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This summary is provided by the STA:
EU inaction in Western Balkans "strategically dangerous", FM Logar says
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU should move "as soon as possible" from a wait-and-see approach to a problem-solving strategy in dealing with the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, Slovenian FM Anže Logar told the Euractiv news portal in an interview in which he discussed the priorities for Slovenia's upcoming EU presidency. He said that in recent years, the EU had not been "too active in the region vis a vis reform stalemate" and that enlargement "has fallen off the EU's agenda" in the past decade.
Austrian parliament speaker visits Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - Wolfgang Sobotka, the speaker of the Austrian parliament, paid an official visit to Slovenia to meet his counterpart Igor Zorčič, Prime Minister Janez Janša and President Borut Pahor. The focus of the talks was on the EU and its enlargement to the Western Balkans, and bilateral relations, including minority issues. They officials exchanged views on topical political issues in the EU and the priorities of the Slovenian EU presidency, mainly the Western Balkans' prospects to join the EU and NATO.
Metsola discusses parliamentary aspect of EU presidency
LJUBLJANA - First Vice-President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola met representatives of both houses of Slovenia's parliament to discuss the parliamentary aspect of Slovenia's presidency of the Council of the EU. Metsola said the priorities of the Slovenian presidency were similar to the priorities of the European Parliament, be it the enlargement to the Western Balkans, cyber security or migrations. The Maltese politician met Marko Pogačnik, the chair of the National Assembly's EU Affairs Committee, National Assembly Speaker Igor Zorčič and Prime Minister Janez Janša.
Bilateral ties and EU presidency in focus as Logar visits Bavaria
LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar met Bavarian State Minister for European and International Affairs Melanie Huml in Munich for discussions that focused on the efforts to deepen political and trade relations between Bavaria and Slovenia and the challenges of the Slovenian presidency of the Council of the EU. The ministers also took part in the closing part of the 32nd session of the standing bilateral Bavaria-Slovenia commission, which agreed a number of projects of bilateral cooperation.
Hojs attends EU-US justice and home affairs ministerial
LISBON, Portugal - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs took part in a meeting of EU and US ministers in charge of justice and home affairs in Lisbon which discussed cooperation in the combat against terrorism and cybercrime, as well as migration, among other issues. Hojs attended the meeting on behalf of Slovenia as the next president of the Council of the EU. One of the officials representing the US was Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, whom Hojs invited to visit Slovenia during its presidency.
Govt adopts measures to boost vaccination
LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a set of measures to scale up vaccination by making it more accessible and increase the country's immunisation rate at a correspondence session on Monday, including tasking the Health Ministry with immediately organising a large number of mobile vaccination units. The ministry was also tasked with instructing vaccination centres to provide enough time slots for vaccination without a prior appointment to all those who are interested in getting a jab and with whichever vaccine they want.
65 new coronavirus infections on Monday, one death
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 65 new coronavirus cases for Monday in what continues to be a significant week-on-week decrease. A single Covid-19 patient died, show fresh official data. The seven-day average of new daily cases fell from 76 to 69 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents dropped by seven to 66. Hospitalisations also decreased. According to data by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), there are currently some 1,400 active cases in the country.
Archbishop Zore says Slovenia has all but attained its goals
LJUBLJANA - Stanislav Zore, the archbishop of Ljubljana, looked back upon the path walked since Slovenia declared independence 30 years ago, finding the nation had largely attained its goals. "We may not be there yet in all segments of society and all subsystems, but those who know the workings of the old system from up close, know what path we have walked," Zore said in his homily. The Mass was attended by Slovenia's most senior officials and members of the diplomatic corps as well as the visiting president of the Austrian parliament Wolfgang Sobotka.
Opposition MPs on politics and the 30th anniversary ceremony
LJUBLJANA - The leaders of the opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Social Democrats (SD), Left and Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) were critical of the current government in an interview with RTV Slovenija on Monday, regretting that Slovenia is so divided as the 30th anniversary of independence approaches. They also commented on the ceremony to be held on Friday with only the leaders of the SD and SAB planning to attend it.
Strategic Council presents first 40 measures for digital decade
LJUBLJANA - The Strategic Council for Digitalisation presented the first package of measures promoting digitalisation, which the government endorsed at its last week's session. "These are 40 solutions for the fourth decade of the Slovenian state, which will undoubtedly be a digital one," said the council's head Mark Boris Andrijanič. The Council, set up in April, has included solutions for the digitalisation of public administration, healthcare, education and economy into the first package.
Govt appoints state secretaries at Justice Ministry
LJUBLJANA - The government appointed Zlatko Ratej and Anže Erbežnik state secretaries at the Justice Ministry. In line with the decision adopted at Monday's session, Ratej is staying on as he already held this post under the previous justice minister with his term starting today, whereas Erbežnik is a newly-appointed state secretary, whose term will start on 1 July.
Power group HSE posted net loss of EUR 184 million in 2020
LJUBLJANA - The state-owned power group HSE posted a net loss of EUR 184.1 million last year after reporting EUR 29.7 million in net profit in 2019. The Šoštanj coal-fired power plant (TEŠ) alone generated EUR 280.4 million in net loss. Meanwhile, the group's sales revenue was record high, at EUR 1.8 billion. Investments by Slovenia's largest electricity producer totalled EUR 42.8 million, up 4.5% from the year before.
DNS launches platform for reporting attacks on journalists
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Journalist Association (DNS) launched a platform for reporting attacks on journalists that will keep track and monitor such attacks as well as raise awareness about the issue. The platform will record reports of physical as well as verbal attacks and threats, the DNS said, noting that the idea for the platform had emerged due to the increasingly hostile environment in which journalists work.
Web platform launched to boost political responsibility
LJUBLJANA - The centre for investigative journalism in the Adriatic region Oštro and the institute Danes Je Nov Dan (Today Is a New Day) launched on Monday a web platform where a list of promises made by politicians will be published as a reminder to them that they have a responsibility towards citizens. The platform Obljuba Dela Dolg (A Promise Made Is a Debt Unpaid) will aim to increase political responsibility and strengthen trust in politicians, thus encouraging participation in political processes, the institute behind the project said.
Survey shows rise in child obesity during epidemic
LJUBLJANA - The latest measurements of school children's fitness show the Covid epidemic has severely impaired school children's physical efficiency, making 10% addicted to digital devices, and increasing the share of overweight kids by 30%. Revealing the results, experts from the Ljubljana Faculty of Sport proposed several measures to address the issues, such as no more school closures and possibly no homework.
Slovenian women's basketball team knocked out of EuroBasket
STRASBOURG, France - The Slovenian women's basketball team was knocked out of the 2021 EuroBasket Women on Monday evening with a defeat against Russia (93:75) in the quarter-finals qualification. The Slovenian team will have another chance to improve on their achievements in two years' time on home court, as the 39th European Women Basketball Championship will be held in Slovenia.
