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This summary is provided by the STA: Brdo debate argues for inclusive Conference on Future of Europe
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Prime Minister Janez Janša and President Borut Pahor argued for making discussion within the Conference on the Future of Europe as inclusive as possible, as they addressed an opening debate on the topic. The same view was aired by some other participants, who advocated for pluralism in the bloc. Janša said a joint decision had been made with other guests in today's debate back in March that Slovenia as the country presiding the Council of the EU in the second half of the year would seek to add value to the conference substance-wise. The debate would be significantly affected by the EU's strategic agenda, that is green and digital transformation, he added.
Slovenian soldiers already pulled out of Afghanistan
LJUBLJANA - Following the government's decision to withdraw Slovenia's troops deployed in the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, the six Slovenian soldiers returned home via Italy, the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) said. Their return marks the end of Slovenia's mission in Afghanistan after the government decided that the withdrawal would be made in line with the time frame agreed by the allies or by the end of August at the latest. Defence Minister Matej Tonin said this was a special day as the last soldiers had returned from Afghanistan after 17 years of presence, safe and sound. Captain Jernej Alič, the commander of the last Slovenian contingent in Afghanistan, said the withdrawal was fast-paced and completely depended on the support by the Italian forces.
Top officials visit Defender Europe 2021 exercise in Poček
POSTOJNA - Prime Minister Janez Janša and Defence Minister Matej Tonin visited the main training grounds of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) in Poček to take a look at the Slovenian part of the ongoing all-European military exercise Defender Europe 2021. Joining Janša and Tonin in reviewing the exercise led by the US forces was NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Tod D. Wolters. In Slovenia, the exercise is commanded by Brigadier General Miha Škerbinc, the force commander of the SAF, and features around 2,000 SAF members, and around 600 members of the allied and partner armed forces.
Military helicopter makes emergency landing after hitting power line
BRESTANICA - A Eurocopter Tiger helicopter hit an overhead power line during the military exercise Adriatic Strike near Brestanica in the east in the morning, the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) said. The helicopter had to make an emergency landing. Nobody was injured. The accident involved the helicopter of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the allied countries taking part in the military exercise. The investigation is ongoing and electrical technicians have fixed the power line, said Jani Krošl from the SAF. While the cause of the incident has not been established yet, it is clear it happened when the helicopter was returning from the exercise, Mihael Klavžar, the head of the Defence Ministry's air accidents investigation service, said.
Logar wraps up Germany trip by meeting Bundestag representatives
BERLIN, Germany - Foreign Minister Anže Logar concluded a two-day working visit to Germany by meeting representatives of the German parliament. He presented Slovenia's EU presidency priorities and the European perspective for the Western Balkans to the president of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry said. Logar highlighted the good cooperation between the Slovenian and German parliaments. The minister also met Gunther Krichbaum, the chair of the Bundestag Committee on European Union Affairs, and Norbert Röttgen, the chair of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee.
Poklukar urges joint guidance on travel within EU
LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Janez Poklukar called for coordination of measures to form guidance for travel and crossing the borders within the EU, as he addressed a virtual informal meeting of EU health ministers. He also urged a fair global distribution of vaccines against Covid-19. Slovenia's proposal was for the travel guidance to be formed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), according to a press release issued by the ministry.
Počivalšek talks WTO reform with EU peers
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Attending a session of the EU's Trade Policy Council, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek discussed the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) with his EU counterparts. Počivalšek said that Slovenia was ready to cooperate to affirm the importance of the WTO during its EU presidency. He noted an open, fair and rule-based international trade was necessary. The minister also called for United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai's cooperation in the bilateral agenda.
Minister presents digitalisation priorities of EU presidency in Brussels
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik presented the priorities of the coming Slovenian EU presidency when it comes to digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber security. What he deems key are the AI, digital services and digital markets acts. Koritnik held a number of meetings with the EU's senior officials as part of his two-day visit. During a meeting with Executive Vice President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager, Koritnik highlighted the role of stepping up the development of a digital society in the EU, the ministry said.
MEPs offer to organise EU presidency art exhibition
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Five of Slovenia's eight MEPs addressed a letter to European Parliament President David Sassoli in search of a solution to organise a Slovenian art exhibition at the European Parliament during Slovenia's EU presidency in the second half of the year, after Slovenia recently cancelled it. The MEPs propose that the exhibition be organised by the European Parliament, or by themselves, should the parliament give them the green-light. The Koroška Gallery of Fine Arts, which had participated in the preparations for the art show, is meanwhile not in favour of Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti's idea to put it on at some other gallery in Brussels.
Almost 360 coronavirus cases reported for Wednesday, seven deaths
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia saw 358 people test positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, while the 7-day average of new cases dropped below 300, government data show. Seven patients with Covid-19 died. Hospitalisations also dropped slightly, to 363 this morning, of whom 110 are in intensive care, the same as yesterday. The 7-day average of new cases fell to 384 on Wednesday, from 417 on Tuesday. After Slovenia confirmed its first case of the Indian variant of coronavirus in a test sample taken in April, another case of the variant was confirmed, along with another case of the variant first identified in Brazil. Both are linked to travel abroad.
Trade unions liken tax reform to Trojan horse
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's trade unions came out against the government's proposal to cut the general tax allowance as a way to raise take-home pay for everyone, arguing it would cost workers dearly in the end. In the wake of a package of tax tweaks proposing to gradually raise the general tax allowance and cut personal income tax in the top bracket, representatives of the country's major trade union associations pointed to an estimated EUR 1 billion in budget shortfall as a result of the tax cuts, which they fear would impact on social rights.
Agricultural NGOs warn against trade agreement with Mercosur
LJUBLJANA - The Alliance for Agriculture, which unites a dozen Slovenian agricultural NGOs, warned against a trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur alliance, a South American trade bloc, ahead of today's meeting of EU trade ministers. The NGOs said in a letter to decisions-makers in Slovenia the deal posed a great threat to EU farming. "We urge you to protect sustainable farming," it said as it warned about the already dire state of Slovenian farming.
Drug maker Krka reports 14% decline in Q1 sales, profit up 1%
NOVO MESTO - Drug maker Krka, which had a record 2020, saw group revenue decline by 14% in the first quarter of this year to EUR 395.8 million. Net profit rose by 1% to a record EUR 86.4 million. Profit before income tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined by nearly a quarter to EUR 123.6 million, and operating profit (EBIT) was down 28% to EUR 96.3 million. CEO Jože Colarič described the Q1 performance as "successful and according to our expectations".
Sava insurance group's net profit more than doubles in Q1
LJUBLJANA - Insurance group Sava saw group net profit rise by 128% in the first quarter to EUR 23.5 million, mostly as a result of past takeovers and positive operations in all of its segments. The profit represents over 44% of the target for the year. Gross written premiums rose by 9% over the same period in 2020 to over EUR 215 million, exclusively as a result of life insurance following the takeover of NLB bank's Vita, which contributed almost EUR 27 million to the figure.
New acting director named at Financial Administration
LJUBLJANA - Ivan Simič will return to the Financial Administration as acting director as of June almost thirteen years after he finished his first stint there. The government appointed Simič in an acting role for up to six months, until a fully-fledged director is named. One of Slovenia's most prominent tax advisors, Simič currently heads the government's strategic council tasked with proposing measures to cut red tape.
Former foreign minister named Book Agency acting director
LJUBLJANA - The government has appointed long-serving former Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel the acting director of the Slovenian Book Agency. He will take over on 2 June and serve at the helm of the agency until the appointment of the new director, but not longer than until 1 December. The Government Communication Office said after appointing the 75-year-old that he boasted top-level professional, scientific and political credentials in Slovenia and internationally.
