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A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here
This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia likely to introduce preferential vote
LJUBLJANA - After another meeting of parliamentary parties on electoral law changes, it seems that Slovenia will be introducing a preferential vote system. Public Administration Minister Rudi Medved said after the meeting that the proposal enjoyed sufficient support to be passed in parliament, with the SocDems coming on board for the change. This comes after several meetings hosted, like the one today, by President Borut Pahor after the Constitutional Court decided earlier this year that electoral district borders had changed through the years to a degree that no longer guaranteed the one person-one vote principle.
Slovenia commended for progress in human rights protection
GENEVA, Switzerland - Slovenia presented the progress it made in human rights protection in the past five years at the third round meeting of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). The member states praised Slovenia for meeting almost all of suggested targets given to the country during the previous review round - 138 out of 142. Highligted was progress in strengthening national institutions for human rights protection, in particular the offices of the human rights ombudsman and equal opportunities ombudsman, as well as the adoption national action plans for protection of women, peace and security as well as human rights in the economy.
Pipistrel wants to buy Adria's pilot training school as five bids are submitted
AJDOVŠČINA - The ultralight electric aircraft maker Pipistrel confirmed that it had submitted a bid for the Adria Airways flight school, which is part of the bankruptcy estate of the former flag carrier. Pipistrel is bidding for the school as a whole, including all its assets, brand and licence. A day after the call for bids for Adria assets closed, receiver Janez Pustatičnik announced that five bids came in, with the media reporting that bids had also been submitted by Joc Pečečnik, who owns a gaming products maker, and produce importer and real estate developer Izet Rastoder. The former is interested in the entire estate, while the latter is bidding for the carrier's air operator's certificate (AOC).
Erjavec says Macron's NATO brain death comment unhelpful
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defence Minister Karl Erjavec said after a meeting with his EU counterparts that the recent statement by French President Emmanuel Macron about NATO being brain dead was not helpful. The defence ministers shared the view that cooperation between the EU and NATO had never been as good, and Erjavec said that there was a clear emphasis today that NATO needed to be nurtured and strengthened. When asked about the impact of Macron's statement, Erjavec said that the ministers were happy with French Defence Minister Florence Parly expressing support for transatlantic cooperation and pointing to a number of shared challenges.
Civil society turns to OECD over hydraulic fracturing in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - Several civil initiatives turned to the OECD over the plans of the British oil and gas exploration company Ascent Resources for hydraulic fracturing in eastern Slovenia. The move comes after the company announced it would demand massive damages from Slovenia for delays in obtaining a permit for the controversial gas extraction project. The civil initiatives and organisations filed a complaint with the Slovenian and British national contact points for the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises, demanding that Ascent Resources fully adhere to the guidelines.
Slovenia to join another PESCO defence project
BRUSSELS, Belgium - An additional 13 projects have been confirmed as part of the Permanent Structured Cooperation on Security and Defence (PESCO), including a project in which Slovenia will participate, as the EU defence ministers met in Brussels Slovenia has so far been participating in three projects as part of the partnership involving all EU member states except the UK, Denmark and Malta, and has been present in another five as observer. Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Austria signed a programme agreement for a project in nuclear, chemical, radiological and biological oversight as a service which will be operated by Austria. Defence Minister Karl Erjavec said that the project was about drones supplying data on the situation on the ground, adding that Slovenian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could participate, and could be joined by research institutes in what is an excellent opportunity.
Velenje protests as Gorenje moves HQ to Ljubljana
VELENJE - The mayor of Velenje has appealed to Prime Minister Marjan Šarec to prevent the head office of the household appliances maker Gorenje being moved to Ljubljana as planned by its new Chinese owners. Mayor Bojan Kontič sees the plans, announced by Gorenje in late October, as yet another step to centralisation, which he says is one of Slovenia's key problems. The mayor's letter of protest was forwarded to Chinese Ambassador to Slovenia Wang Shunqing, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Boštjan Gorjup and the media. In a responbse, Gorenje said that calls on the prime minister to interfere in business decisions of a fully privately-owned company were unjustified and illegitimate.
Slovenian logistics forging business ties in South Korea
SEOUL, South Korea - A delegation of 18 Slovenian companies active in maritime, transport and logistics have been visiting South Korea's capital since Monday for a series of meetings with prospective business partners. The visit is being organised by the transport section of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) and the SPIRIT agency for promotion of entrepreneurship and investment. The GZS said the Slovenian delegation is meeting Korean shipping and logistics companies, forwarding agents, port community companies, industrial companies, export and import companies and traders interested in Slovenian transport and logistic services.
Conviction of ex-bankers overturned
MARIBOR - The Maribor Higher Court has overturned the January conviction of two executives of the now defunct bank Probanka, who had been found guilty of fraud, quoting serious violations of procedure. Romana Pajenk, CEO of Probanka until September 2012, and Milana Lah, a member of her board, had received suspended sentences of 23 months with a four-year probation for defrauding two businessmen at the height of the economic and financial crisis. The case will now go into retrial.
Slovenian tourism: New records, old challenges
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian tourism is in for another record year in terms of arrivals and nights by foreign tourists, even if growth rates are slowing down in Slovenia and globally. And while some goals from the 2017-2021 national tourism strategy have already been achieved, there is still a lot to be done in terms of revenue and company restructuring. Arrivals and nights by foreign tourists grew this year until August, by 7.1% and 3.5%, respectively, and revenue from foreign tourists rose by 3% to EUR 1.9 billion until the end of August, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said at the Days of Slovenian Tourism, the main tourism industry event in the country.
Ljubljana hosting Creative Forum
LJUBLJANA - The 2nd Creative Forum Ljubljana got under way, bringing together 200 participants from 20 countries in an effort to promote creative economy. The forum will focus on the Western Balkans and the Southern Mediterranean. The forum, running until Friday, is hosted by the Foreign Ministry, the Union for the Mediterranean, and GIZ, the German Agency for International Cooperation. It will feature representatives of creative hubs, entrepreneurs, civil society, international institutions and local organisations as well as high representatives of EU institutions and ministries from both regions.
Planica Nordic Centre gets award for sports architecture
LJUBLJANA - The designers of the Planica Nordic Centre in north-eastern Slovenia has received a gold medal for an architectural achievement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS). The Nordic skiing complex with one ski flying hill, seven ski jumping hills and a cross-country skiing track is one of the seven recipients of the gold medals among a total of 98 competing projects.
What speaks of the success of the Planica Nordic Centre is that the award for an architectural achievement in the past went to the likes of Beijing National Stadium, also called The Bird's Nest, and National Stadium in Singapore.
Actor Vlado Novak honoured with Bert for lifetime achievements
LJUBLJANA - Theatre and film actor Vlado Novak has been honoured by the Slovenian Directors' Guild with the Bert award for lifetime achievements in film and in theatre. The jury praised him as an actor par excellence, and an indispensable figure of Slovenian cinema. Novak, 67, has starred in more than 60 films, which is a lot by Slovenian standards, yet much less than over 120 roles he has played in theatre. In 2014, Novak was honoured with the Borštnik Ring, the highest award for theatre acting given out by Slovenian theatre professionals.
Off road, Roglič honoured with yet another trophy
LJUBLJANA - After winning a series of cycling trophies, Slovenia's rider Primož Roglič has now also been honoured by the Slovenian tourism community for his contribution to Slovenia's promotion worldwide. At the annual Days of Slovenian Tourism, Roglič won the Crystal Triglav as the person who made the biggest contribution to Slovenia's international recognisability in the past year. Roglič, a Jumbo-Visma rider, clinched a series of key victories this year, including at the Vuelta, Tour de Romandie, the premiere UAE Tour and the Tirreno-Adriatico race, finishing third at the Giro d'Italia.
Slovenian culinary scene to get Michelin Guide
LJUBLJANA - The first Slovenian Michelin reference guide for restaurants will be published in March next year. Maja Pak, the head of the Slovenian Tourism Board (STO), told the press the guide will strengthen the position of Slovenia as a culinary destination for high-end guests. According to Michelin sales and marketing director Romain Perrier, the guide's food critics have been assessing restaurants in Slovenia for the past year. The tourist board will invest EUR 425,000 per year in the next two years into promotion and development activities in cooperation with Michelin. A year ago, another renowned culinary guide, Gault & Millau, entered the Slovenian culinary scene.
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