Hungarian energy group MOL buys OMV's Slovenian service stations
LJUBLJANA - Hungarian energy group MOL acquired a network of 120 service stations operated by Austrian energy group OMV in Slovenia, subject to regulatory approval. The purchase consideration for the outright stake in the company OMV Slovenija is EUR 301 million. MOL Group will in effect acquire a 92.25% stake in OMV Slovenija, as one of its group companies, INA, already holds a 7.75% stake. The acquisition is "in line with our strategic goals to further expand our service station network in existing and potential new markets in Central and Eastern Europe," MOL chairman and CEO Zsolt Hernadi said.
Largest investment in Slovenian paper industry in four decades launched
SLADKI VRH - A new production line at the Paloma hygienic paper factory has been launched. Worth EUR 41 million, this is the largest investment in the Slovenian paper industry in the last 40 years and will make Paloma a competence centre for high-quality tissue products within the Slovak SHP Group and a leading manufacturer in the region, according to CEO Richard Žigmund. The new line will increase the company's production capacity from 65,000 to 90,000 tonnes per year.
220 new coronavirus cases confirmed on Monday, one death
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 220 new cases of coronavirus for Monday, a week-on-week decline of nearly a third, as the epidemic situation continues to gradually improve. One person with Covid-19 died. The positivity rate stood at 7.2% as over 3,000 PCR tests were performed, in addition to over 40,000 rapid tests. There were 195 patients in hospital, down by eight, while the number of ICU cases remained unchanged at 51.
Agreement on European asylum agency in the offing, says Hojs
LUXEMBOURG/Luxembourg - A discussion on the migration pact has seen progress as a consensus on the European asylum agency is on the horizon, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs said as he attended a ministerial in Luxembourg. The debate on strengthening the European Asylum Support Office's (EASO) mandate could be advanced already during Portugal's last month at the helm of the Council of the EU, but if not, the Slovenian EU presidency should make it happen in the second half of the year, Hojs said. The migrant relocation debate is still deadlocked though, he said, voicing concern over the potential for increased migration flows, particularly from Afghanistan, and pointed to great numbers of refugees from Myanmar who sought refuge in Bangladesh.
Logar and Chung discuss Slovenia-South Korea ties, EU topics
SEOUL, South Korea - Foreign Minister Anže Logar met his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-Yong as he continued his two-day visit. The pair urged strengthening political and economic ties between Slovenia and South Korea. To enhance the ties, Slovenia will open embassy in the South Korean capital in a month or two. Logar said Slovenia was interested in strengthening political and economic ties and urged boosting investment, while welcoming Korea's plans to reopen its Trade-Investment Promotion Agency's (KOTRA) branch in Slovenia.
Podgoršek talks agriculture cooperation with Italian colleague
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek and his Italian counterpart Stefano Patuanelli talked via video call to conclude that the countries cooperate well in agriculture. They agreed that Slovenia and Italy shared the same views on the common agricultural and fisheries policy. The meeting was held in the run-up to a session of the coordinating committee of ministers of Slovenia and Italy, which will be held on 14 June, the Slovenian Agriculture Ministry said.
Proposed regulation redefines STA public service, financing
LJUBLJANA - The public service provided by the STA would be subject to detailed new rules under a draft government regulation. Unlike the law governing the STA, which provides broad outlines of the public service, the draft regulation defines exactly what the public service should look like, and stipulates that special summaries of Slovenian and English news have to be open to the public, distinct from the news wire the agency markets to subscribers and available in a separate section of the web page. STA director Bojan Veselinovič has described it as "a new manoeuvre to bypass two laws."
No parliament debate on opposition Left's political programme
LJUBLJANA - Speaker Igor Zorčič decided not to call a plenary session to debate the opposition Left's party programme after the coalition Democrats (SDS) and New Slovenia (NSi) requested this last week, arguing the programme contained elements suggesting the Left could act against the country's constitutional order. While the SDS said the Left publicly advocated limiting capitalism, introducing socialism and seizing property, Zorčič said that a resolution that would task the government to carry out oversight of a parliamentary party was "an unparalleled absurdity in a normal parliamentary democracy."
Janez Škrabec no longer honorary consul of Belarus
LJUBLJANA - Businessman Janez Škrabec is no longer an honorary consul of Belarus in Slovenia after the government revoked its consent by a decision published in the Official Gazette last week. "I accept the withdrawal of the consent with regret but will respect the decision," Škrabec told the newspaper Večer. The government has not formally explained its decision.
No veto on transportation platforms law
LJUBLJANA - The National Council, the upper chamber of parliament, voted against a motion to veto legislation that provides the legal basis for transportation platforms such as Uber. The councillors representing employees proposed the veto on the grounds that the recently adopted amendments to the transportation act had completely neglected labour rights. The arguments were dismissed by employers, who said Slovenia simply had to push ahead with digitalisation.
Slovenia increasingly more attractive for German companies
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia remains an attractive business location for German companies, shows this year's survey carried out by the German chambers of commerce in 15 Central and Eastern European countries. German investors are highly interested in further investing in Slovenia, heard a press conference by the German-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce. It is up to Slovenia to consider how to capitalise on this increased interest in investments as much as possible, the chamber noted.
Ombudsman finds no irregularities in police work at anti-govt rally
LJUBLJANA - Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina, who carried out oversight at the 28 May mass protest against the government in Ljubljana, said that no irregularities in police work had been established. "Data obtained directly from the protest and based on video surveillance has not showed that police officers carried out repressive measures, used excessive force or exceeded their powers in any manner. The protest unfolded peacefully," his office said in a statement. The ombudsman intends to continue unannounced oversight of the police in the future.
Slovenia's Zidanšek makes it to semi-finals of French Open
PARIS - Slovenia's Tamara Zidanšek advanced to the semi-finals of the French Open, defeating Paula Badosa of Spain in the quarter-finals in three sets (7:5, 4:6 and 8:6), to get Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in the semi-finals on Thursday. Prior to the win, Zidanšek became the first Slovenian female tennis player to advance to the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament in a singles competition since 1977, when Mima Jaušovec won it all on the Paris clay. The 23-year old, who prior to the tournament placed 85th on the WTA rankings, is expected to crack the top 50 with the career feat.
Author Rozman Roza, illustrator Sottler awarded for youth literature
LJUBLJANA - Writer Andrej Rozman Roza and illustrator Alenka Sottler are the recipients of this year's Levstik Prize for lifetime achievements in children's and youth literature conferred by the publisher Mladinska Knjiga. The judging panel said that Rozman Roza is one of the best and most imaginative Slovenian authors of literature for children and adults. Sattler was described an illustrator who establishes dialogue between the writing and illustration and is continuously trying to find a way to produce a well-rounded work of art.
Last 30 years put on show at Museum of Contemporary History
LJUBLJANA - An exhibition on the country's major achievements and developments from the past 30 years will open at the Museum of Recent History in Ljubljana to mark the 30th anniversary of independent Slovenia. It brings an insight into the many changes that have taken place in 1991-2021 in politics, local government, economy, healthcare, social affairs, education, everyday life, the environment, mobility and communication. The show leans heavily on Statistics Office figures.
Schools not safe spaces for LGBT students, survey shows
LJUBLJANA - A survey by Legebitra, an advocacy group for LGBTI rights, has shown that schools are not safe spaces for members of the LGBT community. One in four LGBT students reported of having often heard homophobic remarks at school, and in more than half of the cases, school staff did not intervene. Students who have often been targets of attacks and remarks because of their sexual orientation are less likely to continue their education.
Trio suspected of EUR 2m fraud at expense of foreign construction workers
CELJE - Police have filed a criminal complaint against three Slovenian citizens who are suspected of having deprived 432 workers, mostly foreign construction workers, of at least EUR 2.1 million in 2011-2019. Police have found that the employers hired workers from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and North Macedonia only to re-employ them after some time at ever new "shell" companies without paying contributions of withholding tax.
