Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.
This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia condemns Russia's actions in Ukraine
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's officials unanimously condemned Russia's recognition of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as blatant violation of international law. Prime Minister Janez Janša called for the EU to offer Ukraine the prospect of full membership and Defence Minister Matej Tonin announced the government's top officials agreed Slovenia was ready to support the country's membership of the EU and enhance its troops' presence in eastern NATO member states. President Borut Pahor met Janša to agree that the recognition was a severe violation of international law and serious encroachment on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. FM Anže Logar said "now we're left with only a set of bad options".
Pahor to apologise to the erased
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor will offer a formal apology to the 25,671 people who were illegally erased from Slovenia's register of permanent residents on 26 February 1992 on Friday, the eve of the 30th anniversary of the erasure. The president's decision has been welcomed by Amnesty International (AI) Slovenia and the Civil Society of Erased Activists. "Since the founding of our association, an apology by the state has been among our priorities," said the society's president Irfan Beširević.
Parliament approves energy crisis relief package
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly overwhelmingly approved the government package to mitigate the impact of high energy prices, which stipulates that legal entities or individuals with a business registered in Slovenia by 1 December 2021 whose energy costs will increase by more than 40% in 2022 compared to 2021 will be eligible for government aid. The primary focus is on aid for households and citizens - the package provides for a one-off payment for some 710,000 Slovenians, equalises the rights of all household consumers, and introduces a three-month exemption from payment of contributions and network charges.
Govt sending aid to Ukraine and Madagascar
LJUBLJANA - The government approved on Monday material aid for Ukraine and Madagascar as well as a donation of Covid-19 vaccines to Namibia and COVAX. Through the EU civil protection mechanism Slovenia will send EUR 163,000 worth of sleeping bags, rubber boots, diesel generators, gloves and face masks to Ukraine in response to the country's appeal for aid. Slovenia will also send EUR 25,000 worth of aid to help Madagascar after being hit by the tropical cyclone Batsiral.
Analysts say Russia looking at annexing separatist regions
LJUBLJANA - After Russia recognised the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent, two analysts said that the mostly likely scenario to follow is the annexation of both regions based on the model of Crimea, while they assessed that the possibility of all-out war is unlikely. They do not expect any European country to decide to deploy troops to Ukraine in the event of a military conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Ljubljana, Maribor military barracks to be renovated for EUR 130m
LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry announced plans to renovate several military barracks, with the cost of renovation of the Edvard Peperko Barracks in Ljubljana and the General Rudolf Maister Barracks in Maribor estimated at EUR 130 million. The aim is to improve energy efficiency of the buildings, their functionality and working conditions. New logistic capacities of warehouses are also planned along with new workshops and garages and training infrastructure. Part of funds will come from EU cohesion funds.
MPs endorse bill to step up work after pension age
LJUBLJANA - MPs endorsed a government-sponsored act that temporarily increases the scope of temporary or casual work available for pensioners to help the labour market recover in the wake of Covid-19 in what the government says will help mitigate labour shortages. It drafted the act in the light of a rapid increase in the number of coronavirus infections in previous months, which resulted in large-scale staff shortages due to sick leave or quarantine. The opposition MPs said the solution comes too late.
Parliament passes changes to border control act
LJUBLJANA - The National Assemnly endorsed changes to the act on state border control that bring border municipalities EUR 2.5 million in assistance to cover the costs they incur as a result of enhanced border patrolling by police and soldiers to prevent illegal migration. Eligible costs include those resulting from the renovation and maintenance of municipal roads and public paths that are subject to additional pressure due to increased surveillance of the national border.
Fracking amendments pass first reading in parliament
LJUBLJANA - The government-sponsored amendments to the mining act, under which low-volume hydraulic fracturing would be allowed but high-volume fracking banned, passed the first reading in parliament. The Infrastructure Ministry has announced that an overall ban on fracking is in the works, but the opposition is mistrustful of this and plans to do it itself. The latest debate on fracking comes after five fruitless attempts by the opposition to ban fracking in Slovenia altogether.
Hojs stresses importance of unified approach to migrations
VIENNA, Austria - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs took part in a ministerial conference on migrations, stressing that "effective management of migration flows requires a unified approach and enhanced cooperation with regional partners". "The effective and rapid return of persons who have not applied for or are not eligible for international protection is also an integral part of a successful and fair migration policy," said Hojs. He advocated the establishment of a sustainable system at the regional level, based on solidarity and mutual assistance, the Interior Ministry said.
Hungarian MP fails in appeal over dual-office breach
LJUBLJANA - Ferenc Horvath, the MP for the Hungarian minority, will have to pay a EUR 1,000 fine after a district and a higher court upheld the anti-graft watchdog's view that he is in breach of the incompatibility of dual offices as he also serves as the head of a minority organisation. Horvath told the STA he would use all legal means at his disposal to prove he is right, if necessary take the matter to "European court".
New Covid cases down almost 70% in a week
LJUBLJANA - The number of new coronavirus cases in Slovenia dropped from over 7,000 to over 2,000 in a week, as a total of 2,265 positive cases were confirmed on Monday. Another 14 people with Covid-19 died, as hospitalisations decreased somewhat, with 96 treated for Covid in intensive care. The 7-day average of new daily cases dropped by 689 to 3,330 and the 14-day notification rate per 100,000 was down by 421 to 3,355, official data shows.
MPs change investment promotion act again
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly unanimously passed changes to the investment promotion act that aim to raise the productivity of the Slovenian economy and the standard of living. According to Economy Ministry State Secretary Simon Zajc, the latest changes to the act that was last changed in mid-December 2021 pursue three goals - to facilitate companies' adjustment to the demands of the digital and green transition, promote competitiveness and encourage investment into research, development and innovation.
Logar calls for cooperation between EU and Indo-Pacific
PARIS - Foreign Minister Anže Logar attended the first ministerial forum on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region organised by the French EU presidency, noting the importance of good and sustainable integration between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, and also held two bilateral meetings. In a debate on connectivity and digital issues, Logar noted the importance of quality and sustainable connectivity between Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, taking into account the global perspective and situation.
Car maker Revoz to cut production month early
NOVO MESTO - Revoz, the Slovenian subsidiary of Renault that cut production to one and a half shifts last November and then announced further cuts in January for April, will move to the announced single shift a month early. As supply problems in the global semiconductor market continue, Revoz will switch to single shift working as early as Monday, 28 February. The management said that all five working days of last week were actually without work and there are no signs of the situation improving.
Business sentiment remains upbeat
LJUBLJANA - Business sentiment in Slovenia keeps improving with the latest data from the Statistics Office showing the respective indicator rising by 1.2 percentage points in a month and by 10.1 points in a year to hit 6.8 percentage points in February. Year-on-year, sentiment improved most in services (+5.5 points), followed by manufacturing (+2.2 points), retail sales (+1.6 points) and construction (+0.9 points).
Parliament passes 2022-2029 culture programme resolution
LJUBLJANA - The parliament passed the resolution on the 2022-2029 national culture programme which, according to the government, is to establish Slovenian culture as an important social factor and as a value that enables creative potential, while at the same time developing respect for the achievements of the Slovenian nation. The coalition expressed its support for the strategic document, which comes after the last of its kind in 2017, while the centre-left opposition was against it, saying it does not offer solutions to address the status quo in this field.
Preliminary report on hot air balloon accident shows sudden wind change
LJUBLJANA - A preliminary report of an investigation into a hot air balloon accident that happened in the Ljubljana Marshes in January and in which four persons, one Slovenian and three Belgian citizens, were injured shows that the forced landing was a result of a sudden wind change. According to the report, enhanced westerly to south-westerly winds blew in the area at the time of the accident, reaching the average speed of 40 kilometres per hour and over 50 km/h at the altitudes around 500 metres.
Flamenco festival starts at Cankarjev Dom
LJUBLJANA - The third biennial international festival called Bi Flamenko is starting in Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana tonight with a screening of the documentary film The Flamenco Clan - Herencia flamenca (2005) by Michael Meert, presenting the history and heritage of flamenco dancing. Pepe Habichuela, leader of the Carmona flamenco clan, will be presented through the film, as well as a concert and a debate after the screening. He will be joined by his nephew Josemi on guitar and percussionist Bandolero.
