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This summary is provided by the STA:
Ban on travel outside of home municipality lifted
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian residents were again free to travel to places other than their own municipality of residence after the government lifted a ban put in place a month ago to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The restriction confining people to their home municipality except to go to work, seek emergency services or offer assistance to relatives was introduced a month ago to stop the spread of coronavirus epidemic around the country and has been one of the most unpopular government measures. It was relaxed once already to allow people to do seasonal and maintenance work on property outside their home municipality, and now it has been removed from the general lockdown decree issued by the government. Opposition parties welcomed the easing but at the same time expressed doubt as to whether it was based on expert advice and data.
Nursing homes open to visitors again
LJUBLJANA - Nursing homes, hotspots of the coronavirus epidemic, received permission from the government to open to visitors again subject to strict protective measures. Janez Cigler Kralj, the minister in charge of social affairs, said the government was guided by good epidemic figures and the stress the elderly are subjected to without visitors. Nursing homes said they would start admitting visitors next week. visitors will have to make an appointment in advance, and upon entering the retirement home, give a statement that they have been in good health over the past two weeks and that they have not been in contact with an infected person.
Lenarčič: Commission does not have masks stashed away in basement
BRUSSELS, Belgium - European Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič rejected criticism from Slovenia that he failed to provide protective equipment to his home country. "The European Commission doesn't have masks or any other protective equipment. We don't have a secret storage in the basement of Berlaymont to keep a stockpile of protective masks, gloves or suits," Lenarčič said in an interview with Brussels correspondents. The situation is changing somewhat with the establishment of European strategic stockpiles, but only based on the experience that the civil protection mechanism has not been enough in the coronavirus crisis, something that no one knew in advance.
Pahor meets Visegrad Group ambassadors
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor discussed Slovenia's cooperation with the group, the Covid-19 pandemic and the EU's future as he received the ambassadors of the Visegrad Group accredited to Slovenia. Pahor, who described Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland as Slovenia's "natural allies", stressed Slovenia was part of the core EU countries but would in these times like to see more French-German cooperation. As for Visegrad, he said "the fact that we do not see eye to eye on everything does not mean we do not advocate the same goal - a stronger and more closely united EU which should not witness new divisions between its west and east."
Pahor and Honey mark Slovenia-UK Friendship Day
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and UK Ambassador to Slovenia Sophie Honey pointed to the role of cooperation in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic as they marked Slovenia-UK Friendship Day. Pahor stressed that Slovenian-UK friendship is based on courage and humanity, which enables the two countries to build confident and multi-faceted relations, as he hosted the ambassador for a special ceremony at the Presidential Palace. He said the relations had been developing all along, but particularly intensively after Slovenia gained independence and joined the EU and NATO.
Path cleared for immediate promulgation of stimulus laws
LJUBLJANA - Economic stimulus measures that the National Assembly passed earlier this week may be promulgated immediately after MPs on Thursday confirmed a government motion shielding the laws from referendum. The move is in line with amendments to the act governing referenda that were passed in a cross-partisan vote on 7 April and effectively prevent referendums on emergency measures adopted for reasons of defence and security, and to mitigate consequences of natural disasters. This means that such laws no longer have to be on hold for seven days before they may be promulgated by the president of the republic, a window in which legislation is normally open to potential referendum challenges.
Wednesday's tests confirm 11 new Covid-19 cases, death toll up by two to 91
LJUBLJANA - The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Slovenia increased to 1,429 on Wednesday, as 11 more people tested positive. Two persons died, bringing the total death toll in the country to 91, the government said. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals decreased by 12 more to 63, of whom 22 were in intensive care, three fewer than on Tuesday. More than 52,000 tests have been performed in Slovenia so far. The testing also included 1,291 samples taken in the random testing campaign which was launched on 20 April and whose results are to be presented after the holiday.
Slovenia's debt to rise above 80% of GDP this year
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's general government debt is estimated to rise to 82.4% by the end of the year from 66.1% in 2019, according to reports that the government will submit to the EU. The figure was revealed as the government adopted on Thursday the Stability Programme and the National Reform Programme, annual documents that eurozone members are required to present under a set of rules known as the European Semester. The government says that both documents focus on action that Slovenia is taking to combat the coronavirus epidemic and have been prepared in a period of great uncertainty.
Calls for keeping stores closed Sundays backed by PM
LJUBLJANA - It seems increasingly likely that the closure of stores, including groceries, on Sundays as a result of the coronavirus epidemic will become a permanent arrangement after the crisis. A legislative initiative to this effect, announced by the opposition Left, was backed by PM Janez Janša. In announcing the legislative proposal, the Left joined the Trade Union of Retail, which argued ahead of Labour Day in favour of keeping stores closed on Sundays and bank holidays also after the epidemic. The Left pointed out that voters had already decided in a referendum in 2003 that stores should be closed on Sundays but were ignored later under pressure from retailers.
Employers seek state aid for more than 321,000 workers
LJUBLJANA - The Employment Service received until yesterday almost 36,550 applications for more than 321,000 workers under the legislation providing state aid for wages and social security contributions for idled or quarantined workers amid the coronavirus epidemic. As many as 31,000 applications have already been resolved and decisions on state aid sent to over 25,600 employers. The first payments will be made on 11 May and then on 10 June.
Government members of Economic and Social Council appointed
LJUBLJANA - The government appointed its members of the Economic and Social Council (ESS), a forum on which the government, trade unions and employers discuss labour legislation. It also decided the ESS will be headed by Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj. Apart from Cigler Kralj, the government's ESS members are Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik, Education Minister Simona Kustec and their state secretaries.
Anti-money laundering office gets new boss
LJUBLJANA - Ivan Kopina has been appointed the acting director of the Office for the Prevention of Money Laundering. He will take over on 1 May from Branka Glojnarič, whom the government relieved of her duties. Kopina was appointed at today's correspondence session until a new director is appointed, but for no more than six months, the Government Communication Office said.
Athletes returning to training, competition ban to be lifted for non-contact sports
LJUBLJANA - Education and Sports Minister Simona Kustec has announced Slovenian athletes will be able to start training again next week, while the government is also lifting most of the restrictions pertaining to competitions in non-contact sports. "Competitions in individual sports will be allowed, but without spectators," the minister said on Wednesday. Government representatives suggested practice sessions in groups sports would only be allowed in individual format or in a group manner if teams secluded themselves.
Emergency aid approved for agriculture
LJUBLJANA - The government issued several decree to help agriculture cope with the loss of income resulting from the coronavirus epidemic, allocating around EUR 12 million in emergency aid to various farming sectors. Over EUR 5 million was allocated for wine producers, EUR 3.3 million for cattle farmers, EUR 2.2 million for tourist farms and EUR 1.4 million for the forestry sector.
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