What follows is a weekly review of events involving Slovenia, as prepared by the STA.
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FRIDAY, 22 October
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Coming out of a two-day EU summit, PM Janez Janša said an important conclusion on the discussion on the primacy of EU law was that a solution needed to be sought in cooperation with Poland not against Poland. Speaking about the discussion on rising energy crisis, he said green transition should be seen as a solution, not a problem, repeating that the transition to a fossil-free future would not be possible without nuclear energy.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - After a two-day NATO ministerial, the first in-person session in over a year, Defence Minister Matej Tonin said the meeting confirmed Slovenia's reduced NATO capability goal of one instead of two battalion-size groups. As EU Council chair he said he made it clear to the allies that the EU's strategic autonomy was not meant to compete with NATO or the US.
VIENNA, Austria - Foreign Minister Anže Logar took part in the Central 5 meeting with his counterparts from Austria, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia, which called for further cooperation between their countries in particular in the economic recovery. They also discussed Eastern Partnership, calling for greater engagement by the EU.
KOPER - The management board of port operator Luka Koper agreed with the supervisory board to resign effective from 16 November. Chief supervisor Franci Matoz, known as PM Janez Janša's lawyer, said the management, led by CEO Dimitrij Zadel, had performed well, but they concluded a new management team was needed for the company's strategic development.
LJUBLJANA - Bojan Petan, the CEO of spa Terme Čatež and publisher DZS, expressed doubt about the authenticity of the leaked recording of his alleged conversation 14 years ago with Andrej Vizjak, the economy minister of the time, saying he did not remember having such a conversation. Like Vizjak, now serving as environment minister, he called for the authorities to investigate the origin of the tape in which Vizjak is heard telling Petan how he should avoid paying tax in the battle for control of Terme Čatež.
LJUBLJANA - Some doctors voiced concern about the ethical aspect of a scheme adopted by the government the day before to incentivise GPs and their teams to actively promote vaccination in a bid to boost Covid-19 inoculation.
LJUBLJANA - The government decided on 21 October to donate 612,064 doses of the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine to the COVAX initiative. The vaccine doses, which Slovenia ordered under a joint European public procurement contract, are to be shipped to Africa. The cabinet also revoked the 28 September decision to purchase an additional 100,000 doses of the Janssen vaccine from Hungary.
LJUBLJANA - Dejan Židan, an MP for the opposition SocDems, called on Health Minister Janez Poklukar to appoint a competent group of experts to look into the verification of rapid antigen coronavirus tests bought by the ministry from Majbert Pharm in December 2020. This was after a former senior microbiologist at the National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food told a parliamentary inquiry the tests and verification were inadequate, alleging she lost her job for pointing that out.
ATHENS, Greece - Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič underlined the importance of multilateralism in responding to present-day challenges and the EU's enlargement to the Western Balkans as he addressed the plenary session of the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament from Council of Europe countries.
LJUBLJANA - The US multinational food processing corporation ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) acquired a minority stake in Acies Bio, a Ljubljana-based biotech company whose main activity is biotechnology R&D and consulting. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
SATURDAY, 23 October
LJUBLJANA - Commenting on the tensions in the country, President Borut Pahor told the news portal N1 the president did not have the power to decide on the government's fate, while he said both political blocs should restore trust in dialogue and cooperation.
LJUBLJANA - Delo reported that the Defence Ministry asked the anti-graft watchdog for permission not to include an anti-corruption clause in contracts for a purchase of Oshkosh armoured personnel carriers from the US and a purchase of a transport aircraft from Italy. The paper said the ministry paid for the APCs before receiving a written reply from the watchdog, while in the aircraft case, the request was denied. The ministry said it had been told by the watchdog the clause was optional in the Oshkosh case prior to signing the deal.
SUNDAY, 24 October
LJUBLJANA/SLOVENJ GRADEC - On United Nations Day, Slovenia called for strengthening of effective and rule-based multilateralism, with the UN playing the primary role based on inseparable connection and mutual complementation of peace, security and development, and on human rights with respect of international law and goals and principles of the UN Charter. UN Day was also marked on 22 October in Slovenj Gradec, a United Nations Peace Messenger City, which heard President Borut Pahor express Slovenia's strong commitment to multilateralism and the role of the UN in the global architecture.
LJUBLJANA - The commercial broadcaster POP TV released its latest poll, which showed the ruling Democratic Party (SDS) enhancing its position as the leading party by gaining almost four percentage points from September to 18.6%, as President Borut Pahor was unseated by NSi MEP Ljudmila Novak at the top of popularity ranking of politicians to fall to fifth, his poorest showing yet.
INNSBRUCK, Austria - Žan Kranjec finished 3rd in the Alpine Ski World Cup season opening men's giant slalom on the Rettenbach glacier above Sölden.
LJUBLJANA - The 25th Ljubljana Marathon was dominated by Kenyan runners, with Ernest Kibet Tarus winning the men's race in 2 hours 22 minutes and 39 seconds, and Kwamboka Momanyi Grace winning the women's competition (2:38:10). Last year the event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
MONDAY, 25 October
LJUBLJANA - Police confirmed they were investigating death threats mailed to several top politicians on 22 October, including PM Janez Janša and Defence Minister Matej Tonin. The mail contained letters with death threats and live ammunition. Similar threats were also sent to Interior Minister Aleš Hojs, the deputy groups of the opposition National Party (SNS) and Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), the SNS leader and a DeSUS deputy, and unofficially Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek. The threats drew condemnation from across the political aisle amid calls for de-escalation of political rhetoric, while the ruling party suggested inaction by prosecution on past threats was in part to blame, a claim rejected by the Supreme State Prosecution.
KOPER - Slovenia marked Sovereignty Day in memory of the last Yugoslav army soldiers leaving Slovenian soil 30 years from Koper ago. Addressing the state ceremony in Koper, Defence Minister Matej Tonin warned of "toxic" political debate in the country and called for easing of tensions. In other messages, Prime Minister Janez Janša called for efforts to boost Slovenia's security resilience, while Speaker Igor Zorčič called for responsible and efficient policies and President Borut Pahor emphasized dialogue and cooperation.
LJUBLJANA - Novo Brdo, a new housing estate that is to be one of the largest in Ljubljana, was inaugurated to provide homes to 498 vulnerable families and individuals. It was made possible with the help of a loan of the Council of Europe Development Bank.
TUESDAY, 26 October
LJUBLJANA - The five centre-left opposition deputy groups boycotted the National Assembly's session in a bid to make it inquorate ahead of key votes, but failed because one of them, Speaker Igor Zorčič, remained present to chair the session. Coalition-sponsored proposals were passed, while a vote on the nominee for Constitutional Court judge, Rok Svetlič, was postponed to a future session on the proposal of the ruling Democrats (SDS).
KIGALI, Rwanda - Foreign Minister Anže Logar attended an EU-AU ministerial meeting, pledging support by Slovenia and the EU in the efforts to forge a stronger partnership between both unions based on frequent cooperation and a long-term shared vision.
NEW YORK, US - President Borut Pahor addressed a UN high-level remote debate on climate change ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, stressing the importance of trust in science and the need to increase funding for climate change mitigation.
LJUBLJANA/BRDO PRI KRANJU - Mariya Gabriel, the European commissioner for innovation, visited Slovenia to take part in the EU Next Generation Innovators Summit & Investment Conference and a conference on the new European Research Area. She called for supporting innovation in Europe to help bring about a transition to a digital, inclusive and green society.
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec chaired an emergency session on EU energy ministers to discuss response to rising energy prices, but he told reporters after there was no unity over whether it would be sensible to take specific intervention measures at the EU level.
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly voted to call on all government agencies and officials to take into account the recommendations for improvements in human rights after it discussed the Human Rights Ombudsman's 2020 the week before. The report identified 473 violations of human rights and other irregularities, and put forward 128 recommendations.
LJUBLJANA - The Peace Institute presented the results of a study which found extensive and active discrimination in Slovenia, mostly on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, nationality, skin colour and religion. The analysis showed 84% of respondents reported being discriminated against.
LJUBLJANA - Brewer Pivovarna Laško Union, part of the Heineken Group, announced it would stop brewing beer in Ljubljana due to an outdated cooling system and move production to its other location in Laško. While the company said the change would not affect the product portfolio or the Union trade mark, it could not say yet how the staff would be affected.
LJUBLJANA - EKWB, a Komenda-based company developing and producing components for water cooling systems for custom-made high-performance computers, won the Golden Gazelle Award for best fast-growing company, presented by the publisher Dnevnik.
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia ranked 26th among 134 countries in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index for 2021, after placing 31st among 132 countries in 2020 in the report compiled by French business school INSEAD, Swiss staffing company Adecco and tech giant Google.
WEDNESDAY, 27 October
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Janez Janša met European Council President Charles Michel to discuss key dossiers of the Slovenian presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as energy prices, migration, the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership.
LJUBLJANA - After Slovenia recorded more than 3,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day with hospital and ICU facilities filling fast, Health Minister Janez Poklukar warned the country was headed toward a disaster similar to that seen in Bergamo unless the trend is reversed. He announced at least a partial lockdown if number of ICU cases rose from current 130 to 160-180. Regular testing is being introduced in all hospitals and care homes and the self-testing frequency for non vaccinated or reconvalescent employees is being shortened to 48 hours, and for students twice a week.
LJUBLJANA - The five centre-left deputy groups in parliament tabled a motion of no confidence in Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak as a direct consequence of the release of a leaked recording in which he is heard in his capacity as economy minister in 2007 promising favours in exchange for cooperation to Bojan Petan, the CEO of the spa company Terme Čatež, at a time the latter sought to privatise the company. Vizjak described the charges as constructs, but said he was looking forward to the opportunity to put the record straight over what he repeated was a montage tape.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - As chair of the EU's Home Affairs Council, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs hosted the first session as part of the inter-institutional negotiations on Europol mandate's review, the so called trialogue that also features the European Parliament. The day before Hojs told the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europol the mandate's review was a key priority of the presidency.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - On conclusion of a three-day visit to Brussels, Minister for Digital Transformation Mark Boris Andrijanič said he presented to the European Commission Slovenia's digitalisation plans, particularly the digital voucher project, and proposals regarding the new EU chips act.
LJUBLJANA - The opposition Social Democrats (SD) announced that the Velenje Local Court had upheld their EUR 10,000 damages claim against Prime Minister Janez Janša for claiming the party was headquartered in a "stolen Jewish villa". In a default judgement issued because Janša failed to pick up court mail and respond to the lawsuit, the court also ordered to Janša to apologise for the claim. Indicating an appeal, Janša said the court was made up of SD members or supporters, which met with protest from the Association of Judges.
STRASBOURG, France/LJUBLJANA - Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović called on the Slovenian government to reinstate public funding for the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) in line with national laws. This was as the head of the Government Communication Office (UKOM) Uroš Urbanija invited Igor Kadunc, the new STA director, for a working meeting next week.
LJUBLJANA - The upper chamber of parliament imposed a suspensive veto on a bill amending the pharmacy practice act that would lift the ban on vertical integration of pharmacies and drug wholesalers in cases when the wholesaler is incorporated by a public pharmacy or municipality. To override the veto, an absolute majority of 46 votes would be required at the National Assembly.
KLAGENFURT, Austria - German-Slovenian town names were put up in the villages of Mače (Matschach) and Sveče (Suetschach), thus increasing the number of towns and villages with bilingual signs in the Austrian Carinthia province to 171.
LJUBLJANA - The Statistics Office reported that Slovenia had the highest negative natural increase since WWII last year at -2.5 per 1,000 inhabitants after 24,016 people died, 16.7% more than in 2019.
LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR - Protests against the Covid pass mandate were held in several Slovenian towns, including in Ljubljana where a few hundred people gathered, much fewer than in the previous weeks.
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor awarded the Golden Order of Merit to the National Museum of Slovenia on its 200th anniversary for its outstanding contribution to the formation and preservation of Slovenian cultural, scientific and national identity.
LJUBLJANA - Jorg Kristijan Petrovič, first deputy president of the Slovenian Court of Audit, was put forward as Slovenia's candidate for European Court of Auditors by the government once again, after the relevant parliamentary committee turned down his nomination without debate in mid-October.
KRANJ - The Jenko Prize for best poetry collection in the past two years was awarded to Nina Dragičević for To Telo, Pokončno (This Body, Upright), which focuses on the body and its multifaceted nature, including experiences and future possibilities.
THURSDAY, 28 October
BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Janez Janša held talks with European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, with the government not revealing details beyond that the discussion revolved around the key dossiers of Slovenia's EU presidency. A Commission official said the discussion touched on Slovenia's failure to appoint its members of the European Public Prosecutors' Office (EPPO).
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Replying to EU Commission Vice President Vera Jourova's letter about the STA situation, Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti said the government agreed the state is required to finance the STA under the law, but the funding must be transparent and public service done in accordance with the law. "But mainly it should be free of charge as defined by the law," he said.
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Association of Judges expressed protest after PM Janez Janša accused the court that ordered him to pay damages in a defamation suit brought by the opposition Social Democrats (SD) of political bias. The Supreme Court called for more decent communication between the branches of government.
VILNIUS, Lithuania - Slovenia slid one spot to 12th in the latest EU gender equality index released by the European Institute for Gender Equality, scoring 67.6 points out of 100, practically level with the EU average.
LJUBLJANA - Unofficial media reports said Slovenia's oldest paint manufacturer Jub is to be taken over by Dulux Australia in a deal worth around EUR 191 million. Under the deal, the new owners pledged to keep Jub's headquarters and production in Slovenia, the newspaper Finance said.
LJUBLJANA - Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič said in an interview with the N1 news portal that the parliament was operational for now, however he believes that the government is not doing its job well and that elections are needed. He revealed he was involved in talks on potentially forming a new party, along with the other unaffiliated MPs.
LJUBLJANA - The Competition Protection Agency (AVK) approved United Group's acquisition of the Sport Klub TV channels. After long and painstaking procedures, it has now found the concentration compatible with the rules of competition, as the market situation changed significantly with the entry of Arena Sport as new competitor.
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia placed fifth on Lonely Planet's list of top 10 countries to visit in 2022 as the travel brand highlights the country's diverse gastronomy and numerous possibilities of active experiences. Slovenia is described as a green destination as its sustainable policy and natural riches are put front and centre.
