04 Jun 2021, 14:12 PM

Slovenia Releases EU Presidency Slogan, Logo & Website

STA, 4 June 2021 - The slogan of Slovenia's EU presidency in the second half of the year will be Together. Resilient. Europe. According to the Government Communication Office, the slogan was picked as a response to the challenges of the EU and questions about future development. The logo of the presidency was also presented today.

"The slogan was picked as a response to the challenges the EU is faced with and as a response to the questions about the future development, which will be in the centre of debate on the future of Europe.

"During the presidency we will strive to actively contribute to the strengthening of the EU's resilience to crises in the areas of health, business, energy and climate, and the cyberspace," the office said.

Crucial for boosting resilience is mutual connectivity, cooperation and solidarity of all for the good of each and every European citizen, and this is what the slogan is all about, it added.

The government's EU presidency spokesman, Domen Petelin, said in a presentation video published on the website of the presidency www.si2021.eu launched today that the phrase Stronger Together was the common thread of the presidency trio of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia. The word Europe represents "our future" to which debates on the future of Europe lead, he said.

"So the slogan consists of three separate yet interconnected messages. Together to a resilient Europe that will be efficient in addressing challenges," he said.

This was echoed by Prime Minister Janez Janša. "The Covid-19 pandemic is still present, but we must look beyond. The European Union faces many challenges that it can overcome only if it is united, free and at peace with itself," he said in an address on the website.

He said the priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency were based on this. The first is to build a resilient and strategically autonomous Europe, which Janša says can only be achieved through unity and solidarity, and a digital and green economic recovery.

The second priority is the conference on the future of Europe, where Slovenia will promote debate on the implementation of EU principles and values. "Every voice must be heard and taken into account," he said.

The third priority is the union of the European way of life, the rule of law and equal standards for everyone, and the fourth a credible and safe EU that is capable of providing for stability and safety, especially in its neighbourhood. This is what the EU-Western Balkan summit will discuss, expectedly in early October, Janša said.

He added that the EU must strengthen its cooperation with NATO in order to preserve its safety, and increase its own capacities.

The Government Communication Office also presented the logo of the presidency today, which symbolises connectivity of Slovenia and the EU.

In the logo, a ribbon in the colours of the Slovenian flag draws a silhouette of Mt Triglav, Slovenia's national symbol representing the independent country that is at the same time a solid member of the European Union, the office said.

It also symbolises the ups and downs that are a part of the EU's development. However, precisely because of respect of the fundamental European values and persistent efforts of everyone for the common good the EU is even more resilient and more connected after every fall.

Above Mt Triglav, seven golden stars from the European flag represent the seventh stanza of France Prešeren's poem Toast, which is the Slovenian national anthem. Its lyrics call for dialogue and open society and promote the idea of cooperation and all nations living together in peace.

The logo was designed by Danijel Kovačič Grmek in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry and the Government Communication Office.

Both the logo and the slogan are presented at www.si2021.eu, the new website about the presidency available in Slovenian, English, German, French, Italian and Hungarian. It features news about the presidency, a schedule of events, programme and information for the media.

The website is a new project, as in the past every presiding country set up its own website. A few years ago, several countries, including Slovenia, proposed that the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU in cooperation with the presiding country set up a single website for all presiding countries. Slovenia is the first country to use this joint solution.

The organisational part of the presidency is also presented on the website with Gregor Štajer, the head of the government secretariat in charge of presidency organisation, saying that the most important EU presidency events would take place at the Brdo pri Kranju estate.

Marjan Hribar, the director of the Brdo estate, said intensive preparations were under way for the presidency. Accommodation facilities are ready, the renovation of the hotel is coming to en end, and the congress centre is also ready, he asserted.

01 Jun 2021, 20:29 PM

Prosecution Council Proposes Legal Action Against Slovenian Govt Over European Delegated Prosecutors

STA, 1 June 2021 - The Prosecution Council will propose that the State Attorneys Office file a lawsuit against the government for breach of law to the detriment of public interest after the government annulled the procedure to appoint Slovenia's two European delegated prosecutors (EDP), the chair of the Council Tamara Gregorčič said on Tuesday.

Discussing the government's decision to annul the appointment procedure and start a new one, the Council reiterated today that the procedure had been in line with regulations and the candidate picks had been based on expert assessment.

The State Attorneys Office will be thus urged to bring action against the government before the Administration Court. The Council will also put forward a proposal to file a request for a suspension of a new call for EDP applications, which the Justice Ministry has been tasked with publishing.

Gregorčič highlighted that the Council had not been formally acquainted with the government's decision so far. The prosecutors have seen a press release published on the government's website, but they have neither been informed about the manner in which the decision was made nor about the legal basis for it, she said.

Responding to the government's statements that the Council should have presented at least six candidates instead of just two, Gregorčič said that the law was crystal clear and the procedure in question completely transparent and in line with the law. All legal experts agree on that, she added.

Any ruling out of state prosecutors from the appointment procedure at either national or EU levels is unwarranted and unlawful, she noted.

Asked whether the candidates put forward, Matej Oštir and Tanja Frank Eler, are still in the running for Slovenia's delegated prosecutors, Gregorčič said that "according to the Council's opinion the decision has not been made as it should have been in a way".

"Naturally they are the candidates according to the first call for applications. I see no reservations about this."

All available legal remedies will be used, the chair of the Council said, adding that it was telling that it had taken the government almost six months to make the decision.

After months of delay in the appointing of Slovenia's delegated prosecutors, the government decided last Thursday to repeat the call for applications, arguing that the Council had not put forward enough candidates.

The experts dismissed such reasoning as Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič stepped down, saying she saw no justified grounds for the step.

Unofficially, Oštir and Frank Eler were deemed unacceptable by Prime Minister Janez Janša and his Democrats (SDS).

European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said today that the European Commission was in contact with the Slovenian authorities for Slovenia to fulfil its obligations regarding the appointment as soon as possible.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office was launched today after all participating countries bar Slovenia and Finland had appointed their delegated prosecutors.

31 May 2021, 13:27 PM

Slovenia’s EU Presidency: Looking for Progress on Migration, Asylum, Schengen & Security (Feature)

STA, 31 May - Slovenia's EU presidency will try to achieve progress in negotiations on legislation under the framework of the asylum and migrations pact. Strengthening the Schengen zone and security are also high on the list of priorities.

Slovenia wants to make headway on the proposed regulation on the EU asylum agency, which would strengthen the mandate of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO).

Reform of asylum and migration policy is considered one of the most difficult issues in the bloc, as member states have spent years trying to reach a consensus, having widely differing views in particular on the relocation of migrants, mandatory quotas and mandatory solidarity.

Some believe abandoning the package approach would pave the way for a consensus on certain segments of the pact.

The Slovenian Interior Ministry says that on certain issues member states are sticking to their positions, which hampers progress. "This is why a lot of consideration and patience will be required to reach compromises and a convergence of positions."

Interior Minister Aleš Hojs said after a meeting between EU interior ministers and their peers from several African countries in Lisbon in mid-May that a major portion of the pact could be adopted separately during this term of the European Commission.

But mandatory solidarity, "which some see in the relocation of migrants" will "not come to pass," he said in reference to firm negotiating positions of some Mediterranean member states in particular.

Slovenia supports solidarity and does not oppose relocation as one of the measures of "flexible solidarity," but it says this may not involve the regular distribution of migrants, it should be an emergency measure extended only to persons entitled to international protection.

Relocation numbers must be proportionate to country size, GDP, the migration pressure it is subjected to, and its absorption capacity, the Interior Ministry says.

"In our understanding, flexibility means that a member state may replace solidarity with a different measure."

Another issue that is likely to be on the Slovenian presidency's agenda is the external dimension of migrations and efforts to forge partnerships with third countries.

In Lisbon, Minister Hojs said bilateral agreements between individual EU and African countries were a more realistic possibility.

The ministry says the onus is on the Commission and the External Action Service. "We expect a proposal on the formation of mutual partnerships with third countries that will contribute to the common management of migrations and effective returns."

As part of the Brdo-Brijuni Process, Slovenia will attempt to make headway regarding migrations in Western Balkans at a ministerial meeting in June, whereby certain activities planned to be under way during its six-month stint would be wrapped up at an EU-Western Balkans ministerial forum in December.

Slovenia's presidency comes at a time when appeals for the normal functioning of the Schengen zone and the reopening of internal borders are growing louder as the Covid-19 pandemic abates.

The Interior Ministry says debate about the normal functioning of Schengen is expected, but specific legislative proposals by the Commission are not expected before autumn.

"During the presidency we'll continue with debates about the future Schengen strategy, but in June we only expect a Commission proposal on changes to the Schengen evaluation mechanism."

As for the Schengen zone - Croatia has stepped up efforts to put its membership of the Schengen zone on the Council's agenda during Slovenia's presidency - Slovenia is in favour of an expansion of the passport-free zone.

Prime Minister Janez Janša said last week after talks with European Parliament President David Sassoli that Slovenia supported the Schengen zone membership of Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania, which he said would strengthen security in the region.

And security is one of the overarching priorities of Slovenia's presidency, in particular regional security in Western Balkans.

Since security in the region affects security in Slovenia and the entire EU, Minister Hojs said efforts would be made to strengthen police cooperation and the exchange of information between the EU and countries in the region, in particular with respect to the investigation and prevention of sexual abuses of children, and on missing persons.

31 May 2021, 08:25 AM

Slovenian, Portuguese German Presidents Stress European Unity as Slovenia Gets Ready for EU Council Presidency

STA, 30 May 2021 - Slovenian President Borut Pahor and his German and Portuguese counterparts, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, highlighted the importance of Europe's unity and the European idea as they held a meeting in Slovenia on Sunday.

The European idea is "the best thing that has happened on the European continent," Pahor told the press, adding that it needed to be nurtured.

"Slovenia is a pro-European country that wedded its creation thirty years ago to the ideas of democracy and Europe. This must guide us when we are at the helm of the 27," he said about the country's upcoming EU presidency.

As the world emerges from the Covid-19 epidemic and life returns to normal, coronavirus will not be the only topic of debate, other issues of concern for the future of Europeans will be too, he said.

Pahor singled out the Conference on the Future of Europe, green and digital policies, the enlargement process, and the EU's role on the global stage.

PRS: “Srečanje treh predsednikov, ki so zelo privrženi evropski ideji.” pic.twitter.com/iy6G1lp10F
— Borut Pahor (@BorutPahor) May 30, 2021

The Portuguese president mentioned digitalisation, youths and the EU's role in the world as the coming challenges.

Portugal, which is the current presiding country, will hand over these tasks to Slovenia in July, he said, convinced that the Slovenian presidency will be important for Europe and the world.

He stressed that during Germany and Portugal's presidency, several significant steps had been made towards unity in the EU, including the post-pandemic recovery package, improvements in health, and agreement on the green digital certificate.

Steinmeier singled out the financial package, saying it had been adopted only because certain countries made a step back. If the EU has succeeded in achieving that, it will also successfully tackle future challenges.

He said it was not just funding that was important, the commitment to the European idea was as well. This will allow the EU to emerge from the crisis stronger.

Steinmeier recalled how in the past member states would often have different positions. But there is a framework that allows them to find a common solution.

Germany, Portugal and Slovenia form the currently presiding trio of countries.

De Sousa remains in Slovenia until Tuesday, as he continues with an official visit.

27 May 2021, 20:35 PM

Justice Minister Resigns After Govt Annuls EU Delegated Prosecutor Appointment Process

STA, 27 May 2021 - Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič has handed her resignation, the Justice Ministry confirmed for the STA. The reason is the government's decision to annul the procedure to appoint Slovenia's two European delegated prosecutors and to publish a new call for applications, which Kozlovič sees no justified grounds for.

"As I have stressed many times before, the Justice Ministry has conducted the procedure in line with the law and the EU Council's decree," said Kozlovič, the third minister in the Janez Janša government to resign after Aleksandra Pivec left the Agriculture Ministry last October and Tomaž Gantar stepped down as health minister last December.

"It is true that only 22 member states are included in the system of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, but I think this institute of enhanced cooperation represents more Europe than that, and is an important opportunity to fight corruption and acts damaging the EU budget," she wrote in her resignation letter.

Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, the head of the Modern Centre Party (SMC), regretted Kozlovič's decision. He said on Twitter the SMC would put forward her successor as soon as possible. Prime Minister Janez Janša also said he had asked him to do so as soon as possible.

Janša said that now that the last plot by prosecutors against Franc Kangler has fallen in court was a good time for the justice minister to step down. "Unfortunately, not enough has been done in the last year to prevent such abuses of the prosecution and drastic violations of human rights from repeating," he tweeted after Kangler wrote on Twitter a few days ago that The Ljubljana Higher Court had rejected an appeal in what was the last case brought against him.

Počivalšek tweeted that the government had decided to repeat the selection procedure of the candidates for delegated prosecutors to overcome the current deadlock.

In a post on Facebook, he said that the appointment of the EU delegated prosecutors was too important, "so there must not be even a shred of doubt" about the procedure or the candidates.

Počivalšek said that the compromise proposal which was recently tabled by European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders and under which Slovenia would first appoint only one candidate for delegated prosecutor had been found to be controversial by many experts, as thus the government would overstep its powers.

The minister was critical of the media pressure and pressure from the EU regarding Slovenia's appointment of the delegated prosecutors. "Here it must be stressed that all countries take part in this system voluntarily and that five member states have not even joined the system and will not take part in it."

The procedure to appoint delegated prosecutors has been at a standstill for months and Slovenia has been urged by the EU on several occasions to propose its delegated prosecutors as soon as possible, as the European Public Prosecutor's Office is to start operating on 1 June.

Kozlovič put forward for European delegated prosecutors Matej Oštir and Tanja Frank Eler, who had been proposed by the Prosecution Council, but the government had not discussed the proposal, as Prime Minister Janez Janša allegedly opposed the pick.

The government decided not to get acquainted with the proposal and tasked the Justice Ministry to immediately publish a new call for applications, the government said after today's session.

"The government has determined that the public call for application for the appointment of two European delegated prosecutors [...] counts unsuccessful by law, so the proposal for the appointment of two delegated European prosecutors by the Prosecution Council prepared on its basis has no valid legal effects," the press release reads.

The government later added that the Prosecution Council had only put forward two candidates for the two posts although a list of six candidates should have been formed in line with the state prosecution act. Under the act, the call for applications is considered unsuccessful if a list of three candidates is not formed.

The government said the use of this rule made sense both from the perspective of the criteria for the European delegated prosecutor and procedure efficiency, as now a new call for applications could be drawn up quickly.

State Prosecutor General Drago Šketa and the Prosecution Council told the STA they would not respond, as they had nothing to add to what had been said yesterday.

Šketa said on Wednesday the government's decision could violate the independence of state prosecution, would be unlawful and in contradiction with the Constitution because it changed the criteria in the call for application retroactively.

The Prosecution Council said that the proposal had been drawn up in line with the law valid at the time, which transposed the EU Council directive, and that both candidates met all required conditions.

Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič said the government's decision was an attack on the rule of law, an obvious political and party interfering in staffing matters of the state prosecution. He said he had information that at least a dozen prosecutors could not get a promotion because the "government obviously assessed they are not politically compatible".

Zorčič, who left the SMC to join unaffiliated MPs a few months ago, believes the State Prosecutor's Office not just politicians should respond, and that all prosecutors should express their solidarity by objecting to such staffing decisions.

The head of the SMC deputy group, Gregor Perič, regretted Kozlovič's resignation on Twitter, labelling her decision as fully legitimate. The party expects the procedure to appoint delegated prosecutors to be conducted in a transparent way.

The coalition New Slovenia (NSi) expressed hope that the current situation would not cause any disruptions in the work of the Justice Ministry and that a minister with full powers will be appointed as soon as possible.

Slovenia faces major challenges in judiciary, including strengthening people's trust in judiciary and other legal institutions, the party said.

Kozlović, who holds a master's degree in law, is leaving the ministry after about 14 months on the job. Her short term was marked by the passage of the law setting up the country's first Barnahus for child victims of sexual abuse.

Kozlovič entered politics in 2014 when she was elected MP for the Miro Cerar Party, now the SMC. In 2016 she became secretary general of the Cerar government and in May 2019, she was appointed the director of the Environment Agency.

Before entering politics, Kozlovič, who was born in 1962, headed the Koper Administrative Unit for nine years, and before that she had served as an undersecretary at the Public Administration Ministry's directorate for e-administration. Her first job in the 1980s was with the Koper Police Department.

European chief prosecutor concerned over govt decision

STA, 27 May 2021 - European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi has reacted to the government's decision to annual the procedure to appoint Slovenia's two European delegated prosecutors by saying the Slovenian authorities' lack of sincere cooperation seriously undermines the trust in the effective functioning of the management and control systems for EU funds in Slovenia.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) can start operations without Slovenian European delegated prosecutors, Kövesi said, adding: "But this means the level of protection of the financial interests of the EU will decrease in Slovenia.

"You cannot efficiently investigate all the suspicions of fraud without European delegated prosecutors," she said, adding that the delegated prosecutors in Slovenia should be considered as a key instance in the overall architecture ensuring proper and complete supervision of bodies responsible for the management and control of EU funds.

"The manifest lack of sincere cooperation of the Slovenian authorities with the EPPO seriously undermines the trust in the effective functioning of the management and control systems for EU funds in Slovenia," Kövesi said.

The EPPO has been created to improve the level of protection of the financial interests of the EU. "We haven't been set up to allow anyone to put cases in a drawer," said Kövesi.

The government today decided to start the procedure for the appointment of European delegated prosecutors from scratch after the two candidates put forward by the Prosecution Council months ago, Matej Ošir and Tanja Frank Eler, had been waiting to get the go-ahead from the government.

Unofficially, they were deemed unsuitable by Prime Minister Janez Janša and his Democratic Party (SDS).

The decision to annul the procedure prompted Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič to resign.

The EPPO will become operational on 1 June. Aside from Finland, Slovenia is the only other of the countries participating in the office that has not put forward its delegated prosecutors despite repeated calls by the European Commission to do.

Meanwhile, five EU countries (Denmark, Ireland, Hungary, Poland and Sweden) have opted against participating in the EPPO.

Janša noted the fact that not all EU members are involved in his response to Kövesi's comments. "Hence there is no such control in Sweden and Denmark. Both of these and three other countries do not even participate in this instrument," Janša tweeted.

"European prosecution is a voluntary agreement by 22 countries. Every country can also withdraw from it," Janša said on his Twitter profile, adding: "Given a few more similar political comments, and it will be 6/27," meaning another country will join the five not participating in the EPPO.

12 May 2021, 10:40 AM

Janša Denies Being Uninvited to EU Ceremony Opening Conference on Future of Europe

STA, 11 May 2021 - Prime Minister Janez Janša denied on Twitter on Tuesday media reports that he had been sidelined from the inauguration ceremony of the conference on the future of Europe held in Strasbourg on Sunday. Foreign Ministry State Secretary Gašper Dovžan told reporters in Brussels Janša could have attended the ceremony if he wanted to.

The newspaper Delo reported on Monday that the government had proposed in writing that the leaders of all three EU countries that will be presiding the EU Council during the conference - Portugal, Slovenia and France - take part in the ceremony, including the Slovenian prime minister.

Sopredsedujoči izvršnega odbora konference o prihodnosti Evrope Guy Verhofstadt ni želel, da bi na njen uvodni dogodek povabili predsednika vlade Janeza Janšo.? Piše: @ZerjavicDelo https://t.co/nNflLEjlEr
— Delo (@Delo) May 10, 2021

Being a member of the conference's executive committee, Dovžan addressed a letter to the other two countries from the trio in April.

Given that the EU Council has a rotating presidency, it will be represented by the leaders of the presiding countries - Portugal, Slovenia and France, he wrote. "That is why I firmly believe leaders of all three countries should have the opportunity to be present at the ceremony," he added.

But according to Delo, the co-chair of the executive committee, Guy de Verhofstadt, allegedly did not want Janša to be invited to the ceremony, which sources in the European Parliament confirmed for the paper.

Dovžan, who took part in a session of the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels today, told reporters that leaders had received no invitations and that if the Slovenian prime minister wanted to attend the ceremony the French authorities had been prepared, and that if his obligations allowed it he could have attended it.

Svet EU v vodstvu konf. predstavlja PV države, ki predseduje. Do konca junija je to PV Portugalske @antoniocostapm. Od 1. julija 2021 predseduje ?? in sopredsedujoči Konference o prihodnosti #EU skupaj z @vonderleyen in @EP_President bo @JJansaSDS. Guy nima nobenega vpliva na to. https://t.co/DFqMAxemGy
— Janez Janša (@JJansaSDS) May 11, 2021

Janša wrote on Twitter that the EU Council was represented at the conference by the prime minister of the current presiding country, which was Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa until the end of June. "From 1 July 2021 Slovenia will be the presiding country and the co-chair of the conference on the future of the EU will, next to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, be Janez Janša. Guy has not influence on this."

07 May 2021, 10:34 AM

Koper Port to Get Enhanced Role in EU Military Mobility

STA, 6 May 2021 - Defence Minister Matej Tonin argued the EU should put political decisions into practice faster, as he attended what was the first in-person EU defence ministerial in about a year. The ministers discussed military mobility in Europe where the Slovenian infrastructure, in particular the Koper port, will play a major part.

The ministers endorsed the decision to include Canada, Norway and the US in PESCO projects on military mobility to enable troops to move more quickly across Europe. In this way they for the first time allowed third countries to participate in the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO).

The project aims mainly to upgrade infrastructure such as bridges, railways and roads with the goal being to reduce the time it takes to move troops.

Addressing a virtual press conference in Brussels, Minister Tonin hailed the agreement as a major success. "Military mobility is not just a matter of logistics, it is a strategic one," he said.

Minister @MatejTonin se je v Bruslju udeležil simpozija o vojaški mobilnosti. K njej Slovenija pomembno prispeva tudi z uvajanjem uporabe alternativnih goriv za obrožene sile. @eusatcen #EUdefence #MilitaryMobility pic.twitter.com/HChz879NmP
— Ministrstvo za obrambo RS (@MO_RS) May 6, 2021

Slovenia is actively involved in the project with Tonin noting that attention was being paid with all infrastructural projects to allow civilian-military dual-use.

This was also kept in mind in planning the new Koper-Divača rail track so that all the tunnels and viaducts and the entire link will also be suitable to move military vehicles. The Koper port will play an important role there, also for strategic movement of troops to the East and Central Europe, said Tonin.

To boost military mobility the EU allocated roughly EUR 1.7 billion over the next seven years. Tonin could not say yet how much Slovenia will draw, but he promised they would try to use every opportunity available.

The defence ministers dedicated much of their attention today to the Strategic Compass, a process seeking to link strategic and operative levels to achieve the bloc's ambitions in defence and security. "It's an additional tool to enhance Europe's strategic autonomy," said Tonin.

He emphasized that strengthening European cooperation in defence and security was not meant as competition to other allies in NATO but to upgrade joint capabilities. "A strong Europe is a strong NATO," said Tonin, adding that to do that faster action was needed and putting political decisions into practice faster.

In discussion on the Strategic Compass the ministers focused on crisis management and risk assessment. Slovenia will continue discussion on the topic during its presidency of the Council of the EU, and Tonin today discussed the issue with the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell.

The ministers also talked about the end of NATO-led mission to Afghanistan on 11 September. Tonin said it did not mean a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan as cooperation would continue at the civilian level, in particular development cooperation.

Slovenia will complete its involvement in the Resolute Support Mission in coordination with the allies. The date of when the six Slovenian troops will withdraw has been determined but Tonin would not disclose it for security reasons. The last Slovenian rotation was deployed in Afghanistan in February for half a year.

29 Apr 2021, 13:11 PM

Council of Europe Report Notes Concerns about Govt Harassment of Media in Slovenia

STA, 28 April 2021 - The latest annual report by the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists is critical of what it sees as the Slovenian government's attempts at undermining independent media and stoking harassment of journalists. The platform is particularly alarmed by the situation of RTV Slovenija and the STA.

The 2021 report, which analyses the situation of European media in the past year, was released today. It warns that massive damage was done to media freedom in 2020 and points to increased harassment of journalists as well as a growing number of physical or verbal attacks against them.

The platform reported a record 201 alerts of media freedom violations in 2020, an almost 40% increase on 2019. Only three of those were resolved by the end of 2020. The governments replied to 42% of them, which compares to 50% in 2019.

Slovenia was no exception to this alarming trend, the report says, primarily voicing concerns over the suspension of financing of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) and the government's plans to enact legislative changes that would defund the public broadcaster RTV Slovenija.

"The Slovenian government should cease all efforts to damage the independence and credibility of Slovenian public media," the report says.

Slovenia is listed as one of the countries where online harassment of journalists was often fuelled by politicians in the past year.

"Alerts show a high number of verbal attacks in some member states - North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey - being made by representatives of public authorities, including by ministers and heads of government."

RTV Slovenija reporters were the target of online smears and abuse, not only by members of the public, "but by right-wing media outlets and, on some occasions, prominent politicians".

The report highlights an alert in March 2020 that reported a defamation and hate campaign led by the government against journalist Blaž Zgaga. Another alert was issued in April 2020, focusing on Prime Minister Janez Janša's attacks on RTV Slovenija on social media.

Moreover, the report mentions Janša's insulting tweet describing two RTV female reporters as "washed-up prostitutes".

One of them, Eugenija Carl, was also the target of threats, insults and harassment on social media by Janša's supporters and later received a threatening letter containing white powder. Her case is used as an example of how quickly digital threats could translate into the physical world with potentially grave consequences.

The platform notes that Slovenia was one of the countries who in 2020 suspended deadlines by which public bodies were required to respond to freedom of information requests.

The report also warns about the chilling effect of abusive legal proceedings across Europe, noting that defamation should be decriminalised.

"In Slovenia three journalists from the online outlet Necenzurirano.si are facing 13 criminal defamation suits each over a series of articles reporting on the business dealings and connections of Rok Snežič, a friend and tax policy adviser to Prime Minister Janez Janša."

Ahead of 3 May, World Press Freedom Day, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić called on EU member states in the report to show more political will to protect journalists and independent journalism and to stop the situation from further deterioration.

A PDF of the full report is here

21 Apr 2021, 15:12 PM

EU Commissioner to Discuss Schengen, Migration, Security & Media Freedom on Visit to Slovenia (Interview)

STA, 21 April 2021 - European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson will start a two-day visit to Slovenia on Thursday to discuss the country's EU presidency preparations. She intends to raise the issue of media freedom and pluralism as well. Slovenia should not underestimate the risk to its international reputation when it comes to this, Johansson has told the STA.

The visit is primarily aimed at backing Slovenia's preparations for its EU presidency in the second half of 2021. The talks will focus on Schengen, migration and security as well as the situation of media in Slovenia, she told the STA ahead of the visit.

Johansson pointed out that this was not her portfolio, but that of European Commission Vice President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova, who has raised concern over the situation on a number of occasions.

Since there is cause for concern, Johansson intends to raise the issue of media freedom and pluralism as well. She has also warned about harassment of journalists and verbal attacks against them.

Johansson would also like to discuss with the Slovenian government the financing of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA). "As far as I understand, it's regulated in the law," she said, hopeful that this issue could be resolved in a positive way.

"Slovenia should not underestimate the risk to its international reputation when it comes to media freedom and pluralism", especially just before taking over the EU presidency, she said, noting that these two principles "are a fundamental prerequisite for democracy".

The European Commission puts great emphasis on this issue as any pressure exerted on media freedom or pluralism or even attacks against them are also an attack on democracy, she said, adding that this was the first time this kind of concerns were raised about Slovenia.

The commissioner also pointed to the first annual Rule of Law Report, saying that the Commission already raised concern over the relevant situation in Slovenia in the September 2020 document. "As far as I understand, the situation has deteriorated since," she noted.

The Slovenian EU presidency could be a story of recovery as Europe will be going from pandemic mode to recovery mode during that time. Johansson hopes that Slovenia will take this opportunity "to be at the forefront of recovery in Europe".

Touching upon travel amid the pandemic in the summer, she is optimistic member states will not adopt discriminatory measures. She also hopes that come summer, the infection rate will go down and Europe could be reopened.

In June, right before the start of Slovenia's stint at the helm of the EU Council, Johansson plans to propose the Schengen reform. As part of the preparations, the first ever Schengen forum was launched in November to exchange views with various stakeholders. The second will be held in May.

The Commissioner highlights the need for political governance of the Schengen area and the upgrade of the Schengen evaluation system.

She also stresses the importance of lessons learned from the pandemic. The current legislation is based on a threat that comes towards a single member state, however the pandemic is widespread, she said.

In many situations, measures other than internal border checks are more effective, such as police cooperation and information exchange, she said, adding that the Schengen Information System should also be used more consistently.

She also hopes the Schengen zone could be extended. The Commission has assessed that Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria are ready for this step, but it is up to member states to decide on this, she said.

Johansson's main priority of her five-year term is to find a way out of an asylum reform deadlock. It seems that the new migration pact, proposed last year, has been at a standstill due to disagreements over migrant relocation, but the commissioner is optimistic.

She does not think the pact has been blocked, saying that everyone has been constructive in these efforts and there has been progress.

She hopes that Portugal's EU presidency will be able to close one or two segments of the pact, otherwise the Slovenian presidency will pick up.

She thinks mandatory solidarity, and not mandatory relocation, is a way forward as the latter is not popular in many member states. Now we should discuss what is a meaningful form of this solidarity apart from relocation, she noted.

The commissioner for home affairs will meet Slovenian Interior Minister Aleš Hojs on Thursday. She is also expected to meet Marko Gašperlin, the Slovenian who chairs the Frontex management board.

Moreover, a meeting is scheduled with Foreign Minister Anže Logar and relevant parliamentary committees.

After her visit, the commissioner will fly back to Brussels from Zagreb, so she will have the opportunity to meet Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Interior Minister Davor Božinović.

Regarding reports about violence against migrants perpetrated by the Croatian police, she said she was not satisfied with the situation and there were concerns, however the country had made progress. The Croatian authorities "are investigating and there are consequences for individuals that have been proved taking part in illegal activities".

Moreover, the first independent monitoring mechanism is in the works, a pilot project that is to be first launched in Croatia. "Bosnia-Herzegovina also has homework to do when it comes to migration management and migrant relocation within the country," she said.

Asked what she thought of ideas about redrawing Western Balkan borders in light of efforts for security and stability in the region, she said that "the European Commission fully respects sovereignty of those countries and their borders, we have no other ideas about their borders".

19 Apr 2021, 15:06 PM

Pandemic Poses Problems for Slovenia’s Upcoming EU Presidency (Feature)

STA, 19 April 2021 - The EU presidency, which Slovenia will hold in the second half of the year, will be even more demanding than usually owing to the coronavirus pandemic, Gregor Štajer, the head of the government secretariat in charge of presidency organisation, has told the STA. Slovenia plans to host nearly 190 events, many of which may have to take place online.

The events calendar is not ready for public release yet, said Štajer, adding that the way things stand at the moment, Slovenia will host 185 events.

The most demanding event in terms of organisation will be the summit of EU leaders. September will be very challenging as well, with Slovenia hosting the annual Bled Strategic Forum, as well as sessions of EU foreign ministers and defence ministers.

Another major event will be a summit on the Western Balkans, planned for the first half of October. These are some of the currently planned 19 events at the ministerial or higher level.

The remaining 166 events will be held at sub-ministerial level, said Štajer. Seventy are organised by his secretariat and the rest by ministries.

It is unclear whether events will take place in person or online, with everything depending on the epidemiological situation, said Štajer. It has already been decided that 35 events will be held online.

The secretariat is in regular consultation with a group comprised of representatives of the Health Ministry and the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). At least 30 days before individual events it will be decided whether they will be held in person or online.

"It's the minimum period we need to organise an event," said Štajer.

Moreover, the situation may deteriorate during this time to such a degree that an event planned to be held in person will still be moved online, he noted.

Štajer noted that if a decision was being made now for an event that is to take place in a month's time, they would recommend it take place online. Everything will depend on pandemic rules in place at the given moment.

"No doubt this might be the biggest logistical challenge. We're preparing for both scenarios, but a decision will be hard to make [...] The safety of people will take precedence. If we allow an in-person event, more or less normal conditions must be ensured."

Meals will be one of the biggest problems, as people take off their masks while eating. Those organising events will be looking for providers with large-enough dining rooms. The same will apply to venues hosting in-person conferences. Events at ministerial or higher levels are to be held at the Brdo pri Kranju estate.

As regards lower-level events, they are to be held at Brdo and Ljubljana, as well as Bled, Portorož and Maribor. The organisers are also thinking about setting up a central videoconference point in Ljubljana for online events.

A public call for bids was issued in autumn for technical equipment and contracts are now being signed, so that individual ministries will be able to organise some events themselves, said Štajer.

A call for bids for transport services is still ongoing. It represents a major part of the presidency budget, which has been estimated at EUR 80 million. If a majority of events take place online, the expenses may be lower.

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