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This summary is provided by the STA:
Pahor points to Covid-19, climate change and security in UN address
NEW YORK, US - President Borut Pahor addressed the general debate at the 76th UN General Assembly session, saying that "all challenges we face, are global" and that solutions to them could be found only in working together. He thus welcomed the intention of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to hold a wide debate about common future, saying people needed to "engage in meaningful discussion and dialogue ... even with those we do not agree with". Pahor focussed his address on the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and peace and security.
EU ministers in charge of consumer protection discuss package holidays
BRDO PRI KRANJU - EU ministers in charge of consumer protection holding an informal session in Brdo pri Kranju agreed that the EU legislation on package holidays needs to be reviewed, as Covid-19 has shown that it is not suitable for extreme situations such as the pandemic, said the host, Slovenia's Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek. It is becoming clear the package travel directive could be improved, said European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, who is also in charge of consumer protection. He said the Commission would first thoroughly review the existing legislation and then decide whether a new legislative motion was needed.
Commissioner Jourova urges "swift solution" to STA funding
BRUSSELS, Belgium - European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova called for a "swift solution to fund the STA that would fully preserve its independence" in a letter addressed to Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti. She says independent media are crucial for democracies and the Commission supports the important role of independent news agencies to guarantee media freedom and media pluralism across the EU. It is therefore important for member states to "refrain from any attempts to put direct or indirect pressure on media", including by withholding the necessary financing.
Reynders awaiting court decision before taking action on EU delegated prosecutors
BRDO PRI KRANJU - European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said that before taking action regarding Slovenia's non-appointment of its two EU delegated prosecutors, the European Commission was awaiting a decision of a Slovenian administrative court on the suit filed by the two rejected prosecutors. Tanja Frank Eler and Matej Oštir appealed at a Ljubljana administrative court after the government annulled in May the appointment procedure and started a new one. Reynders said he expected the court's decision in two weeks. "We'll see if the development is positive. The pressure is enormous," he said after a session of EU ministers in charge of consumer protection.
Janša critical of preparedness for Covid-19 before govt took over
LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša appeared before the parliamentary inquiry commission dealing with the government's response to the Covid-19 epidemic. He was critical in his testimony of the preparedness of the public health authorities and noted the systemic problems in elderly care inherited by his government, reiterating criticism of the previous government repeatedly voiced by senior government officials. He also defended rule-by-decree, arguing that the majority of European countries had transferred the powers of taking measures related to Covid-19 from parliaments to government.
Security, migrations top talks between Slovenian, Czech interior ministers
LJUBLJANA - The current migration situation topped the agenda of a two-day visit by Czech Interior Minister Jan Hamaček, as part of which he and Slovenian Interior Minister Aleš Hojs toured the Slovenian Schengen border and met with Slovenian and Czech police officers who conduct joint patrols. The ministers agreed on the need to prevent sudden mass migrations into the EU and pressure on the EU's external borders. "This can only be done with the necessary preparedness, while we also need to be cautious about making statements that could encourage additional illegal migration," Hojs was quoted as saying.
Ministry purchases another 37 Oshkosh four-wheeled vehicles
LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry signed on 14 September a EUR 33 million deal with the US government on the purchase of another 37 Oshkosh four-wheeled vehicles to be delivered in 2023 and 2024. The deal envisages the purchase of 37 Oshkosh four-wheeled vehicles, 36 weapon stations M153, documents, special tools, maintenance devices and spare parts, technical support and other equipment. It comes after 38 Oshkosh four-wheeled vehicles were delivered to Slovenia in the spring, while in line with changes to the tactical study of a medium infantry battalion group of the Slovenian Armed Forces, another 62 vehicles could be bought in the future.
Slovenia gets maritime spatial plan as first east Med country
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has become the first EU country in eastern Mediterranean to have adopted a maritime spatial plan, a document mandated under an EU directive that introduces comprehensive strategic planning for sustainable development of activities on and along the sea. The document, adopted by the government in mid-July, was presented at a virtual conference. It provides guidance on how to preserve a balance between protecting the sea and the need for economic growth, both at sea, which is owned by the state, and the inshore belt, giving guidelines to local communities on how to define the belt in their local spatial plans.
Covid pass mandate slightly relaxed
LJUBLJANA - The Covid pass mandate was relaxed with the requirement waived for those working from home and those filling up their cars as long as they do not enter the interior of petrol stations. This is under a government decree adopted late on Thursday that comes after sharp criticism of the Covid pass mandate for those working from home, in particular the self-employed. The mandate remains in place for the vast majority of services and all other workplace settings.
Coronavirus infection rate keeps receding
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's daily coronavirus count has declined week-on-week for the fourth straight day as 941 new infections were confirmed on Thursday, down almost 18% from the same day a week ago. The cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents was down by three to 645. Data from the tracker site covid-19.sledilnik.org shows hospitalisations topped 400, including 104 in intensive care. Five patients died.
Minister says recovered-vaccinated rule could be expanded
LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Janez Poklular said the government would expand the recovered-vaccinated rule to all citizens if the epidemiological situation continues to deteriorate. In line with the proposal, the recovered-vaccinated (PC) rule, meaning omission of testing, would be introduced when two-thirds of ICU beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients. This is about 150 beds. Government data shows 104 Covid patients were in intensive care this morning. The announcement comes a week after the government decided to impose the PC rule for civil servants as of October.
Slovenia Business Bridge discusses investment opportunities
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenia Business Bridge conference discussed investment opportunities in Slovenia, where the need for partnership between the public and private was emphasised. Investments in human resources are also a must as they need to keep up with the constant development in technology and science. The investment and development conference, hosted by AmCham Slovenia, focused on day two on Slovenia's position in biomedicine and biotechnology and Slovenia's creativity to achieve primacy in technological trends.
FlyDubai launches flights between Ljubljana and Dubai
BRNIK - Budget carrier FlyDubai launched scheduled flights between Ljubljana and Dubai in what is a culmination of ten-year efforts by the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport to get a direct link with Dubai. FlyDubai will operate three flights a week to offer the first direct flight connection between Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates. FlyDubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said that because of the Expo Dubai now was a good time to set up new connections. The new route is also seen as important for connectivity with Asia and Oceania.
Youth protesters warning against burning coal, unsustainable traffic
LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR ... - Rallies demanding action on climate change were held in at least five towns around Slovenia, with the organisers, the Youth for Climate Justice, this time highlighting the issues of burning coal and unsustainable traffic. They sent their top three demands to national and local decision-makers: the want the authorities to finally acknowledge the climate crisis and start actively solving it; demand that Slovenia stop burning coal by 2030; and they also called for efficient and accessible sustainable mobility.
Tourism reports solid figures for August
LJUBLJANA - Tourism accommodation facilities in Slovenia recorded more than a million arrivals in August as visitors spent almost three million nights there, which is 2% more than in the bumper year of 2019, the Statistics Office said. While the number of domestic guests declined by 15%, foreign tourists generated almost 584,700 arrivals, twice as many as in the same month a year ago.
Deficit for 2020 narrower than originally assessed
LJUBLJANA - The Statistics Office corrected the assessment of Slovenia's general government deficit for last year, downgrading it by EUR 250 million compared to the previous assessment to EUR 3.618 billion or 7.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP). This is a correction from the assessment from the end of March of EUR 3.87 billion or 8.4% of GDP for the deficit generated in 2020.
Business sentiment declines in September
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's business sentiment deteriorated in September after a period of improvement, with the indicator now at 4.7 percentage points, down 1.8 points from August. However, it is still up by 8.5 percentage points at the annual level, the Statistics Office said. At the monthly level, a decline was recorded in the consumer confidence sub-indicators in manufacturing and retail, while an improvement was seen in construction and services.
Primary school teacher sacked over Covid non-compliance
MARIBOR - - A teacher from a primary school in Maribor opposing the recovered-vaccinated-tested (PCT) rule and campaigning against Covid measures has been fired, media reported. The France Rozman - Stane Primary School urged the teacher to get tested for Covid-19 twice and since she did not comply, she was banned from conducting her work and subsequently fired. Firing staff over non compliance with the PCT rule is possible under a government decision adopted at the end of summer.
