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Government lifts ban on passenger air transport

LJUBLJANA - The government allowed resumption of passenger flights from EU and third countries to Slovenia's international airports from Tuesday. The ban on flights from abroad to local airports remains in place until 12 June. Restrictions on international passenger air transport were initially introduced on 17 March to help contain the coronavirus epidemic. Ljubljana airport has prepared safety measures to accept passengers, but said most carriers had suspended flights until the end of May.

Public transport resumes

LJUBLJANA - Public transport started running again after nearly two months. The relaunch will be gradual and restrictive measure have been put in place to ensure social distancing is observed. Passengers have to disinfect their hands upon entry, wear a face mask and keep a safety distance of at least 1.5 metres to each other, with signs indicating which seats must remain vacant. Buses are outfitted with special barriers for drivers. There were few passengers at launch, but their numbers are expected to gradually increase as more businesses reopen.

Parliament raises 2020 budget spending cap by EUR 2 billion

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed changes to a document capping general government spending, so as to allow the government to draft a supplementary budget for this year to accommodate measures to help the nation overcome the ongoing coronavirus epidemic. The government plans to have the supplementary budget ready before summer. Total general government spending is to increase from EUR 21.48 billion to EUR 23.63 billion with state budget expenditure now capped at EUR 12.525 billion.

In letter to EU, FM highlights long proceedings, biased judges

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar highlighted long procedures, failure to implement Constitutional Court rulings and biased judges in a letter supplementing an interministerial report on the rule of law the government sent to the European Commission. He also noted Slovenia had lost a number of cases at the European Court of Human Rights and argued the prosecution of bank crime was ineffective and the appearance of impartiality was not honoured in the judiciary. Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlović said she did not deem Logar's comment necessary and the Supreme Court was taken aback by it, while the opposition Left wants it debated by the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee.

Three new Covid-19 cases confirmed for total of 1,460, no new deaths

LJUBLJANA - Three new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Slovenia on Sunday as 537 people were tested, which takes the total number so far to 1,460. No deaths were recorded, meaning the death toll remains at 102, shows data released by the government. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals increased by one to 42, ten of whom are in intensive care.

FM promotes bolstering cooperation with Poland

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz agreed in a videoconference that bilateral as well as regional and panregional cooperation between the two countries should be further strengthened. Poland and Slovenia are EU partners and NATO allies and share numerous views and standpoints on key international issues, said the Foreign Ministry. In terms of regional cooperation, the ministers noted the Three Seas initiative and the Visegrad Group efforts.

Coalition preparing new stimulus measures, backs Počivalšek

BRDO PRI KRANJU - The four coalition parties met at Brdo estate to discuss topical issues, announcing that a third package of measures to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus crisis would start to be drafted next week. The measures would be aimed at the most affected sectors, such as tourism, and tackle red tape. The coalition also agreed to stand firmly behind Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, who is facing a opposition-sponsored motion of no confidence.

Employers happy with government support so far

LJUBLJANA - Five employer associations and chambers expressed support for the government efforts to mitigate the economic fallout from the coronavirus epidemic. They think the measures introduced so far have been timely and appropriate, and they are ready to cooperate in working out the third stimulus package. The statement was signed by the heads of the Employers' Association, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chamber of Trade Crafts and Small Business, Chamber of Commerce, and the Association of Employers in Craft and Small Business of Slovenia.

Govt rating drops significantly in Delo poll

LJUBLJANA - The latest poll conducted by Mediana for the newspaper Delo shows that, following a high mark for the Janez Janša in the first full month in office in April, the share of those who support it dropped in May. Support for the Democrats (SDS) is also down, but the ruling party is still ahead of the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ). The poll sees slightly more than 31% of the respondents assessing the government's work as positive or very positive, which is 13 percentage points less than in April.

Deferral requested for 3% of all loans

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian borrowers have made 22,230 requests for the deferral of loan payments in a month, or 3.3% of all bank loans, show central bank data. The vast majority of the requests, almost 16,000, were from households. Micro, small and medium-sized companies made almost 6,500 requests, while large enterprises put in 154. Creditors are able to request loan deferral under an emergency law that entered into effect in late March to help people and companies weather the coronavirus crisis.

Industrial output in March lowest in almost three years

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's industrial output in March, half of which was affected by measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic, was lowest since July 2017. Compared to February, industrial output in Slovenia was down by 10.7%, the largest monthly drop since November 2008, as output in manufacturing decreased by 12.2%. Sales revenue in industry was was down by 14.2% to hit the lowest level since April 2017.

AmCham survey: companies in Slovenia expect 15% revenue drop

LJUBLJANA - Companies operating in Slovenia can expect a 15% drop in revenue this year, a 6% cut in labour force and a 13% drop in investment, a survey conducted by AmCham Slovenija suggests. The hardest hit are the automotive and transport sectors, manufacturing, services, media and education. The survey among AmCham members also revealed that companies in chemistry and health sectors were seeing positive trends. Almost 30% of the companies surveyed expect cash flow problems over the next three months.

Overseas Security Advisory Council office opens in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - AmCham Slovenija and the US Embassy in Ljubljana opened an office of the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), a public-private global security partnership, in Ljubljana. Slovenia has thus joined more than 140 countries around the world with an OSAC office. The OSAC was created in 1985 to promote security cooperation between American private-sector interests worldwide and the US Department of State. US Ambassador Lynda Blanchard was quoted in an AmCham release as saying that the partnership will ensure effective security collaboration between local businesses and the US Embassy.

Top football league may resumed in early June

LJUBLJANA - There is still hope for football lovers in Slovenia that the season at the top level may be resumed. Depending on the situation related to the coronavirus epidemic and provided the government's go-ahead for competitions at the top level, the premier league will continue at the beginning of June, the executive committee of the Slovenian Football Association (NZS) said. It also decided that the second league for men and the first league for women have ended.

Mountaineering legend Tone Škarja dies

LJUBLJANA - Tone Škarja, a professional climber considered one of the pillars of Slovenian mountaineering, died. The 83-year-old, famous for numerous challenging expeditions, was also a mountain guide, author and photographer. Škarja, who had been a member of the organisation since 1951, completed more than 1,000 alpine ascents, including participating in more than 30 trailblazing expeditions. He was part of the Yugoslavian Mount Everest expedition in 1979.

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Three new Covid-19 cases confirmed on Saturday, one death

LJUBLJANA - Three persons tested positive for Covid-19 in Slovenia on Saturday, when a total of 625 people were tested. One Covid-19 patient died. This brings the total number of confirmed infections in Slovenia to 1,457 and the total number of fatalities to 102. Government data show that 41 Covid-19 patients were in hospital care, one less than on Friday, with ten in intensive care.

Protester's selfie with police officer causes controversy after Friday rally

LJUBLJANA - In the wake of an anti-government rallies that saw several thousand people take to the streets across the country on their bicycles on Friday, a photo of a protestor taking a photo with a police officer has raised a lot of dust. The officer became a target of online criticism by Cohesion Minister Zvonko Černač, prompting police trade unions to issue letters of support for the officer. One of the trade unions said that police officers would not be discredited, while the other said that politicians should focus on politics and leave public order and security to the police.

Slovenians with property in Croatia may enter country without quarantine

LJUBLJANA, ZAGREB, Croatia - Slovenians with real estate or boats in Croatia are able to enter the country again without having to go into quarantine for two weeks after about two months of restrictions imposed in order limit the spread of coronavirus. Upon return to Slovenia, they are, however, still required to go into quarantine for seven days. Croatia said on Saturday that EU citizens would be allowed to enter the country for business and urgent personal matters. Some 110,000 Slovenians have property in Croatia, mostly holiday homes and boats.

Rescue teams looking for Polish exchange student after fall into Soča River

BOVEC - A search and rescue mission was launched late in the afternoon on Saturday after a Polish exchange student fell into a treacherous gorge of the Soča River. More than 30 members of the Mountain Rescue Service, firefighters, the mountain police unit, uniformed police officers and police special forces are taking part in the effort to find the 23-year-old man. The search mission was suspended at 10 pm last night due to the dark and resumed at 7 am today, the Nova Gorica Police Administration said in a press release. This afternoon the mission was temporarily suspended again and will continue tomorrow.

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Janša and Pahor pay tribute to EU on Europe Day

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša joined the leaders of other EU countries and the bloc's three key institutions for a joint video message posted on Twitter on Europe Day, describing the EU as "our conscious choice. A choice in the hope of peace, freedom and prosperity". Meanwhile, President Borut Pahor joined Europe Day celebrations by posting a video message on his Twitter account in which he called for more Europe and more solidarity, expressing the belief that the Europe should emerge more integrated, efficient and united from the present crisis.

Logar indicates positive turn in relations with Croatia

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar commented on Slovenian-Croatian relations in an interview with the newspaper Delo, airing the view that too much had been said but too little done about the relations. He indicated the coronavirus epidemic reset bilateral relations. "Considering the terrible problems at the start of the outbreak, the neighbouring countries cooperated well and successfully. And this is a good starting position to resume talks. Announcing a lawsuit, for example, is not a good starting point for talks," he said. He suggested talks could resume after Croatia's elections.

Logar urges int. cooperation in UN Security Council address

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar underscored the importance of international cooperation and partnership as he addressed via videolink an informal session of the UN Security Council on Friday marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. In a press release, the Foreign Ministry said it was "the right moment for countries to push for an efficient multilateralism centred around the UN, as only cooperation, solidarity and mutual trust can guarantee peace and prosperity for all".

Russian ambassador honours victims of Nazi camp in Maribor

MARIBOR - Russian Ambassador Timur Rafailovic Eyvazov laid a wreath at the site of a former Nazi prison camp in Maribor in memory of several thousand Russian prisoners of war who died there. He said keeping the memory alive was important to prevent history repeating again. The building of the former Stalag XVIII D camp is being turned into a museum after the Maribor municipality has bought the plot from a private owner, while Russia is to provide the funding to create a museum.

Slovenia's Covid-19 death toll surpasses 100

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's Covid-19 death toll increased to 101 after another patient died on Friday as four more tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the national case count so far to 1,454, data released by the government show. More than 1,176 tests for Sars-CoV-2 were conducted yesterday. Three more patients were discharged from hospitals, leaving only 43 patients with Covid-19 hospitalised. Ten are in intensive care, after two more were moved to regular wards.

Sunbathing on the beach remains off-limits

KOPER - Gathering on Slovenia's beaches and at other public places on the coast remains banned, with the exception of individual sports activities. The warning issued by coastal town mayors and Koper Police Department on Friday appears to have been heeded as the civil protection authorities did not register violations against physical distancing measures. Bathing and swimming is allowed, but any time spent on the beach prior or after these activities must be kept short.

Majority in Delo poll believe economy minister should resign

LJUBLJANA - Almost 60% of those questioned in a poll commissioned by the newspaper Delo believe that Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek should resign over contentious procurement of personal protective equipment. Just over 60% of respondents also believe the government has not conducted the purchases of masks and other equipment appropriately, against nearly 30% who believe the deals had been conducted in a suitable way.

Labour market to depend on economy re-launch

LJUBLJANA - Almost 89,000 Slovenians were unemployed in April, compared to the expected 71,000 under normal circumstances, but the number would have been even higher without the government measures. The future of the labour market is uncertain, and much will depend on how the economy will be relaunched, Mitja Bobnar, director general of the Employment Service, told the STA in an interview. The hospitality and tourism have been hammered hardest and the impact for the sector will linger.

Oil maker Gea going strong

SLOVENSKA BISTRICA - Gea, Slovenia's leading vegetable oil manufacturer, saw its sales revenue rise by 20% to EUR 30.5 million last year while net profit almost quadrupled to EUR 800,000. The Slovenska Bistrica-based company, part of the Plasta group owned by Franc Frelih since 2018, increased production 38% to almost 35,500 tonnes of products. Gea generated EUR 17 million of its sales revenue in Slovenia. Italy remained the biggest export market, accounting for 60% of all exports.

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Slovenia's Covid-19 death toll hits hundred

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's Covid-19 death toll rose to a hundred after one more patient died on Thursday. The total number of coronavirus cases so far confirmed hit 1,450 after one more infection was reported. This is the second day in a row that only one new infection was detected out of more than a thousand tests conducted daily. Number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals decreased to 47. However, the head of advisors to the Health Ministry, Bojana Beović, warned there were probably "hidden pockets" of persons infected with coronavirus, so social distancing restrictions could not yet be lifted.

Govt redistributing EUR 280m in EU funds

LJUBLJANA - Zvonko Černač, the minister responsible for cohesion policy, announced that EUR 280 million in EU funds would be redistributed to address pressing needs in healthcare, the economy, the labour market, development and education. Černač told the press that the legal foundations for the redistribution had been secured on the basis on EU measures for the mitigation of the coronavirus epidemic impact. Funds will be channelled into medical equipment, coronavirus research, job retention schemes, among other things.

Šarec denies accusations over PPE, lashes back

LJUBLJANA - In his first reaction to the serious accusations levelled against him in the government report on the procurement of personal protective equipment, the former Prime Minister Marjan Šarec denied the charge that he did nothing to replenish virtually empty stocks and failed to act to prevent an imminent health crisis. In a televised interview with TV Slovenija on Thursday, Šarec argued that PPE procurement had been in the purview of health institutions, and that Slovenia joint an EU bulk-buy of masks, which fell through though. He also argued the Janez Janša government should be forced out.

All medical, dental services resuming, yet under some restrictions

LJUBLJANA - At a correspondence session, the government issued a decree relaunching all medical and dental service yet under special conditions, which are set in another decree on temporary measures in healthcare to contain the Covid-19 epidemic. Both decrees will enter into force on Saturday. As the epidemic was declared in mid-March, all non-urgent medical services were suspended and dental surgeries closed, expect for a few emergency units around Slovenia. The government partly relaxed some non-urgent treatments and services already last month.

Anti-govt protest with face masks, on bicycles staged in several cities

LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR/KOPER - Several thousand protesters riding their bicycles in the centre of Ljubljana protested against the measures the government has imposed during the coronavirus epidemic, while the ban on public assembly is still in place. Police say that 5,500 people were at the rally. The police were at the site of the protest, also monitoring the area from a helicopter. Run under the slogan You Won't Take Us Our Freedom, the protest was a collaboration of various initiatives, which have however called on protesters to respect all the measures to protect public health. Cycling protests were also staged in Maribor, Celje, Koper and Nova Gorica, among others.

Exports up 1.1% in March y/y, imports fall by 3.3%

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia exported EUR 2.92 billion-worth of goods in March, a year-on-year increase of 1.1%, while imports were down 3.3% to EUR 2.77 billion, the Statistics Office said. In the first quarter of the year, exports rose by 6.5% and imports by 2.7%. This means an export/import ratio of 105.4, with the EUR 149.2 million surplus in external trade in goods being the highest in the last ten years. The biggest drop in trade was recorded with Italy.

Officials express Slovenia's commitment to EU on eve of Europe Day

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian officials came out strongly in favour of the EU despite some of its shortcomings as they sent out their messages on the eve of Europe Day. Foreign Minister Anže Logar stressed Slovenia's commitment to a united EU and enlargement, while President Borut Pahor said that in these times of crisis, the EU is not a problem but a solution. Speaker Igor Zorčič highlighted a number of challenges, from Brexit and migrations to the Covid-19 pandemic, and urged common solutions to further EU integration. EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič highlighted that Slovenia, Europe and the world had never been so connected and expressed the belief that the EU would tackle the coronavirus crisis in the spirit of unity and solidarity.

Slovenia marks Victory Day

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor recalled that without the allied victory over Nazism and Fascism, the values shaped by European humanitarian thought would have been eradicated, turning Europe into a continent of devastation and hatred, as he hosted a special ceremony featuring the ambassadors of four WWII allies - the US, the UK, France and Russia. The Slovenian WWII Veterans' Association marked the 75th anniversary of the end of Second World War by laying wreaths at the monuments in Topolšica and Poljana.

FM discusses EU presidency, coronavirus with Spanish counterpart

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar held a video conference with his Spanish counterpart Arancha Gonzalez Laya. The ministers confirmed mutual interest in further strengthening the friendly ties, also in the light of Slovenia's upcoming EU presidency and the coronavirus pandemic. The Foreign Ministry said in a press release that Logar and Gonzales Laya had agreed to closely cooperate in Slovenia's preparations for its presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2021. They also talked about the Covid-19 pandemic, underlining the importance of cooperation and solidarity among countries and the coordination of measures aimed at boosting the economy.

EU Commission to send 30,000 medical masks to Slovenia

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU Commission said it would deliver 30,000 medical face masks to Slovenia in the coming days as part of a first shipment of such protective gear to help protect healthcare workers fighting Covid-19 on the front lines. The first package is to be sent to 17 member states, including 1.5 million medical masks out of a total of 10 million purchased using the emergency aid instrument, said the Commission's spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker. The purchase will bolster the supplies of several hundred thousands protective masks, which were sent by the European emergency medical equipment reserve in the past weeks, as well as the EU Civil protection Mechanism support.

Basic income extended to 37,500 self-employed

LJUBLJANA - The Financial Administration paid a second monthly basic allowance to self-employed, farmers and religious workers who lost their income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, transferring at total of EUR 27.5 million to more than 37,500 claimants. The allowance amounts to EUR 350 for March and EUR 700 for April. From the time the epidemic was declared on 13 March and by the end of March, the state also paid over EUR 90 million in social contributions instead of companies.

Fifteen builders interested in constructing Koper-Divača track

LJUBLJANA - A total of 15 construction companies and consortiums, mostly from China, are interested in building the new railway between the port of Koper and Divača. 2TDK, the state company managing the project, has assessed 10 of them as suitable, and is now to enter negotiation on the price. 2TDK published two calls for applications for the EUR 1bn-plus project on 11 November 2019 - one for the construction of the track between Divača and Črni Kal, and the other between Črni Kal and Koper. The project was split in two, because of geological structure of the terrain and the lower price expected as a result.

Slovenian Press Agency increases revenue by 4% in 2019

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Press Agency posted EUR 4.23 million in revenue in 2019, a 4% increase on the year before, and generated a net profit of EUR 10,650, up from about EUR 9,000 in 2018, shows the agency's annual report which was confirmed by the supervisory board this week. Slightly less than half of the revenue came from state budget support for the agency's public service, this compensation however continues to fall short of covering the expenses of this service.

World premiere of Carmina Slovenica's latest piece next week

MARIBOR - The latest production of the acclaimed women's choir Carmina Slovenica, entitled "Threnos (for the Throat)", will premiere internationally on 14 May on the web platform of the international festival Operadagen in Rotterdam. The broadcast, to start at noon, will feature the video of the performance delivered by Carmina Slovenica in the Maribor Minoriti church on 9 March, just before the coronavirus epidemic was declared Slovenia.

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President, some parties condemn Orban's posting of Greater Hungary map

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's posting a photo of a Greater Hungary map, with which he wished Hungarian secondary school students good luck in taking history exams. The photo shows a globe with Hungarian lands expanding into Slovenia and several other European countries, the territories which Hungary lost with the demise of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after WWI. The Foreign Ministry said it would not comment on such issues unless they were clearly intended for historical revisionism and the office of the prime minister said Slovenian government offices had historical maps well. Parties including the Left, Social Democrats (SD) and New Slovenia (NSi) called for a determined response by the authorities. (Details)

Only one new coronavirus infection, no new deaths

LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia keeps flattening out, with only one new case confirmed on Wednesday out of 1,055 tests conducted, bringing the national case count to 1,449. The death total remains unchanged at 99 as no new deaths have been reported. Data obtained by the newspaper Dnevnik from the National Institute of Public Health, show that almost 80% of the casualties are care home residents and almost 30% of those infected have been care home residents or staff. (Full corona update)

Logar and Le Drian in favour of close ties between Slovenia and France

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian called in a video conference for a further strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries, also in light of their upcoming successive presidencies over the EU Council. Logar backed the implementation of the activities planned in the strategic partnership action plan for 2019-2022, singling out the car industry as crucial for both economies.

Four more border checkpoints open for commuters

LJUBLJANA - The government decided to open several new border checkpoints with Italy and the railroad crossing in Šentilj, on the border with Austria. People commuting across the border, whose with fields on the other side and those with immediate family members on the other side of the border will be able to cross to and from Italy at border crossings Predel, Erjavčeva Street in Nova Gorica and Neblo. The railway checkpoint in Šentilj, north of Maribor, was opened as well.

Western region warns about Covid-19 impact, minority affected too

NOVA GORICA/TRIESTE, Italy - Nova Gorica Mayor Klemen Miklavič warned about the extreme economic as well as social ramifications of the Covid-19 epidemic for the western Goriška region, caused mostly due to restricted links between Slovenia and Italy. Warnings about the crisis taking a toll on the Slovenian minority in Italy emerged as well with Bojan Brezigar, a former editor-in-chief of the minority newspaper Primorski Dnevnik, saying it was unacceptable that the border with Italy was more hermetically sealed than that with Austria or Croatia during the coronavirus pandemic.

Slovenian minority in Austria warns against WWII revisionism

KLAGENFURT, Austria - A group of Slovenian organisations in the Austrian province of Carinthia warned against attempts at historical revisionism and the denigrating of the Partisan liberation movement in the region. They stressed the Carinthian Partisans contributed to the victory over Nazism and the liberation of Austria, in statement that came after a 4 May press conference at which Carinthia Governor Peter Kaiser and Parliament Speaker Reinhart Rohr spoke of "Carinthia's self-liberation" 75 years ago.

DeSUS head Pivec says times too sensitive for political clashes

LJUBLJANA) - Commenting on allegations of irregularities in the government's procurement of personal protective equipment, the head of the junior coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) Aleksandra Pivec said the current situation was too sensitive to be abused for political clashes. "If mistake were made by any side, this warrants attention. However not by the public and the media but by the relevant authorities, which also need to penalise irregularities and hold those to be recognised as responsible accountable," Pivec said.

New army chief believes soldiers should enjoy better status

LJUBLJANA - The new chief of the general staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF), Brigadier General Robert Glavaš, believes that soldiers should enjoy better reputation in Slovenian society. He also talked to the STA about the recent negative mark on the army's preparedness for wartime action, noting it had much to do with staff shortages. He does not favour the idea to reintroduce conscription, dismissing the argument military service could put "spoiled youth" into line.

Journalists condemn Supreme Court's quashing of lawsuit against Janša

LJUBLJANA - The Journalists' Association (DNS) condemned the Supreme Court's decision to quash a ruling that ordered Prime Minister Janez Janša to pay damages to a reporter after having called her a washed-up prostitute in a Twitter post in 2016. It said the ruling had a threatening effect on journalists, who are targetted by insults, defamation and threats on social media on a daily basis simply for doing their jobs, describing the the court's reasoning that admitting the journalist's damages claim would interfere with Janša's freedom of political expression "perverse".

Parliament meeting over govt PPE report Monday

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly will meet for an emergency session on Monday to debate the government report on the stockpile and procurement of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies needed to fight the coronavirus epidemic, which puts its accusing finger at the previous government. The college of deputy group leaders called the session despite the opposition arguing more time was needed to prepare to respond to the accusations levelled against the Marjan Šarec government.

Details of tourism aid package emerging

LJUBLJANA - Details emerged of a package of state aid the Slovenian tourism sector will get to survive what is expected to be a deep slump. Aside from an extension of existing measures that all companies are eligible for, notably state funding of temporary layoffs, small tourism companies will get an extra loan facility and a short-time work scheme will be put in place, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek announced.

Poll: People in favour of restrictions easing, still cautious

LJUBLJANA - The public's concern about the coronavirus dropped under 60% for the first time since the middle of March. Uneasiness about the threat of the virus culminated at 86% in the week after the epidemic was declared and dropped to 57% this week, the latest survey by Valicon shows. The decline is faster than in the previous weeks, which Valicon says might be attributed to a significant easing of restrictions this week.

Warnings against budget cuts in culture

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Culture Committee debated on Wednesday the budget for culture in conjunction with measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic. The session was demanded by the Left, which supported demands of more than 40 umbrella associations which represent over 100,000 people working in culture and over a thousand organisations, which sent a letter to the government warning against culture budget cuts during the epidemic.

Bear attacks 56-year-old in Škofljica area

ŠKOFLJICA - A 56-year-old man strolling in the woods near Škofljica, just south of Ljubljana, was attacked by a bear. The is said to have surprised the animal and used his hands and a walking stick to defend himself, the Forests Institute told the STA. Police said the man's injuries are not life-threatening. A bear attack happened in the same area last June. On average, two bear attacks on humans are recorded in Slovenia every year. (Details)

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Govt report on PPE points finger at ex-PM, says ventilators had expert backing

LJUBLJANA - The government released a report on PPE purchases, saying all procurement was executed in line with protocol and amid difficult circumstances that were aggravated by the failure of former PM Marjan Šarec to react sooner. The report says all the ordered ventilators had expert backing. Announced by PM Janez Janša after the 24 April whistleblower accusations about heavy political meddling, the report provides insight into the stock of personal protective equipment before the epidemic and the current situation, stressing the PPE available on 16 March did not suffice for even a single day of the assessed needs at the time. The opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), SocDems and the Left responded to the report by saying it did not provide insight into the developments but was primarily meant as a defence of the government.

Antibody study shows one in thirty Slovenians exposed to coronavirus

LJUBLJANA - A nationwide antibody study has found that one in thirty Slovenians has probably been exposed to the novel coronavirus. This means that about 2-4% of the population may have gained some sort of immunity to Covid-19, according to the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, which led the study. Miroslav Petrovec, the head of the institute, cautioned that this did not necessarily mean those people are immune to Covid-19, nor how durable their immunity may be. The almost 1,400 participants of the study will now be monitored every two weeks until the end of October, which will give public health authorities a clearer picture of the course of the epidemic.

Almost 11,000 jobs lost in Slovenia in April

LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus crisis is taking a heavy toll on Slovenia's job market with data from the Employment Service showing that 10,793 people were added to the unemployment register in April alone, pushing the total up by 19.9% year-on-year to 88,648. Since Slovenia declared coronavirus epidemic in mid-March, the number of people registered as unemployed rose by 13,622. The majority of layoffs were in the hospitality sector, manufacturing and retail.

Brussels projects 7% GDP drop for Slovenia this year, 6.7% recovery in 2021

LJUBLJANA - The European Commission projects that Slovenia's GDP will drop by 7% this year, while a 6.7% recovery is expected in 2021 on the back of stimulus measures. The forecast is nevertheless somewhat better than for the entire eurozone on average, which stands at -7.7% for this year and +6.3% for next year. The Commission said Slovenia had entered the coronavirus crisis in a relatively strong position, but supply disruptions and containment measures are expected to produce strong negative effects, especially in the first half of 2020.

Igor Lamberger new acting head of National Bureau of Investigation

LJUBLJANA - Acting Police Commissioner Anton Travner dismissed National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Darko Muženič, appointing Igor Lamberger as the NBI's acting head. Lamberger served as a deputy president of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption from mid-2014 to mid-2019 and had previously worked for the Criminal Police Department, heading its sector for white-collar crime between 2002 and 2005. Muženič led the NBI since June 2019 and was dismissed without his consent. The opposition Marjan Šarec List already called for a session of the parliamentary Home Affairs Committee to debate what it believes to be the last in a series of politically motivated staffing changes at the police and security agencies.

Janša says EU enlargement needs to continue without delays

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Janez Janša urged that the EU's enlargement process continue without any further delays despite the coronavrius epidemic as the EU held a virtual summit with the leaders of Western Balkan countries. The EU needs to stay active in the region despite all the challenges, the PM's office wrote. While the summit saw EU leaders reiterate support for an EU future for the countries in the region despite continuing doubts about the EU's true commitment to enlargement, Janša stressed the socio-economic development of the Western Balkans and its EU integration were of crucial importance for the whole of Europe.

One more Covid-19 death, three new infections reported

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's official coronavirus case count has risen to 1,448 and the death toll to 99 as three more people tested positive and one patient died on Tuesday, fresh government data show. The three new cases come from 1,449 tests conducted yesterday, which is slightly more than the day before.

Athletes allowed to train, competitions in individual sports to resume

LJUBLJANA - The government gave registered athletes the green light to start practising in outdoor facilities and to resume competitions in individual sports up to and including the national level, albeit without spectators. It will be possible to stage sports competitions up to and including the national level, but only in individual sports which have a registered official competition system under the relevant law. Athletes will have to observe social distancing rules and will mostly be limited to individual training. The Olympic Committee of Slovenia (OKS) welcomed the partial easing of restrictions.

Public transport to be relaunched on Monday

LJUBLJANA - Public transport in Slovenia will be relaunched on Monday, 11 May, after being suspended because of the coronavirus epidemic on 16 March, the Infrastructure Ministry said. Details regarding the safety measures that will apply are yet to be agreed on and should be presented to the public by the end of the week.

Supreme Court reverses defamation ruling against Janša

LJUBLJANA - The Supreme Court has quashed a ruling that ordered the incumbent prime minister, Janez Janša, to pay EUR 6,000 in damages to a journalist for calling her a "washed-up prostitute" in a tweet. The journalist has announced she will take her case to the Constitutional Court.

NGOs challenge first anti-coronavirus mega law at top court

LJUBLJANA - Three NGOs announced they had asked the Constitutional Court to examine tighter standards for NGOs to participate in procedures in which building permits are issued, which were introduced with the changes to the first fiscal stimulus package the government adopted to help businesses and households cope with the Covid-19 epidemic. The Focus Association for Sustainable Development, the Slovenian Native Fish Society, and Lutra - the Institute for Conservation of Natural Heritage want the court to put a temporary injunction on several segments of the law on emergency measures to contain the epidemic and mitigate its consequences.

Management of state forest company replaced

LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of the SiDG state forestry company dismissed director general Zlatko Ficko and appointed chief supervisor Samo Mihelin in his place until a new management with full powers is appointed, but not longer than one year. Leaving the management of the operator of state-owned forests along with Ficko is Darja Derganc, the director for finance, accounting and controlling.

Fraport Slovenija posts EUR 2.4 million operating loss in Q1

BRNIK - Fraport Slovenija, the company operating Ljubljana airport, posted an operating loss of EUR 2.4 million in the first quarter of the year as its parent company Fraport reported its first quarterly loss since getting listed on the stock market in 2001 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Fraport Slovenija generated EUR 6.9 million in revenue in the first quarter, 32% less than in the same period a year ago.

Car sales in Slovenia down 71% in April

LJUBLJANA - Car dealerships have been hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown. Sales of new cars and vans plunged by 71% year-on-year in April and 39% in the first four months compared to the same period last year, show the latest Chamber of Commerce figures. Just 2,140 new cars and vans were sold in April, and 16,354 vehicles in the first four months of the year.

Economic zone mooted as Italian ambassador visits border region

NOVA GORICA - Italian Ambassador to Slovenia Carlo Campanile visited the border city of Nova Gorica to discuss the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy and tourism in the cross-border region with one of the solutions suggested for a way out of the crisis being an economic zone. Such a zone would be especially important for the region spanning Nova Gorica, Gorizia and Šempeter-Vrtojba, the three border municipalities that have founded the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation.

First Slovenian satellites expectedly to be launched in June

MARIBOR - After the launch of Slovenia's first satellites, Trisat and Nemo HD, was postponed several times, most recently because of coronavirus, the project head, Iztok Kramberger of the Maribor Faculty Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, announced on Wednesday the satellites were expected to take flight between 8 and 15 June, as the launch site in French Guyana is to reopen.

Spa resorts gradually reopening, most for rehab services

ZREČE/LAŠKO/OTOČEC - Almost two months after being forced to shut down due to the coronavirus epidemic, spa resorts across Slovenia are tentatively reopening for business. Several have resumed medical rehabilitation services, and some also resumed wellness services and reopened bar terraces. Terme Krka, the spa company of the drug maker Krka, also reopened its tennis courts and golf course at Otočec near the Croatian border. Tourism company Sava Turizem, which runs a number of hotels and spa resorts in the lakeside town Bled, on the coast and in the north-east of the country, will wait a bit longer before reopening.

Doctor Radan's acquittal upheld by higher court

LJUBLJANA - The Higher Court in Ljubljana has rejected the prosecution's appeal against the acquittal of doctor Ivan Radan, thus upholding the 2018 ruling of the first-instance court. Radan's acquittal in the high-profile trial is now final, the newspaper Delo reported. Radan was tried for the alleged manslaughter of four terminally ill patients, unlawful recording of patients and abuse of office in prescribing drugs.

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Coalition and opposition bring rival bids for inquiry into medical supplies

LJUBLJANA - The four coalition parties filed for a parliamentary inquiry to look into the situation, handling, stock, orders and purchases of protective and critical medical equipment needed to battle Covid-19 between 1 February and 20 April. The opposition had been announcing it would seek such an inquiry for a while, but the coalition said that whilst they were willing to support the opposition in the move it simply took too long, while the matter should be looked into as soon as possible. The four centre-left opposition parties thus submitted a rival motion for an inquiry. In the meantime, the parliamentary Public Finance Oversight Commission spent six hours discussing the procurement before breaking off without taking any decisions.

Top expert says no rift in ventilator opinions

LJUBLJANA - Marko Noč, the head of the medical commission that evaluated offers for ventilators, came out in defence of a fellow commission member who came under fire after questioning the choice of a contentious ventilator type. However, Noč also argued there was no rift among experts on the issue. Noč said there were presently 430 appropriate ventilators in Slovenia and that 140 more were expected in the coming weeks after orders placed by hospitals and the state, which meant far more than the number of intensive care beds available in the country.

New coronavirus cases reported

LJUBLJANA - The number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose by six to 1,445 on Monday after no new cases were recorded at the weekend. Of the 56 patients treated in hospitals yesterday, 17 were in intensive care and one person died of Covid-19, bringing the total of deaths to 98. The director of the National Institute of Public Health, Milan Krek, said the newly infected came from hotspots and not from general population, which he said was encouraging.

Slovenia not to compromise right to privacy for Covid-19 app

LJUBLJANA - After a video conference with his counterparts from the EU, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik said Slovenia would not compromise the right to privacy for a mobile contact tracing app. Slovenia is among the countries in which the right to privacy is very restrictively defined, the only two countries more restrictive in this respect are Germany and Austria, Koritnik said, adding that Slovenia would not give up this standard for a contact tracing app. He backed a joint EU app.

Labour minister looks for silver linings amid Covid-19 crisis

BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU ministers in charge of social affairs discussed via videoconference national measures to tackle the coronavirus fallout. Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj agreed that the efforts should be boosted, adding that the crisis could be a stepping stone to a healthier balance between personal and professional lives. Cigler Kralj also called on the EU to include employment and social targets in its strategies, including those reviving the economy.

Retailers worried about dwindling sales

LJUBLJANA - The Covid-19 lockdown has resulted in the retail sector posting very worrying results, Chamber of Commerce (TZS) head Mariča Lah said. The sector as a whole could see a EUR 6-7 billion drop in sales this year, which represents over 20% of annual revenue. After an initial spike in sales in the early stages of the crisis, even groceries have posted a drop in overall sales during the lockdown, said Lah, estimating the decrease could exceed 15%.

Almost EUR 88m in claims admitted in Adria Airways bankruptcy

LJUBLJANA - The official receiver of Adria Airways admitted EUR 87.7 million in claims from creditors out of a total of EUR 151 million reported since the air carrier entered into receivership last October. The receiver, Janez Pustatičnik accepted secured and unsecured claims by legal entities and individuals to the tune of EUR 72.6 million, including EUR 15.1 million claimed by employees for unpaid wages. Few claims will be repaid, given that the bankruptcy estate is valued only at EUR 6 million.

Fraport seeks govt aid to complete passenger terminal in time

BRNIK - Airport operator Fraport Slovenija called on the government to help with keeping the company afloat and completing a new passenger terminal in time. The operator's revenue plummeted by as much as 85% year-on-year since the start of the coronavirus epidemic in mid-March. Air traffic has been severely restricted with only cargo or mail transport allowed, along with some special flights. The new terminal, valued at EUR 21 million, was to open before Slovenia takes the presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2021.

Event organisers urge aid and time frame for gathering ban

LJUBLJANA - With no events taking place since 7 March and none envisaged for an indefinite period, event organisers urged authorities to adopt aid measures and provide a basic time frame for the ban on public gatherings so that planning can start for 2021. The Association of Concert Organisers said the entire sector was in jeopardy because of the indefinite duration of the measures, which made it impossible to reschedule concerts. They also want financial assistance for staff.

DARS reports lower vignette sales, lorry tolling revenue

LJUBLJANA - As traffic on Slovenian motorways has only recently started to gradually go back to normal, the national motorway company DARS reported a drop in sales of toll stickers and revenue from cargo traffic as a result of the lockdown measures. DARS sold 1.86 million toll stickers between December and March, which is 6% less than in the same period a year earlier. The value of the toll stickers sold was down by EUR 1.83 million to EUR 96.95 million.

Kolektor CGP to build Croatia's most expensive road

RIJEKA, Croatia - A consortium comprising Slovenia's Kolektor CPG, Croatia's GP Krk and Bosnia's Euroasfalt won a tender to build a state road in the Croatian port city of Rijeka. The three-kilometre road running on a very complex terrain will be built for EUR 61 million. The consortium was the best bidder in the public tender published by Hrvatske Ceste, Croatia's company managing state roads. The D 403 will link the container terminal at the Rijeka port and west Rijeka with the city's ring road.

Courts start processing non-urgent cases

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian courts were allowed to start holding hearings, deliver rulings and serve writes in non-urgent cases, after most activities were suspended on 16 March. Deadlines will still not apply in non-urgent cases in which writs would be served. "For clients this means that they will be acquainted with the case but not obligated to take any steps unless they want to," the Supreme Court said.

Record numbers using e-book library amid lockdown

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian online library Biblos has seen record numbers of users during the coronavirus lockdown. Almost 100,000 e-books have been borrowed since the start of the epidemic, almost as much as the total amount of e-books accessed during the entire 2019. Following the declaration of the epidemic, up to 10,000 readers accessed the platform per day, with the average daily amount of e-books borrowed standing at 1,740.

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Opposition files motion of no confidence in economy minister

LJUBLJANA - Four centre-left opposition parties filed a motion of no confidence in Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, accusing him of being responsible for profiteering of individuals and companies in the purchases of personal protective equipment. The move comes after a series of media reports questioning purchasing procedures. Denying accusations levelled against him, Počivalšek said the motion was aimed at toppling the government, while welcoming it as an opportunity to set the record straight. The motion has little chance of succeeding as coalition parties indicated their support for the minister and even the opposition National Party said it would not vote for his dismissal.

Ministry rescinds controversial ventilator delivery contract

LJUBLJANA - The Health Ministry decided to rescind a EUR 8 million contract with company Geneplanet for the purchase of 220 ventilators Siriusmed R30. This was proposed by Geneplanet after the ventilators came under fire as being unsuitable for Covid-19 patients. Geneplanet has already delivered 110 of these ventilators to the Commodity Reserves Agency. The ministry decided to keep 90 of them under the condition that additional equipment be delivered, which would make them suitable for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. Twenty ventilators will be returned.

Second day with no new confirmed coronavirus infections in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - None of the 616 persons tested for coronavirus on Sunday tested positive for the second consecutive day with no new confirmed infections in Slovenia. The number of all confirmed cases so far thus remains at 1,439. One more patient died of Covid-19, raising the death toll to 97. So far, 56,136 tests have been conducted in Slovenia. Saturday was the first day with no new infections since the first coronavirus infection was confirmed on 4 March.

City streets come to life as more businesses reopen

LJUBLJANA - Lockdown restrictions were eased further as stores under 400m2 outside shopping malls reopened along with bar terraces, hair salons and beauty parlours. Most museums and libraries reopened and church services resumed. Professional athletes were allowed to train again. Despite the easing, strict physical distancing sanitary measures still apply. Slovenians were very happy to be able to have their coffee at their favourite place or get a haircut with hair and beauty salons booked weeks in advance. Unlike bar terraces, clothes and footwear stores were not very busy today.

Slovenia pledges close to EUR 14m for coronavirus vaccine

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia pledged EUR 13.76 million in a global online pledging marathon supporting research into a possible vaccine and treatment for the novel coronavirus. As the EU campaign was launched on Monday donations worth more than EUR 7.4 billion were raised. The pledging conference was attended by Foreign Minister Anže Logar, who announced the country's donation.

Govt to upgrade epidemic protection plan and cyber security standards

BRDO PRI KRANJU - As the National Security Council met for a session the government decided to upgrade the national protection and rescue plan in the part pertaining to epidemics in order to address issues that may occur in the case of a possible second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic. The government will also set up uniform cyber security standards for state institutions with the 5G technology seen as an issue of national security. Digitalisation and cyber security will also be among Slovenia's priorities for the upcoming 2021 EU presidency.

Extension of aid for tourism mulled

BRDO PRI KRANJU - The government is considering extending temporary emergency aid for tourism companies. Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said state financing of temporary layoffs, which expires at the end of May, could be extended by four months or even until the end of the year for the tourism sector. It would also make sense to set up a fund that would extend grants and favourable loans for the financing of current operations and investments since the industry needs to adjust to new standards, he said before a meeting of a new government advisory body for tourism.

Interior minister promises gradual reopening of checkpoints on Italian border

NOVA GORICA/KOBARID - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs visited the communities along Slovenia's western border, announcing the reopening of two border check points with Italy and discussing the possibility of reopening several others. In Nova Gorica, a town right on the border, he said that a check point in the city would reopen, and that another would reopen in Goriška Brda, the rural area north of Nova Gorica. "The border with Italy, as we knew it before the epidemic, will not be the same for a long time," the minister said.

Jurist Verica Trstenjak candidate for NLB supervisor

LJUBLJANA - Verica Trstenjak, a former advocate general at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, was put forward as a candidate for a member of the supervisory board of Slovenia's largest bank, NLB. The vote on her appointment and the re-appointment of Primož Karpe as supervisory board chairman and David Eric Simon as a supervisory board member will be taken at the shareholders' meeting on 15 June. The shareholders will also vote on the proposal to carry forward the EUR 228 million in distributable profit, and on amendments to the articles of association to allow employee representatives to the be named to the supervisory board and management.

Increase in domestic violence recorded amid Covid-19 epidemic

LJUBLJANA - Since the start of the coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia, the police have recorded a 20% increase in domestic violence compared to the same period last year, having dealt with 177 such incidents. At the same time, the number of crimes against public order has decreased. The number of issued restraining orders has been reduced as well, said Vinko Stojnšek of the Criminal Police Administration juvenile delinquency department.

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No new coronavirus infection for the first time in two months

LJUBLJANA - No new infection was recorded in Slovenia on Saturday for the first time in two months, government data show. After 500 additional tests, the total number of infections confirmed so far thus remains at 1,439. Two people died of Covid-19 yesterday, putting the death toll at 96. Fifty-nine Covid-19 patients were in hospital yesterday.

Taskforce says Slovenia currently has enough ventilators

LJUBLJANA - After Slovenia's key provider of ventilators during the epidemic, Geneplanet, proposed to the government to terminate their contract amid criticism that the ventilators were not suitable for Covid-19 patients, the Health Ministry learned from a taskforce led by Marko Noč, the chair of intensive care unit of the UKC Ljubljana hospital, that the country currently has enough ventilators. The final decision will be made on Monday.

Journalists' trade union fears post-epidemic measures

LJUBLJANA - The media sector has adjusted to the epidemic situation quickly and effectively but it faces great uncertainty after the corona crisis is over and the government is increasing this uncertainty, the Slovenian Union of Journalists said in a statement marking World Press Freedom Day. The Association of Journalists and the Association of Journalists and Commentators also issued their World Pres Freedom Day statements, with the former saying that the government had overheard all calls for aid by the media, and the latter calling for more media plurality. The public broadcaster RTV Slovenija condemned verbal attacks on its employees by politicians.

Slovenian journalist among recipients of German freedom of speech award

BERLIN, Germany - Slovenian journalist Blaž Zgaga, a freelance journalist and a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, is one of 17 recipients of this year's Freedom of Speech Award given out by the German public international broadcaster Deutsche Welle to journalists from 14 countries who have been persecuted for coronavirus reporting. All other recipients come from non-EU countries. A fierce reaction came from MP of the senior coalition Democrats (SDS) Branko Grims, who compared this to giving out a women's rights award to Metod Trobec, a serial killer whose victims were women.

Environmentalists say work from home should continue after epidemic

LJUBLJANA - Work from home has become much more widespread in Slovenia during the coronavirus epidemic, and because its positive effects on the environment environmentalists are calling for legislative changes that would allow more of such work in the future as well. Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj supports the idea.

Weaker demand for bread and meat due to Covid-19 epidemic

LJUBLJANA - In the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, demand for meat as well as fresh bread and pastries has decreased in Slovenia. The country's food industries saw a spike in demand in March after the epidemic was declared, with people hoarding supplies, but in April the situation saw a downturn in the consumption. The closure of schools, kindergartens and restaurants, introduced to stem the Covid-19 spread, has led to repercussions for the meat industry since those institutions and venues are its main buyers.

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PM says he trusts economy minister regarding PPE procurement

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša said that Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek was still enjoying his trust in the wake of accusations of political pressure in the purchasing of personal protective equipment and ventilators. Janša added that a government report on the procurement would be sent to parliament next week. "Everything that could be received as soon as possible and that met at least basic standards was purchased. I'm not aware of a single EU country which would act differently," he wrote on Twitter.

Ventilator supplier in spotlight proposes terminating contract

LJUBLJANA - Following a series of accusations about alleged dodgy procedures in the procurement of personal protective equipment and ventilators, company Geneplanet, Slovenia's key provider of ventilators during the coronavirus epidemic, proposed to the government to mutually agree to terminate the relevant contracts. The company said it wanted to protect its reputation and suggested cancelling the delivery of the ventilators and masks which have not yet been supplied as well as repurchasing the ventilators that have already been delivered at the delivery price.

Comprehensive random sampling for SARS-CoV-2 completed

LJUBLJANA - A comprehensive random population testing for coronavirus was announced to be completed. The samples of 1,368 people, who had been picked in a representative sample and were willing to take part in the campaign, have been taken and one new case confirmed in total. The preliminary results are expected to be presented after the May Day holidays and will be key for giving the authorities a reliable estimate of the extent of the coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia and help them plan the way out of the lockdown.

One Covid-19 death, only five new infections on Friday

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's official tally of coronavirus cases rose by five, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,439. The number of fatalities increased by one to 94, the latest government data showed. A total of 60 persons were reported to be in hospital, with 21 in intensive care. A total of 720 tests were performed, bringing the total number of tests conducted so far to 55,020.

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