09 Jul 2021, 04:07 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 9 July 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

68 new coronavirus cases confirmed as upward trend persists

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 68 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, in what marks the third consecutive day of significant week-on-week increases. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population rose by one to 20. The bulk of the recent surge comes from an outbreak that started at a school trip to Spain. Of the 334 secondary school students from the southern Dolenjska region who holidayed on the Spanish coast, 58 have tested positive since returning and all 334 are in quarantine.

Pharma group Krka posts record January-June sales, profit

NOVO MESTO - Pharmaceutical group Krka posted a net profit of EUR 177.4 million for the first half of the year, up 11% on the back of sales that reached EUR 808.6 million, a 1% increase over the same period last year, CEO Jože Colarič said at the company's annual general meeting in Novo Mesto. Operating profit dropped by 8% to EUR 200.1 million according to early figures and gross operating profit decreased by 7% to EUR 254.7 million.

Both advocates and opponents of new water law invoke protection of water

LJUBLJANA - Advocates and opponents of the changes to the waters act, to be put to a referendum vote on Sunday, stressed the need to protect water as they faced off on public broadcaster TV Slovenija on Wednesday evening. However, the advocates said the new law would better protect water, maintaining that compared to the existing legislation, construction would be limited, while water protection would be enhanced, including for drinking water. The opponents said it would endanger it because it enabled construction on the coast and along rivers and lake banks, posing a threat to waters.

Significantly more bears culled in six months than entire 2020

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian authorities dealt with more incidents of damage caused by bears and fewer by wolves in January-June compared to the same six-month period last year, while the total damage is lower. A total of 128 bears were culled in this period, a significant rise from a total of 99 culled in the entire 2020. In the first six months of 2021, authorities dealt with 120 cases of damage caused by brown bears and 80 cases of damage caused by wolves. Data the STA obtained from the Slovenian Forest Service shows the total damage is estimated at just under EUR 90,000.

Businesses feel latest stimulus package falls short

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's largest business chambers said the latest stimulus package for tourism did not meet expectations. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) said several measures that businesses had proposed and that would have gone farthest were not included in the package. The Chamber of Trade Crafts and Small Business (OZS) said the package did not address their concerns and would not help the entire economy.

EUR 689 million so far paid for furlough, short-time work

LJUBLJANA - From the start of the epidemic in April last year until 1 July this year, the Employment Service paid out a total of EUR 688.7 million for furlough subsidies, absence due to quarantine and reduced working hours. The funds were paid out under the eight laws determining emergency measures to contain the COVID-19 epidemic. The highest number of applications (57.9%) was for subsidized furlough.

Art Stays brings contemporary art to Ptuj

PTUJ - The 19th Art Stays international festival of contemporary art kicked off in Ptuj. This year's festival, entitled Structura, will present projects and works by new talents and established artists through 18 September. The central exhibition will be on show at the Ptuj City Gallery and present Structura through monochromatic works of Duša Jesih and Julie Mangold. It will also include various Slovenian artists, Israeli artist Gal Weinstein, young Azerbaijani artist Faig Ahmed and Mohammad Al-Hemd from Kuwait.

Exhibition on illustrator Hinko Smrekar opens at National Gallery

LJUBLJANA - An exhibition on versatile Slovenian artist Hinko Smrekar opened at the National Gallery in Ljubljana. Smrekar (1883-1942) was one of the pioneers of Slovenian graphic art and left his mark on the artistic, social and political life in Slovenia in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his illustrations on playing cards, illustrations of Ivan Cankar's books and Fran Levstik's Martin Krpan, the first original Slovenian picture book.

08 Jul 2021, 04:24 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 8 July 2021

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:

MPs pass stimulus package for tourism

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed an emergency bill worth EUR 243.5 million to help tourism and other sectors most affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. The legislation also brings a series of measures to help companies in tourism, convention industry, restaurants, sports and culture. The short-time work scheme has been extended at least until the end of September with the possibility of extending it until the end of the year. New holiday vouchers have been introduced for a wide range of services, including accommodation facilities, restaurants, bookshops, theatres, concerts or various sports and other activities. The opposition warned that the measures came too late and were insufficient.

Ways to improve vaccine uptake discussed as govt meets local officials

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Government officials and health professionals called on mayors to help convince the people to get vaccinated, warning that the situation is serious, with infections on the rise again. Prime Minister Janez Janša said it was quite clear what lay ahead in the coming weeks and months if adequate vaccination was not achieved. If we do not seize the opportunity, we will also waste the chance to recover from the epidemic, said Janša, recalling that the economy was doing well at the moment and money for investments would be available. "But if we have to deal with lockdowns again, we will miss our chance," Janša added.

EU Commission upgrades Slovenia's GDP growth forecast to 5.7%

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission projects that Slovenia's economy will expand by 5.7% this year, a 0.8-point increase on its May forecast. The outlook for 2020 was slightly downgraded to 5%. The eurozone as a whole is expected to post growth rates of 4.8% and 4.5%, respectively. The Commission said Slovenia's recovery was buoyed by growing private spending, investments and exports, with merchandise exports already at pre-crisis levels. In general the impact of the pandemic is still cushioned by significant government measures in support of jobs and corporate liquidity.

NBI oversight reveals shortcomings, Minister Hojs calls for staff changes

LJUBLJANA - The Interior Ministry's oversight of police tasks and powers at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has revealed several shortcomings, including too long investigations and mistakes related to house searchers. Based on the report, Minister Aleš Hojs believes that "certain staff changes" should be made at the NBI. The report shows 95% of the detentions ordered during NBI-conducted house searches were disproportionate, Hojs told the press as he presented the report. As for lengthy investigations, he said they could "last for five years, while things are in the drawer for a year or more", which he labelled scandalous.

Article 7 hearings on Slovenian EU presidency agenda, says Logar

STRASBOURG, France - On behalf of the Council of the EU, Slovenian Foreign Minister Anže Logar told the European Parliament that hearings under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union regarding Poland and Hungary were on the agenda of Slovenia's EU presidency as many MEPs were critical of the stalling of sanctions procedures in question. Logar said that the Slovenian presidency attached great importance to respect for the rule of law and protection of basic rights. He also highlighted the joint responsibility for promoting common values, vowing that the Slovenian presidency would make use of tools at its disposal and promote a joint culture of the rule of law in the EU.

73 new coronavirus infections confirmed in Slovenia on Tuesday in new uptick, one death

LJUBLJANA - The number of new coronavirus cases rose to 73 in Slovenia on Tuesday in what is the highest number in almost three weeks. The 7-day average of new cases rose by four to 30 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents by one to 19, data by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) show. A total of 2,104 PCR and 17,150 rapid tests were conducted yesterday. There are currently 52 Covid-19 patients in hospitals, including 10 in intensive care. One patient died on Tuesday, breaking a 12-day period with no deaths reported. More than 50 new infections have been traced to a senior trip to Lore de Mar, Spain, the NIJZ said.

Parliament passes bill on emergency measures in healthcare

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed a bill on emergency measures in healthcare which the government had fast-tracked through parliament. The bill, worth EUR 66.6 million, introduces some temporary measures to deal with the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic while also seeking to cut long waiting times. The legislation provides a basis for extending several measures, including subsidies for workers in quarantine or in case of force majeure from 1 July until the end of 2021. It extends into 2022 a tender which also allows private doctors to help cut waiting times in the public system, which has earned it criticism of fostering privatisation.

Amendments to communicable diseases act passed

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed amendments to the communicable diseases act after the Constitutional Court declared parts of the act and by extension the measures introduced during the epidemic unconstitutional. The amended act determines that expert assessments are required for some measures, and that certain indicators must be taken into account when restrictions are adopted. It also introduces curbs on the duration and location of the measures. In case of restrictions that would strongly affect human rights and fundamental freedoms, there will be a special mechanism under which individual measures in place for more than 90 days can only be extended by the National Assembly.

Aid confirmed for farmers stricken by spring frost

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly unanimously endorsed a law on measures to help farmers affected by the spring frost. The legislation provides the basis for a final damage assessment and for emergency measures. The majority of deputy groups were in favour of making the aid available as soon as possible. The frost has caused exceptional damage to fruit and wine production. The law creates the legal basis for providing aid to affected agricultural holdings in the form of soft loans to finance running costs, a reduction or waiver of pension and disability insurance contributions, and a waiver of lease payments to the Farmland and Forest Fund.

Brijuni Declaration remembered as making Slovenia international subject

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor recalled the unity from 30 years ago as he hosted a ceremony in Ljubljana to mark three decades since the Brijuni Declaration, a document that ended the ten-day war for Slovenian independence, was adopted on 7 July 1991. Pahor believes the agreement was an important step towards Slovenia's international recognition, something the then president of the Slovenian presidency, Milan Kučan, and then Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel agreed with. Kučan said the Brijuni talks had asserted Slovenia as a European negotiator and international subject. Rupel focussed on the role of the declaration for Slovenian diplomatic service and shed light on diplomatic efforts.

Tonin visits Slovenian troops, NATO mission commanders in Latvia

RIGA, Latvia - Slovenian Defence Minister Matej Tonin visited the Slovenian soldiers serving in NATO's mission Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia. Together with his Montenegrin and Macedonian counterparts, Olivera Injac and Radmila Šekerinska, he met the mission's senior officers at the Adazi base, where Slovenia's 9th contingent is serving, the Slovenian Defence Ministry said in a statement. They discussed the role of the countries in the mission. Tonin also met his Latvian counterpart Artis Pabriks to discuss the security situation in the Baltic region and bilateral defence and military cooperation.

Govt discusses development projects, pay system with mayors

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Public sector pay system and regional development topped the agenda as Prime Minister Janez Janša hosted a working meeting with mayors, with ministers announcing more funds for school and sport infrastructure and for primary healthcare. Janša also announced that the government planned to visit all Slovenian regions in the coming six months despite the country's presiding the Council of the EU. He pinpointed the public sector pay system as one of the obstacles to development, with mayors agreeing that low wages at public institutions were a problem.

Migration and digital crime discussed in Portorož

PORTOROŽ - Informal meetings of the Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA) and the Council's Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security (COSI) started as part of Slovenia's EU presidency. The SCIFA meeting will focus on dossiers dealing with migration and border management. The COSI meeting will discuss ways to fight crime in the digital age and the influence of artificial intelligence on police work, Slovenian officials said.

Businesses warn another lockdown would be costly

LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) warned that a potential new lockdown would be prohibitively expensive for businesses and the state as it called on people to get vaccinated against coronavirus to prevent another shutdown of public life. The GZS estimates a new lockdown in autumn would result in a EUR 1.7 billion revenue shortfall for the corporate sector, wiping out EUR 400 million in value added and 2,500 jobs. Government support for the economy would cost EUR 800 million.

Europe Readr venue launched in Izola under Slovenian EU presidency

IZOLA - The coastal town of Izola now boasts a special place to read and reflect on a number of issues in its park near Izola Lighthouse. The art installation My Reading Room, which opened today, is Slovenia's contribution to Europe Readr, the international cultural project of the Slovenian EU presidency, the Foreign Ministry said. The Slovenian EU presidency has put books from all member states at the heart of public space, said State Secretary Gašper Dovžan at the opening ceremony. My Reading Room will be open every day between 10am and 6pm until the end of September.

Cigarette prices to rise by almost 5% in August

LJUBLJANA - The Finance Ministry proposed a rise in excise duties on cigarettes that comes with an average 5% increase for a pack of cigarettes. The rise, which is expected to take effect in August, is reckoned to bring in an additional EUR 18 million a year. Under the proposal, which will be discussed by the government at one of its forthcoming sessions, excise duty per 1,000 cigarettes will rise from EUR 120 to EUR 127. Taking into account the increase and VAT, the average price of a pack of cigarettes will stand at EUR 3.24 from 1 August.

07 Jul 2021, 04:52 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Wednesday, 7 July 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Janša in EU Parliament: EU should start acting more strategically

STRASBOURG, France - PM Janez Janša said as he addressed the European Parliament that he believed the time had come for the EU to start acting more strategically, including in the Western Balkans. Presenting the Slovenian EU presidency's priorities, he said the first short-term priority was to do everything to prevent the fourth wave of the pandemic. Janša considers it key to convince people to get vaccinated. "Every citizens should do everything to stop the pandemic," he said, adding that ad hoc solutions should be replaced by sustainable structural measures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meanwhile stressed the role of values and the rule of law. She said the July EU summit showed how central they were.

Slovenia highlights importance of European path for Albania, N Macedonia

STRASBOURG, France - Prime Minister Janez Janša stressed the importance of a breakthrough that would enable the start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania as he presented the priorities of the Slovenian EU presidency to the European Parliament. He believes there is a possibility concrete steps will be taken in relation to North Macedonia and Albania ahead of an EU-Western Balkans summit that will be held in Slovenia in October. If the EU is not enlarging to the region, others, who do not contribute to stability, are, Janša reiterated.

MEPs convey stark message about rule of law in debate on EU presidency priorities

STRASBOURG, France - MEPs from the majority of political groups in the European Parliament sent PM Janez Janša some stark messages about the rule of law after he presented Slovenia's EU presidency priorities in the Parliament. Most of the criticism centred on the non-appointment of European delegated prosecutors, media freedom and independent judiciary, while a lack of ambition in fighting climate change was also singled out. Janša's EPP too urged him to promptly appoint the two prosecutors.

Slovenian MEPs divided along party lines in reactions to Janša's address

STRASBOURG, France - MEPs from Slovenia were divided along partisan lines in their comments of the presentation of Slovenia's EU presidency priorities delivered by PM Janez Janša in the European Parliament. Romana Tomc (EPP/SDS) said she strongly believed the government would carry out the presidency successfully, while Tanja Fajon (S&D/SD) said that Slovenia's reputation had been undermined and that many people were wondering "about our values and European orientation".

Janša gives no comment on European political future of his party

STRASBOURG, France - Prime Minister Janez Janša did not wish to comment on the European political future of his Democrats (SDS) as he visited Strasbourg to address the European Parliament. Asked about the SDS's membership in the European People's Party (EPP), he said that his party was not dealing with such issues but was focused on current challenges. He said that the European political arena was dynamic and would change, adding that the next Parliament would be different as it had been after every EU election. "We'll see what happens," he said.

Vrtovec talks efforts to boost cross-border connectivity with EU and region's peers

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec hosted ministers in charge of transport from Slovenia's neighbouring countries and the Western Balkans to discuss efforts to improve cross-border connectivity between the EU and the region, with an emphasis on upgrading traffic infrastructure and border crossing management. Vrtovec said a proposal to adopt appropriate measures to boost connectivity would be presented to heads of state at an EU-Western Balkans summit that will be held in Slovenia in early October.

Easing of restrictions likely on hold as fears mount over delta-driven new wave

LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Janez Poklukar indicated Slovenia would put any further easing of restrictions on hold over concerns that the delta variant of the novel coronavirus could lead to a renewed surge in infections. Slovenia is entering a period when the easing of restrictions will likely stop and emphasis will be placed on implementation of the protocol under which those who have been vaccinated, tested or have recovered from coronavirus have access to certain services, he said. "The better we implement this protocol, the fewer other restrictions there will be."

Slovenia logs 48 new coronavirus infections for Monday

LJUBLJANA - Out of 1,695 PCR tests performed in Slovenia on Monday, 48 returned positive, according to the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). The 7-day average of new cases and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents stand at 26 and 18, respectively. Hospitals are still treating 59 Covid-19 patients, one more than yesterday, including 15 in intensive care, which is one fewer than the day before, according to data from the Covid-19 tracker site Sledilnik.

Allegations of voter suppression as referendum voting starts

LJUBLJANA - Proponents of the referendum on the waters act have sharply criticised the organisation of the voting, alleging voter suppression regarding information on how and where people can vote early and polling station staffing. There were reports of long waiting lines in Ljubljana, where there was just one polling station for early voting, and confusion in Maribor, where there were seven instead of one. "We are faced with inadmissible curtailing of voting rights," Aljoša Petek of the Legal Information Centre said.

Hojs: Police ordered Yellow Jackets removal before call from protest organisers

LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs told MPs on Monday that he was not familiar with the police report on the 25 June rally of anti-government protestors in Ljubljana. But from what he has heard, he believes police ordered action against a Yellow Jackets group a few seconds before the protest's organisers had urged them to remove the group from the event.

Traffic steadily picking up at Ljubljana Airport

BRNIK - The Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport has seen traffic tick up at the start of the summer tourism season. Scheduled flights to eleven destinations and charter flights to twenty destinations are currently available, with 2,000-2,500 passengers passing through the airport daily. Janez Krašnja, head of airline management at airport operator Fraport Slovenija, said six more destinations would be added in the coming months. "Barring any fundamental changes in the epidemiological situation, we will have 17 scheduled lines this summer, which is a good achievement for the first year of recovery."

Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebrates 170 years

DOB - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) marked its 170th anniversary on Tuesday as it received a Golden Order of Merit from President Borut Pahor for the promotion of Slovenian business at home and abroad. The chamber also conferred awards for exceptional business achievements. The recipients are Zdenko Zanoški, the director of flavourings maker Frutarom Etol, Marta Klevišar, the director of mobile home maker Adria Dom, Marko Lukić, the director of pre-fab house maker Lumar IG, and Jasna Dominko Baloh, the director of the private educational institution DOBA Fakulteta.

06 Jul 2021, 06:06 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Tuesday, 6 July 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Janša sees EU's recovery and resilience as key to bloc's power

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša highlighted the EU's post-pandemic recovery and resilience as a clear response to crises as he presented the priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency to parliament. He said successive crises since Slovenia's first EU presidency in 2008 had shown that "we've been poorly prepared for the majority of these crises, that there is a lack of certain common instruments that allow the Union to face crises". He hopes the time has come "for the EU to refocus on looking for strategic answers to strategic questions". His presentation elicited criticism from the centre-left opposition parties, with some describing it as short on detail and others expressing doubt about whether the government can deliver.

EU presidency, funds top agenda of EU Court of Auditors visit

LJUBLJANA - A delegation of the European Court of Auditors headed by president Klaus-Heiner Lehne started a three-day visit to Slovenia, with the Slovenian EU presidency's priorities and oversight of the spending of recovery and resilience funds topping the agenda. Lehne and PM Janez Janša also exchanged views on the EU's future challenges, while Lehne and Foreign Minister Anže Logar discussed cooperation with Slovenia's EU presidency. Talks with a National Assembly delegation headed by Speaker Igor Zorčič revolved around the role of national parliaments and the work of the Court of Auditors.

Slovenian military to prioritise climate and Western Balkans during EU presidency

BRUSSELS, Belgium - During Slovenia's EU presidency, the Slovenian Armed Forces will carry out tasks and activities in line with the presidency's priorities. The main focus will be on the impact of climate change on defence and military mobility, and the Western Balkans, where the emphasis will be on crisis response, Brigadier Milan Žurman, the head of Slovenia's Military Representation to NATO and the EU, said. Moreover, Slovenian military will focus on increasing cooperation between the EU and Western Balkan countries and among the countries themselves, improving potential civil-military cooperation in the event of natural and other disasters, and enhancing military mobility.

Minister wants unions at negotiating table, not at anti-govt protests

LJUBLJANA - Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj said he was doing everything in his power to get trade unions back to the negotiating table after they quit the Economic and Social Council (ESS) in May, yet under the condition that they refrain from taking part in anti-government protests. The trade union confederations quit Slovenia's main industrial relations forum in mid-May, accusing the government of having practically abolished social dialogue. They were unhappy with several bills within the ESS's purview being sent to parliament without prior debate on the forum.

More restrictions on services lifted

LJUBLJANA - More restrictions on the services sector have been lifted. Casinos fully reopened today and there are no more restrictions on the number of customers in shops. The rule of reconvalescence, testing or vaccination remains in place indoors. Customers, including in shops, who can prove they have been vaccinated, tested or have recently recovered from Covid-19 no longer need to wear face masks indoors. Masks are also no longer obligatory for visitors or performers at outdoor or indoor culture events provided the rule of reconvalescence, testing or vaccination is heeded.

Eight positive coronavirus tests in Slovenia on Sunday

LJUBLJANA - Eight out of 604 PCR coronavirus tests came back positive on Sunday for a positivity rate of 1.3% while there were no deaths. The 7-day average of new cases and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents remained flat at 24 and 19, respectively. Hospitals are still treating 58 Covid-19 patients, two down from yesterday, including 16 in intensive care, which is also two fewer. An estimated 425 infections are still considered to be active.

PM warns 70% vaccination rate needed to avoid new lockdown

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša called for joint efforts to convince people to get vaccinated against coronavirus as he warned that a vaccination rate of 70% would have to be achieved until the end of the summer if Slovenia is to avoid new lockdowns. "If we do not achieve a vaccination rate of 70% by the end of the summer, everything will be closed in autumn," he told the National Assembly at the outset of the plenary session. "This is the only way to prevent having to pass legislation making vaccination mandatory for certain categories," he said.

Slovenia's jobless total down in June y/y

LJUBLJANA - A total of 71,094 people were registered as unemployed in Slovenia at the end of June, 5.4% down on May and 20.5% on June last year, in what is a nationwide decrease, show the Employment Service data. Employers reported 35% more job openings in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2020. June saw 3,532 new job seekers, a 4.6% drop over May and down 53.3% over last year's June. The Employment Service received 16,195 job openings in June, 23.4% more than in May and 54% more than in June 2020.

Survey: Climate change serious problem for most EU, Slovenian citizens

LJUBLJANA - As many as 92% Slovenians citizens consider climate change a serious problem, which is one percentage point below the EU average, the latest Eurobarometer survey shows. 11% of Slovenian respondents meanwhile consider climate change the most serious problem the world is faced with, which compares to the EU average of 18%. As for politics taking action to fight climate change for the EU to become climate neutral by 2050, 90% of Europeans and 89% of Slovenians said greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced to the utmost.

MFRR warns of attacks on media in Slovenia at multiple levels

LJUBLJANA - The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a coalition of press freedom organisations and journalism groups, stressed that media freedom was at risk in Slovenia. Attacks on Slovenian media take place at multiple levels, both legislative and administrative, and on social networks, the group said in Ljubljana as it presented its report released at the end of last month after a virtual fact-finding mission to Slovenia in late May and early June.

Warnings on illegal returns of asylum seekers in online debate

LJUBLJANA - The illegal returns of asylum seekers from Schengen countries are systematic, said the participants of an online panel discussion on Slovenia's contentious practices in the field of migration. They agreed that this was not an exclusively Slovenian issue, noting that changes that would put human rights at the forefront were needed. Turning asylum seekers back in Slovenia did not start with this government, but it has intensified under it, said Jošt Žagar of the Infokolpa initiative, which organised the panel together with the Border Violence Monitoring Network.

Suspect planning shooting spree pleads not guilty

KRANJ - A 20-year-old man suspected of having planned a school shooting spree pleaded not guilty as he appeared at the Kranj District Court, TV channel A Kanal reported. However, he did admit to having bought a pistol and an automatic rifle for EUR 5,000 on the dark web, for which the prosecution indicted him. At one of the coming hearings, a psychiatrist should tell the court whether the suspect showed diminished capacity when buying the weapons. If found guilty, he could get a prison sentence of six months to five years.

05 Jul 2021, 06:48 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Monday, 5 July 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Slovenia qualify for the Olympic basketball tournament

KAUNAS, Lithuania - The Slovenian national basketball team will compete in the Olympic for the first time after NBA star Luka Dončič led the team to a 96:85 win against Lithuania in the final of one of the four qualifying tournaments. Dončič scored a triple double with 31 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. Vlatko Čančar added 18 points and Jaka Blažič 16. In Tokyo Slovenia will play in group C alongside Spain, Argentina and Japan.

Roglič leaving Tour de France early due to injury

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian cycling star Primož Roglič has decided to leave Tour de France early due to injuries he sustained in early stages of the race, his Dutch team Jumbo-Visma said on its website. The 31-year-old Roglič, last year's Tour de France runner-up and the winner of Tour of Spain, suffered two falls in stages one and three of the Tour. "We have made the decision on the departure together. In these circumstance, it would be pointless to continue," Roglič said.

Garnbret bags another World Cup victory before Olympics

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's Janja Garnbret continues to excel at this year's climbing World Cup, having won her fourth event this season in Villars, Switzerland on Saturday, which raises hope for the Tokyo Olympics, where she will be the country's main contender for gold. Out of the eight finalists in Villars, four were Slovenian.

Nine coronavirus infections confirmed on Saturday

LJUBLJANA - Nine new coronavirus cases were confirmed in 845 PCR tests in Slovenia on Saturday, the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) said. There were no Covid-9 deaths. The 7-day average of new cases and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents both dropped by one to 24 and 19, respectively. There were 60 Covid-19 patients in hospitals, down one from the day before, of whom 18 needed intensive care, one more than the day before.

04 Jul 2021, 04:07 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, 4 July 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

30 coronavirus infections recorded on Friday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,511 PCR tests were performed in Slovenia on Friday, resulting in 30 new positive cases, for a positivity rate of 2%, up 0.5 of a percentage point compared to the day before, the government said. Hospitalisations decreased from 64 to 61, but the number of ICU cases was up by one to 17. The 7-day average of new cases is up by three to 25, while the 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents dropped from 22 to 20, show fresh official data from the National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ). There have been no Covid-related deaths for more than a week now.

Importance of dialogue raised at traditional get-together

ČRNA NA KOROŠKEM - President Borut Pahor spoke at a traditional get-together at the Najevnik Linden Tree to emphasise the importance of respectful dialogue and people listening to each other. He urged on people to try to talk to those who think differently and look for compromises for the common good. "This is very important for our furure," the president said in his keynote address to a few hundreds of attendees of the event by the largest tree in Slovenia, located on a hill south of Črna na Koroškem (N). The get-together was attended, among others, by former Slovenian Prime Minister Lojze Peterle, parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič, ambassadors, mayors, representatives of businesses and various institutions.

Pahor says Minister Hojs should apologise for "swine" comment

ČRNA NA KOROŠKEM - President Borut Pahor assessed that Interior Minister Aleš Hojs saying that the term "swine" could apply to a key player in the EU administration is unbecoming of the post he holds, and that he must find a way to apologise. The president said politicians and public personalities were obliged to refrain from words that some could understand as insulting and added that PM Janez Janša should also pay attention to this in the European Parliament on Tuesday. The president hopes that Janša will be able to resist the temptation to "say everything that he thinks, in a way that he would perhaps would want to, and that everything that he says will be said on behalf of Slovenia.

Covid advisory group members explain themselves to MP inquiry commission

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary inquiry commission investigating the government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis held its first interviews on Friday, hearing that two epidemiologists had quit the government advisory group as they had too little say in the decisions. The former head of the group Bojana Beović said not all proposals could have been accepted. Ivan Eržen, the former director of the National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ), meanwhile saying that some of the restrictive measures taken by the government had been inappropriate.

Slovenia's Pogačar takes overall lead at Tour de France

ANNECY, France - Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar has taken the overall lead at Tour de France after an individual attack that secured him the fourth place in the 150.8-km, eight stage of the prestigious race from Oyonnax to Le Grand-Bornand. The member of UAE Team Emirates broke off from all competitors for the yellow jersey 30 kilometres ahead of the finish line to cross it second only to Dylan Teuns of Belgium. The 22-year-old reigning Tour de France champion now has an advantage of 1 minute and 48 seconds ahead of the second-placed Wout Van Aert of Belgium (Jumbo-Visma).

03 Jul 2021, 04:30 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 3 July 2021

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:

Croatian regulators approve Petrol's takeover of Crodux, Iskra's takeover of Elka

ZAGREB, Croatia - The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) has given Slovenia's energy company Petrol a green light on the takeover of Croatian petroleum products seller Crodux as well as authorised the Iskra electronics group to acquire Croatian electric cable manufacturer Elka. Petrol signed the acquisition deal with Crodux in January and will thus become the second biggest player in the Croatian market after the Croatian oil company Ina. At the same time, the CCA has decided to approve Iskra's takeover of Elka. The companies signed the deal in May but did not disclose its value.

Pahor makes case for rapid EU enlargement to Western Balkans

OHRID - President Borut Pahor made a case for the EU's rapid enlargement to Western Balkans as he addressed the Prespa Forum Dialogue, arguing that this was in the interest of the EU and would strengthen the bloc as well as the region. The president said continued enlargement was instrumental to the stability and prosperity of Western Balkans. He described enlargement as a "first-rate geopolitical issue" and said the region needed to be treated as a whole.

Hojs causes confusion among EU reporters with swine statement

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs raised an issue at a briefing for Brussels correspondents, as they interpreted one of his replies as taking aim at European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans with a pearls-swine metaphor. The journalists confronted Hojs about the "do not cast pearls before swine" comment he made on Twitter about the Yellow Jackets, a far-right group linked to neo-Nazis which was removed from last Friday's anti-government protests in Ljubljana. Hojs responded by saying he did not refer to anyone as "swine" but later added that, taking into account what was said on Thursday, his comment might as well apply to a key player in the EU administration.

Sassoli says Slovenian presidency should defend EU values, rule of law

BRUSSELS - European Parliament President David Sassoli said Slovenia's EU presidency had a great responsibility to defend EU values and the rule of law. "Slovenian citizens are well aware of the value of Europe and of freedom. Appointing Slovenia's EPPO Prosecutors is a way to guarantee transparency and protect legal rights. We expect a fast response," he said on Twitter. Slovenia's EU presidency officially kicked off yesterday with a visit by EU commissioners. Rule of law, one of the presidency's priorities was among the principal topics on the agenda of the talks with the Slovenian government.

Corruption watchdog finds no conflict of interest in Vizjak-Mokrice case

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for Corruption Prevention (KPK) has found no conflict of interest in the case of Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak in connection to the construction of the Mokrice hydro plant on the Sava river. The matter was investigated after the KPK received several reports of suspected conflict of interest, including from an NGO. The KPK said it had received several reports last year in relation to Vizjak's previous job at the power producer HESS, which is to operate the Mokrice plant, just before he became minister and that he had been personally in charge of the Mokrice project.

25 coronavirus cases confirmed on Thursday

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 25 new coronavirus infections for Thursday in 1,656 PCR tests for a positivity rate of 1.5%, roughly on par with Wednesday's figure. Both the 7-day average of new cases and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population dropped from 25 to 22, show fresh official data. Hospitalisations decreased from 66 to 64 and the number of ICU cases remained at 16. There have been no Covid-related deaths for a week now. The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) estimates that there are 507 active cases currently in the country, down from 569 on the day before.

Jana Kolar to chair the ESFRI Forum

LJUBLJANA - The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) will be chaired for the next two years by Jana Kolar, the Slovenian representative to ESFRI and a member of its executive board. Kolar will take up her two-year term in 2022 as the first Slovenian and the first woman in this post, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport said. Kolar's priority will be to improve the forum's functioning and make it more visible. "I would like to leave the ESFRI better integrated into a renewed European Research Area, better functioning and more visible," she said for the ESFRI website.

STA director proposes agreement to temporarily restore partial financing

LJUBLJANA - The director of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), Bojan Veselinovič, proposed to the government an agreement that would temporarily sort out the relations between the STA and the Government Communication Office (UKOM) since the agency has been without public funding of its service for over 180 days. The STA proposes to the government to pay 80% of the money the agency was supposed to receive so far and then start transferring 80% of the funds the agency is entitled to every month until a contract on the financing is signed, the STA management said in a press release on Thursday.

Newspaper Dnevnik celebrates 70 year

LJUBLJANA - Ljubljanski Dnevnik, the forerunner of today's Dnevnik, was published for the first time on 2 July 1951. "Dnevnik has been and remains a community of people who engage because they care," wrote the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Miran Lesjak, in today's editorial marking the anniversary. "Since the media are exposed to social forces, decades are long periods in our lives; many media can emerge and disappear in a mere decade, but Dnevnik has been proving for 70 years that it is not some short-lived device that only works until its warranty expires," Lesjak wrote.

Higher Court overturns decision in sawn-off hand case

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Higher Court issued a ruling in the sawn-off hand case, overturning the first-instance sentences of Sebastien Abramov and Julija Adlešič, Delo and Slovenske novice have reported. According to the Higher Court, the situation regarding the cause of Adlešič's injury was not sufficiently clarified. According to Delo, the Higher Court believes that the Ljubljana District Court violated the rights of the defence by refusing the motion for a biomechanical expert and a sawing test on a human cadaver, which affected the correctness and legality of the ruling.

Slovenia's Mohorič wins 7th stage of Tour de France

CHALON SUR SAONE, France - Slovenia's Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) won stage 7 of the Tour de France from La Vierzon to Le Creusot and took the polka dot jersey for the best climber. Defending champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) lost some ground. Mohorič won the longest stage of this year's tour, at 259 kilometres, in a getaway group of 29 riders and now places fourth in the overall rankings, 3:09 minutes behind the Dutch race leader Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin Fenix). He earned his third stage win in the Grand Tour races (he also has wins in Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana).

World music festival bringing eight concerts to Ljubljana and Maribor

LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR - The world music festival Druga Godba starts in the evening with a concert by Tigran Hamasyan Trio, featuring Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan, known as one of the most remarkable and distinctive jazz-meets-rock pianists of his generation, according to the organisers. Until 10 July, the festival will bring eight concerts, mostly played outdoors.

24th Storytelling Festival kicks off in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - The Črn, Črn Smeh (Dark, Dark Laughter) concert, featuring folktale-inspired poems accompanied by music, will open the 24th Storytelling Festival at the Švicarija venue in Tivoli Park tonight. After last year's events were cancelled, this year's edition will have two parts, with the second taking place in October at Cankarjev Dom.

02 Jul 2021, 04:06 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 2 July 2021

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:

Janša, von der Leyen discuss rule of law

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Rule of law was one of the main topics discussed during the visit by the College of Commissioners. Prime Minister Janez Janša said that in a rule of law, final decisions are in the hands of courts. "We have problems with independence of courts in Slovenia, we acknowledge that and we've never concealed it. We discussed this today in an intensive debate with the European Commission." According to Janša, the fundamental problem with rule of law in Slovenia is that "we have largely not satisfied the recommendations that we got when we entered the EU." Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was important to always respect the rule of law and European values. She said trust was the EU's most valuable asset. This includes trust in an independent judicial system and in independent media, with sufficient financing.

PM says procedure to appoint EDPs could be concluded by autumn

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Prime Minister Janez Janša said the procedure to appoint European delegated prosecutors (EDPs) from Slovenia could be wrapped up by the autumn, as he answered a reporter question at a press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Janša said that Slovenia had its own legislation on the basis of which it would appoint its European delegated prosecutors, adding that the procedure was being repeated due to "complications". "How fast the procedure will be depends on those who participate in it ... in my assessment it could be concluded by the autumn if everybody does their job."

EU enlargement a response to strategic challenges, says Janša

BRDO PRI KRANJU - EU enlargement is one of Slovenian EU presidency priorities and a response to strategic challenges, Prime Minister Janez Janša said after a meeting between the government and the EU Commission delegation marking the start of the presidency stint. In the next six months there will be a return to addressing enlargement as a strategic response to open issues. EU enlargement is a strategic response to many challenges, he said. "In the past decade, when [enlargement] was not at the forefront, we have seen that someone else has been extending to the Western Balkans and not to spread freedom and the rule of law." The Slovenian presidency will work on resolving dilemmas and reaching a consensus on enlargement among member states, he said.

Post-covid recovery front-and-centre of Slovenian presidency

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Prime Minister Janez Janša and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the EU's post-covid recovery as a major issue that Slovenia's EU presidency will deal with. The events over the past 15 months had shown that "the EU has been part of the solution during this time," according to Janša, who said resilience, recovery and the EU's strategic autonomy were among the Slovenian presidency's priorities. Von der Leyen said Slovenia was taking over the presidency at an inflection point for the bloc. "The Slovenian Presidency will be decisive. The tasks will be challenging. It is no less than laying the ground for our future prosperity... And in this endeavour, you can count on my constant support and the College's cooperation."

Von der Leyen expects STA financing to be sorted out

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Media freedom was one of the topics that the College of Commissioners discussed as they met the government at the outset of Slovenia's presidency of the EU. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expects that Slovenia will swiftly sort out the financing of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) and ensure its independence. She said free and critical media which exercise oversight of governments were "the central element of any democratic society", noting that the Commission's concerns regarding the STA were well known and that the Commission had repeatedly voiced the expectation that the issue would be resolved. Prime Minister Janez Janša said that after the government recently adopted a regulation on the STA's public service, "we've now hopefully arrived at a solution and that this issue will be off the agenda".

EU Commission endorses Slovenia's recovery plan

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission endorsed Slovenia's EUR 2.5 billion national recovery and resilience plan. Pending confirmation by member states, Slovenia will be able to draw EUR 1.8 billion in grants and EUR 705 million in loans. Slovenia will spend the funds, equivalent to 5.4% of the country's GDP, to support 33 reforms and 50 investments laid out in the plan. Slovenia's plan earmarks 42.4% for green goals and 21.4% for digital goals, with 30% set aside for the promotion of smart and inclusive growth, 15% for health, and 13% for digital transformation.

Opposition not calling a truce during presidency

LJUBLJANA - The centre-left opposition rejected the coalition's call for a political truce during Slovenia's EU presidency. They are determined to continue to use all the available means at their disposal and are not ruling out a new attempt at a vote of no confidence. The LMŠ said that if they gave up the instruments at their disposal as the largest opposition party they would also give up democracy. Similarly, the Left said it "could not and must not" change its positions about the the ruling coalition's record in office for the sake of the presidency. The SAB said the opposition would continue to "keep an eye on the government".

Commissioner Timmermans eschews family photo

BRDO PRI KRANJU - The European Commission's Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans did not participate in the family photo after a meeting of the College of Commissioners and the Slovenian government, reportedly due to Prime Minister Janez Janša's comments about links between Slovenian judges and the Social Democrats (SD). Matjaž Nemec, an SD deputy, said on Twitter that Timmermans refused to join the photo in protest at Janša showing a photo from a May Day picnic at which several judges were in the company of SD politicians, construing it as proof that the party controls the judiciary. Several international media confirmed the version of events.

Appeal by two non-appointed delegated prosecutors struck down for being premature

LJUBLJANA - The Administrative Court has struck down an application by the pair of prosecutors who have been approved for Slovenia's European delegated prosecutors before the government annulled the appointment procedure on procedural grounds. In a decision announced today, the court said it had set aside the lawsuit and the request for a temporary stay on the government's decision because the plaintiffs filed the suit before actually receiving the government's decision on the matter.

Pahor to call on govt to revive social dialogue

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will propose that the government try to find adequate solutions for resuming social dialogue as soon as possible, Pahor's office said after the president held a meeting with representatives of largest trade unions, who presented the reasons for suspension of social dialogue and Economic and Social Council. The trade unions warned that some key decisions and laws on social and economic policies had been adopted without social dialogue. Despite their numerous calls for respect for relevant rules, the situation has not improved.

New Ljubljana airport terminal welcomes first passengers

BRNIK - The new passenger terminal at the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport received its first passengers in what the airport operator labelled as a landmark in Slovenian aviation history. "It is a great event ... as Slovenia has gotten infrastructure that it had long desired," Fraport Slovenija director Zmago Skobir told the press.

Slovenia reports 23 new coronavirus cases for Wednesday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 23 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in Slovenia on Wednesday in 1,623 PCR tests, the National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ) announced. Both the 7-day average of new cases and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population currently stand at 25. There were no Covid-19 deaths yesterday for the sixth day in a row.

NE region promised investment boost as govt visits

MARIBOR - Podravje, Slovenia's second largest region, was offered the prospect of EU-subsidised investment for a development breakthrough as the government toured the north-east on Wednesday with Prime Minister Janez Janša saying the goal was to keep young people, in particularly the highly-educated, at home.

Congress Square to be centre stage of this year's Ljubljana Festival

LJUBLJANA - A concert by the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev, will kick off the 69th Ljubljana Festival tonight. As the Križanke open-air venue is under renovation, Congress Square will be this year's main venue. The events will move to the Cankarjev Dom art centre and the city's main fairgrounds in case of bad weather.

01 Jul 2021, 05:43 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 1 July 2021

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:

Janša warns of school closures unless people get jab

MARIBOR - Prime Minister Janez Janša raised the prospect of schools having to be kept closed in the autumn unless everyone gets vaccinated against Covid-19, while he also discussed EU presidency and investment in the Podravje region in a radio interview during the government's visit to the north-eastern region. "If we get vaccinated, schools and kindergartens will be open in the autumn, if we don't, they won't be and we'll be paying the price again," he told an interview with Radio City.

Hojs talks security with mayors of external EU border area

PODLEHNIK - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs visited the Gruškovje border crossing to meet with mayors of municipalities located along the southern Schengen border as part of the government's visit to the Podravje region. He announced the deployment of reserve police officers to help guard the border. In the next six months, some 1,000 reserve police officers will be deployed to various locations around Slovenia, Hojs said, adding it was hard to say where the government would send most of them.

Speaker Zorčič takes over EU presidency parliamentary dimension

LJUBLJANA - National Assembly President Igor Zorčič symbolically took over from Portugal the parliamentary dimension of the presidency of the Council of the EU today alongside National Council President Alojz Kovšca. Slovenia's presidency will mainly focus on the EU's post-pandemic recovery and efforts to strengthen the bloc's resilience, Zorčič said.

PM talks EU presidency priorities with diplomatic corps

BRDO PRI KRANJU - PM Janez Janša met on Tuesday the ambassadors of the EU member states for a working lunch, to note that the key challenges of the Slovenian presidency of the Council of the EU are the Covid-19 situation, economic recovery, improving resilience, the Conference on the Future of Europe and EU enlargement, the government said on its website. At the event hosted by the Portuguese chargé d'affaires, Janša thanked Portugal for the "good and successful presidency".

UNHCR urges Slovenian EU presidency to provide better protection to refugees

BRUSSELS, Belgium - UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, urged the Slovenian EU presidency on Wednesday to provide better protection to refugees in Europe and around the world. It also called for an agreement on the EU pact on migrations and asylum. By assuming the presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July, Slovenia has an important opportunity to lead and use the momentum for improving the protection of refugees in Europe and the world, wrote Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, UNHCR's Representative for EU affairs in Brussels.

MFRR report finds media in Slovenia systematically undermined by govt

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian government is overseeing an increasingly systematic effort to undermine critical media, a coalition of press freedom organisations and journalism groups warned in a report released after conducting a virtual fact-finding mission to Slovenia in late May and early June. The report, issued by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) a day before Slovenia assumes the presidency of the Council of the EU, finds that Slovenia has seen press freedom deteriorate ever since Prime Minister Janez Janša returned to power in March 2020.

Government orders special audit of STA operations

LJUBLJANA - The government decided that a special auditor be appointed to check whether the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) is implementing its legal and other obligations. The auditor will present a written report, the Government Communication Office (UKOM) said. According to UKOM, the process of selecting and appointing the auditor among authorised auditors will be carried out based on the government decree adopted today.

47 new coronavirus infections confirmed on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 47 new coronavirus infections confirmed in Slovenia on Tuesday in 2,029 PCR tests, the National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ) announced, as the 7-day average of new cases is down slightly to stand at 27. The share of positive tests was 2.3% yesterday, which is 0.2 of a percentage point more than on the day before. There are currently 68 people in hospital for Covid-19, three fewer than on the day before, and 17 require intensive care, two fewer than yesterday, the government said. There were no Covid-19 deaths yesterday.

More restrictions on services to be lifted on Monday

LJUBLJANA - More restrictions on the services sector will be lifted on Monday, the government decided at a session held as part of its visit to the Podravje region. Casinos will fully reopen and there will be no more restrictions on the number of customers in shops. The rule of reconvalescence, testing or vaccination remains in place indoors.

Slovenia's annual inflation slows to 1.4% in June

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's annual inflation rate ran at 1.4% in June, down from 2.1% the month before, sustained by higher prices of petroleum products, while being pushed down by cheaper package holidays, the Statistics Office said. On average, goods prices went up by 2.3% year-on-year, while prices of services dropped by 0.2%. Higher prices of petroleum products contributed one percentage point to the annual inflation rate as prices of liquid fuels soared by 31.1%, diesel prices rose by 24.8% and petrol prices went up by 19.3%.

Slovenia's general government deficit in Q1 at 8.3% of GDP

LJUBLJANA - Measures to mitigate the consequences of the Covid-19 epidemic affected Slovenia's public finances also in the first quarter of the year, with the general government deficit amounting to EUR 969 million or 8.3% of the country's GDP, the Statistics Office said. This is somewhat less than in the last quarter of 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, the growth of total expenditure outpaced the growth of total revenue of the state by 2.5 percentage points. Total revenue in amounted to EUR 5.164 billion, up 8.6% year-on-year, while total expenditure was up by 11.1% to EUR 6.133 billion.

Foreign direct investment expanding in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia increased by 2.4% to EUR 16.6 billion last year despite there being no major takeovers like the year before, according to a fresh report from the central bank. Austria ranks as the biggest investor with a 25.6% share in the total value of incoming FDI. Austrians are mainly investors in manufacturing and retail industries, and in the sector of motor vehicles maintenance and repairs. Slovenia's outbound FDI last year meanwhile increased by 1.7% to EUR 7 billion. Businesses in full or part Slovenian ownership abroad posted EUR 100 million in profit.

Survey unemployment rate down to 5.1% in May

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's survey unemployment rate stood at 5.1% in May, or 0.1 of a percentage point less than in the month before and 0.3 of a percentage point less year-on-year, the Statistics Office said. The statisticians estimate that around 49,000 people aged 15-74 were unemployed in May. Of these, 42% were men and 58% were women.

Koritnik urges boosted cooperation between AI partnership task forces

LJUBLJANA - Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik participated via videolink in a session of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, calling for closer cooperation between task forces that operate under the partnership to introduce artificial intelligence in work processes safely, both in the public and private sectors.

Pope Francis appoints Andrej Saje new bishop of Novo Mesto

LJUBLJANA - Pope Francis appointed Andrej Saje the new bishop of Novo Mesto, the Slovenian Bishop's Conference announced. So far, the priest of the Ljubljana Archdiocese and native of the town in south-eastern Slovenia has worked as a judicial vicar of the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Court in Ljubljana and teacher at the Ljubljana Faculty of Theology. Saje, who will be ordained bishop on 26 September, thanked the pope for the honour, and also thanked the outgoing Novo Mesto Bishop Andrej Glavan, who is retiring as he had already reached the age of 75.

Kukovec convinced he is right candidate for EU General Court

Ljubljana, 30 June - Damjan Kukovec, the nominee for one of Slovenia's two judicial posts on the EU's General Court, said as he presented himself to the public he believed he possessed the required quality and experience for the post. He is also convinced of his success before the vetting committee if confirmed by the National Assembly. Among the challenges faced by the EU's General Court, he singled out access to the court, in particular in terms of procedural obstacles for individuals.

Leveraging savings for growth one of challenges seen by vice-governor nominee

LJUBLJANA - Irena Vodopivec Jean set out three main challenges for the central bank ahead as she presented her bid to be reappointed a vice-governor of Banka Slovenije in her presentation at the Presidential Palace, one of them being how to leverage a large amount of household savings deposits in support of economic growth. She noted the decisive role of the monetary policy in the euro area in support of economic recovery as well as banking oversight and the need to improve the efficiency of the business model of banks as two other main challenges ahead.

Equal opportunities ombudsman Lobnik seeks inclusive dialogue

LJUBLJANA - Advocate of the Principle of Equality Miha Lobnik, whom president Pahor recently proposed for a new mandate, wishes to continue his work and promote inclusive dialogue. He said he believed that all citizens should receive services of good quality to which they are entitled, as he held a public presentation. He believes that issues of discrimination could be addressed in society if everybody was involved in the debate.

Professional firefighters start two-day token strike

LJUBLJANA - Professional firefighters went on a token strike unhappy with collective bargaining with the government. The trade union of professional firefighters said the strike was not directed at the people and they would not feel it as firefighters would still protect lives and property. However, work is being organised like on Sundays. The strike was announced on 26 May, since when they had five rounds of talks with the government. The strike, which the government finds unjustified, will end on Friday morning.

Slovenian community in Austria marks 30 years of Slovenia's independence

KLAGENFURT, Austria - Several events were held in Klagenfurt, Austria, on Wednesday to mark Slovenia's 30th independence anniversary. Participants of a round table debate presented their recollection of events from 30 years ago, including on the Slovenian-Austrian border. The prime minister of Slovenia's first government, Lojze Peterle, stressed the importance of long-term good preparations for the independence, from the late 1860s to 1917, the war and post-war efforts, and the crucial moment in 1991, the Christian Cultural Association (KKZ) said in a press release.

New attempt being made to get opposition to form pre-election alliance

LJUBLJANA - A group of academics affiliated with the anti-government protest movement has mounted a new attempt to bring centre-left opposition parties together to form a pre-election coalition, drawing on the manifesto of the ill-fated Constitutional Arch Coalition (KUL). According the web portal N1, academics Rado Bohinc, Stane Pejovnik, Ivan Svetlik and Vito Turk of the Civil Society Alliance, a group formed in October last year as cycling protests were suspended, have compiled a draft agreement on cooperation of four centre-left opposition parties in a coalition for next-year's election.

Pogačar wins stage five of Tour de France

RENNES, France - Slovenian cycling star Tadej Pogačar won stage five of the Tour de France race today. Last year's winner of the Tour was 19 seconds faster than Stefan Küng from Switzerland in the 27.2-kilometre individual time trial between Changé and Laval Espace Mayenne. Slovenia's other star, Primož Roglič, was 44 seconds behind, finishing seventh.

Ana Desetnica theatre festival taking the streets of Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - The Ana Desetnica street theatre festival, offering a plethora of performances by local and foreign artists, kicked off in the capital today, with this year's novelty being the P2P programme offering peer-to-peer learning. The festival events actually started in Maribor on 25 June and now the caravan has arrived in Ljubljana to stay there until 3 July. The question the organisers are trying to address this year is "if we still know how to be together".

30 Jun 2021, 09:49 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Wednesday, 30 June 2021

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:

Fit for 55 package in focus as Slovenia's EU presidency starts

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia presented to reporters in Brussels the priorities of its presidency of the Council of the EU with the Fit for 55 legislative package attracting the most interest. Slovenia's Permanent Representative to the EU Iztok Jarc said Slovenia hoped for a breakthrough in accession negotiations with Northern Macedonia and Albania by September to provide for a better atmosphere ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Slovenia on 6 October.

MEPs call on European Commission to take action on Slovenia

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Five MEPs and a German MP called on the European Commission and the European Council to take measures regarding the situation in Slovenia. They think that the Commission should trigger the mechanism under which funds are conditional upon the respect of the rule of law due to pressures on the media and judiciary. The call was made in a letter signed by MEPs Daniel Freund and Sergey Lagodinsky (Greens), Stelios Kuloglu (GUE/NGL), Ramona Strugariu (Renew) and Lara Wolters (S&D) and the German MP Franziska Brantner.

Koritnik calls for cross-Atlantic partnership in digitalisation

LJUBLJANA - Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik called for Europe to make use of cross-Atlantic partnership in its digital transformation as he took part in an online panel organised by the think-thank GMF, which was also attended by Andre de Aragao Azevedo, the Portuguese secretary of state for the digital transition, and Karan Bhatia, vice president for government affairs and public policy at Google. Koritnik argued that digital transformation and development of innovation in the EU would only be possible if Europe stayed open for new technologies and digital solutions.

Pahor to host Austrian and Croatian presidents in mid-July

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will host his Austrian and Croatian counterparts, Alexander Van der Bellen and Zoran Milanović, respectively, on 15 July. The trilateral meeting will discuss the future of the EU and challenges the bloc faces in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The presidents will focus on post-pandemic recovery that should be used as a stepping stone to environmentally-friendly sustainable development as much as possible, Pahor's office said.

Reserve police being called in ahead of EU presidency

LJUBLJANA - The government decided to call in reserve police to make up for absences as active police force members take on additional tasks to protect the events during Slovenia's presidency of the Council of the EU. The force also needs help to secure the border and to provide the security at sporting events. About 2,000 reserve police deployments are estimated to be required, with an additional 240 at the monthly level if checkpoints similar to those during the Covid-19 epidemic were required.

EBRD upgrades Slovenia's GDP forecast to 5% growth this year

LONDON, UK - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) upgraded by 1.5 percentage points its GDP growth forecast for Slovenia in 2021 to 5%. The institution expects that Slovenia's economy will expand by a further 4% next year. The bank said that the key factors of the Covid-related contraction were private consumption and investments, which were down 9.7% and 4.1%, respectively. Slovenia, as a small and open economy strongly integrated in global value chains, also felt shocks in international trade, although exports of goods started recovering by the end of last year, it added.

Slovenian army to test, train on Pipistrel aircraft

AJDOVŠČINA - Slovenian military pilots are to train on and test aircraft produced by the light aircraft maker Pipistrel under an agreement signed by Defence Minister Matej Tonin and Pipistrel director Ivo Boscarol in Ajdovščina. The sides also agreed a special partnership that includes efforts to obtain EU and NATO funds for development projects. Tonin said the Slovenian Armed Forces would be testing Pipistrel aircraft to become "greener" and contribute to greater representation of the Slovenian defence industry in the national defence system.

Brussels Airlines returns to Ljubljana airport

LJUBLJANA - Air carriers keep returning to Ljubljana airport as, after more than a one-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a Brussels Airlines aircraft touched down at Brnik again on Monday. The Belgian flag carrier currently operates three flights a week to and from Ljubljana, and the number of flights is expected to increase. At first, the largest Belgian airline that returns to Ljubljana airport just about Slovenia is to assume the six-month EU presidency will be operating flights on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays.

Slovenian-Chinese business cooperation discussed

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian-Chinese Business Council hosted a debate on opportunities of international companies in Slovenia in Chinese or mixed ownership and the experience of their Slovenian managers, who said that the experience was a positive one despite certain challenges. The debate also featured Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Chinese Ambassador Wang Shunqing, with the former assessing that China is the most important trade partner to Slovenia outside the EU.

Luka Koper shareholders get EUR 1.14 gross per share dividend

KOPER - The port operator Luka Koper will pay out dividends of EUR 1.14 gross per share as shareholders endorsed a counter-proposal by Slovenian Sovereign Holding. The decision means that EUR 15.96 million will be paid out for dividends, and the remaining EUR 30.64 million in distributable profit for 2020 will remains undistributed. Five Luka Koper supervisors, capital representatives, were appointed at at the initiative of the state assets custodian.

35 coronavirus cases confirmed on Monday

LJUBLJANA - Out of 1,643 PCR tests performed in Slovenia on Monday, 35 returned positive for the positivity rate of 2.1%. There were no Covid-19 deaths reported for the third day in a row, show fresh official data. The number of hospitalised patients dropped by three to 71 this morning, and the total of those in intensive care also fell by three to 19. The 7-day average of new cases now stands at 29 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population has dropped to 31.

Waters act debate hosted by Pahor expectedly hears divergent views

LJUBLJANA - A debate on the amended waters act ahead of the 11 July referendum, hosted by President Borut Pahor, saw the proponents and opponents of the changes expressing divergent views. The former believe that the state of waters will improve or at least not deteriorate, while the latter warned about various interpretation possibilities. The University of Ljubljana also joined the debate ahead of the referendum, saying that the changes enabled exceptions for construction on water land. Adding exceptions for construction on sensitive areas opposes the goals of the EU water directive, it added.

Ceremony at Holmec remembers first Slovenian police casualties

HOLMEC - A ceremony marking Police Day and the 30th anniversary of the independence war battle at the Holmec border crossing was held on Monday, noting the importance and achievements of the Slovenian police and the challenges ahead. On the occasion, the former border facility was named after the two police officers who fell in the battle. President Borut Pahor said at the ceremony that Holmec was a symbol of determination, courage and sacrifice of Slovenian police officers, who together with the Territorial Defence had managed to defend the border crossing.

20 years since agreement on succession to Yugoslavia signed

LJUBLJANA - It is exactly 20 years since an agreement was signed by the countries successors to Yugoslavia to divide the obligations and property of the former common state. The office of the high representative for succession has told the STA that Slovenia is constantly striving for active resolution of open issues. The agreement, mediated by the international community, was signed on 29 June 2001 in Vienna by the foreign ministers of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (legal successor is Serbia) and Macedonia (now North Macedonia).

President to decorate Pogačar, Roglič and Garnbret

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will decorate riders Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič and climber Janja Garnbret with the Golden Order of Merit for their exceptional sporting achievements, for establishing Slovenia in global sports and for being an inspiration to people, his office announced. Roglič and Pogačar rank at the top of the UCI rankings, while Garnbret is a serious contender for gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the first time that climbing will be included in the Games.

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