19 Aug 2022, 05:34 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 19 August 2022

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

This summary is provided by the STA:

Govt confirms EUR 40m aid package to cut companies' energy bills

LJUBLJANA - The government confirmed an aid package under which EUR 40 million will be disbursed to companies this year and next to help them cope with higher energy costs. EUR 20 million will be available this year and another EUR 20 million through mid-March 2023, in what Economy Minister Han described as merely the first step in efforts to help the corporate sector. Three types of aid will be available, covering either 30% or 70% of companies' energy costs. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) welcomed the aid scheme as "an appropriate measure considering the EU legal framework."

Govt approves EUR 41m package to help vulnerable through energy crisis

LJUBLJANA - The government approved a EUR 41 million package to help vulnerable households and individuals and the disabled get through the energy crisis this winter. Some 63,000 vulnerable individuals and 7,400 disabled will be eligible for one-off aid of EUR 200. Labour Minister Luka Mesec said EUR 27 million would be paid out this year and EUR 14 million next year. He said the aid was targetted to help households at risk and the disabled. The former group includes some 54,000 recipients of welfare payments, including the working poor, and 9,000 pensioners whose income is so low they receive security allowance.

NIJZ proposes two-tier Covid system for autumn, winter

LJUBLJANA - The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) presented a two-phase approach to dealing with the coronavirus this autumn and winter, with epidemiologist Mario Fafangel underlining the importance of predictability of measures. If the government approves the plan, in phase 1 measures such as masks and work from home will be recommended for potential high-risk patients, while in phase 2 many measures will become mandatory or stepped up. Vaccination and masking in schools will not be mandatory in phase 1 or 2.

Several injured as gale-force winds hit the country

LJUBLJANA - Fierce winds swept through Slovenia in the afternoon, ripping off roofs and toppling trees and other objects in parts of the country. Several people were injured by falling trees and other objects in Ljubljana, where the Environment Agency data shows winds gusted up to a record 102 kilometres an hour. The wind blew away rubbish bins, billboards, roofs, traffic signs, building materials. In Kranj, the winds peeled roofs off some 70 buildings.

Ex-MP Andrej Magajna joins presidential race

LJUBLJANA - Andrej Magajna, leader of the non-parliamentary New Social Democracy, joined the presidential race ahead of the October election. He pointed to democratic deficit, non-functioning oversight institutions and corruption as some of Slovenia's main problems. Magajna, an MP for the Social Democrats (SD) in 2008-2011, will run with the support of his party if he collects the needed 3,000 voter signatures, which he believes will not be easy. As for the rest of the 12 hopefuls who have already announced their bids, he said they were OK but "don't stress the key problems, such as corruption, sufficiently".

No Covid deaths on Wednesday as cases fall

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,233 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Slovenia on Wednesday, almost a quarter fewer than the same day a week ago. No patients with Covid-19 died, data from the Health Ministry shows. A total of 88 patients still require hospital treatment for Covid as their main condition, including 11 who need intensive care. The overall figure is down from 100 a week ago with ten ICU cases. The latest data from the National Institute of Public Health shows the 14-day incidence per 100,000 of the population has dropped by nearly a hundred in a week to 868, as the 7-day case average fell by more than 200 to 1,195.

Insurer Triglav reports H1 net profit down 4% to EUR 45m

LJUBLJANA - Insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav posted a group net profit of EUR 45.3 million in the first six months of the year, down 4% on the same period last year. Total revenue rose by 11% to EUR 861.2 million. Gross written premiums were up 9% to EUR 797.2, as gross premiums paid rose by 15% to EUR 398.1 million, according to the company's unaudited business report. The combined ratio, an insurance industry benchmark, remained broadly flat at 89.5%.

AmCham Slovenija joins opposition against reversal of tax cuts

LJUBLJANA - AmCham Slovenija joined other business organisations in protesting against the government's legislative proposal to reverse the previous government's income tax cuts. While the organisation welcomed the plan for a comprehensive tax reform to follow in 2024, which it hopes will be formed in constructive dialogue with all stakeholders, it said the government's latest proposal to amend the income tax act does not represent a step forward in efforts to create an environment conducive to business.

Cement maker Salonit Anhovo taps solar energy

ANHOVO - A new solar power plant, the first of several planned, was launched on the roof of cement maker Salonit Anhovo. The factory, which has faced pollution accusations in the past, said all the electricity generated by the 2.23 megawatt solar power plant will immediately be used in production. The solar power plant is one of the largest factory rooftop installations in Slovenia. It is expected to produce 2120 megawatt-hours of electricity a year.

Mladinska Knjiga gets three new supervisors

LJUBLJANA - The shareholders of publisher Mladinska Knjiga, 83% of which is owned by Slovenia's bad bank, replaced three of five supervisors. Nina Marin, Jože Možina and Peter Kavčič, appointees of the previous government, were replaced by Taja Kuhar, Duško Kos and Milena Fornazarič, while Nuška Berki and Andrej Gale remain on the board. Changes were also made to the articles of association, making it harder to dismiss supervisors and to change the articles of association.

Ptuj winding back clock to Roman times

PTUJ - Ptuj will be turning into Roman Poetovio for four days starting today as the 15th Roman Games get under way in what is Slovenia's oldest city. Nearly 800 costumed actors from six countries will represent life and customs from 2,000 years ago, when the city was a major trade and craft centre. Gladiators, legionaries, senators, vestal virgins and other ancient Roman characters will fill the town and the Roman Camp Poetovio in the Štuki borough. After two years with a scaled down programme and without visitors, the Roman Games are returning in full splendour, the organisers announced.

Dončić beats Jokić in NBA superstar encounter in Stožice

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian men's basketball team scored another win as it gears up for the EuroBasket, defeating Serbia 97:92 in an overtime thriller on Wednesday evening that saw Slovenia's Luka Dončić outplay the fellow NBA superstar Nikola Jokić. The spectacle in the packed Stožice Arena, which was attended by many celebrities, including tennis legend Novak Đoković and UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, was the fifth win for Slovenia in as many warm-up matches ahead of the European championship. Slovenia will play two qualifying matches for the 2023 World Cup next week, before travelling to Cologne for the EuroBasket.

18 Aug 2022, 17:33 PM

€40m Aid Package to Cut Companies' Energy Bills

STA, 18 August 2022 - The government confirmed on Thursday an aid package under which EUR 40 million will be disbursed to companies this year and next to help them cope with higher energy costs. Three different types of aid will be available, according to Economy Minister Matjaž Han.

EUR 20 million will be available this year and another EUR 20 million through mid-March 2023, in what Minister Han described as merely the first step in efforts to help the corporate sector.

Two types of aid respectively capped at EUR 500,000 and EUR 2 million per beneficiary will be available for the financing of higher energy costs.

This type of aid will cover at least 30% of electricity or gas costs provided that energy prices are at least twice above last year's average. A maximum of 30% of total costs can be covered.

A third type of aid is set aside for energy-intensive companies which will be eligible only if they are operating at a loss. In this case, up to 70% of their costs will be covered.

Companies that have access to regulated gas and energy prices - mostly small and medium-sized enterprises - are not eligible for the scheme, according to the government.

Han said the measure was in line with EU state aid rules and had been cleared by the European Commission. The bill will also be put to the Economic and Social Council, the country's main industrial relations forum.

"We've prepared this measure together with business and I'm glad that we concluded at yesterday's session of the business coordination committee that it represents effective aid to the corporate sector," he said.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) has already welcomed the aid scheme, describing it as "an appropriate measure considering the EU legal framework."

But it also noted that the aid will only suffice for the time being and said it expected additional aid in the autumn.

The aid package "does not address the major unknowns concerning the certainty of gas supplies or the very likely escalation of energy prices for business users next year," it said.

"In order for the economy to work as best as it can, it needs and expects a reliable supply of energy at acceptable prices."

18 Aug 2022, 17:16 PM

Slovenia Approves €41m Deal to Help Vulnerable in Energy Crisis

STA, 18 August 2022 - The government has approved a EUR 41 million package to help vulnerable households and individuals and the disabled get through the energy crisis this winter. Some 63,000 vulnerable individuals and 7,400 disabled will be eligible for one-off aid of EUR 200.

The package was presented at a press conference following the government's session on Thursday by Labour Minister Luka Mesec, who said EUR 27 million would be paid out this year and EUR 14 million next year.

He said the aid was targeted to help households at risk and the disabled. The former group includes some 54,000 recipients of welfare payments, including the working poor, and 9,000 pensioners whose income is so low they receive security allowance.

Mesec said the households comprising several vulnerable individuals would see the payments added up; a household that includes two individuals who are at risk or unemployed will get EUR 314. If they have a child they will get a further EUR 118 if the child is not included in organised care or education, and half that amount if her or she is.

The disabled will also get EUR 200 each. "If they live in a household that is at risk they will get the allowances they are entitled to as members of such households as well as the 200 euro allowance for the disabled," Mesec said.

"It is important that during the distribution period from 1 November to 31 March next year, we'll invite all those who are eligible for social aid but are not getting any to join the social security system. Analysis shows these are primarily people who live alone and are over 65 years of age. These are mostly women, many of whom don't not even know they are entitled to social aid or a security allowance," he said.

The one-off aid will be paid the same way as other welfare payments. The households will be able to spend the money whichever way they see fit.

18 Aug 2022, 13:57 PM

Ptuj Hosts Roman Games,18-21 August 2022

STA, 18 August 2022 - Ptuj will be turning into Roman Poetovio for four days starting on Thursday as the 15th Roman Games get under way in what is Slovenia's oldest city. Nearly 800 costumed actors from six countries will represent life and customs from 2,000 years ago, when the city was a major trade and craft centre.

Gladiators, legionaries, senators, vestal virgins and other ancient Roman characters will fill the town and the Roman Camp Poetovio in the Štuki borough.

After two years with a scaled down programme and without visitors, the Roman Games are returning in full splendour, the organisers have announced.

They pointed out that around 7,000 visitors had been recorded in 2019 and spoke of the largest presentation of antiquity in this part of Europe.

Starting off things will be a space dedication ceremony and an evening party at the Poetovio Roman Camp. On Friday, there will be a children's camp with creative workshops and an evening spectacle in the Roman theatre acquired last year.

The main event will take place on Saturday in the form of a morning procession through the streets of Ptuj featuring all the participants of the games. Groups from abroad will take part and a gladiator fight is expected as well.

At noon the archaeological park Panorama will be the scene of a horse-drawn carriage race, before the action moves back to the camp, where the programme includes a demonstration of Roman crafts and a Roman dinner.

Sunday is family day and visitors will have the chance to enjoy themselves in the Roman way until 5pm, when the closing ceremony will take place with a dedication of the main pillar for the 16th Roman Games.

Poetovio, first mentioned in a written record 1,950 years ago, had more than 40,000 inhabitants, including some 10,000 soldiers. It was the biggest city in the region.

Poetovio established itself as a trade nexus due to its location along the ancient Amber Road trade route. It also prided itself on having its own mints as well as customs and tax offices.

Learn more at the website

18 Aug 2022, 11:32 AM

Basketball: Slovenia Beats Serbia 87:92, Dončić & Jokić on the Court (Video)

STA, 18 August 2022 - The Slovenian men's basketball team scored another win as it gears up for the EuroBasket, defeating Serbia 97:92 in an overtime thriller in Ljubljana on Wednesday evening that saw Slovenia's Luka Dončić outplay the fellow NBA superstar Nikola Jokić.

The spectacle in the packed Stožice Arena, which was attended by many celebrities, including tennis legend Novak Đoković and UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, was the fifth win for Slovenia in as many warm-up matches ahead of the European championship.

Some 12,000 spectators in the sold-out Stožice Arena saw the Slovenian NBA superstar Dončić score 34 points to secure the home team the win and outscore the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jokić, who scored 26 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.

The repeat of the 2017 EuroBasket finals in Istanbul, which was won by Slovenia, was a tight match, with no team having a lead of more than five points at any moment, so no one was surprised that an overtime was needed to determine the winner.

It was Slovenia's Vlatko Čančar, Jokić's team mate from the Denver Nuggets, who scored a decisive three-pointer in the extra session, followed by the game-clinching free throws by Edo Murić and Klemen Prepelič.

Veteran Goran Gragić, who recently signed for the Chicago Bulls, played only some five minutes, as head coach Aleksander Sekulić decided to rest him and spare him from a possible injury so that he could be fully prepared for the EuroBasket in September.

"We earned this win with a great deal of aggressiveness, sacrifice and above all with collective game," Sekulić told reporters after the match.

Murić added that "it was apparent that neither team was in the top shape, but we are happy to win another tough and competitive match. A lot of work is ahead of us, we must raise the pace and improve our defensive effort."

After another friendly match with Croatia in Celje on Saturday, Slovenia will play two qualifying matches for the 2023 World Cup next week - against Estonia in Celje and against Germany in Munich, before travelling to Cologne for the EuroBasket.

18 Aug 2022, 06:32 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 18 August 2022

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

This summary is provided by the STA:

Brussels freezes probe of MOL's takeover in Slovenia

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The web portal Necenzurirano reported that the European Commission had frozen the in-depth investigation of the acquisition of service stations of OMV Slovenija by the Hungarian energy group MOL. The investigation will resume when MOL provides the Commission with the requested information. The portal says the suspension will prolong the procedure at least until the end of the year. As a result of the takeover, Slovenia would have only two big fuel retailers left, MOL and Petrol.

Pre-tax profit of banks down 15% in H1

LJUBLJANA - Banks registered in Slovenia generated EUR 212.5 million in pre-tax profit in the first half of the year, a drop of 15.4% year-on-year, which a report by the central bank says is a result of higher operating costs and the creation of net impairments and provisions. The volume of household deposits increased by EUR 1.1 billion in the first half of the year. The capital strength of the banking system remained solid, and liquidity was good, finds the report.

Insurer Sava reports lower half-year profit

LJUBLJANA - The insurance group Sava saw its half-year net profit reduced by a third year-on-year to EUR 28.9 million as operating revenue remained level at EUR 364.2 million. The company said the drop was mainly due the frequency of vehicle insurance claims returning to pre-pandemic levels, inflation-fuelled cost of settling claims and provisions, as well as large weather-related losses. However, it also noted that compared to 2019, the pre-pandemic and pre-inflation year, the half-year net profit rose by 28.2%.

Trade unions cry foul over tagging of food couriers

LJUBLJANA - Trade unions lambasted the deal under which Wolt and Glovo food delivery couriers will have to wear identification numbers in Ljubljana so residents could report them for traffic offences. The youth trade union Mladi Plus, backed up by other unions, said the local authorities and the companies wanted to place the blame and responsibility for traffic violations on the couriers instead of taking responsibility for the conditions that force them to violate traffic rules in the first place.

Three months after explosion Melamin operates at 20%

KOČEVJE - Melamin has managed to resume about a fifth of the former scale of production since the Kočevje chemical company was hit by a deadly explosion on 12 May. An alternative location to move the most hazardous part of production out of the city is yet to be found. Antun Gašparac, the head of the commission monitoring the renovation, said the plan was to resume as much production in September to bring the factory "to a point where it could survive on the market".

NSi urges govt not to reverse tax reform

LJUBLJANA - The opposition New Slovenia (NSi) urged the government not to reverse the tax reform introduced by the previous government, while also noting that it should prepare a package of targeted measures to help vulnerable groups as well as measures to help business cope with the growing energy prices. NSi deputy Jernej Vrtovec warned an "avalanche of lay-offs and receiverships" could be be expected unless the government helped businesses cope with the rising energy prices.

Minister opposed to provinces proposal

DOBROVNIK - Public Administration Minister Sanja Ajanović Hovnik came out against proposed legislation to establish provinces as she met the mayors from the region of Pomurje on Tuesday. She said the proposal, tabled by the upper chamber of parliament in June, would hardly be among the priorities in the coming year, given all the current challenges such as global security and the energy and climate crisis. Moreover, she said it "undermined the entire system of state administration".

Higher Court upholds SD's EUR 10,000 libel claim against Janša

LJUBLJANA - The ruling ordering opposition Democrats (SDS) leader Janez Janša to pay EUR 10,000 in damages and apologise to the coalition Social Democrats (SD) for claiming the party operated from a "stolen Jewish villa" has become final. The SocDems said the Celje Higher Court ruling on Janša's appeal against the October 2021 verdict of the Velenje Local Court was of great significance since "Janša has once again been faced with accountability for his lying statements".

Golob promises govt to help Prekmurje develop

LJUBLJANA - Marking Day of Unification of Prekmurje Slovenians with the Homeland, Prime Minister Robert Golob promised for his government to move from words to action and help the north-easternmost region to make a development breakthrough. "After years of searching for solutions for a development breakthrough, it is time to be more concrete and sincere in our desire to recognise and support innovation, know-how and the desire for new, sustainable approaches that are being conceived in the region," he wrote.

TV Slovenija boss clashes with Mladina over latest editorial

LJUBLJANA - Uroš Urbanija, the director of the TV arm of RTV Slovenija, has decided to cancel the subscription for Mladina over an editorial that criticises staffing at the public broadcaster. Urbanija labelled the move as the end of business cooperation, whereas the editor-in-chief of Mladina retorted that there was no business cooperation in the first place, only a subscription to twenty copies of Mladina. Repovž said that by attacking the weekly, Urbanija was trying to cover up what was going on at TV Slovenija.

Almost 2,600 coronavirus cases on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 2,591 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Slovenia on Tuesday, more than a third more than a week earlier, which may be attributed to reduced testing on public holiday on Monday. One patient died, Health Ministry data shows. Hospital figures remained stable, while the 14-day case notification rate per 100,000 of the population rose by 41 from the day before to 887.

Third gold for Garnbret at European Championships

MUNICH, Germany - Janja Garnbret won gold in the new boulder & lead event, her third consecutive gold medal at the European Championships in Munich. Garnbret left nothing to chance as she dominated both the boulder and the lead events: there were 200 points available in both events and she took home 199.9 points. "It definitely feels incredible," Garnbret said in her first remarks after the event. Another Slovenian, Mia Krampl, finished in second place.

Tina Šutej wins bronze at European Athletics Championships

MUNICH, Germany - Slovenia's Tina Šutej won bronze in the pole vault at the European Athletics Championships, finishing with a height of 4.75 metres, just shy of her personal best of 4.76 metres in outdoor competitions. Šutej performed with a light injury that she sustained during the warm-up and competed with a bandaged hand.

Anna Netrebko will perform at Ljubljana Festival

LJUBLJANA - The concert of Russian soprano Anna Netrebko at the Ljubljana Festival remains scheduled for 26 September, the festival's director and artistic director Darko Brlek said after the Ukrainian community in Slovenia called for its cancellation. Brlek labelled the opposition to Netrebko's concert as "politicisation", which he said the Festival Ljubljana strongly condemns. In a written statement, Netrebko Netrebko condemned the war in Ukraine and distanced herself from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Photo exhibition celebrates Slovenian rivers

KANAL - An exhibition honouring 19 Slovenian rivers and 29 river guardians through the lenses of 19 acclaimed photographers is opening in Kanal pri Soči today. Part of an environmental project targetting persistent pollution, the exhibition will then travel around Slovenia accompanied by debates, workshops for activists and children, and art events until 2024. The project aims to raise awareness about the importance of protecting watercourses and to promote active citizenship.

17 Aug 2022, 16:23 PM

Discover Slovenian Wines in the Scenic Vipava Valley

Experience the quality of the wines from Vipava Valley and learn about their rich history from the local winemakers.

In recent years, Slovenia has been recognized as one of the top wine-growing countries. Home to the oldest grapevine in the world, the country has an extremely rich and interesting history of winemaking. Whether you prefer white or red, sweet or dry, we guarantee in Slovenia there is the perfect variety waiting for you to taste it.

If you are not sure where to find it, here’s a tip. No other Slovenian wine region boasts as many old indigenous varieties as the Vipava Valley, so it is the perfect destination for a wine tasting experience that will last a lifetime.

What makes Vipava Valley so special?

Discover the secrets of Vipava Valley wine-making

One of the appeals of Vipava Valley is without a doubt its unique location. It is caught between the Alpine, Karst, and the Mediterranean, so by visiting this amazing region, you will get the best of three worlds. Vipava is considered a transitional region and because of that, it endured many turbulent conflicts. One of the most famous ones was the Battle of the Frigidus, a battle between the Western and Eastern halves of the Roman Empire.

But even the vicious fighting did not stop a tradition that is inseparable to the residents of Vipava Valley. And that tradition is winemaking.

Indigenous varieties preserved with dedication and love

Try the authentic varieties of Slovenian Wine

The combination of the unique location, favorable soil composition, and sunny climate allowed the winemakers of the valley to preserve a surprising number of historic local varieties. Although there are some amazing red wines to try when wine tasting in Slovenia, like Barbera or Merlot, the region is most famous for its white varietals.

An authentic grape variety that you simply must try when visiting Vipava is Zelen. Its gentle flowery and fruity aromas are complemented by Mediterranean herbs that give it a very special taste. Some other indigenous white varieties are Pinela, Klarnica, and Pergolin.

Unmatched hospitality of the local winemakers

Learn from the knowledgeable winemakers

“Give a man a bottle of wine, he drinks for a day. Teach a man to make wine, he’ll always have lots of friends” is an ancient winemaker’s proverb that you will find to be very true once you visit the dedicated winemakers from Vipava Valley. They will be more than glad to share with you their stories, teach you about the history of the region and if you are lucky, share with you some secrets to making great wine.

We recommend booking a wine tour on which you will be welcomed by some of the best local winemakers that will take you to their wine cellars where you will get a taste of the region’s authentic varieties.

Tasty local cuisine

Make memories at a traditional wine tasting

There are not many pleasures in life that exceed pairing rich authentic wines with tasty local cuisine in the company of your closest ones. Taking a break and trying some traditional foods will also give you the energy to explore this region to the fullest.

You simply cannot go wrong with dry-cured Karst prosciutto, known as “Kraški Pršut” in Slovenian. Its texture and taste pair the wines so well, that it became almost synonymous with a proper Slovenian wine tasting. That way, you will be taken on an incredible culinary journey that you, and especially your taste buds, will never forget.

For an all-inclusive wine-tasting adventure in the exceptional Vipava Valley visit Wine Tours Slovenia and experience the country’s rich winemaking tradition in a single day.

17 Aug 2022, 12:33 PM

Heat & Drought Also Hit Slovenia’s Green Towns & Cities

STA, 17 August 2022 - As experts take stock of the drought damage to agriculture, city dwellers are witnessing the long-term impact of the dry summer too, especially on the coast where municipal vegetation has suffered additionally due to a watering ban. Cities where watering has mostly been allowed have used different approaches to prevent the worst.

The heaviest damage is being reported in coastal municipalities, although the city of Koper has for instance mitigated the watering ban somewhat by using water from a nearby lake.

Annuals, perennials, shrubs and fragrance plants are currently struggling with the drought, and a dozen newly planted trees have perished.

The heat has also left a strong mark on Koper's Bonifika sports centre, with two of its three football pitches completely ruined by the heat and watering ban. The main pitch is being watered with bought water delivered from 60 kilometres away.

Meanwhile, Voka Snaga, the municipal company responsible for the maintenance of trees in Ljubljana, is also struggling to protect some of the trees in the capital, even though it has executed 5,790 rounds of watering on 1,087 trees during the summer.

"At extremely high temperatures of more than 35 degrees Celsius, sometimes even regular watering does not protect the trees from drying out," the company's representatives told the STA amid media reports that the landmark birch tree in Prešeren square is now dry.

In Maribor, the main challenge are the roughly 800 trees planted in the past three years, with some of the most vulnerable ones being watered on a daily basis.

Moreover, the moving height has been raised at municipal green areas to protect them from from drying out completely. Mulching and watering bags have proven invaluable.

Similar measures are used in Kranj, where newly planted trees - some 500 were planted in the past four years - are also being supported with additives such as humic acid and special tablets that help to alleviate the impact of the drought.

Officials in Celje are speaking of "a doubling if not tripling" of efforts to support the city's vegetation compared to last year. Watering bags are a popular measure and while damage has also been seen on older trees, they do not seem to be drying out.

Much success in the fight against the heat and drought is being reported from Murska Sobota, but officials were careful to note that the actual extent of the damage will not be clear before next spring when the trees should start producing fresh leaves.

17 Aug 2022, 11:13 AM

Ascent Resources File Claim Against Slovenia Over Fracking Ban, Demands €500m

STA, 16 August 2022 - The UK energy and natural resources company Ascent Resources and its Slovenian subsidiary have formally submitted a request for arbitration against Slovenia following complications in the country green-lighting their gas project near Lendava. The company has revised its damage assessment from EUR 100 million to over EUR 500 million.

The request was submitted to the Washington-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), Ascent Resources said in a press release.

The move follows notices of dispute filed in July 2020 and May 2022 in which "Slovenia was formally notified of the existence of a dispute under the Energy Charter Treaty and the UK-Slovenia bilateral investment treaty," the company said.

Ascent Resources CEO Andrew Dennan said the company remained "amenable to discussing settlement with the Republic of Slovenia following its review of the matter or otherwise pursing our damages claim through to a binding result for the company."

Ascent claims Slovenia had led a populist campaign against it, preventing the development of the Petišovci oil and gas field.

The dispute dates back to 2019, when the Environment Agency (ARSO) said an environment impact assessment was required, a decision which was later also backed by the Administrative Court.

Ascent claims that such an environment impact assessment was not required and had never been required under Slovenian law and that the agency's decision went against the conclusion of the country's own expert bodies.

The company also says that the minister of the environment and spatial planning had repeatedly made public statements portraying Ascent, as well as the Petišovci project, in a negative light.

Moreover, the company believes that leaks were made by ARSO to the press. "This further demonstrates that ARSO was biased against the investors and that ARSO's decision was politically motivated."

Moreover, in May changes to the mining act took effect, imposing a complete ban on fracking. Ascent says this was the culmination of the country's campaign against it.

Its board believes that "statements made during the parliamentary debate on the ban leave no doubt that the investors were being specifically targeted by it".

17 Aug 2022, 07:20 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Wednesday, 17 August 2022

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

This summary is provided by the STA:

Economic growth slows to 8.2% in Q2

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's economy grew at an annual rate of 8.2% in the second quarter of the year driven by domestic and foreign demand, in particular household spending and exports of services, according to preliminary figures released by the Statistics Office. The rate is a slowdown from the nominal annual rate of 9.6% in the quarter before as the latest data shows. Seasonally-adjusted growth run at an annual rate 8.3% and a quarterly rate of 0.9%, which compares to the eurozone average of 8.3% and 0.7%, respectively.

Regular and diesel somewhat cheaper at midnight

LJUBLJANA - Regular petrol and diesel sold outside the motorway network will get cheaper again at midnight. Regular will be sold at EUR 1.49 a litre, down 4.4 cents, and diesel at EUR 1.641, or 3.5 cents less, the Economy Ministry announced. The cheaper prices will be in force until 29 August, whereas the prices at filling stations along motorways remain liberated. This is the fourth biweekly consecutive price drop comes despite the government reintroducing excise on CO2 emission and energy efficiency.

Logar takes lead in presidential opinion poll

LJUBLJANA - Anže Logar, the former foreign minister, has taken the lead ahead of the 23 October presidential election in the latest poll commissioned by the newspapers Dnevnik and Večer. Logar, an MP for the opposition Democratic Party (SDS), polled at 30.2%, up by two percentage points compared to July. He is now 2.7 points ahead of lawyer Nataša Pirc Musar, who lost 2.6 points to 27.5%. Marta Kos, the former diplomat who will run for the ruling party Freedom Movement, polled at 16.3%, down 3.1 points. Pirc Musar is still projected to win a run-off against Logar or any other rival.

Potential presidential run-off confirmed for 13 November

LJUBLJANA - The National Electoral Commission (DVK) confirmed the timetable for the presidential elections that will be held on 23 October. A potential run-off will be held on 13 November. Submission of candidacies, which must be approved by the candidates themselves, will be possible from 22 August until 28 September, and candidates will have five days after that, until October 3, to withdraw their consent to the candidacy.

Only one bid arrives in govt's wheat purchase call

LJUBLJANA - Only one bid was submitted as part of the National Commodity Reserves Agency's public calls for the purchase of a total of 40,000 tonnes of wheat. Slovenia wants to bulk up its domestic reserves in the face of the war in Ukraine. No details about the bid have been released. Prime Minister Robert Golob said that "evidently farmers had no problem selling the wheat and there is nothing wrong with that. They simply sold to the higher bidder."

President underlines importance of strong community in turbulent times

ČRENŠOVCI - President Borut Pahor underlined the importance of a strong community for a nation, especially in times of global turbulence, as he addressed a ceremony on the eve of Prekmurje reunification day. "There are many things in the current developments that we cannot influence. But there is one thing for which we alone are responsible: civic and national community," Pahor said.

Slovenian minority member Rojc headlines her party's election list

TRIESTE, Italy - Tatjana Rojc, the Italian senator and a member of the Slovenian minority in Italy, will headline the list of the Democratic Party (PD) in Friuli-Venezia Giulia for the September parliamentary election in Italy, the Trieste newspaper Primorski Dnevnik reported. Being the headliner on the list gives the minority member a realistic chance to make it to the Senate once again.

Ascent files for arbitration against Slovenia, demands EUR 500m

LONDON, UK - The UK energy and natural resources company Ascent Resources and its Slovenian subsidiary have formally submitted a request for arbitration against Slovenia following complications in the country green-lighting their gas project near Lendava. The company has revised its damage assessment from EUR 100 million to over EUR 500 million. The request was submitted to the Washington-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Construction of new detention and retention basins announced

BELTINCI - Prime Minister Robert Golob announced the construction of new detention and retention basins to help farmers irrigate crops during periods of drought. "We are no longer fighting climate change, which is already here, we have to start with mitigation. And irrigation systems, retention and detention basins, and the connection of water supply system will be key if we are to successfully tackle climate change as a country," he said after a meeting with farmers.

Croatian fighters intercept aircraft destined for Slovenia

ZAGREB, Croatia - A US-registered Beechcraft Bonanza civilian aircraft flying from Greece to Slovenia was intercepted by two Croatian MiG-21 fighter jets as it entered Croatian airspace on Monday. The aircraft continued its flight to the destination after it had been established that it could not make contact with flight control as its avionics had failed. The Croatian Defence Ministry said the contact had taken place as part of the NATO air defence system.

Almost 1,600 new Covid cases during extended weekend

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,582 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Slovenia during the extended weekend and nine fatalities among Covid-19 patients. Friday included, 11 patients died and 3,156 new infections were confirmed, data released by the Health Ministry shows. Yesterday, 92 patients were treated in hospitals for Covid-19 as their main condition, including 9 in intensive care, which compares to 104 and 15, respectively, a week ago.

25th Mladi Levi festival featuring packed programme

LJUBLJANA - A packed programme revolving around "tradition, transience and repetition" awaits visitors of the 25th iteration of the international contemporary performing arts festival Mladi Levi between 19 and 27 August. The programme, compiled by a new curator trio, will kick off with two productions, scheduled simultaneously on Friday; This Song My Father Used to Sing, an intimate piece by Thai director Wichaya Artama, and Bodybodybodybody, a show by Belgian musicians Dag Taeldeman and Andrew Van Ostade.

Damir Krznar new Maribor coach

MARIBOR - Damir Krznar, a 50-year-old Croatian coach, has taken over at Slovenian football champions Maribor after the club fired Radovan Karanović due to poor results. "When you get a call from Maribor, it is a great honour and a challenge that you have to accept. The situation is not rosy, but I think it a result crisis rather than a performance crisis," Krznar said. The change at the helm comes after a painful series of defeats for Maribor, which are now last in the league standings.

News

Experience the quality of the wines from Vipava Valley and learn about their rich history from the local winemakers.

What makes Vipava Valley so special?

Indigenous varieties preserved with dedication and love

Unmatched hospitality of the local winemakers

Tasty local cuisine

Editorial

Gourmet

Photo of the Month

Photo galleries and videos

Real Estate in Slovenia