Police, SDS at barricades over KNOVS investigation of police
LJUBLJANA - Tensions ran high after the parliamentary Commission for the Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services (KNOVS) visited the police headquarters on Tuesday over allegation police were spying on party leaders in coalition-building talks with Democrats (SDS) head Janez Janša. PM Marjan Šarec and his State Secretary Damir Črnčec, who headed both national intelligence agencies under Janša, categorically rejected the accusations as fake news propagated by the SDS. A major clash also ensued between the head of KNOVS's police visit, the SDS's Žan Mahnič, and Commissioner Police Commissioner Tatjana Bobnar. The latter denied any police spying and accused Manhič of threatening her as she refused to hand over documentation she says exceeds the jurisdiction of KNOVS. Mahnič downplayed this, while announcing the activation of another parliamentary commission to obtain the documents. Most parliamentary parties expressed concern over the allegations. They believe that the matter should be investigated and all suspicions clarified.
NGOs claim win in push for impact assessment of Krško N-plant life extension
LJUBLJANA - A group of NGOs has successfully challenged the decision of the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) that no environmental impact assessment is necessary for the 20-year life-span extension for Slovenia's sole nuclear power plant. PIC, Focus and Umanotera took ARSO's 2017 preliminary assessment decision to the Administrative Court, which leaned on a decision of the EU Court of Justice in a similar case involving a Belgian nuclear power plant. While the extension of NEK, launched in 1983, until 2043 seemed certain, ARSO will now have to conduct another preliminary assessment and later possibly also an impact assessment, which would also involved cross-border impact assessment.
Tourism and hospitality workers secure higher pay
LJUBLJANA - Representatives of tourism companies and of tourism and hospitality trade unions signed an agreement involving a two-stage increase of the lowest basic wages by a total of 10.25%. The annexe to the collective bargaining agreement for the sector envisages a 5% increase as of 1 March and 5.25% more as of 1 July, as well as a EUR 100 increase in the holiday allowance compared to 2019 to EUR 1,150. The Tourism Chamber noted that a 4% pay increase had already been agreed in 2019.
Prime timber auction fetches EUR 2 million
SLOVENJ GRADEC - The 14th annual auction of valuable timber in the northern town of Slovenj Gradec saw roughly EUR 2 million worth of logs change hands. More than half of the wood was sold abroad with the biggest buyer coming from China. Like in the previous years the sycamore maple attracted the highest bids. A 100-year old log cut in the woods below Mount Snežnik in the south of the country was sold to a German buyer for EUR 29,160 or EUR 14,414 per cubic metre, which the organizers described as an absolute record.
Slovenian companies finally can do business on Amazon Europe
LJUBLJANA - As of Wednesday, Slovenian companies are able to do business on Amazon Europe, which comes with a delay as the US tech company had to make technical adjustments to include Slovenia among supported countries, the Slovenian Ministry of Economic Development and Technology has announced. The start of operations for Slovenian companies on Amazon Europe had been announced for last year, but the ministry said that the deadline has been moved forward in order to provide better user experience.
Filmmaker Kugler to be honoured with lifetime achievement award
LJUBLJANA - Film director Ema Kugler is the winner of this year's Štiglic lifetime achievement award in film and theatre directing. She will receive the accolade given out by the Association of Slovenian Directors at an award ceremony on 27 February. The association said Kugler, whose work bridges the gap between experimental and conventionally narrated films, was a multidisciplinary artist who had worked in film as director, screenwriter, editor, set designer and costume designer, while in theatre, she had authored performances and designed sets.
