STA, 25 July 2019 - After annulling legislative amendments that allow the police to use equipment for automatic license plate recognition, the Constitutional Court has now cleared provisions that allow them to use drones.

The use of drones and systems for automatic license plate recognition were introduced into law through amendments to the police tasks and powers act, passed by parliament in February 2017.

These and some other changes, including those on collection of air passenger data, have been challenged by Human Rights Ombudsman at the Constitutional Court on grounds of invasion of privacy.

Deliberating on each sets of changes separately, the court annulled the provisions on automatic license plate recognition last week, but now found the use of drones in police work does not breach the constitution.

The ombudsman argued that the law defined the application of drones "in such a generalised fashion that it can no longer satisfy the demand for being proportional with the benefits as following from the constitution".

The ombudsman was bothered in particular by the provision that allows the use of drones for collection of evidence of criminal acts and for identification of perpetrators.

The ombudsman argued that the technology would allow continuous and and all-encompassing surveillance, a technology that would become ever more sophisticated, advanced and capable.

However, the court held that the petitioner grounded the alleged unconstitutionalities in insufficient detail, setting out the risks of drones for personal data protection only in general terms.

The court will deliberate on the provisions governing collection of air passenger data separately.

Earlier this week, the court imposed a temporary injunction on the use of IMSI catchers, devices that mimic mobile phone towers to intercept mobile traffic.

These were introduced into law by amendments to the criminal procedure act in March. The amendments have been challenged by the opposition Democrats (SDS) and Left with the court's decision still pending.

STA, 25 July 2019 - DARS, the national motorway company, has received five fresh bids in what is the latest chapter in the construction of Slovenia's half of the second tube of the Karavanke tunnel to Austria. Turkish builder Cengiz, already picked in a procedure last year that was subsequently quashed, is the cheapest bidder again.

Cengiz Insaat, which had promised to execute the project for EUR 89.3 million in 2018, now issued a bid worth EUR 99.6 million, DARS announced after opening the bids on Thursday.

Cengiz is followed by Greek J&P Avax with EUR 115 million, and Slovenia's Kolektor CGP, which has partnered with Slovenian engineering company Riko and Turkish company Yapi Merkezi to offer to build the tube for EUR 121 million.

The fourth lowest bid, worth EUR 121.5 million, was submitted by Implenia Österreich in partnership with Implenia Switzerland and Slovenia's CGP Novo Mesto, and the fifth, worth EUR 122.2 million by Slovenia's Gorenjska Gradbena Družba in cooperation with Czech builder Metrostav, which had been the second lowest among nine bidders in 2018.

Bosnia's Euroasfalt and its Slovenian partner Cestno Podjetje Ptujm, which had been among the six bidders invited by DARS into the new round of talks and bids, has not submitted a bid this time.

The bids are now to be examined and the procedure is continuing after the National Review Commission - which annulled the original awarding of the deal to Cengiz with the argument the Turkish company had made subsequent changes to their offer - rejected the call by Kolektor CPG, Yapi Merkezi and Riko to halt the new stage of the procedure.

While Austria is already in the midst of building its portion of the 8-kilometre tunnel, the project has been stuck in the tender stage in Slovenia since it began in 2017, having seen a number of appeals processed by DARS as well as the National Review Commission.

July 26, 2019

The latest in a string of young basketball players who have left Slovenia for Real Madrid is a talented fourteen-year-old called Jan Vide, born in 2005 and a member of Helios Suns from Domžale.

This is the second year in the row that a young member of Helios left for the Spanish giant. Last year it was Urban Klavžar (2004) who left his Helios orange jersey for the white Royal one.

In the last season Vide played two tournaments with Real Madrid’s junior team, which led to the decision to invite the young basketball player to join the other three young Slovenes already playing for the club. Besides Klavžar, these are Dan Duščak (2002) and Žiga Samar (2001). Real Madrid is also a home to a couple of professional Slovenian basketball players, Klemen Prepelič and Anthony Randolph, both members of the Slovenian national team who won the 2017 European Basketball Championship.

Some observers have already pointed to similarities between Jan Vide and Luka Dončić, who received the NBA Rookie of the Year award this June. Luka joined Real Madrid’s under-16 team at the age of 13 and became a regular player in Real Madrid’s senior team during the 2015-2016 season, before joining the NBA and Dallas Mavericks in 2018.

Sports commentators emphasize that emerging new names in junior leagues are good news for the future of the Slovenian national team, which will defend its 2017 title at the next European Championship in 2021.

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also ollow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Commissioner candidate Lenarčič endorsed at committee

LJUBLJANA - Janez Lenarčič, Slovenia's candidate for EU commissioner, was endorsed by the EU Affairs Committee in an 8:2 vote with several abstentions. Slovenia's current ambassador to the EU told the committee that he would strive for equal treatment of citizens from all members states, consistent observance of EU law, and strengthening of the rule of law. The government is expected to take note of the committee's opinion tomorrow, when it formally nominates him for the post.

Five bids submitted for Karavanke tunnel, Cengiz cheapest again

LJUBLJANA - DARS, the national motorway company, has received five fresh bids in what is the latest chapter in the construction of Slovenia's half of the second 8km tube of the Karavanke tunnel to Austria. Turkish builder Cengiz, already picked in a procedure last year that was subsequently quashed, is the cheapest bidder again. Cengiz, which had promised to execute the project for EUR 89.3 million in 2018, now issued a bid worth EUR 99.6 million, DARS announced after opening the bids, which will now be examined in detail.

Constitutional Court clears use of drones by police

LJUBLJANA - After annulling legislative amendments that allow the police to use equipment for automatic license plate recognition, the Constitutional Court has now cleared provisions that allow them to use drones. The use of drones and systems for automatic license plate recognition were introduced into law through amendments to the police tasks and powers act, passed by parliament in February 2017. These and some other changes, including those on collection of air passenger data, have been challenged by Human Rights Ombudsman at the Constitutional Court on grounds of invasion of privacy.

Slovenian MEPs welcome EU pressure on Austria over child benefits

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Two Slovenian members of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee welcomed the EU Commission decision to continue infringement proceedings over Austrian child benefits as a sign that discrimination will not be allowed. "This is welcome news for our commuters," Romana Tomc (SDS/EPP) said. Milan Brglez (SD/S&D) said the EU may not allow discrimination, in particular when children are the ones being discriminated.

Business sentiment in Slovenia improves with summer

LJUBLJANA - Business sentiment in Slovenia improved with the summer, with the relevant index increasing by 1.4 percentage points in July compared to June, mostly due to more optimism in the manufacturing sector, the Statistics Office reported. The sub-index measuring business sentiment in manufacturing was up by 1.4 percentage points at the monthly level, while other sub-indices had no major influence.

Reports on attempts to limit access to Maribor airport corrected

MARIBOR - Media reports that the Chinese owners of airport operator Aerodrom Maribor, who are terminating the 15-year lease agreement it signed in 2017, are trying to limit access to the airport by putting up no trespassing signs seem to have been exaggerated. "There are no problems for now. We all park normally and drive normally across these land plots," said Smiljan Kramberger of DRI, the state-owned consulting and engineering company which took over the management of the airport from Chinese-backed SHS Aviation in June. Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek visited the airport today to confirm that the easement had been settled.

Gorenjska Banka doubles half-year profit

KRANJ - Gorenjska Banka, the Kranj-based bank now in sole ownership of Serbian AIK Banka, nearly doubled net profit in the first half of the year compared to year before, to EUR 22 million. The bank's total assets increased by 2.2% compared to the end of 2018 to EUR 1.872 billion on 30 June, which the bank attributes mainly to growth in retail deposits, capital and lending. The bank reported that the proportion of bad loans decreased by 26%. As of 30 June, gross credits amounted to EUR 1.1 billion with the capital adequacy ratio at 15.1%.

Human smugglers filling Slovenian prisons

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has been seeing a spike in illegal migration in recent months, but while most of the migrants are being returned to Croatia, the smugglers who helped them across the border are filling up Slovenian prisons. A report by the rtvslo.si cites official data showing that foreigners account for nearly a quarter of Slovenia's prison population. Half of them, 176, have been incarcerated for smuggling migrants.

Maribor win first leg of Champions League qualifier with AIK

MARIBOR - Slovenian football champions Maribor opened the second round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League against AIK Stockholm with a 2:1 win at home on Wednesday evening. The team is happy with the win, but is aware that the away goal scored by the Swedish side will make the return leg next week very difficult. Maribor head coach Darko Milanič said the opponent was very difficult, "perhaps even too good for this stage of competition", which is why he expects a tough return leg on 31 July. The winner of the encounter will play in the next round of qualifying against the winner of the matchup between BATE Borisov of Belarus and Rosenborg of Norway.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

STA, 25 July - Slovenia has been seeing a spike in illegal migration in recent months, but while most of the migrants are being returned to Croatia, the smugglers who helped them across the border are filling up Slovenian prisons.

A report by the news web site of the public broadcaster rtvslo.si cites official data showing that foreigners account for nearly a quarter of Slovenia's prison population. Half of them have been incarcerated for smuggling migrants.

There are currently 323 foreign citizens in Slovenian correction facilities, 177 of them in custody, Prison Administration data show. "Out of 323 foreign citizens, 176 are in prison or in custody on suspicion of organising illegal crossings across the border."

Smuggling of migrants carries up to five years in prison and a fine, while those who make money by facilitating illegal entry of migrants into the country face sentences of up to eight in years in prison.

Slovenian police apprehended more than 200 illegal migrants only last weekend, 122 of them at several small camps in the woods where someone appeared to have left bags with food and basic necessities for them.

Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar commented that this was a case of organised smuggling of migrants, committed both by individuals and smuggling rings.

There are no official statistics on the number of smugglers apprehended, but the General Police Administration told rtvslo.si that they had apprehended 153 smugglers of migrants last year, and as many as 132 by the end of July this year already.

The apprehended smugglers are as a rule remanded in custody, worsening the cramped conditions at Slovenian prison facilities. The capacities are most overcrowded at the prisons in Koper and Novo Mesto, at 128% and 126% capacity utilisation rates.

Foreign prisoners come from 46 countries, while there is also one whose nationality is unknown.

Interior Ministry data show that 1,802 migrants applied for international protection in Slovenia in the first half of the year, which compares to 2,875 the whole last year. Forty have been granted asylum this year and 102 last year.

A total of 680 people who have been granted international protection are living in the country at the moment. Between 1995 and the end of 2018, the status was granted to 818 third country citizens.

All our stories on human trafficking are here, those on illegal migration are here, and those on prison are here

STA, 25 July 2019 - Slovenian football champions Maribor opened the second round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League against AIK Stockholm with a 2:1 win at home on Wednesday evening. The team is happy with the win, but is aware that the away goal scored by the Swedish side will make the return leg next week very difficult.

Some 7,800 spectators in Ljudski Vrt stadium saw Maribor score early in the match, with Rok Kronaveter convert in the 6th minute, after which the Slovenian champions continued to apply pressure.

But the 12-time Swedish champions responded, as Henok Goitom scored a goal in the 28th minute with a diagonal shot from the left side of the box.

It took Maribor only ten minutes to score the second goal, with Saša Ivković converting a header after a corner kick by Kronaveter.

Maribor head coach Darko Milanič said the win was a self-confidence boost. "We have a win in our pocket, and we have played a good game, which will certainly be helpful in the future."

Milanič said that the opponent was very difficult, "perhaps even too good for this stage of competition", which is why he expects a tough return leg on 31 July. He is aware that the away goal scored by AIK is a problem.

"A majority of things in our game were really excellent, it's a shame that we were too offensive after we scored the first goal and let them score the equaliser."

Milanič expects a different game from the Swedish champions in Stockholm. "We have to be prepared for much more tempo. We will need to adjust, calm down their game and be good in possessing the ball," he concluded.

The winner of the encounter will play in the next round of qualifying against the winner of the matchup between BATE Borisov of Belarus and Rosenborg of Norway.

July 25, 2019

The ethical luxury brand Benedetti Life, established by a renowned Slovenian designer Mateja Benedetti, presented its latest collection alongside Escada at the Costa Brava Fashion Week in Spain last weekend. The event took place at the Alabriga Hotel, located at the upmarket S’agaro resort on the Costa Brava, popular among international celebrity visitors since the 1920s, when the area was first developed.

At the event Mateja Benedetti spoke about the ethical approach to modern luxury and then presented her work in a show featuring Benedetti Life Parrots’ Poetry collection, NIIRO Jewellery and Woodstock Sunglasses by Benedetti Life, all brands taking Slovenian style to the next level internationally.

STA, 24 July 2019 - Slovenia and Austria are the first EU countries to have started exchanging social security data as part of the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) IT system, which provides European social security institutions with comprehensive electronic exchanges and thus speeds up procedures.

Slovenia's ZZZS health insurance institute and the Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions have been cooperating in setting up the electronic exchange since the beginning of 2018.

The cross-border EESSI project aims to speed up and simplify administrative procedures as well as facilitate faster calculation and payment of social benefits. The IT system will also enhance data protection, said the ZZZS.

The institute expects to exchange more than 80,000 electronic documents with other countries per year, including some 30,000 with Austria.

In January the ZZZS started exchanging with Austria information pertaining to the sector of drawing up legislation, while at the beginning of July it launched a data exchange including in sectors dealing with work accidents and occupational diseases as well as compensation recovery.

The EESSI system assists EU social security institutions as well as those in the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

STA, 24 July 2019 - Hans Peter Doskozil, the governor of the Austrian state of Burgenland, met Minister of Development and European Cohesion Policy Iztok Purič as he continued his visit to Slovenia on Wednesday for talks about the future of cross-border cooperation projects.

 According to a press release from the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, Doskozil and Purič noted the importance of cross-border cooperation and preservation of good relations.

These are manifested in cross-border projects, partnerships between institutions in Slovenia and Burgenland, and results that help boost competitiveness, research, innovation, effective use of energy sources and preservation of natural and cultural heritage.

Burgenland is being involved in 12 projects in the Slovenia-Austria Interreg cross-border cooperation programme in the period between 2014 and 2020.

One of them, COOP4HEALTHCARE, is a project partnership between the University of Ljubljana, the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences, Premiqamed clinic, the company Evolaris, Ljubljana Technology Park and the Murska Sobota Innovation Technology Cluster, which seeks to improve the selection of services in healthcare, in particular at retirement homes.

The Slovenian minister and the Burgenland governor also discussed future cooperation. First activities for the cross-border programme beyond 2020 are already under way.

Doskozil arrived in Slovenia on Tuesday, accompanied by a delegation. He met President Borut Pahor and National Assembly Speaker Dejan Židan yesterday.

Today, he also paid a visit to the Health Ministry for an exchange of views on topical issues and challenges in healthcare with State Secretary Simona Repar Bornšek.

Doskozil also met Justice Minister Andreja Katič with the ministry reporting that the pair noted good and efficient cooperation in justice affairs between Slovenia and Austria.

Katič spoke about Slovenia's experience in the system of probation and resocialisation of convicts, while the meeting also touched on the use of Slovenian language at courts in bilingual areas in Austria.

Doskozil also met Culture Ministry State Secretary Petra Culleta.

All our stories about Austria are here

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also ollow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here

Visiting Ljubljana? Check out what's on this week, while all our stories on Slovenia, from newest to oldest, are here

This summary is provided by the STA:

Telekom's H1 net profit up 35% on lower sales

LJUBLJANA - Telekom Slovenije posted a net profit of EUR 19.6 million for the first half of the year, an increase of 35%, even as sales revenue declined 5% to EUR 340.6 million. Group profit before income tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 11% to EUR 112.3 million and pre-tax profit (EBIT) surged 41% to EUR 23.8 million. The company said sales revenue was down due to the sale of Blicnet, which was completed in the second half of the year, and lower revenue from fixed segment of the end-user market.

Počivalšek gets support from upper echelons to lead SMC

SEVNICA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek is tipped as the most plausible candidate to succeed Miro Cerar as the leader of the Modern Centre Party (SMC). He is yet to take a final decision on whether to bid for the post at the October congress, but he has already been endorsed by the party's top echelons. Visiting the town of Sevnica, Počivalšek said that he had been endorsed to bid by the party's ten MPs and executive committee. "I'm happy and honoured that they see me as a uniting figure," he said.

Jourova urges Slovenia to translate GDPR into law

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia, Greece and Portugal, the only EU countries that have not yet transposed EU-wide data protection rules, were urged to take action urgently by European Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova. Just over a year after the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) started being applied, the European Commission released a report today looking at the impact of the rules, and how implementation can be improved further. The report finds that most of the countries have done their job in transposing the rules, but that Greece, Portugal and Slovenia are still lagging behind.

Slovenia offers condolences over Croatian soldier's death

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and Defence Minister Karl Erjavec sent condolences to their Croatian counterparts after a Croatian soldier serving in Afghanistan was killed in a suicide attack by the Taliban. Pahor, who sent his condolences to Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, and Erjavec, in a letter to Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, also wished speedy recovery to the two Croatian soldiers who were seriously injured in the attack on their convoy outside the Afghan capital of Kabul today.

US carrier reportedly eyeing Adria Airways

LJUBLJANA - US regional carrier Mesa Airlines is reportedly interested in acquiring struggling Slovenian airline Adria Airways. The company has been going through Adria's books for almost two weeks and is expected to reach a decision by the end of the summer, the news portal 24ur.com reported late on Tuesday, quoting "unofficial but reliable sources". Siol.net later reported that the US carrier had been checking Adria for a short period of time, but decided it was not interested in the transaction.

Stilles's development investment gets minister's support

SEVNICA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek promised the government's support for the Stilles furniture maker's investment plan as he visited the company based in Sevnica in eastern Slovenia. The manufacturer plans to invest EUR 4.5 million in producing semi-finished products out of new materials. Stilles would like to expand its production, which relies heavily on hotel interior design of higher quality, and reduce its dependence on a single type of clients, that is, hotels. During his visit, Počivalšek explained that the Economy Ministry could come up with strategies for supporting the investment based on the promotion of balanced regional development act.

Slovenia and Austria first in EU to exchange social security data

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia and Austria are the first EU countries to start exchanging social security data as part of the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) system, which provides European social security institutions with comprehensive electronic exchanges and speeds up procedures. Slovenia's ZZZS health insurance institute and the Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions have been cooperating in setting up the electronic exchange since the beginning of 2018. The EESSI project aims to speed up and simplify administrative procedures, and enhance data protection.

Burgenland governor holds a series of meetings in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - Hans Peter Doskozil, the governor of the Austrian state of Burgenland, discussed the future of cross-border cooperation projects as he met Minister of Development and European Cohesion Policy Iztok Purič on the second day of his two-day visit to Slovenia. The governor also met Justice Minister Andreja Katič with the pair noting good and efficient cooperation in justice affairs between Slovenia and Austria. The governor also met state secretaries at the ministries of health and culture.

Businessman Racman reportedly main suspect in Nova Gorica prostitution case

LJUBLJANA - The Specialised State Prosecution has has filed an indictment against 18 persons in connection with a prostitution ring that was operating near Nova Gorica and was cracked by police in January. The prime suspect is said to be businessmen Sergej Racman, the former owner of the cinema chain operator Kolosej. The indictment comes after the National Bureau of Investigation completed a four-year investigation into prostitution, human trafficking and drug abuse in the areas of Nova Gorica and Maribor.

Verdicts final in Balkan Warrior trial, sentences reduced slightly

LJUBLJANA - In what makes for a final verdict in the Balkan Warrior drug trafficking trial, the Ljubljana Higher Court has reportedly reduced the sentences of some of the defendants, including for chief defendant Dragan Tošić, who is looking at 15 instead on 16 years and a half behind bars. Deliberating on appeals filed by attorneys of what were 13 defendants found guilty after a retrial in March 2018, the Higher Court found 11 of the defendants guilty again, but only of drug trafficking and not also of racketeering, the newspaper Primorske Novice reported.

SNG Maribor Ballet sells out Clug's Peer Gynt at Bolshoi

MOSCOW, Russia - Slovenia's SNG Maribor Ballet is making headlines in Moscow, having sold out both of its Bolshoi Theatre performances of Peer Gynt, a contemporary ballet as conceived by the ensemble's star choreographer Edward Clug. "This is a major recognition for our culture and an exceptional achievement of Slovenian ballet," Clug commented on the SNG Maribor's successful show making it to the Bolshoi and selling out both guest appearances.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here