21 Jul 2020, 04:14 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Tuesday, 21 July 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Slovenia marks 10th anniversary of OECD membership

BRDO PRI KRANJU - An event at Brdo estate marked the 10th anniversary of Slovenia's membership of the OECD with Foreign Minister Anže Logar saying that joining the organisation offered the country an opportunity for new development achievements. Just like it managed to overcome the global financial crisis by way of structural reform, following the OECD's guidance, Logar said the government was aware that wise measures would be needed again to exit the current crisis. OECD Secretary-General Jose Angel Gurria, addressing the event by video call, said he was confident Slovenia would exit the current crisis stronger as well. Gurria also had a video call with PM Janez Janša, who is in Brussels for the EU summit. The pair discussed Slovenia's demographic challenge as highlighted in the OECD's latest Slovenia survey, preparations for Slovenia's EU presidency as well as digital economy and proposals for how to tax it. They also exchanged views on other topical European issues.

OECD urges Slovenia to aid economy until growth is restored

PARIS, France - The OECD's latest economic survey praises Slovenia's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and urges the state to continue providing support measures for the economy until growth is fully restored. "Slovenia acted quickly to halt the spread of Covid-19 and its healthcare system managed the outbreak well," the OECD said in a press release. But as measures to support jobs, income and businesses are gradually being wound down, the economy may need a fiscal stimulus to prevent a possible spike in bankruptcies and unemployment. The OECD estimates Slovenia's economy will grow 4.5% in 2021 after contracting by 7.8% this year, if there is no significant second wave of Covid-19.

PM says EU summit agreement possible today or tomorrow

BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Janez Janša believes EU leaders could reach agreement on the 2021-2017 budget and the coronavirus recovery fund today or tomorrow. Arriving for the fourth day of talks at the EU summit, he said a few open issues remained but "I can say that many positions have been brought closer together". He said Slovenia insisted on sufficient funds at EU level but also on an advantageous ratio between grants and loans and on an appropriate national envelope. The talks are meanwhile continuing on the latest compromise unveiled today: the recovery fund would stay at EUR 750 billion, whereas the amount of grants would be lowered compared to the original proposal. EUR 390 billion or 52% is now envisaged for grants and EUR 360 billion for loans, while the original idea was to have two-thirds of grants.

Opposition concerned Janša changing Slovenia's EU course

LJUBLJANA - The opposition raised concern Slovenia's foreign policy might be changing course following unofficial information that PM Janez Janša sided with his Hungary and Poland over the rule of law in the ongoing talks on the EU budget and the recovery fund. Janša's predecessor in office, Marjan Šarec, came out strongly against Janša today, asserting the government "is leading Slovenia in the direction of Visegrad where the desire is obviously not to respect the rule of law". Janša already dismissed on Sunday the Financial Times report that Hungary, Poland and Slovenia were resisting the system that would tie EU budget funds to respecting fundamental human rights. He said Slovenia wanted the same standards apply to all members. Arriving for day four of the talks in Brussels today, he said that discussions about the rule of law clarified a lot and that there was agreement the rule of law must not be tied exclusively to EU funds and investments.

Slovenia's Covid-19 death toll rises to 113, seven new infections

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's Covid-19 death toll rose to 113 after another patient died on Sunday, the latest government data shows. Seven new coronavirus cases were confirmed on Sunday as 371 tests were carried out. 19 patients are in hospital, including three in intensive care. The country now has 237 active cases. One recent outbreak has been in a kindergarten in Odranci, north-east, where five teachers tested positive on Saturday and Friday but none on Sunday. A total of 71 persons had been ordered to self-isolate. The infection had been transmitted from a teacher who does not come from Odranci and the kindergarten is closed until further notice.

FM Logar discusses rule of law with EU justice commissioner

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar discussed the rule of law and the EU's new rule of law mechanism with European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders in a videoconference, focussing on the first rule of law report being compiled by the European Commission, which will expectedly be completed in September. The pair also talked about cooperation and tasks awaiting Slovenia during its EU presidency in the second half of 2021.

Bilateral cooperation in focus of Logar-Ashkenazi phone call

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar told his Israeli counterpart Gabriel Ashkenazi the Slovenian government was interested in deepening Slovenian-Israeli relations, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry said in a press release. The pair agreed the countries should enhance cooperation in several fields, including in economy, science and IT. Foreign affairs were also on the agenda, foremost the Middle East peace process, with Logar highlighting the role of dialogue that would lead to a two-state solution.

RTV Slovenija in deadlock as changed 2020 plans rejected

LJUBLJANA - RTV Slovenija's programming council did not back the public broadcaster's changed financial and production plans for 2020, which the leadership had prepared in response to the coronavirus. The media outlet's revenue was EUR 1.7 million lower than expected in the first six months, mostly on account of lower advertising revenue, whereas the cost of wages was EUR 1.9 million higher. Today's no-vote could put RTV Slovenija in a dire financial situation amid concerns that the government is trying to undermine it with a controversial media reform. Kadunc said "I don't know how to proceed" given that the broadcaster "has a production plan which is not covered by the financial plan". He said he had not expected such an outcome and was particularly bothered by the abstained votes; almost half of the members of the 29-strong council present at the session abstained from voting, which could be seen as a vote of no-confidence in him. Kadunc, however, does not intend to resign.

SDS MEP sends media legislation letter to EP culture committee

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenian MEP Milan Zver of the ruling SDS, an EPP member, defended a government proposal to change Slovenia's media legislation in a letter to the European Parliament's culture committee, saying he saw it as the first small step towards the media becoming plural and balanced. He also assessed a recent letter another two Slovenian MEPs, althought from the Renew political grouping, sent to European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova was misleading. Klemen Grošelj and Irena Joveva argued the changes would have far-reaching consequences for the media industry and the country's democracy. Zver meanwhile said they were just smaller corrections of the media legislation. He also rejected the notion they were designed to subjugate the media to government control or to destroy independent reporting.

Vox Populi poll shows little change at the top

LJUBLJANA - The latest Vox Populi public opinion poll shows little change at the top of the party rankings. The ruling SDS polled at 22.7%, the same as the month before, with the opposition SocDems down half a point to 14.7%, having jumped by seven points in the previous month after MEP Tanja Fajon took over as interim leader. The opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) is broadly flat at 10.8%, whereas the opposition Left lost a point and a half to 6.7%, shows the poll, carried by Večer and Dnevnik. The government's approval rating was at 48.5%, up slightly from June.

Tourism vouchers worth EUR 20 million redeemed in a month

LJUBLJANA - Roughly 130,000 Slovenian residents have redeemed state-sponsored tourism vouchers worth EUR 20 million in the first month since the launch of a scheme designed to help the Slovenian tourism industry recover from the coronavirus epidemic, Financial Administration director Peter Jenko said. The bulk of the vouchers were redeemed at the most popular tourism destinations: coastal resorts, the north-western Gorenjska region and spas. Some 44% were spent at hotels, 20% on self-catering apartments and roughly a tenth in campsites.

Drop in collected taxes less sharp in June

LJUBLJANA - The downward trend in tax collection slowed down in June, when the majority of stimulus measures took effect. The Financial Administration (FURS) collected EUR 1.15 billion in taxes and other levies last month, which is 19.8%, or EUR 285.2 million, less than in the same month in 2019. A 4% drop in collected taxes and other levies was already recorded in March, mostly on the back of the anti-epidemic measures, followed by a 25% drop in April as virtually the entire retail and hospitality sectors shut down. The downward trend continued in May, when the receipts dropped by almost 40% year on year. In the first six months, a total of EUR 7.5 billion was collected, or 13.4% less than in the same period in 2019.

Wind farm to be built near border with Croatia

LJUBLJANA - A wind farm with a rated capacity of 21.6 megawatts is to be built on a mountain ridge near the border with Croatia, under plans recently endorsed by the government. The government took the decision on 8 July on the implementation of a national zoning plan for six wind turbines on the Maceljska Gora ridge in the area of Rogatec, east. The six wind turbines, each with a rated capacity of up to 3.6 megawatts, or a combined 21.6 megawatts, could produce 55 gigawatt hours of power annually.

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20 Jul 2020, 04:33 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Monday, 20 July 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Six new coronavirus cases confirmed in 480 tests, one Covid-19 death on Saturday

LJUBLJANA - Six out of the 480 tests for Sars-CoV-2 conducted on Saturday came back positive, fresh official statistics showed. One Covid-19 related fatality was recorded in what is the first such death after more than a month and a half, raising the national death toll to 112. A total of 18 persons were hospitalised with Covid-19; two of them were in intensive care.

There’s not much news this Monday morning, so check out @ZivjoLuka on Twitter if you want to learn some basic Slovene

Learning Slovene, I thought that the toughest-to-say words would have scary, angry definitions. But two of the toughest have the most innocent meanings: "čmrlj" (bumblebee) and "nahrbtnik" (backpack). I mean, that's 5 consonants in a row!! #Slovenia #LanguageLearning
— ZivjoLuka (@ZivjoLuka) July 15, 2020

PM labels EU summit negotiations test of perseverance

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Janez Janša described on Saturday the EU summit negotiations over the next EU budget and recovery package as a test of perseverance. As Janša arrived for a third day of talks on Sunday, he pointed out that side issues were preventing focusing on key issues. Slovenia's alleged support for Hungary and Poland in their opposition to tying the budget funds to respecting the rule of law has raised some dust, with the PM saying that Slovenia only wanted the same standards to be used for all member states. The opposition SocDems as well as the coalition partners meanwhile highlighted the role of the rule of law and EU values.

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19 Jul 2020, 04:19 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, 19 July 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

No breakthrough yet at EU summit, PM says

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU summit made tactical steps forward on Friday, but no strategic breakthrough, Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Janša said as he arrived for a second day of talks Saturday morning. According to unofficial sources, talks started on a revised proposal proposal, under which the EUR 750 billion recovery and resilience fund is to provide EUR 450 billion in subsidies and EUR 300 billion in loans.

Fitch affirms Slovenia's A rating with positive outlook

FRANKFURT, Germany - The Fitch agency affirmed Slovenia's credit rating of A with a stable outlook on Friday. It pointed to high public debt, small size, and slow progress in structural reforms to address medium-term fiscal and growth challenges associated with an ageing population, with the stable outlook reflecting a degree of resilience to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fitch forecasts that the country's GDP will shrink by 7.1% this year, growing by 4.9% next year and another 3.3% in 2022, returning to a level slightly above that in 2019 in two years.

24 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in 1,027 tests on Friday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,027 people were tested for coronavirus in Slovenia on Friday, with 24 tests coming back positive, according to the most recent government data. 19 people remained in hospital, two in intensive care. No deaths were reported. This brings the total number of cases to 1,940, while the death tally remains at 111, according to the online tracker Covid-19 Sledilnik. The number of active infections in the country was at 261 on Friday.

Slovenia to cooperate with WHO on health care and disease control

LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Tomaž Gantar has signed a two-year cooperation agreement with the regional office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for Europe, the Health Ministry said on its website. Cooperation is to focus on control of communicable and non-communicable disease and the strengthening of the health care system. Microbe resistance, accessibility, safety and quality of medicines, vaccines and other health technologies are specified as priorities of the cooperation.

TAB still doing well despite coronavirus

MEŽICA - TAB, a maker of starter batteries for cars and industrial batteries, finished 2019 with EUR 278 million in net sales revenue and EUR 21 million in net profit, down on the record profit of EUR 26.4 million in 2018. Although the 2019 results are somewhat worse than in the record 2018 year for the Mežica-based company, director Bogomir Auprih still considers them good. This year's operations have been strongly influenced by the coronavirus situation, with March sales dropping by 15% year-on-year and April sales plunging by 50%.

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18 Jul 2020, 04:31 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 18 July 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

PM says Slovenia would modernise health care with EU recovery funds

BRUSSELS, Belgium - It is important for Slovenia to secure enough funds from the EU coronavirus recovery fund for the modernisation of its health care system, Prime Minister Janez Janša said as he arrived in Brussels for the first in-person EU summit in months. "For Slovenia, as well as all other member states, this is an especially sensitive time because we are not completely sure that the coronavirus epidemic danger has passed."

Montenegro deemed highly risky, Croatia remains on Covid-19 yellow list

LJUBLJANA - As of Friday Montenegro and Luxembourg were placed on Slovenia's red list of Covid-19 highly risky countries given their epidemiologic status. Croatia meanwhile remained on the yellow list, which indicates a higher level of caution is advised, said the government on Thursday after a correspondence session. Poland and the UK have been placed on Slovenia's green list of Covid-19 safe countries after the government was acquainted Thursday evening with a National Public Health Institute (NIJZ) report on the epidemiologic situations in member states, most notably Italian regions, Schengen area countries and Western Balkans countries.

19 new coronavirus cases confirmed in 1,012 tests on Thursday

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia saw 19 new coronavirus infections confirmed on Thursday after performing 1,012 tests, showed the latest official data. A total of 19 coronavirus patients were in hospital, one more that the day before, whereas the number of those in intensive care stayed level at one. One person was discharged from hospital and there were no Covid-19 related fatalities, which means the national death toll remains unchanged since the end of May at 111.

Info commissioner finds no systemic abuse in personal data access

LJUBLJANA - The Information Commissioner is still inspecting potentially problematic access to 45 politicians's personal data, but early findings have not revealed systemic abuse. Only one police officer has so far been identified as having accessed such data without authorisation, the Information Commission said. Personal data of the 45 politicians have been accessed by 700 police staff, but the majority of the police officers accessed the data of no more than one politician.

Anti-government protests continue

LJUBLJANA - Anti-government protests were held in several Slovenian cities for the 13th week running. The messages remained broadly the same. In Ljubljana people flocked to Prešeren Square to protest "reign of terror and dictatorship", as an invitation posted in one of the largest protest groups on Facebook said. The protest culminated in a "people's assembly" in a bid to formulate clearer demands.

NGOs urge fairer treatment of Eritrean asylum seekers

LJUBLJANA - A group of human rights NGOs urged the government to treat Eritrean asylum seekers more fairly. The civil initiative InfoKolpa, joined by eight other organisations including Amnesty International Slovenije, said on Friday only three of 15 applications lodged by Eritreans who recently arrived in Slovenia via the Balkan migration route had been granted. The Interior Ministry rejected the notion that its policy is unprofessional or politically motivated in any way.

Slovenia has room to borrow if needed

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian treasury has taken on fresh debt of EUR 2.17 billion so far this year and it can still borrow EUR 1.4 billion before it reaches the debt ceiling. Whether new bond issues are carried out will depend on how the coronacrisis unfolds, the Finance Ministry said. The yield on Slovenia's benchmark 10-year bond is currently at roughly 0.1%, which the ministry says reflects investor confidence in measures to preserve jobs and promote investments.

Minister urges retail unions, employers to engage in talks

LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek called on retail trade unions and employers to sit down and start talking after a bill on Sunday shop closure was sent into third parliamentary reading yesterday. He believes the opposition-sponsored bill is not an answer to the difficult economic situation post-coronavirus. "We do not deny anyone the right to rest, but understanding the business environment and the current economic climate and knowing the forthcoming economic trends, I cannot agree with a populist presentation of only one side of the coin," Počivalšek wrote on Facebook.

Minister urges EU framework for safety and health at work

LJUBLJANA - Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj called for an EU strategic framework for safety and health at work along with his EU colleagues as he participated in an informal videoconference of EU ministers for employment and social affairs. He said that the need for such a framework was highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic since it enabled a better response to the crisis.

President Pahor to visit Slovakia on 22 July

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will pay an official visit to Slovakia on 22 July. Talks with his counterpart Zuzana Čaputova will focus on how the EU is coping with the coronavirus pandemic, the president's office said. Meetings with Prime Minister Ugor Matovič and Speaker of the National Council Boris Kollar are also scheduled.

Mediana poll shows growing pessimism over coronavirus

LJUBLJANA - As signs of a second wave of coronavirus contagion have begun to show in Slovenia, the country's residents have become increasingly pessimistic about outlooks for the future and are once again increasingly worried about their health, the most recent Mediana poll showed. The share of people who believe everyday life will change due to the Covid-19 pandemic has been growing steadily since the disease reached Slovenia in March, growing to 55% in July, 6 percentage points higher than in April.

MP turns to corruption watchdog over NovaTV24 ownership

LJUBLJANA - MP Marko Koprivc of the opposition Social Democrats (SD) addressed a letter to the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (KPK) asking it to look into potential conflicts of interest and risk of corruption involving several government ministers and MPs due to their alleged holding shares of the NovaTV24 media company.

Net migration in 2019 highest since 2008

LJUBLJANA - Almost 3,800 Slovenian citizens and 27,600 foreign citizens moved to Slovenia in 2019, whereas almost 6,600 Slovenians and 8,500 foreigners moved out. Net migration - the number of those who immigrated compared to those who emigrated - hit 16,213, the highest since 2008, Statistics Office figures show. The number of immigrants was by 10% higher than in 2018 and the number of emigrants by 12%.

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17 Jul 2020, 04:43 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 17 July 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Defence investment plan passes first reading

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed at first reading a bill that would provide EUR 780 million for investment in the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) between 2021 in 2026, the bulk for the acquisition of armoured personnel vehicles to set up a battalion battlegroup, plus an aircraft and two helicopters. The plan was endorsed by the coalition and the opposition National Party (SNS), whereas other opposition either abstained or voted against. The final tally was 49 votes in favour and 16 against.

MPs send Sunday shop closure bill into third reading

LJUBLJANA - MPs sent a bill to close shops on Sundays and bank holidays into third reading. The legislation was filed by the opposition Left in collaboration with the Trade Union of Shop Assistants after the government closed shops on Sundays as part of anti-corona measures in mid-March. The bill, which provides some exemptions for smaller shops, enjoys the support of leftist opposition parties and the coalition New Slovenia (NSi), whereas the government is not in favour. It is expected that the provisions may change significantly during the final reading.

Committee calls for sufficient funding of RTV Slovenija and STA

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Culture Committee decided at Thursday's marathon session that the media legislation changes planned by the government should guarantee that public broadcaster RTV Slovenija and the STA receive sufficient funding and are autonomous public institutions of national and cultural significance. The call was made as journalists staged a rally against the planned changes, under which a substantial chunk of RTV Slovenija funding would be divided between other media, and STA supervisors would be appointed by the government and no longer by the parliament. The less than week-long public consultation period for the changes was extended until 5 September.

19 new coronavirus cases confirmed in 1,032 tests on Wednesday

LJUBLJANA - In what upholds a relatively flat curve of new cases, 19 Sars-CoV-2 infections were confirmed in Slovenia in 1,032 tests conducted on Wednesday. The number of people in hospital rose by two to 18, with one patient in intensive care, show government data released on Thursday. No new deaths due to Covid-1' were reported, meaning the death toll remains 111, while the total number of confirmed infections rose to 1,897. Four new infections were confirmed today in Hrastnik, which has become a hotspot, having a total of 23 active infections, among them five elderly care home residents and five staff.

Four hospitals to receive Covid-19 patients from nursing homes

LJUBLJANA - Four hospitals will receive coronavirus patients from nursing homes in order to make it easier for nursing homes to organise, the Health Ministry announced, in what marks a change from how such patients were treated during the first wave of the epidemic. A total of 50 beds will be available at special nursing departments at both university medical centres in Ljubljana and Maribor and the general hospitals in Novo Mesto and Nova Gorica, Health Ministry State Secretary Jerneja Farkaš Lainščak announced. The hospitals will receive nursing home residents with confirmed infections who do not have symptoms that would require hospital treatment.

Survey shows only 27% willing to use contact tracing app

LJUBLJANA - Only about a quarter of Slovenians are willing to use a contact tracing mobile app designed to stop the spread of coronavirus, suggests a survey conducted on a sample of 566 persons between 10 and 13 July. For the app to achieve its goal, it would have to be used by at least 50% to 60% of the population. However, only 10% of respondents told pollster Valicon that they would definitely install it to their devices, while 17% said they would likely do so.

Art Stays festival brings contemporary art to Ptuj

PTUJ - Art Stays, a contemporary art festival, got under way in Ptuj bringing acclaimed contemporary art production to Slovenia's oldest city. It will showcase works by more than 60 Slovenian and foreign artists. The 18th festival is held under the slogan No More Silence and is a continuation of past editions entitled Future, Fragile and NaturAL(L).

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16 Jul 2020, 04:22 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 16 July 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

May border incident involving soldiers took place, not orchestrated, report shows

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Intelligence Oversight Commission discussed a report which shows that the 7 May incident in which two Slovenian soldiers stopped at gunpoint a civilian in the woods near the border with Italy had happened and had not been orchestrated. The incident was not orchestrated and the two hikers were not members of the Antifa terrorist organisation as alleged by Prime Minister Janez Janša, commission chair Matjaž Nemec of the opposition SocDems said. Defence Minister Matej Tonin meanwhile said the soldier had not pointed a gun at the hiker, had not asked him about his identity and had not arrested him, but had simply been doing his job in line with standard procedure.

Top court stays legislation restricting NGO powers in construction projects

LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court decided to stay legislation allowing construction projects to be sped up in part also by restricting the powers of environmental NGOs in the process of environmental permits procedures. Several NGOs petitioned the court to look into Article 100 d, which fast-tracks projects that were in the phase of acquiring an environmental permit in 2018, Article 100 e, which allows construction to go forward before the construction permit takes effect, and Article 100 f, which imposes new restrictions on NGOs eligible to take part in the permits procedures.

Slovenia disappointed with lower EU recovery funds

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is disappointed with the latest proposal to cut the EU's 2021-2017 budget to EUR 1.074 trillion and would like more money to be allocated for cohesion funds, according to State Secretary Gašper Dovžan, who took part in a video meeting of ministers in charge of EU affairs. The Foreign Ministry official urged a prompt deal on the recovery funding but expressed disappointment with the cut to the original proposal which set the multi-annual budget at EUR 1.1 trillion.

19 new coronavirus cases confirmed on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - Out of 1,112 Covid-19 tests performed in Slovenia on Tuesday, 19 came back positive, according to data released by the government. This brings the total number of cases to 1,878. No deaths were reported yesterday. The number of patients requiring hospital treatment dropped by one to 16, with one requiring intensive care. While the disease has been transmitted mostly at private parties in the past weeks, retirement homes seem to be emerging once again as potential hot spots.

Journalist protest against media reform in front of parliament

LJUBLJANA - Several hundred journalists and media workers gathered to protest against a media reform planned by the government in front of the National Assembly, where the parliamentary Culture Committee discused the proposed changes to three media laws. Convinced the reform would undermine the Slovenian public media's financial stability and independence, the protesters urged the independence and freedom of the media. Addresses were delivered by representatives of the Slovenian Journalist Association (DNS) as well as by journalists and media workers from the public broadcaster RTV Slovenija and the STA.

CoE human rights commissioner urges govt to allow time for media legislation debate

LJUBLJANA - The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe (CoE), Dunja Mijatović, called on the Slovenian government to allow sufficient time for public consultation about the changes planned by the government for the media legislation. "The proposed reforms are significant and require hearing and taking into account views of journalists associations, media & civil society in Slovenia," she tweeted.

MEPs write to Commissioner Jourova over media reform

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian MEPs from the ranks of the opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) and the Renew group in the European Parliament, Irena Joveva and Klemen Grošelj, have written to EU Commission vice-president Vera Jourova about the contentious media reform plans in Slovenia. They urged a discussion on the topic at the European level. Joveva and Grošelj express concern and say some of the proposed changes would have far-reaching consequences for the media industry in Slovenia and for democracy itself.

Foreign Ministry says preparations for EU presidency being stepped up

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aleksander Geržina said that Slovenia has stepped up preparations for its presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2021 after these were disrupted by the change in power and the coronacrisis. With the government change the preparations as well as the management of the presidency at large have been taken over by the Foreign Ministry and Foreign Minister Anže Logar, who also runs a task force for the preparations. A secretariat, in charge of logistic aspects, as well as several subgroups have also been formed.

Minority in Carinthia calls for rethink of minority policy

KLAGENFURT, Austria - The Slovenian minority in Carinthia called for a rethink of minority policy in the Austrian state as it responded to an annual report on the status of the minority there that shows the community continues to shrink. Slovenians once accounted for a third of Carinthia's population, today the share is under 3%, Rudi Vouk, the leader of the National Council of Carinthian Slovenians (NSKS), said. He warned that state incentives for minorities in Austria had remained nominally the same since 1995, which means they have dropped by half in real terms.

Average gross wage down 2.3% in May on April and up 9.5% y/y due to bonuses

LJUBLJANA - The average gross earnings in May amounted to EUR 1,892.31, down by 2.3% on April nominally and by 3.2% in real terms. The average net wage was EUR 1,244.44, a 1.7% and 2.6% decrease respectively on April, show data released by the Statistics Office. Year-on-year, average gross earnings increased, in nominal terms by 9.5% and in real terms by 10.8%. The increase was largely the result of temporary stimulus measures related to the Covid-19 epidemic, which were also in place in April.

Value of construction works down 13.7% in May y/y

LJUBLJANA - The value of construction works in Slovenia was down 2.8% in May over April and 13.7% year-on-year, show data released by the Statistics Office. This was the third consecutive month of decline, the April drop over the preceding month being 7.5% and the March decrease 10.4%. In May the value of construction executed for buildings decreased by 0.3%; for residential buildings it went up by 3.6%, while for non-residential buildings it was down by 1.3%. The value of construction for civil engineering decreased by 4.5%.

First doctorate awarded in Ljubljana 100 years ago

LJUBLJANA - One hundred years to the day the first ever doctorate was awarded at a Slovenian university. Ana Mayer received a doctorate in chemistry after completing at the newly-established University of Ljubljana her chemistry studies which she started in Vienna before the collapse of Austria-Hungary. Mayer, born in 1895 in Lože near Vipava, south-western Slovenia, started studying chemistry and physics at the Vienna university in 1914. She was forced to leave in 1918 when the university decided after the end of WWI that all Slavic students must leave it. She continued her studies after Ljubljana got the first university in 1919, earning the first doctorate issued by the Ljubljana University on 15 July 1920.

Almost 50,000 free public transit tickets issued in two weeks

LJUBLJANA - Close to 50,000 senior citizens, persons with disabilities and veterans have requested free annual tickets for intercity transport in the two weeks since the launch of the scheme, the Infrastructure Ministry has announced. The tickets became available on 1 July under legislative changes passed in 2019 that are designed to boost sustainable mobility.

15 Jul 2020, 04:11 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Wednesday, 15 July 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Parliamentary inquiry into PPE procurement initiated

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly formally initiated a parliamentary inquiry into the procurement of medical and personal protective equipment before and during the coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia. The move comes at the request of the coalition, which wants to determine political responsibility of public office holders as of 1 February, which also includes the last month and a half of the previous government's term. The commission is to investigate potentially illegal use of public funds and suspected failure to take appropriate measures to reign in the epidemic.

Coalition agrees to extend public debate on media changes

LJUBLJANA - Coalition parties agreed to extend the week-long public consultation period for a media reform until the end of August, although the final decision is in the hands of the Culture Ministry, which has drafted the changes to the media law, the law on public broadcaster RTV Slovenija and the law on the STA. However, its official Ivan Oven confirmed for public radio station Radio Slovenija the period would be extended. The changes will be debated Wednesday by the parliamentary Culture Committee, with opposition SD leader Tanja Fajon saying they would propose for the media package be removed from legislative procedure. She said the SD, which led the Culture Ministry in the previous government, had drawn up its own media bill which "addresses all the key challenges of the media landscape".

Culture Ministry says media changes to modernise legislation

LJUBLJANA - The head of the Culture Ministry media directorate Ivan Oven defended the media reform in a Radio Slovenija discussion, arguing the goals are "to modernise the legislation, given the radical technological developments in the media industry" and to harmonise Slovenia's legal standards with Europe's. He said the proposals simplify cost cutting procedures, while the focus is on expanding the rights of users, increasing the transparency of funding, securing independent permanent and transparent sources of funding, all of which leads to synergy effects. Most other participants were critical, saying modern technological challenges were definitely not being addressed, while they also disagreed with the transparency and stability of funding point.

EBU concerned about future of public media in Slovenia

GENEVA, Switzerland/LJUBLJANA - The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) addressed a letter to the Slovenian authorities expressing concern over the future of Slovenian public service media. It urged the government to enable proper time for discussion on the proposed media reform in line with EU standards. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) joined the warnings saying that they were most concerned about the proposed changes to the funding of public service media in Slovenia and the extremely short period of five days for public discussion.

ZNP expresses support for planned media legislation changes

LJUBLJANA - The Association of Journalists and Commentators (ZNP) expressed support for the government-sponsored changes to the media legislation, including a planned distribution of the public broadcaster licence fee among other media and the change of STA supervisory board appointment powers from the National Assembly to the government. The ZNP, the smaller of the two national associations of journalists, said it did not matter whether the supervisors of the STA were appointed by the government or the National Assembly. But it believes the changes should also limit the supervisors and the general manager to two terms.

Ten new coronavirus infections confirmed

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia saw ten new coronavirus infections confirmed on Monday after conducting 1,218 tests. The numbers of those hospitalised with Covid-19 as well as Covid-19 patients in intensive care remained unchanged at 17 and one, respectively, show the latest government data. Three persons were discharged from hospital, and there were no Covid-19 related fatalities, leaving the death toll at 111.

Committees urge govt to provide nursing hospitals, adequate care homes

LJUBLJANA - Wrapping up a discussion on the situation in Slovenian care homes during the Covid-19 epidemic, the parliamentary committees on health and social affairs urged the government to provide nursing hospitals and improve conditions at care homes. The committees dismissed all the proposals tabled by the opposition Left which would proclaim that Slovenia did not successfully protect care home residents during the epidemic and that the ministries should amend the strategy on fighting the coronavirus in these facilities. But it backed motions by the coalition which state that the previous government had not provided protective equipment or imposed preventive measures in care homes in time.

Central5 ministers discuss border opening

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Foreign ministers from Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia, known as the Central5, held talks in Budapest focusing on the opening of borders with third countries in the light of the coronavirus pandemic. The EU's recovery instrument, its multi-annual budgetary framework, and the role of state subsidies in investments and regional economic cooperation was also on the agenda, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry said.

Environment minister highlights digital tech's role in green transition

LJUBLJANA - Development and digital technologies could play a significant role in the EU's green transition, Slovenia's Environment and Spatial Planning Minister Andrej Vizjak has said in a videoconferenced EU ministerial focusing on recovery post-pandemic and the role of digitalisation in environmental protection. The ministerial started on Monday with small-group debates, with Vizjak moderating a panel on digitalisation, in light of Slovenia's upcoming EU presidency in 2021, the ministry said in today's press release.

President Pahor congratulates Poland's Duda on re-election

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor congratulated Polish President Andrzej Duda on his re-election in a phone conversation that touched on current affairs and bilateral relations. Pahor's office said the presidents also talked about the need for world leaders to start meeting in person again in order to tackle complex international relations.

Slovenia, Croatia confirm revised Krško decommissioning programme

ZAGREB, Croatia - Slovenia and Croatia confirmed revised programmes for the decommissioning of the Krško nuclear power station and the storage of radwaste, as the ministers in charge of energy chaired a session of the intergovernmental commission on the management of the jointly-owned power station. The revised programmes had previously been confirmed by the Slovenian government and the Croatian parliament, and reflect the decision to extend the plant's operation by 20 years beyond its originally planned shutdown in 2023, and the decision that each country will build its own radwaste repository.

Simič and Emeršič join SSH supervisory board

LJUBLJANA - Parliament appointed tax expert Ivan Simič and former long-serving chairman of insurer Grawe Božo Emeršič as supervisors of Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH), the custodian of state assets. The pair will join the other three members of the supervisory board for five years after the terms of Duško Kos and Damjan Belič expires on 17 July. The MPs of the left-leaning opposition parties voted against, arguing Simič lacked personal integrity and business ethics. The SSH supervisory board also features chief supervisor Karmen Dietner, whose term runs out at the end of 2023, as well as Igor Kržan and Janez Vipotnik.

Hisense Gorenje decides against layoffs in production segment

VELENJE - Home appliances maker Hisense Gorenje will not lay off production workers as initially planned. The Chinese-owned company will instead employ soft methods to reduce the workforce, since orders have grown in recent weeks and June was the first profitable month this year. The previous plan was to lay off roughly 300 workers in the production unit Gorenje in Velenje, the group having already let go of 46 employees at the back-office unit Hisense Gorenje Europe in June. The in-house trade union welcomed the latest development.

Human rights ombudsman concerned with irresponsiveness of state bodies

LJUBLJANA - Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina handed his office's annual report for 2019 to PM Janez Janša and Speaker Igor Zorčič, urging politicians to take action so that the ombudsman's recommendations are implemented. The report makes nearly 160 concrete recommendations to a variety of state bodies and expresse concern that as many as 200 recommendations made by Svetina's predecessors are yet to be implemented, with one dating back as far as 2013. Janša urged implementing the overdue recommendations from the past as soon as possible. The National Assembly is to expected to debate the report in the autumn.

Slovenians reserved about contact tracing app, shows survey

LJUBLJANA - A majority of Slovenians do not support the introduction of a contact tracing app to stem the coronavirus spread because they see it as invasion of privacy or an inefficient strategy to trace infections, shows a recent Mediana survey. While 54% oppose the app, the measure enjoys the support of 38% of the respondents, whereas another 2% would support it if the rules were less strict. The survey was conducted before it was decided that the app will be completely voluntary.

Valicon poll shows pessimism growing in face of coronavirus

LJUBLJANA - People are becoming increasingly pessimistic as they come to realise that coronavirus will persist for a while, the most recent Valicon poll shows. For the first time since the pollster started gauging the people's attitude toward life in the face of coronavirus, more than half of respondents said this week that their experience was negative. "It seems that we are only now coming to terms with the fact that the virus and everything it brings with it ... was not just a short episode this spring but something more permanent," Andraž Zorko from Valicon commented on the results.

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14 Jul 2020, 04:22 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Tuesday, 14 July 2020

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:

National Hall in Trieste formally back in Slovenian minority's hands

TRIESTE/BASOVIZZA, Italy - National Hall, a Slovenian centre in the heart of Trieste, was formally handed over to the Slovenian minority in Italy. A document on its ownership transfer was signed at an event attended by the Slovenian and Italian presidents and several cabinet officials exactly 100 years after it was torched by Fascists. Slovenian President Borut Pahor labelled the move a historic event and an act that happens once in a hundred years. Italian President Sergio Mattarella added that history could not be erased and that the hardship people had experienced in this area could not be forgotten. Before the ceremony the presidents laid wreaths at two memorials in Basovizza, one to the 1930 Slovenian victims of Fascism and the other to the Italian victims of post-WWII killings. As they stood in front of the memorials, they held hands.

PM defends Srebrenica comments, says UN resolution should be amended

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša defended his statements regarding the Srebrenica genocide as the opposition Left and Social Democrats (SD) walked out of the National Assembly session over his refusal to apologise. Clarifying his position that the Srebrenica genocide would not have happened if the United Nations had condemned Communist crimes the same way they had condemned the Holocaust, Janša said that "as long as it is possible to kill with impunity in the name of one ideology and be condemned when doing it in the name of another ideology, genocides will happen in the world." "There is consensus about that in the civilised world, nobody objects to that, except in Slovenia." Even some coalition MPs said today that his comments were inappropriate.

Coronavirus contact tracing app to be voluntary for everyone

LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus contact tracing app, which Slovenia will develop using the German open source solution, will be voluntary for everyone, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik announced. The government previously sought to make installing the app mandatory for those with confirmed infections and those sent into quarantine. Koritnik pointed out that Germany had spent millions developing the app, while Slovenia will be able to localise it for a fraction of the price. The government will consult the Information Commissioner on the privacy aspects of the specifications.

Eight new coronavirus cases on Sunday, one patient in intensive care

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's coronavirus case count has increased to 1,849 after eight of the 440 tests for Sars-CoV-2 came back positive on Sunday, fresh official statistics show. One patient is in intensive care, but there were no Covid-19 related fatalities recorded yesterday. A total of 17 patients are hospitalised with Covid-19, one more than the day before. Two cases each were detected in Ljubljana, Šentjur and Murska Sobota, and one each in Hrastnik and Maribor.

STA concerned about changes planned to media legislation

LJUBLJANA - The STA editorial board expressed concern with the changes planned by the government to Slovenia's media legislation. Changes to three media-related laws would not only change the STA's funding and give the government more influence on management appointments, but also divide the public broadcaster licence fee among other media outlets. The STA's editorial board says in a statement addressing the public in Slovenia, as well as abroad, that the changes planned to the three main media-related laws are an attempt to push political interests into a field where they have no place. A call against the changes also came from the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), which wrote "independence from any third party influence is a cornerstone of the reputation of the news agency".

DeSUS calls on ministry to extend public consultation period for media reform

LJUBLJANA - The deputy group of the junior coalition Pensioners' Party called on the Culture Ministry to extend the time available for public consultation on changes to media legislation put forward by the ministry last Thursday. Instead of the seven days provided by the ministry, DeSUS is proposing the maximum 60-day period. DeSUS wrote that the extensive and far-reaching changes to the act on the STA, the act on RTV Slovenija and the media act will affect the entire media sector, which is why enough time should be given to the public to properly study the proposal and actively participate. Meanwhile, trade unions representing the workers of RTV Slovenija urged trade union confederations in the country to come out in support of the public broadcaster, which is facing cuts of over EUR 13 million as part of the media reform.

PM speaks of need depoliticise investigation bureau

LJUBLJANA - During Monday's questions time in parliament, PM Janez Janša spoke of the need to depoliticise the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), saying that the NBI "was set up as a political project carrying a great burden of corruption from the get-go". Janša was quizzed by National Party (SNS) leader Zmago Jelinčič regarding the NBI beginnings and whether the 2013 police act prevented politicisation of the bureau. Jelinčič also urged the abolition of the bureau. Janša replied that there were some 900 criminal investigators in Slovenia, out of which 70 or 80 worked at the NBI. According to him, an NBI investigator processes only one case per year on average and they themselves select the cases. "The NBI is a body that is positioned outside the system," Janša said.

Minister announces legal basis for platforms like Uber

LJUBLJANA - The Infrastructure Ministry is drawing up changes that will allow ride hailing services through a digital platform in the manner provided by US giant Uber, Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec told parliament. He expects the government will discuss the proposal in the autumn. The confirmation of what is the third attempt at adopting such legislation after 2017 and 2018 was made as Vrtovec was quizzed by the opposition Left's Miha Kordiš about his announcement to this effect made at the end of May. Kordiš said the minister was trying to bring in "one of the most shameless, exploitative corporations, known for undermining workers' rights, for unfair competition and tax evasion". Vrtovec said that mobility would be increased and that safeguards would be installed in the legislation.

SDS remains in the lead, SD closing gap on LMŠ, Delo poll shows

LJUBLJANA - The newspaper Delo's latest opinion poll shows that support for the ruling Democrats (SDS) has fallen by 0.3 percentage points to 18.5% in July over June. The opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) and SocDems placed second and third, both slightly up, with the SD continuing to close the gap. The largest opposition party was backed by 12.5% of the respondents, up 0.7 points, whereas support for the SD rose by almost two points to 11.7%. Delo says the growth trend has continued for the SD since the end of May when Tanja Fajon took over as interim leader. The opposition Left placed fourth with 6.6% (-0.5 points), followed by the coalition NSi at 4.3% (+0.8 points), the opposition SNS at 2.8% (+0.8%) and the coalition DeSUS at 2.6% (+0.3%).

Van with 20 migrants stopped at border

ŠENTJERNEJ - Police discovered twenty migrants crowded into a van driven by an Austrian citizen Saturday night. The driver was arrested and the migrants, 17 nationals of Bangladesh and three Pakistanis, were handed over to Croatian authorities. The 36-year-old driver will be charged under a section of the penal code that criminalises the smuggling of migrants. He faces from three to ten years in prison.

National school-leaving exam results good despite remote learning

LJUBLJANA - Final-year secondary school students appear to have made it through two months of remote learning ahead of the matura exam without major damage, as the national school-leaving exam was successfully passed by around 94%, only one percentage point less than in 2019. The matura exam, a crucial test determining future study possibilities, was a major challenge for the education system, since schools were closed in mid-March due to coronavirus to open for some pupils, including final graders, only in mid-May.

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13 Jul 2020, 03:51 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Monday, 13 July 2020

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Prime minister under fire over Srebrenica tweets

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša became the target of criticism in Bosnia-Herzegovina after implying on Twitter that the Srebrenica massacre would not have occurred had post-WWII summary executions been adequately condemned. Janša published a tweet on Saturday, the 25th anniversary of the massacre in Srebrenica, stating that the massacre "would not have occurred if Communist ideology had been done away with in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and post-war killings in Slovenia and elsewhere condemned." He followed up with several tweets clarifying his reasoning. Oslobođenje, a major Bosnian newspaper, wondered whether the statement was "an attempt to amnesty criminals who perpetrated one of the biggest genocides in this region", while Slobodna Bosna said it was a "morbid provocation not becoming of a statesman".

Interior minister to rethink his decision to resign

LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs said he will rethink his decision to step down, after he was urged by Prime Minister Janez Janša to reconsider. "In the next two, three days I will definitely thoroughly think about that," Hojs told TV Slovenija on Saturday evening, adding that he would in any case wait until an opposition motion to oust him is debated in parliament. Janša said on Friday he had not yet opened the envelope containing Hojs's resignation letter - which Hojs published on Twitter - arguing that Slovenia was in a situation where it "urgently needs a minister who is operational 24 hours per day".

Slovenia records 14 new coronavirus infections, hospital numbers stable

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 14 new coronavirus infections in 560 tests performed on Saturday. The number of patients in hospital remained flat at 16 and none needed intensive care. The new cases were recorded in ten municipalities across the country, two of which had not had a single recorded case before, according to Covid-19 Sledilnik, a coronavirus tracking website. Much like in previous days, the new cases were mostly among the younger populations with 3 recorded in children under four years of age and only two among those over 65.

Hidria cautious, expects end-year sales down by a fifth

IDRIJA - Industrial conglomerate Hidria, a major car industry supplier, expects end-year sales to decline by a fifth compared to 2019 due to coronavirus, CEO Iztok Seljak told the STA. He said the situation in the automotive industry, which accounts for some 70% of group sales, was very complex and coronavirus would accelerate certain processes, including the transition to highly efficient diesel and gasoline engines, hybridisation and electrification, and new sharing economy models. Seljak thinks Hidria is well placed to benefit from these trends.

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12 Jul 2020, 04:24 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, 12 July 2020

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:

Friday's tests confirm 34 new Sars-CoV-2 cases, highest number since mid-April

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 34 Sars-CoV-2 infections on Friday in what is a doubling of Thursday's figure and a record high after 16 April. There were no new deaths and the number of people in hospital, none of which in intensive care, remained 16. The high number of new cases, discovered in 1,159 tests, comes after the daily figure mostly hovered around 20 in the past two weeks, an exception being a 30 cases spike on 3 July. PM Janez Janša tweeted that Slovenia was at a crossroads and that only consistent honouring of urgent restrictions, quarantine orders and hygiene rules in all circumstances could prevent mass infections, deaths and the collapse of healthcare - as well as a repeat of the lockdown.

Janša indicates border solution with Croatia far away, labels media changes minor

OTOČEC - While saying Croatia's ignoring of the border arbitration decision was not broached on Friday with counterpart Andrej Plenković, PM Janez Janša told TV Slovenija he was a realist and that the two countries would be able to make a step forward here once Croatia has an approximate plan for solving its border issue with other neighbours. Asked whether Slovenia's consent to Croatia's entry into the ERM II mechanism meant Slovenia would not hinder its southern neighbour on this path, Janša said recent history had shown how loud shouting about how the neighbouring country would be blocked etc. never brought any benefit. Also commenting on the proposed changes to media legislation, which include a EUR 13 million cut for public broadcaster RTV Slovenija, Janša said "these are only minor changes" that "should have been done long ago".

Minority organisations express deep gratitude to Pahor, Mattarella over Trieste visit

TRIESTE, Italy - The two umbrella organisations of the Slovenian minority in Italy, the Council of Slovenian Organisations (SSO) and the Slovenian Cultural and Economic Association (SKGZ), welcomed ahead of Monday's return of the National Hall in Trieste to the minority the arrival of President Borut Pahor and Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella to the city. While being a tragic anniversary - 100 years since the home was burnt down by Fascists - Monday will also be a day "allowing us to transition from the perspective of memory to the perspective of the future", the SSO and SKGZ wrote, not joining those criticisng Pahor for also choosing to visit the Foiba of Basovizza monument to honour Italian victims of summary executions.

Foreign Ministry says atrocities like Srebrenica must not be allowed to repeat

LJUBLJANA - Srebrenica needs to stay in our memory as a warning to the international community that such atrocities must never repeat or be permitted again. Denying or relativising these tragic events is unacceptable, the Foreign Ministry wrote to mark the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. President Borut Pahor sent out a video address, in which he urged reconciliation. He history could not change, but the future could. Key for the future of Bosnia-Herzegovina is truth as opposed to denial, respect as opposed to hate, open dialogue as opposed to conflicts.

Janša insists letter to state prosecutor general was permissible and warranted

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša has rejected the claims of the State Prosecutors' Council that he was breaching state prosecutors' sovereignty and independence when protesting with the state prosecutor general about the absence of prosecution targeting anti-government protesters using the slogans and banners calling for "Death to Janšism". Janša disagrees the prosecutors' sovereignty is being encroached upon, arguing state prosecutors need to observe the general instructions on criminal prosecution policy drawn up by the body in charge of this. He is "even less so" convinced by the breach of independence claims, saying the state prosecution is not part of the judicial but of the executive branch of power.

Another mass grave discovered in Kočevski Rog

NOVO MESTO - Cavers exploring the karst caves in the Kočevski Rog woods in south-eastern Slovenia have found what appears to be another mass grave in what is an area containing the remains of several thousand people killed in summary executions after the end of World War II. The chair of the government commission for mass graves Jože Dežman wrote on Saturday that the chasm contains the remains of at least 35 people, while dozens more are expected to be exhumed. The karst chasms in Kočevski Rog contain the remains of thousands of bodies, especially those of members of the nearby Novo Mesto group of the Domobranci anti-communist home-guard who did not manage to escape abroad, Dežman said.

Railways operator to lay off 1,000 staff, CEO urges infrastructure fund

LJUBLJANA - The CEO of railways operator Slovenske Železnice sees a number of challenges ahead for the company after the coronavirus epidemic. The group plans to lay off 1,000 people this year, bringing their total number to 6,000 and is just now introducing new passenger trains into its fleet. He also says Slovenia needs a long-term infrastructure fund. Talking to the STA, Dušan Mes, who started his third term at the helm of the company this spring, said he also wanted to double the profit of the cargo arm, SŽ-Tovorni Promet with the help of a strategic partner.

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