What follows is a weekly review of events involving Slovenia, as prepared by the STA.

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FRIDAY, 1 July
        LJUBLJANA - The government announced that the state will purchase through the Agency for Commodity Reserves the entire wheat crop to provide a "clear buyer and stable price" to farmers. It will also provide more than EUR 22 million in aid to farmers to ease the impact of growing prices of inputs.
        LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a bill to reform management and oversight at RTV Slovenija to reduce what is perceived as political meddling with the public broadcaster. The changes to the RTV Slovenija act from 2005 aim to abolish the programme council and the board to introduce a single RTV Slovenija council made up mostly of staff and civil society representatives appointed not just by parliament but by various stakeholders.
        BERLIN, Germany - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon met her German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, with the pair signing a joint action plan on three-year strategic cooperation and announcing further strengthening of cooperation between Slovenia and Germany, also relating to Ukraine.
        LJUBLJANA - Jana Ahčin, a former director of the Financial Administration (FURS), was appointed Court of Audit president by the National Assembly. She will take over for nine years as the court's first woman president. Milan M. Cvikl, a former Slovenian member of the European Court of Auditors, was named vice-governor of the central bank.
        LJUBLJANA - The Justice Ministry announced it had drafted a bill dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, which would now go into public consultation until 10 August. The bill provides protection to whistleblowers reporting irregularities in their place of work.
        LJUBLJANA - Andrej Matvoz stayed on at the helm of the Competition Protection Agency as the government dismissed Zlatko Ratej as the acting director on the day he was to take over from Matvoz, and appointed the latter as the acting director.
        LJUBLJANA - Some 86% or a combined total of EUR 468.4 million worth of the 2020 and 2021 tourist vouchers was cashed in, shows data by the Financial Administration (FURS), and EUR 75.27 million was left unredeemed by Thursday, the last day of voucher validity.

SATURDAY, 2 July
        SLOVENSKA BISTRICA - President Borut Pahor decorated a former Territorial Defence unit based in Slovenjska Bistrica with the Order of Freedom for having taken over a weapons facility from the Yugoslav National Army during Slovenia's 1991 Independence War.
        KIDRIČEVO - The 2x400 kilovolt Cirkovce-Pince transmission line, the first cross-border link between Slovenia's and Hungary's national grids, became operational after almost two years of construction.
        IG - Marko Balažic was elected the leader of the non-parliamentary People's Party (SLS) at an election congress in what was practically a unanimous vote. He said that the SLS must once again become a strong moderate party and that Slovenia needed a liberal state and conservative politics.
        LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Climber Janja Garnbret continued her winning streak, taking first place in women's lead event in Villars, Switzerland, earning her 50th world cup podium and 34th first place, a new record for the sport.

SUNDAY, 3 July
        STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Slovenia finished the first round of qualifying for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup second in their group having scraped past Sweden 84:81 after a nail-biting finish. NBA stars Luka Dončić and Goran Dragić scored 51 points between them as Dragić likely bid farewell to the national team as its top overall scorer in history.

MONDAY, 4 July
        LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and his Kosovo counterpart Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu said a peaceful and secure future for the Western Balkans lay in the context of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The pair said Slovenia and Kosovo shared the same views on the Western Balkans.
        LJUBLJANA - Former Foreign Minister Anže Logar announced his intention to run for president in the autumn election. He has the support of his party, the opposition Democrats (SDS), but will formally enter the race with the support of vote signatures.
        LJUBLJANA - Pay talks between the government and public sector trade unions got off to a rocky start as the government backtracked on its promise to raise the value of individual pay brackets, offering instead one-off bonuses. Unions said they were outraged and demanded the negotiators get a fresh mandate from the government.
        BRDO PRI KRANJU - The OECD recommends to Slovenia in its latest report to focus on high inflation in the short term and then accelerate reforms that would increase productivity, make growth more sustainable and address population ageing. Absence of reforms is to put additional pressure on pensions, healthcare and the labour market. The government welcomed the recommendations.
        BRDO PRI KRANJU - Slovenia's central bank Governor Boštjan Vasle said that to fight high inflation, the European Central Bank (ECB) will increase its key interest rate by 0.25 base points in July and by another 0.5 points in September.
        LJUBLJANA - Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu presented the Slovenian Armed Forces with the highest presidential military decoration of Kosovo, Presidential Military Medal.
        LJUBLJANA - In what is the latest verdict in the biggest healthcare corruption case in Slovenia yet, the Ljubljana District Court handed down a three year prison sentence to Nataša Faganeli, the head of the pharmacy at the Valdoltra orthopaedic hospital, who was found guilty of demanding and accepting kickbacks.

TUESDAY, 5 July
        LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor hosted a working lunch for Albania's outgoing President Ilir Meta, with the pair underlining the importance of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and Pahor warning against an idea of a more vague political community which would not see the region integrated in the EU.
        LJUBLJANA - The People's Coalition, an ad-hoc group opposing strict coronavirus measures, including vaccination, filed to parliament a petition supported with more than the required 2,500 signatures for a referendum on the changes to the infectious diseases act, which were passed on 29 June.
        LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Labour Committee called on the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities to hire more labour inspectors by the end of next year as it met upon coalition MPs' request in the wake of reports revealing grave labour and hygiene conditions in fish-processing companies Marinblu and Selea.
        LJUBLJANA - The number of registered jobless continued to decline in June reaching a new post-1990 low. At the end of the month, 53,860 unemployed persons were registered at the Employment Service, down 3.6% on May and 24.2% fewer year-on-year.
        LJUBLJANA - State budget revenue in the first half of the year totalled EUR 6.4 billion and expenditure EUR 6.5 billion for a deficit of EUR 128 million, preliminary data from the Finance Ministry showed. The figure compares to a deficit of EUR 1.965 billion in the same period last year.
        LJUBLJANA - The Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC) halted the procedure to sell an almost 13% share in chemical company Cinkarna Celje although it received two binding bids. It said the sale would not be appropriate under the current conditions and circumstances.

WEDNESDAY, 6 July
        ZAGREB - Slovenian FM Tanja Fajon and her Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlić Radman confirmed their countries' readiness to address open issues through mutual dialogue. Fajon said that the border issue will be addressed in the same spirit, starting at an informal level and with easier matters.
        LITIJA - The National Council formally tabled devolution legislation under which Slovenia would be divided into 15 provinces with a special status for the capital Ljubljana. It is unclear whether there is a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to secure passage of the bills.
        LJUBLJANA - State Prosecutor General Drago Šketa highlighted a severe shortage of prosecutors in Slovenia as the Justice Committee discussed the reports of the state prosecutors' work in 2021. The prosecution is almost 70 prosecutors short at the moment.
        LJUBLJANA - The news portal Necenzurirano reported that three Hungarian owners had sold their stake in NovaTV24.si, the company running TV channel NovaTV24, in a move that has already been cleared by the Ministry of Culture. The trio sold their 45% stake to Boris Tomašič, director of NovaTV24 and a long-term member of the Democrats (SDS).
        LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Danijel Bešič Loredan announced that he had appointed a national task force to coordinate hospital beds and hospital admission of Covid patients. The group will produce clear guidance on how to approach patients infected with coronavirus and patients with Covid symptoms.
        LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana District Court has stopped minor offence proceedings over mask-wearing rule violations at a charity event organized by the Slovenian Olympic Committee in September 2020. The court ruled there was no grounds for the mask mandate.

THURSDAY, 7 July
        LJUBLJANA - Uroš Urbanija, the former director of the Government Communication Office, was endorsed by the RTV Slovenija programme council for appointment as TV Slovenija director, the TV arm of the Slovenian public broadcaster. RTV Slovenija director general Andrej Grah Whatmough is expected to appoint him next week. TV Slovenija journalists' unions see him as the most unsuitable candidate.
        LJUBLJANA - A special new advisory body of the Interior Ministry for migration policy held its first meeting with Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar telling the attendees that the body had been tasked with drafting a new policy, based on solidarity, integration and the respect for human rights.
        MEDVODE - Kočevje Mayor Vladimir Prebilič confirmed he will run for president in the autumn election as an independent with the support of 45 mayors. He disagrees with the solely ceremonial role of the president and believes the president must help shape political life in the country.
        LJUBLJANA - The Fiscal Council said the state of public finances was steadily improving due to fast revenue growth, but warned that public spending was increasing despite the discontinuation of Covid stimulus, mostly due to measures to mitigate rising costs of living.
        NOVO MESTO - Drug maker Krka posted sales of EUR 857.4 million in the first half of the year, an increase of 6% on the year before and a new six-month record, according to preliminary estimates. Net profit was up by a third to EUR 236.2 million. Krka AGM endorsed a record dividend of EUR 5.63 gross per share, up 12.6% from last year. The shareholders will thus get a total of EUR 175 million.
        METZ, France - Tadej Pogačar won the sixth stage of the Tour de France to claim the yellow jersey of the overall leader in what is the 7th stage win at the world's most prestigious road cycling race for the 23-year-old defending champion.

STA, 8 July 2022 - Aleš Primc of the Children are at Stake Coalition believes the Constitutional Court's decision to allow gay marriage and adoption is scandalous, unfair and ideological. He said the decision contravened the Constitution because two of the nine judges were biased.

The Constitutional Court announced on Friday that it had decided in two separate 6:3 votes that legislation under which only heterosexual partners can marry and same-sex couples cannot adopt children was in contravention of the constitutional ban on discrimination.

Primc said in a press release that the decision went against the principle of fairness, natural law and Slovenian culture.

"Constitutional Court justices squandered the decision of 1,085,275 citizens who said in three referendums that Slovenia's legislation must protect the basic human rights of children to having a mother and a father and the natural characteristics of the female and male sex."

He claims the decision to be "criminal" from the aspect of demography and could be considered treason. "For 40 years Slovenia has been failing to reach the birth rate needed for natural regeneration of the population."

He believes the decision violates Article 53 of the Constitution, which says that "the state shall protect the family, motherhood, fatherhood, children, and young people and shall create the necessary conditions for such protection".

Moreover, the decision goes against the Constitution because it included two biased judges: Katja Šugman Stubbs took part in the 2018 referendum campaign on the side of LGBT activists, and so did Aleksander Čeferin, brother of Constitutional Court judge Rok Čeferin, said Primc, referring to a referendum that enacted the provisions overturned today.

He believes the decision will become the foundation for artificial insemination of women without a husband or partner, for children trafficking, and for the exploitation of poor women, who will "receive money to conceive, give birth and sell their children to rich clients".

The Children are at Stake Coalition intends to step up its fight for children's rights and their values.

STA, 8 July 2022 - Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar, the man favoured to win the Tour de France, dominated the first mountain stage on Friday to extend his lead in the overall standings.

In a close finish to the Super Planche des Belles Filles, Pogačar defeated the Dane Jonas Vingegaard after yesterday's surprise win.

Slovenia's Primož Roglič was third, 12 seconds adrift.

In the overall standings, Pogačar now has a 35-second lead on Vingegaard, with third-placed Geraint Thomas of the UK a minute and ten seconds behind.

Roglič advanced to 13th place and has a gap of two minutes and 45 seconds on his compatriot.

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:

Constitutional Court legalises same-sex marriage, adoptions

LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court legalised same-sex marriage and adoptions with immediate effect after finding a law under which only heterosexual partners can marry and same-sex couples cannot adopt children to be in contravention of the constitutional ban on discrimination. The court gave the National Assembly six months to amend the law, but until then its ruling stands as the law and means that marriage is a union between two persons regardless of gender, and same-sex partners living in a civil partnership may adopt a child together under the same conditions as married spouses. The government welcomed the rulings and said legislation implementing the court decision will be adopted in a matter of weeks.

New bill to cut waiting times for health services

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted an emergency bill estimated at over EUR 200 million that is designed to reduce waiting times for health services. The core provision is the removal of the cap on the number of services that the public health insurer pays in a given year. "All health services will be paid ... and all forces directed at the primary level to stabilise it," Health Minister Danijel Bešič Loredan said after the government session. The unlimited funding will be available from 1 September this year to the end of 2023. Doctors' organisations are sceptical the legislation will do much to address chronic problems in healthcare.

Removal of razor wire on border with Croatia starts next week

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces will start removing razor wire from the border with Croatia next week, Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar announced after the government adopted a resolution to that effect. "The most effective migration policy is to provide lawful and hence safe and regulated migrations," Bobnar said. She expects the army to remove about 200 metres of razor wire a day, which means the project could take 150 days.

Golob to visit Berlin on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob will travel to Berlin on Tuesday for what will be his first bilateral visit abroad since taking office over a month ago. He will meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss war in Ukraine, EU enlargement and cooperation between Slovenia and Germany, his office said. The prime ministers will exchange views about topical issues, including the EU's response to the war in Ukraine and food and energy security, EU enlargement onto the Western Balkans and the implementation of decisions of the June EU Summit.

Govt adopts bill to ratify Finland and Sweden's NATO accession

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a bill to ratify the NATO accession protocols for Finland and Sweden, which were signed on Tuesday in Brussels, according to a press release issued after the government session. The bill will now be discussed by the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee and then put to vote at the plenary session.

Zelensky calls on Slovenian companies to join recovery plan

LJUBLJANA - Addressing the National Assembly by video call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked European countries, including Slovenia, for their support for Ukraine in its fight for freedom. He called on Slovenian companies to join recovery plans for postwar future in Ukraine. "I thank the Slovenian nation, thank you for your big and brave heart," he said. The event was attended by Slovenia's top officials, President Borut Pahor, PM Robert Golob and speakers of both houses of parliament.

Over 100 Ukrainians to be accommodated in Postojna

LJUBLJANA - A hundred and twenty Ukrainian citizens who have already been granted temporary protection status in Slovenia or have requested it will be placed in an accommodation centre in the town of Postojna, south-west, the government said. The first to move to Postojna will be the vulnerable Ukrainian citizens who are currently at the asylum centre in Logatec, some 25 km south of Ljubljana. In this way, room will be made at Logatec's centre, which houses more than 280 refugees, for more vulnerable persons who are now at the asylum centre in Ljubljana.

Greater flexibility in mandatory share of biofuels

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian fuel retailers will have greater leeway in determining how much biofuel they add to their fuels under an amended regulation on renewable sources in transport that the government adopted in a bid to keep fuel prices in check. If they do not reach the target share of biofuels in a given year, retailers will be allowed to offset the gap with any surpluses over the minimum quantity in preceding three years or next three years.

Pahor expresses condolences to Japan on Abe's death

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor expressed condolences over the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to his family, Japan's emperor and its people, saying in a video post on Twitter he felt "sincere hurt and anguish". He said Abe had been very favourably inclined to Slovenia and to the deepening of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, for which "we will always be grateful to him".

Former auditing chief becomes newspaper director

NOVO MESTO - Tomaž Vesel, until recently president of the Court of Audit, has been appointed director of Dolenjski List, a regional newspaper indirectly owned by media mogul Martin Odlazek and his family. Vesel succeeded Gregor Repič on 1 July. Dolenjski List, which covers the south-eastern region Dolenjska, is part of Odlazek's media group Media24. The latter also owns the weekly magazine Reporter, other print media, small radio stations, and indirectly has stakes in newspapers Večer and Primorske Novice.

NovaTV24.si director says no ownership change finalised yet

LJUBLJANA - Boris Tomašič, executive director of NovaTV24.si, commented on a report that he had acquired a stake in the media company running the news channel Nova24TV from Hungarian owners by saying no transaction had yet been finalised. He said the company was a target of political pressure by the ruling coalition. They appealed to the viewers to help the company with financial contributions and the response has been excellent, he said. NovaTV24.si is preparing to issue new shares.

Covid figures keep on growing

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged 1,323 new Covid cases on Thursday, up 31% on the same day a week ago, in what continues to be a steady upward trend. Two people with Covid died. A total of 44 patients whose main condition is Covid were hospitalised, down by two on the day before, and the number of ICU cases stayed the same, totalling eight patients, the Health Ministry said.

Schools found to be discriminating against disabled students

LJUBLJANA - Only a quarter of secondary schools are fully accessible to students with physical disabilities, Equality Ombudsman Miha Lobnik found in a special report on the matter. Despite the right to education in one's local environment, in some regions only one school is fully accessible, in some regions none. The information on accessibility that is available is insufficient with many schools not responding to enquiries or giving incomplete answers.

Pogačar wins stage 7 of the Tour, Roglič third

COLMAR, France - Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar, the man favoured to win the Tour de France, dominated the first mountain stage to extend his lead in the overall standings. In a close finish to the Super Planche des Belles Filles, Pogačar defeated the Dane Jonas Vingegaard after yesterday's surprise win. Slovenia's Primož Roglič was third, 12 seconds adrift.

STA, 8 July 2022 - The Constitutional Court legalised same-sex marriage and adoptions with immediate effect after finding a law under which only heterosexual partners can marry and same-sex couples cannot adopt children to be in contravention of the constitutional ban on discrimination.

In two rulings issued on Friday, the court gave the National Assembly six months to amend the law accordingly, but until the law is amended its ruling stands as the law and means that marriage is a union between two persons regardless of gender, and same-sex partners living in a civil partnership may adopt a child together under the same conditions as married spouses.

The court deliberated on the matter based on a constitutional complaint by two same-sex couples who, respectively, failed in front of regular courts to marry or to make the list of candidates for adoption.

Referring to marriage, it said discrimination against same-sex couples "cannot be justified with the traditional meaning of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, nor with special protection of family."

The decision "does not diminish the importance of traditional marriage as a union of a man and a woman, nor does it change conditions under which persons of the opposite sex marry. All it means is that same-sex partners can now marry just like heterosexual partners can."

Same-sex partners have so far been confined to civil unions, which gave the partners some but not all the rights of heterosexual partners.

The court used a similar argument for same-sex adoptions as it noted that same-sex couples have already been allowed to adopt each other's children.

The ban on same-sex adoptions cannot be justified with the objective of maximum benefit for children since "an absolute ban ... is not a suitable means to achieve this end."

It said the goal of maximum benefit for children must be pursued on a case-by-case basis, whereby eliminating same-sex partners from consideration "cannot be construed as a measure that would improve the possibility of a decision that is to the maximum benefit of the child."

The court was however quick to point out that its decision "does not introduce a right to adoption," all it means is that the legislature must bear in mind the prohibition of discrimination and make it possible for same-sex partners to be placed on the list of candidates for adoption.

The court voted 6:3 in favour in both rulings, the dissenting voices coming from three judges who often lean conservative, none of whom expressed direct opposition to same-sex marriage or adoptions, they merely challenged in dissenting opinions the way that the majority on the court arrived at the decision.

One dissenting judge, Rok Svetlič, said the majority's arguments were "paving the way for the assertion of unconstitutionality of any provision" and implied the Constitutional Court may have overreached by playing the rule of the legislature.

Another dissenting judge, Klemen Jaklič, meanwhile said that the majority did not truly address the dilemmas about which it was deciding.

STA, 8 July 2022 - The Constitutional Court legalised same-sex marriage and adoptions with immediate effect after finding a law under which only heterosexual partners can marry and same-sex couples cannot adopt children to be in contravention of the constitutional ban on discrimination.

Announcing the news on Friday, the court gave the National Assembly six months to amend the law accordingly, but until the law is amended its ruling stands as the law and means that marriage is a union between two persons regardless of gender, and same-sex partners living in a civil partnership may adopt a child together under the same conditions as married spouses.

The court deliberated on the matter based on a constitutional complaint by two same-sex couples who, respectively, failed in front of regular courts to marry or to make the list of candidates for adoption.

Referring to marriage, it said discrimination against same-sex couples "cannot be justified with the traditional meaning of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, nor with special protection of family."

The decision "does not diminish the importance of traditional marriage as a union of a man and a woman, nor does it change conditions under which persons of the opposite sex marry. All it means is that same-sex partners can now marry just like heterosexual partners can."

Same-sex partners have so far been confined to civil unions, which gave the partners some but not all the rights of heterosexual partners.

The court used a similar argument for same-sex adoptions as it noted that same-sex couples have already been allowed to adopt each other's children.

The ban on same-sex adoptions cannot be justified with the objective of maximum benefit for children since "an absolute ban ... is not a suitable means to achieve this end."

It said the goal of maximum benefit for children must be pursued on a case-by-case basis, whereby eliminating same-sex partners from consideration "cannot be construed as a measure that would improve the possibility of a decision that is to the maximum benefit of the child."

The court was however quick to point out that its decision "does not introduce a right to adoption," all it means is that the legislature must bear in mind the prohibition of discrimination and make it possible for same-sex partners to be placed on the list of candidates for adoption.

The court only issued a press release and the full ruling is not available yet. It thus remains unclear how many judges voted in favour.

STA, 8 July 2022 - A 53-year old Croatian citizen crossed the border drunk without slowing down with two children in the car. The police stopped him to find that he had a BAC of 0.30. He was arrested and the children were picked up by family members, reports the Novo Mesto Police Department.

The Croatian man reached the border crossing Obrežje around 8pm and drove through the crossing not intended for personal vehicles. He did not have a valid driver's licence or the kids' IDs.

He told the police that he was heading from Zagreb to Rijeka and he thought that he drove through a toll station and not a border crossing since he did not intend to travel through Slovenia.

The man was visibly drunk and the breathalyser test showed he had 1.46 mg of alcohol in a litre of air, amounting to 3.06 g of alcohol in a litre of blood.

He was arrested, the court fined him EUR 1200 and banned him from driving in Slovenia for a year, while the police fined him an additional EUR 400 for avoiding border control.

The Novo Mesto Police Department noted that last year drunk drivers caused 155 accidents in the area under their jurisdiction, two of them fatal.

STA, 8 July 2022 - Addressing the Slovenian National Assembly by video call on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked European countries, including Slovenia, for their support for Ukraine in its fight for freedom. He called on Slovenian companies to join recovery plans for postwar future in Ukraine.

The special event held in parliament in support of Ukraine was first addressed by Speaker Urška Klakočar Zupančič, who said it was a great honour to be able to welcome Zelensky and wished the circumstances of this were different.

"Ever since the start of the war, Slovenia has been on the side of countries that have condemned in the strongest terms the aggression against Ukraine, an independent and sovereign European country," she said.

The previous prime minister visited Kyiv in March in a display of strong support for the war-stricken country, and Slovenia's support remains the same under the new government, she noted, pointing to financial, humanitarian and other aid.

The speaker also congratulated Ukraine for being granted EU candidate status. This is "a recognition that Ukraine is on the right track, that it is part of the family of European nations, that its future lies in Europe," she said, adding this was also a recognition of Zelensky's and his team's work.

Kot je že potrdil premier, bo ?? Ukrajini nudila pomoč pri razminiranju in jo trdno podpirala pri njenih prizadevanjih za suverenost in mir.

Vlada odločno obsoja rusko agresijo, ki je v nasprotju z določili Ustanovne listine ZN in ob tem poudarja pomen enotnega delovanja EU. pic.twitter.com/NgpAr99ZQ1

— Vlada Republike Slovenije (@vladaRS) July 8, 2022

Zelensky, dressed in his usual army green apparel, said the honour was mutual and thanked all European countries that are supporting Ukraine's liberation efforts, noting that cooperation was key. "I thank the Slovenian nation, thank you for your big and brave heart."

He added he was currently close to the front line. "Russia continues to work to prevent Ukraine's progress", including in the international arena, he said, but highlighted that Moscow was running out of fuel to keep on this path.

Ukraine demands an investigation by the International Criminal Court, so that all war crimes in Ukraine are investigated and those responsible are held accountable, he reiterated.

The Ukrainian president also thanked Slovenia and other EU countries for endorsing Ukraine's bid to join the EU at the recent EU summit. No one can say how long this path of EU integration will take, but Ukraine's dream is to become a full-fledged member of the bloc, he said, adding that it was important that the country preserve its territorial integrity.

Moscow is well aware that Ukraine is a very important country within the European framework, he said, highlighting that his country "is a European territory". Ukraine shares EU values and wants to cooperate with the bloc across the board, Zelensky told the Slovenian MPs.

The Russian government uses various tools to destroy Ukraine, and the energy crisis and inflation are one such attempt, he said, noting that Ukraine will try to mitigate gas shortages in Europe through electricity supplies. The country has already joined the European electricity system ENTSO-E.

He also mentioned Ukraine's gas storage system, which is one of the world's biggest by capacity, as another potential option to mitigate the developments, and added that Ukraine could help the EU with its strong IT infrastructure.

Russia is preparing another blow - by blocking cereal exports it hopes this will eventually led to major famine-induced migration flows from Africa and the Middle East that would hit Europe, so Ukraine is doing its best to prevent this and help people who are affected by this.

Russia's major target is the EU as Moscow would like to break European stability, but the bloc can defend itself, he said.

Zelensky urged Slovenians and Slovenian companies to join recovery plans for postwar future in Ukraine. He is confident that Ukraine will be free again and will preserve its territorial integrity, noting that this is also in the interest of the EU, which is now acting as one.

There will be no victory without soldiers, he said, highlighting Ukraine's military strength. "Together we will win, glory to Ukraine," he concluded his speech that was followed by a thunderous applause.

The event was attended by Slovenia's top three officials, President Borut Pahor, Prime Minister Robert Golob and Speaker Klakočar Zupančič, as well as National Council President Alojz Kovšca and cabinet members.

When Zelensky's address was officially announced yesterday, the parliament noted that the event was an expression of support for the Ukrainian people in their fight for their homeland and an expression of friendship to Ukraine.

The opposition Democratic Party's (SDS) initiative to invite the Ukrainian president to address the MPs had been green-lit by the foreign policy and the EU affairs committees.

Radio Slovenija reports that Slovenia is one of the last EU member states to have been addressed by Zelensky. Only two weeks after Russia attacked Ukraine, the Ukrainian president addressed the British parliament, which was followed by videolink appearances in his country's key allies.

EU-wise, Zelensky has so far not addressed only the parliaments of countries that have shown more lukewarm support for Ukraine - Austria, Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary.

STA, 7 July 2022 - Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar won the sixth stage of the Tour de France to claim the yellow jersey of the overall leader in what is the 7th stage win at the world's most prestigious road cycling race for the 23-year-old defending champion.

In the longest stage of this year's Tour, between Binche in Belgium, to Longwy in France the UAE Team Emirates rider took the lead with a brilliant sprint, finishing the stage ahead of Michael Matthews of Australia and France's David Gaudu.

The two-time Tour de France winner had no real rival in the finishing sprint by a small brake-away group started by his compatriot Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma). Pogačar jumped ahead at the right moment to leave behind Matthews, the excellent BikeExchange-Jayco sprinter.

The stage was rather uneventful after Wednesday's chaotic cobbles stage, which cost Roglič dearly, but it was exceptionally fast from the start with no successful escape for 80 kilometres. Pogačar controlled the situation several times and Matej Mohorič made a try but unsuccessfully.

A breakaway group formed led by Wout Van Aert, the Belgian Jumbo-Visma rider who had been carrying the yellow jersey until today, but after an all out-effort he was the last to get caught by the peloton some 10 km to the finish line. The favourites then took the race under their control, getting rid of the best sprinters on the final climbs.

"Every time I win the feeling gets better. The first two hours after the start were crazy, it was tough [...] I thought Van Aert would get to the finish by himself, but this time we were stronger in the peloton. I felt good on the last climb, the team put me in an excellent position," said Pogačar after the win.

Ahead of Friday's stage he has a four-second gap ahead of American Neilson Powless with Dane Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma in third, 31 seconds behind. Roglič advanced to 28th after dropping to 44th yesterday with a 2:27 minute lag.

STA, 7 July 2022 - A 74-year-old Austrian was killed in an accident in Izola on Thursday as he was crushed against rocks by his sailboat while trying to rope the vessel back to the pier in windy weather.

According to a release from the Koper Police Department, a sailboat sailing under the Austrian flag broke away from the fishing pier in Izola at around 6:40pm due to strong and gusty winds.

Taking note of the situation, the 74-year-old owner jumped aboard from the pier but then fell into the seas due to high waves. The vessel crushed him against the rocks and he died on the spot of his injuries.

The vessel got badly damaged when hitting against the rocks and sunk.

A rescue and intervention operation is under way. After inspecting the site, the police will notify the state prosecution on their findings.