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This summary is provided by the STA:
Most Covid containment measures lifted
LJUBLJANA - Virtually all Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Slovenia today except for the wearing of masks and hand sanitising indoors. Proof of recovery, vaccination or negative test (PCT) will only be required in hospitals, care homes and prisons. Under decisions taken by the government on Saturday, there are no more caps on gatherings or numbers allowed inside shops, hospitality or other services establishments, and no restrictions to opening hours.
Govt approves SSH capital increase to exercise pre-emptive right in Sava sale
LJUBLJANA/LENDAVA - The government decided in a correspondence meeting to increase the capital of Slovenia's custodian of state assets, the Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH), by a sum that will allow it to exercise its pre-emptive right to purchase private fund York's share in Slovenian tourism company Sava. The SSH is expected to endorse this course of action on Friday, and the KAD fund already announced it will go down this route as well. The centre-left opposition and Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek welcomed the government's decision, but the former remained sceptical.
Janša, Orban see minorities as a bridge for cooperation
LENDAVA - Slovenian and Hungarian PMs Janez Janša and Viktor Orban stressed as they signed an agreement on cooperation to develop the border areas populated by the countries' respective minorities in Lendava that the minorities were a "bridge for cooperation between two friendly countries" and economic ties between them brought double benefit. In the next five years, EUR 5 million will be allocated under the agreement for the development of the minorities on both sides of the border.
MPs vote to ban referendum on OCCAR deal
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly voted 43 to 30 to endorse the government proposal not to allow a referendum on a law ratifying the agreement with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). The opposition Left, which initiated the referendum bid, is now planning to appeal to the Constitutional Court. The debate saw the coalition and the centre-left opposition disagree over whether the agreement was an international treaty or not, and hence may not be subjected to referendum or may be.
FM Logar remains optimistic over Ukraine talks
BRUSSELS, Belgium - FM Anže Logar said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers that even though there were no positive developments regarding the Ukraine crisis, some talks had been announced. He remains optimistic that diplomatic reason will prevail in the end, pointing out that the planned sanctions would drastically cut into Russia's economy. The EU, first and foremost, still sees dialogue as the only right way to resolve the security threats that have emerged, the minister noted, adding the West would always support Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
EU ministers talk transition to sustainable food systems
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Agriculture Ministry State Secretary Aleš Irgolič discussed views on efforts to improve coordination between EU policies and initiatives for the transition to sustainable food systems as he took part in a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Brussels. Slovenia agrees that better coordination is necessary for the transition, the ministry said. The country believes that to move towards sustainable food systems, the EU must continue to set high standards in various areas.
Just over 2,000 coronavirus cases on Sunday
LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia keeps receding with 2,008 new cases recorded on Sunday, roughly 45% fewer than a week ago. Hospitalisations increased somewhat with 526 patients treated for Covid-19 as their main condition is hospitals, including 103 in intensive care. For the second day running, the government reported 19 deaths among patients who had contracted Covid, which brings the death toll since the start of the pandemic almost two years ago to 6,712.
Janša cleared over Mauritius meetings
LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption cleared Prime Minister Janez Janša over his socialising with a well-known lobbyist and a businessman while holidaying on the island of Mauritius when he was still an opposition leader. The commission closed the case after it had found no breach of anti-graft legislation in Janša's socialising with lobbyist Božo Dimnik and businessman Andrej Marčič. Nor did it establish violations in public contracting in the case of Marčič's IT company.
Jože Hebar appointed full-fledged chairman of Elektro Maribor
MARIBOR - The supervisory board of the electricity distributor Elektro Maribor appointed acting chairman Jože Hebar for a full-fledged term at an emergency meeting. Hebar will be given the opportunity to lead the company into a green and energy-efficient future, the board said. Hebar was appointed acting chairman at Elektro Maribor in November after the dismissal of Boris Sovič, who had led the company for nine years.
Survey: Companies little informed about whistleblower protection rules
LJUBLJANA - A survey by EY Slovenija shows that Slovenian companies are not sufficiently acquainted with the demands of the new EU regulation on legal protection of whistleblowers and are not ready for its implementation. The regulation came into force in December 2021, but is yet to be made into law in Slovenia. The survey found only 42% of companies employing more than 250 people are fully prepared to put new rules into practice and one in four companies is not ready.
President decorates three musicians
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor honoured mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink Inzko, bass-baritone Marko Fink, and conductor Jože Trošt with state decorations. Fink Inzko and Fink, who have been active in both opera and concerts, received the Silver Orders of Merit for extraordinary services in music and their commitment to the Slovenian songs. Composer Trošt, long-term music head of the Ljubljana cathedral and conductor of several choirs, was honoured with the Order of Merit.
NBA player Goran Dragić signs with Brooklyn Nets
NEW YORK, US - Goran Dragić, widely regarded as one of Slovenia's best basketball players ever, has signed a new contract until the end of this season and will move to the Brooklyn Nets, said the BDA Sports International management agency. At the age of 35, this will be Dragić's fifth team in the NBA and another chance to win an NBA title. The speculations of him potentially joining his compatriot Luka Dončić, an NBA star, at the Dallas Mavericks have thus failed to materialise.
