drop by 54% last year to EUR 6 million despite slightly higher revenue, show figures released by the parent company. The Italian group is present in Slovenia with the bank UniCredit Banka Slovenije, leasing company UniCredit Leasing and real estate manager UCTAM Upravljanje. The group's consolidated revenue in Slovenia rose by 2% last year to EUR 72 million.
Unior net sales up to EUR 169 million last year
ZREČE - The state-owned tool maker and automotive supplier Unior saw its net sales go up by 22% in 2021 to EUR 169 million. This year Unior Group consolidated net sales are expected to reach EUR 272 million, an increase of 13.6% compared to the 2021 sales estimate, according to the report released by the Zreče-based company on the website of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.
RTV Slovenija gets new supervisory board
LJUBLJANA - A new supervisory board of RTV Slovenija held its maiden session, electing as chief supervisor Borut Rončević, a board member appointed by the government. The new team will supervise the broadcaster's business operations until 2026. The eleven-member board features five members appointed by parliament, four by the government and two by RTV Slovenija staff. The latter two are expected to be elected shortly.
Slovenian ski jumpers win mixed event
WILLINGEN, Germany - Slovenia won the mixed team event at the ski jumping World Cup in Willignen, Germany the first such event ever to be held on a large hill and the last try-out before the Olympic debut of this format. Ema Klinec, Cene Prevc, Urša Bogataj and Anže Lanišek scored 862.6 points to best Austria by 62.9 points. Norway in third were 83.1 points adrift. The result places the mixed team squarely among the favourites at the Beijing Olympics, which start next week.
