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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:
Budgets for 2020, 2021 confirmed as govt passes major test
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly voted 49:41 last night to pass the budget acts for 2020 and 2021, in what was the first major vote for the minority government and an important test of the coalition's strength. The populist National Party (SNS) and both minority MPs provided the missing votes. The vote was on the agenda just weeks after the opposition Left walked away from an agreement that provided the government with a parliamentary majority, raising the possibility the budget bills would not be passed in time. The group representing local communities in the upper chamber of parliament said it would decide on Monday whether to propose to the National Council to veto the budgets over what it considers too low funds for municipalities. PM Marjan Šarec said he did expect a veto.
Welfare bonus for low-income earners and volunteers stays
LJUBLJANA - A special social benefit for those on welfare who are low-income earners or do voluntary work will continue to be paid out, as the National Assembly failed to override the upper chamber veto of a government proposal scraping the bonus early on Friday. The motion, which had divided the public and had been rejected by the National Council at the initiative of employer representatives with the argument it hurt vulnerable workers, got 39 votes against 20, well short of the 46 needed. The coalition itself was divided on the scrapping of the EUR 50-200 monthly bonus that the Labour Ministry claims has a destimulating effect.
Veto on rise in minimum student wage overturned
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly unanimously confirmed the minimum hourly rate for student work from EUR 4.13 to EUR 4.56 net, thus overturning a veto imposed by the National Council last month. The upper chamber opposed the rise, initiated by the opposition Left, because it had not been agreed with social partners on the Economic and Social Council, the country's main industrial relations forum. The councillors argued the rise would make student work too costly and would not only reduce the scope of such work but end it altogether. They said the impact of the rise should have been assessed first before making any such move.
VAT rate for books reduced to 5%
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed changes to the VAT act lowering the VAT rate for books and other publications from 9.5% to 5% as of 2020. The goal is to make quality texts more accessible to readers. Finance Ministry State Secretary Natalija Kovač Jereb said during the debate on Thursday it would be better to take such decisions after the EU reform of the VAT, but the government nevertheless did not oppose them. She noted the measure would reduce budget revenue by EUR 8 million annually. The planned lower VAT rate for e-publications will cut the annual revenue by another EUR 400,000.
Slovenia and Turkey hope for trade to top EUR 1bn
BRDO PRI KRANJU - The Slovenian-Turkish intergovernmental commission urged closer economic cooperation to further increase bilateral trade as it met for a session in Slovenia. The two countries expect their merchandise trade to top one billion euro if the current positive trends continue. Foreign Minister Miro Cerar and Turkish Minister for Youth and Sport Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu, who chaired the session, agreed it was a good opportunity to enhance the existing cooperation and plan cooperation in new fields, the Foreign Ministry said in a release. On the sidelines of the commission's session, Kasapoglu and Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Sport Jernej Pikalo signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in sport. An action plan on cooperation in agriculture, rural development and forestry for 2019-2021 was also signed.
Insurer Sava ups profit by a third in Jan-Sep
LJUBLJANA - Insurance group Sava reported a net profit of EUR 37.7 million for the first nine months of the year, a 29.3% year-on-year increase driven by high premium growth and improved cost-efficiency. Operating revenue was up 8.7% to EUR 427.5 million. The group wrote EUR 471.1 million in non-life premiums, up 9.5% year on year, mostly on account of 10.9% growth in gross premiums written in the non-life insurance business in Slovenia and 20.3% growth in the non-life insurance business outside Slovenia. More moderate growth figures were recorded for the reinsurance business (3.6%), life insurance outside Slovenia (7.4%) and life insurance in Slovenia (0.4%).
Boris Šuligoj of Delo wins lifetime award for journalists
LJUBLJANA - The Association of Slovenian Journalists (DNS) honoured top journalistic achievements, with Delo's veteran commentator Boris Šuligoj receiving the award for a lifetime contribution to the development of Slovenian journalism. "For him, journalism is not a profession. He has lived for journalism for more than 40 years," the award jury said as the awards ceremony in Ljubljana wrapped up Naprej/Forward!, the 8th annual media festival organised by the DNS. In a statement for the STA, Šuligoj called for reflection about the difficulties and future of journalism in Slovenia, noting journalists in the print media were particularly in great trouble.
Tax-Fin-Lex panel hears fraud in business a systemic problem
LJUBLJANA - Fraud in business was emphasises as a systemic problem in Slovenia as the legal and tax information provider Tax-Fin-Lex hosted a round-table debate. The participants agreed that awareness-raising and a mindset change were a must in order to prevent this problem, which has a wide range of causes. The panellists also pointed to problems with public procurement, too complicated regulations, auditors and courts being overburdened with dealing with white-collar crime. Yuri Sidorovich, the managing partner and forensic leader for Deloitte's Adriatic region, said Slovenia had a huge problem with fraud and white-collar crime.
Parliament amends public procurement legislation
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed amendments to provide effective legal remedy against infringements in public contracting procedures, speed up procedures and improve the independence of the National Review Commission. The amendments make it possible to challenge decisions taken by the National Review Commission at the Administrative Court, and introduce priority handling of projects valued at more than EUR 10 million. It will be possible to submit a lawsuit against the National Review Commission's decision to the Administrative Court within 30 days after the decision is served.
Lower house overrides veto on bail-in recourse bill
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly overrode the upper chamber's veto against a bill that will allow the holders of subordinated bank liabilities wiped out in the 2013 bank bailout to sue for damages. However, the law will not be implemented just yet as the central bank is planning to challenge it at the Constitutional Court. The government-sponsored bill, passed in a 47:41 vote on Friday, provides legal recourse for up to 100,000 individuals, both shareholders and holders of junior bonds erased in 2013. Potential damages could run from zero to EUR 963 million, which was the amount of qualified liabilities erased at nationalised banks in 2013 and 2014, plus related amounts.
Slovenian Voyager engineer dies
LJUBLJANA - Anton Mavretič, a Slovenian-born scientist who worked on a key instrument that continues to travel through space aboard the Voyager space probes, has died aged 84, the Slovenian World Congress said. As a NASA contractor, Mavretič developed the electronics for the plasma spectrometer. Considered one of the most important instruments humans have ever sent into space, the plasma spectrometer has provided crucial insights into deep space and continues to operate on the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space probes, which were launched in 1977 and are now in interstellar space.
Constitutional Court judge again the most respected jurist
LJUBLJANA - Klemen Jaklič, a Constitutional Court judge best known for scathing dissenting opinions, was named the most respected jurist in Slovenia by the users of Tax-Fin-Lex, Slovenia's biggest portal for legal and financial information. The 44-year-old judge, whose nine-year term started in March 2017, won the recognition for the third year running by securing almost 90% of the online vote. Constitutional law expert Andraž Teršek and Supreme Court judge Erik Kerševan were also shortlisted for the accolade.
Slovenian trains to get wireless internet by year's end
LJUBLJANA - National railway operator Slovenske Železnice announced that wireless internet access would be enabled in a total of 29 of its Siemens Desiro and Pendolino trains by the end of November, and in another three by the end of the year. Signals from the telcos Telekom Slovenije and A1 Slovenija will be used to ensure the best possible coverage and connection speed. The process of upgrading the company's services with wireless internet will continue next year, when Slovenske Železnice is expected to introduce new passenger trains manufactured by Swiss company Stadler Rail.
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