STA, 30 September 2020 - Slovenia's state budget will continue in deficit over the next two years, however, the pandemic-driven shortfall is projected to decrease from 9.2% of GDP this year to 5.6% in 2021 and 3.1% in 2022, under budget proposals adopted by the government on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters in Ljubljana after the government session at Brdo estate, Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj said the budgets for the next two years were "development-oriented" with investment funding increasing significantly.

The budget for 2021 was passed by the National Assembly in November 2019, however it was revised by the government today to expand the projected expenditure from EUR 10.45 billion to EUR 13.47 billion.

The government also adopted a proposal for the 2022 budget and other budget implementation documents. All the proposals need to be submitted the National Assembly for adoption by Thursday.

The budget documents have been drawn up against the backdrop of the continuing fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. "The situation remains uncertain," said Šircelj.

The budgets are looking to support the economy's recovery and boost its resilience, while provide better prosperity for the people, he said.

The supplementary budget for this year, passed last week, plans a deficit of EUR 4.2 billion (9.2% of GDP), which is to drop to EUR 2.75 billion next year (5.6% of GDP) and EUR 1.59 billion in (3.1% of GDP) in 2022.

Šircelj said investment funding would be mainly in infrastructure, transport links, healthcare, protecting the environmental, science, information society, entrepreneurship and improving the competitive edge. Local governments will also get more funds.

Revenue for 2021 is budgeted at EUR 10.72 billion, 3.5% less than in the original budget, while expenditure is planned at EUR 13.47 billion, an increase of 28.8% compared with the document passed last year.

In 2022 budget revenue is expected to increase to EUR 11.01 billion as expenditure is to drop to EUR 12.6 billion.

Along with the deficit, state debt is also projected to decrease, from 82.4% of GDP this year to 80.9% of GDP in 2021 and 79.3% of GDP in 2022.

The budget implementation bill sets down the raised per capital lump sum for local communities signed today, at EUR 628 for 2021 and 2022, an increase of EUR 4.24 compared with this year.

The bill also provides for a regular 2.5% adjustment of pensions in January 2021 and an increase in the annual allowance for pensioners, coming in five amounts, from EUR 135 for those receiving more than EUR 900 a month to EUR 445 for those with the lowest pensions.

To be able to increase budget expenditure, the government is also putting forward amendments to the decree on the general government budget framework.

General government expenditure is proposed to be capped at EUR 24.9 billion in 2021 and EUR 24.9 billion in 2022. "Expenditure is higher, but within a framework that will ensure fiscal stability," said Šircelj.

STA, 30 September 2020 - Telekom Slovenije's sale of Planet TV to Hungarian media company TV2 Media has been finalised, the national telco said on Wednesday. The purchase price is EUR 5 million, but Telekom also provided a capital injection for its troubled subsidiary, which produces the eponymous TV channel, via debt to equity conversion before finalising the transaction.

Telekom already signed the sales contract with TV2 Media, owned by Jozsef Vida, whom media associate with the business network of the Hungarian ruling party Fidesz, in July. It said now that Planet TV has not been sold at a loss.

From Thursday, Planet TV will be formally part of TV2 group, which will add three to its portfolio of 14 TV channels.

The company said that new executive director of Planet TV will be Pavel Stantchev, already executive director at TV2. Špela Pirnat, who served as financial director between 2013 and 2016, will join Planet TV as financial director.

Stantchev pledged for the team to work hard to meet expectations of the greatest possible number of viewers, while bringing greater competitiveness and choice needed in the Slovenian market.

Telekom launched Planet TV in 2012 under the then Janez Janša government. It was reported that the telecoms incumbent had been looking for a strategic partner which would buy a 49% share in the TV production company already at the beginning of January, only to change its mind later on.

According to the newspaper Delo, Planet TV has cost Telekom Slovenije EUR 80 million in the form of capital injections, advertisements, loans and other services since it was launched in September 2012, and has operated in the red.

The latest blow was the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce ordering Telekom last year to pay a EUR 23 million buyout to Antenna Group, the Greek partner who wanted out of the joint venture.

The news portal Necenzurirano.si has reported about unofficial plans to merge Planet TV and Nova24TV, the news portal and website associated with Janša's ruling Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) and also in the ownership of Hungarian individuals reportedly close to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban.

Meanwhile, Telekom moreover started this month with procedures to sell its subsidiary TS Media, which owns the news portal Siol, as well as the web portals Najdi.si in Bizi.si.

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EU rule of law report for Slovenia points to lack of resources for key bodies

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission raised several issues in its Rule of Law Report for Slovenia, expressing concern about a lack of resources for key independent bodies like the corruption watchdog and networks regulator, and pressure exerted on journalists through lawsuits and online harassment. The Commission appears not to have taken into account the Slovenian government's critical comments to the contents of the report, which raised a lot of dust in Slovenia. The Foreign Ministry said the report was relatively favourable, while the opposition said it was worrying Slovenia was nearing the countries which did not respect the rule of law.

New record of 203 coronavirus infections on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reached a new record in daily coronavirus cases, as 203 tested positive on Tuesday in a total of 3,391 tests and one Covid-19 patient died, the government said. The share of positive tests was 5.99%, according to the national Covid-19 tracker Sledilnik. There were 1,736 active coronavirus infection in Slovenia on Tuesday, with 86 people requiring hospital care, of whom 16 were in intensive care.

State budget to stay in deficit over next two years

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted budget proposals for the next two years under which the pandemic-driven deficit is projected to decrease from 9.2% of GDP this year to 5.6% in 2021 and 3.1% in 2022. Speaking to reporters in Ljubljana after the government session at Brdo estate, Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj said the budgets for the next two years were "development-oriented" with investment funding increasing significantly.

Govt gives final nod to fifth stimulus package

LJUBLJANA - The government gave its final nod late on Tuesday to the fifth stimulus package designed to help alleviate the consequences of the coronavirus crisis. The government already endorsed the package last week in a near final form. The press release issued by the government late last night indicated no major changes to the previous version of the bill, which entails measures for healthcare, labour, social security, economy, education, justice, criminal sanctions, agriculture and infrastructure.

Government orders measures to improve security of 5G networks

LJUBLJANA - The government has ordered the Public Administration Ministry and the telecommunications market regulator to put in place rules on enhanced security of fifth-generation (5G) telecommunications networks. Under a decision adopted on Tuesday, the government told the Public Administration Ministry to prepare legislation that would give the regulator and the body in charge of information security additional powers to demand from operators that they provide for cybersecurity in communication networks.

Govt amends law for event of mass migration

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted amendments to the foreigners act to tighten provisions on residence permits and reintroduce solutions that would provide for the triggering of a special regime in the event of a massive influx of illegal migrants seeking asylum in the country. The proposal includes similar solutions to those planned under the controversial amendments passed in 2017 but were quashed by the Constitutional Court in 2017.

Slovenia's general govt deficit hits 16% of GDP in second quarter

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia generated a general government deficit of EUR 1.74 billion in the April-June period, which translates into 16.1% of GDP. The Statistics Office (SURS) says the high deficit results from economic activity practically ceasing during the spring lockdown and from the government's measures to cushion the Covid-19 epidemic's impact. Since SURS started measuring it under the EU's methodology, general government deficit was higher only in the last quarter of 2013, when it soared to 3.59 billion, or 38.6% of GDP.

Pahor warns about biodiversity decline at UN summit

NEW YORK, US - President Borut Pahor said that the high rate of decline in biodiversity was a serious threat to life on Earth and undermined human progress, as he addressed the UN Biodiversity Summit via videolink. He reaffirmed Slovenia's commitment to mitigation efforts. "The colour of our post-pandemic world must be green and oriented towards sustainable production and consumption without overstepping planetary boundaries," said the president.

Logar discusses plebiscite anniversary, minority rights in Vienna

VIENNA, Austria - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg discussed preparations for the upcoming centenary of the Carinthia plebiscite and the position of the Slovenian ethnic minority in Austria, as they met in Vienna. EU topics, including the new migration pact, were also on the agenda. Logar expressed Slovenia's expectation for Austria to honour its commitments towards the Slovenian minority as set down in the 1955 Austrian State Treaty.

Erbežnik emerging as leading candidate for constitutional judge

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor wrapped up the first round of consultations with deputy groups as he prepares to nominate a candidate for a Constitutional Court judge. He announced that Anže Erbežnik, a professor at the Nova Gorica-based European Faculty of Law, had the best chances of getting the required support in parliament. Meanwhile, Arjana Brezigar Masten enjoys most support for a vice-governor post at Banka Slovenije.

Pensions to rise by 2% in December

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly confirmed late on Tuesday a 2% rise in pensions that will go ahead in December, after the government provided assurances that the indexation was fiscally feasible. Under existing legislation, an extraordinary flat EUR 6.5 increase for all pensioners was planned in December, but only if GDP growth in 2019 exceeded 2.5%. But then the National Council proposed a 1% rise, and the bill was further amended as the coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) proposed a 2% rise.

Bill to raise vaccination rate passed

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed a set of changes to the communicable diseases act which aim to increase vaccination rate by making vaccination mandatory for kindergarten children. The vaccination rate for pre-school children in Slovenia has dropped to 93%, which no longer guarantees collective health, MPs said. The aim of the new legislation - proposed by the coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC), Democrats (SDS) and Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) - is to raise childhood vaccination rate to at least 95%, which should already provide for herd immunity.

Parliament appoints new supervisor at STA

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly named a new member to the supervisory board of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) as lawyer Radovan Cerjak was appointed with 47 votes in favour and 35 on Tuesday evening. Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti described Cerjak as a legal expert and dismissed the opposition's warnings that the government had no right to launch a new selection process instead of completing a procedure launched by the previous government, which had already picked a candidate.

Janez Žlak named new Sovereign Holding chairman

LJUBLJANA - Janez Žlak, currently serving as executive director for energy and environment at the energy company Petrol, was appointed new chairman of Slovenian Sovereign Holding, which manages over EUR 10 billion worth of state equity stakes. Žlak will succeed Gabrijel Škof, who resigned in July. He will take over on 7 October from interim CEO Igor Kržan. The holding posted a EUR 4.68 million net profit for the first half of the year, a EUR 25.7 million decrease on the same period last year

Govt and municipalities sign agreement on funding in 2021 and 2022

LJUBLJANA - Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik and representatives of municipalities signed an agreement that raises the lump sum which municipalities receive per resident from the state. The sum, which was raised from EUR 589 to EUR 624 in April under the new government, will be EUR 628 in 2021 and 2022. Commenting on the agreement, Koritnik stressed such a deal had only been reached four times in the last 15 years. He assessed the raise since April meant around EUR 80 million more annually for municipalities in total.

Businesses upset by Sunday shopping ban, union relieved

LJUBLJANA - The head of the Chamber of Commerce (TZS), Mariča Lah, presented gloomy projections in response to parliament's decision to close most shops on Sundays, while the Union of Shop Assistants expressed relief today. The ban has also been welcomed by the Catholic Church. Lah expressed bewilderment as to how such as step could be made in a situation when everything should be done to boost the economy.

Slovenia records second consecutive month of deflation in September

LJUBLJANA - Following a 0.1% drop in consumer prices in August year-on-year as well on the monthly level, a deflation of 0.3% and 0.4% respectively was also recorded in September. The annual deflation was mostly the result of cheaper petroleum products, the Statistics Office said. Measured with the harmonised index of consumer prices, an EU-wide gauge, Slovenia recorded an annual deflation rate of 0.7% in September while the monthly deflation was 0.2%.

Sale of Planet TV to Hungarian TV2 Media finalised

LJUBLJANA - Telecommunications company Telekom Slovenije announced that the sale of Planet TV to Hungarian media company TV2 Media had been finalised. The purchase price is EUR 5 million, but Telekom also provided a capital injection for its troubled subsidiary, which produces the eponymous TV channel, via debt to equity conversion before finalising the transaction. TV2 Media is owned by Jozsef Vida, whom media associate with the business network of the Hungarian ruling party Fidesz.

Steel group SIJ posts EUR 8.4 million H1 loss

LJUBLJANA - The Russian-owned steel group SIJ generated EUR 359.7 million in sales revenue in the first half of 2020, down 11.9% compared to the same period in 2019, show unaudited data released on Wednesday. The group has suffered roughly a EUR 8.4 million loss due to the impact of Covid-19 on long-term funds. SIJ said the European steel market, it key source of revenue, felt an impact of the pandemic and an increasing volume of steel imports from non-European countries.

Issues with long-term care among main points in Human Rights Ombudsman report

LJUBLJANA - The Human Rights Ombudsman's report for 2019 highlights problems with elderly care, accessibility issues for disabled persons, and lack of pedopsychiatrists among continuing human rights challenges in Slovenia. The report lists 305 violations and irregularities that involved 48 bodies. The largest number of cases was related to administration, children's rights, protracted proceedings, violations of the rule of law and the welfare state and of the right to social protection.

Vatican Christmas tree to come from Slovenia this year

LJUBLJANA - The spruce tree decorating St Peter's Square in the Vatican for Christmas this year will come from Slovenia, under a decision taken by the government. The tree and the accompanying events are seen as an excellent opportunity for Slovenia's promotion. in particular in light of its presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2021. The 30-metre-high Slovenian spruce will also symbolically mark the 30th anniversary of the referendum on Slovenia's independence.

Pušča, biggest Roma village in Slovenia, presented in a book

MURSKA SOBOTA - Pušča, the biggest Roma village in Slovenia which is seen as an example of how Roma issues should be solved in Slovenia and beyond, is now presented in a monograph by Jožek Horvat Muc, the head of the Slovenian Roma Association. Pušča, a village just west of Murska Sobota in the north-east of the country, was founded with a referendum in 1998. The Roma community now living there was a part of the town of Černelavci until 2002 and has been in the area for more than a century.

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STA, 30 September 2020 - EU members backed a proposal tabled by the German EU presidency to peg respect for the rule of law to the union's funds, which should enable the start of talks on the over EUR 1.8 trillion budget and coronavirus recovery package with the European Parliament. Unofficial information suggests that Slovenia is among the supporters.

For Slovenia, the German proposal is a solid basis which could lead to a balanced compromise, a Slovenian source said yesterday.

The German presidency presented the compromise, which is based on the decisions taken by EU leaders in July, on Sunday and it was endorsed today.

In July, EU leaders came under fire for allegedly yielding to Hungary and Poland's pressure not to tie receiving EU funds to respecting the rule of law.

Slovenia was said to have sided with the two members, but Prime Minister Janez Janša said it only wanted the same standards to be used for all member states.

The German proposal is seen as further watering down the European Commission's draft regulation on the protection of the EU's budget if deficiencies regarding the rule of law are detected in member states, a document from May 2018.

It defines more loosely the deficiencies which could be sanctioned with the freeze of EU funds, focussing on financial management of the budget and on the protection of the EU's financial interests.

Unofficial information indicates that Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium voted against, while Austria and Luxembourg abstained.

Slovenia's stance has been all along that the EU's 2021-2027 budget and the recovery fund should start being implemented as early in 2021 as possible, which the country believes is in the strategic interest of both Slovenia and the EU.

This is why a deal on the draft regulation and on the other pieces of legislation needed to kick-start their implementation are needed as soon as possible.

The draft regulation is one of the toughest nuts to crack in the talks on the bloc's seven-year budget worth EUR 1.074 trillion and the recovery fund worth EUR 750 billion.

Poland and Hungary - against which a procedure for alleged violations of the rule of law has been launched - have threatened to block the budget and the recovery fund if no solution is found to the rule of law.

Some western and northern members meanwhile insist on a strong link between EU funds and the rule of law; delaying the implementation of the recovery package would means lower spending.

STA, 30 September 2020 - Slovenia reached a new record in daily coronavirus cases, as 203 tested positive on Tuesday in a total of 3,391 tests, while one Covid-19 patient died, the government said on Wednesday. The share of positive tests was 5.99%, according to the national Covid-19 tracker Sledilnik.

There were 1,736 active coronavirus infection in Slovenia on Tuesday, according Sledilnik, with 86 people requiring hospital care, of whom 16 were in intensive care.

The most recent data bring the total count of positive cases to 5,690 and the death tally to 150.

Yesterday, once again, the highest number of new cases was confirmed in Ljubljana (37), followed by Kranj with 9 cases.

Meanwhile, Črna na Koroškem in the north remains the community with the highest share of SARS-CoV-2 infections per capita (1.219%).

There are currently 40 active infections in Črna na Koroškem after the local centre for persons with disabilities became a Covid-19 hotspot, with 45 users and 15 members of staff testing positive.

Coronavirus infection were also confirmed in several staff members and patients at the regional hospital in Slovenj Gradec.

There, four staff member have contracted the virus, all of them in their home environment, the hospital said on Wednesday. Eight employees are quarantining.

Moreover, two patients have also tested positive, both contracting the virus at home. Staff members who were tested following this have all been negative.

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STA, 30 September 2020 - The government gave its final nod late on Tuesday to the fifth stimulus package designed to help alleviate the consequences of the coronavirus crisis. The government already endorsed the package last week, albeit the bill had not yet been finalised.

The press release issued by the government after a correspondence session late last night indicated no major changes to the previous version of the bill.

This comes a week after trade unions protested that the bill had not been coordinated with them. Meanwhile, employers expressed satisfaction with the measures planned.

Filed into procedure by the Ministry of Labour, the Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, the bill entails measures for healthcare, labour, social security, economy, education, justice, criminal sanctions, agriculture and infrastructure.

Above all, the bill is to extend the crisis measures for businesses, such as furlough funding and 100% pay compensation for those ordered to quarantine after being exposed to coronavirus positive person at their workplace.

The furlough funding has been extended until the end of the year but is now tied to more restrictions.

Meanwhile, sole proprietors and micro companies will once again be eligible to monthly income compensation, the press release said.

The bill will also allow temporary staff reshuffles at elderly nursing homes to help the homes cope in case of outbreaks, and introduce an additional bonus for staff, among other things.

To lessen the workload of GPs, the bill introduces the option of sick leave of up to three days without a visit to the doctor.

Moreover, the bill also ensures funding for personal protective equipment and sanitation in schools and preschools, while parents of children in quarantine will receive a lower preschool bill.

STA, 29 September 2020 - The National Assembly has passed legislation that will close stores on Sundays and public holidays with the exception of small shops at places such as service stations, airports, hospitals and other small shops where the customers will be served by proprietors themselves with the assistance of students and pensioners.

The amendments to the retail act, sponsored by the opposition Left, were passed by 72 votes to 13 on Tuesday with bi-partisan support with notable exception of the liberal coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC) and the National Party (SNS).

"The sector employs some 115,000 people, part of whom must work Sundays, which means they cannot spend the day with their families," the Left's Luka Mesec argued when first presenting the bill, proposed in response to the Labour Day call by the Trade Union of Workers in the Trade Sector to keep stores closed on Sundays for good.

This was after the government imposed a temporary ban on Sunday shopping as part of the measures to stem the spread of coronavirus in March.

The original plan was to have the permanent ban enacted by the summer, but coalition amendments adopted just before parliament went into recess meant the bill did not proceed to third reading before the government's temporary Sunday shopping ban has already been lifted.

The amendments will come into effect 15 days after being published in the Official Gazette.

They mean retailers will no longer be able to keep stores open on Sundays, except for shops of up to 200 square metres at service stations, border crossings, ports, airports, train and bus stations and hospitals.

Other shops of such size will be allowed to be open on Sundays and public holidays only if on those days the customers are served by the owners or their representatives, students and pensioners.

In a 2003 referendum more than 57% voted in favour of a ban on Sunday shopping.

The government does not support the ban, with the Economy Ministry arguing that retail was a strategic sector of the Slovenian economy and expressing concern about the impact of the ban on the sector, jobs, suppliers and tourist centres.

Instead, the government argued for the trade union and employers to reach a solution in dialogue. The currently valid collective bargaining agreement provides for most stores to be closed on all 15 public holidays and limits Sunday opening times to 12 Sundays a year.

The Chamber of Commerce has been opposed to the ban, arguing that closing shops on Sunday would lead to layoffs. It has also raised the possibility that it will challenge the ban at the Constitutional Court.

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Janša sees Slovenia among 15 most competitive countries

LJUBLJANA - Addressing an AmCham event, PM Janez Janša said Slovenia had the potential to become one of the 15 most competitive countries in the world, which could be achieved by improving the supporting system for business, de-bureaucratisation and a more efficient public sector. He noted the country ranked 35th among 63 countries in the latest IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, but given its potential it could easily rank much higher. He assessed Slovenia lagged in terms of the support environment provided by the state.

Janša says stricter measures not needed at the moment

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša said that despite a higher number of Covid-19 cases than in the first wave, hospitalisation figures in Slovenia were still manageable and did not yet call for stricter measures. Addressing an AmCham Slovenia event, he said Slovenia was still in "the orange zone". The government has already drawn up plans for the future and will present them beforehand, with the measures also depending on hospital bed occupancy numbers.

99 test positive for coronavirus in 2,382 tests on Monday

LJUBLJANA - A total of 99 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 were confirmed in 2,382 tests on Monday, while no deaths were recorded, show most recent data released by the government. The national Covid-19 tracker site shows there were 1,656 active cases in Slovenia, with 84 patients requiring hospital care, including 16 in intensive care. The figures indicate Slovenia is flattening the curve of contagion, after a record 192 new cases on Thursday.

Logar talks shared 2021 EU presidency in Portugal

LISBON, Portugal - Foreign minister Anže Logar and his Portuguese counterpart Augusto Santos Silva discussed their countries' upcoming stints at the presidency of the Council of the EU as Logar Lisbon. The ministers agreed that both countries shared views on many European and international issues, including the need for the EU's solidarity, unity and resilience in face of current and future global challenges. Portugal will hold the presidency in the first half of 2021 and Slovenia in the second.

PM to seek agriculture minister's dismissal

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša agreed with coalition partners to ask parliament to dismiss Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec after she declined to step down herself. Announcing the decision after a meeting of coalition parties, Tomaž Gantar, Pivec's interim replacement as the leader of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), said he expected the National Assembly to take a vote on Pivec's dismissal next week. The date is to be determined at a meeting of deputy faction leaders on Friday.

Minister Černač advocates flexible cohesion policy

LJUBLJANA - Zvonko Černač, the minister without portfolio for development and European cohesion policy, called for a flexible, simplified and goal-oriented approach to cohesion policy in the EU's next multi-annual financial framework, as he addressed a high-level debate hosted by the German EU presidency. "We need to understand that member states have individual needs when it comes to recovery and future investments. National authorities know best which individual sectors have been hit hardest, which is why bureaucracy cannot judge what the most important things are for an individual country," he said.

Amendments passed to improve social security of soldiers

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed changes to the defence act, allowing some soldiers to stay on duty even after turning 45, while others will be employed by other state bodies without a pay cut. The changes were passed with the support of opposition Social Democrats (SD), Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) and National Party (SNS). The amendments simplify reassignment of service members over the age of 45 to other state bodies and introduce several other solutions aimed at increasing the appeal of the military profession.

Parliament enacts Sunday shopping ban

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed legislation that will close stores on Sundays and public holidays with the exception of small shops at places such as service stations, airports, train and bus stations and in hospitals and other small shops where the customers will be served by proprietors themselves with the assistance of students and pensioners. The amendments to the retail act, sponsored by the opposition Left, were passed by 72 votes to 13 with bipartisan support.

Parliament amends prosecution act

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed amendments to the state prosecution act under which a prosecutor's decision to dismiss charges for offences carrying more than three years in prison will have to be signed off by the head of the prosecution service. For offences carrying prison sentences of eight or more years, the head of the prosecution will need to consult two other prosecutors before endorsing the decision of the prosecutor in charge of the case. This is when the prosecutor has found no signs of criminal offence alleged or no reasonable suspicion the alleged act has been committed.

Slovenian-Chinese business council set up at GZS

LJUBLJANA - A Slovenian-Chinese business council was set up at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) on Monday to strengthen cooperation and business relations between the two countries. More than 30 founding members decided for the move to create better conditions for strengthening the ties and friendship between Slovenia and China, and help companies access the Chinese market. "It is essential for Slovenian companies to cooperate with the world; being involved in international business operations is key for creating added value," GZS director general Sonja Šmuc was quoted as saying.

No interest in Adria Airways brand

BRNIK - The brand of the bankrupt Slovenian air carrier Adria Airways has attracted no interest even after the asking price was halved to EUR 50,000 in the second attempt to sell the brand. No bidder paid the EUR 10,000 security deposit by 11am on Tuesday, the official receiver Janez Pustatičnik told the STA after the deadline passed on Monday at midnight. So far only the air carrier's operating licence has been sold, for EUR 45,000, but the buyer, Air Adriatic, has been granted an extension to revive it.

Trade union wants free face masks for everyone in education

LJUBLJANA - The SVIZ trade union of teachers called on the government to provide face masks for all participants in the education process, from kindergarten to university, in the fifth stimulus package. The union also called on the government to hire more staff to lift the burden off the "tired and overburdened staff at kindergartens and schools". It denied claims by PM Janez Janša that the trade union opposed the wearing of masks at kindergartens and schools.

Survey shows some 6% do not wear masks where required

LJUBLJANA - A survey conducted by Mediana suggests Slovenians usually wear masks but do not agree on whether these should remain mandatory in schools. Nine out of ten respondents said they usually wear masks where mandatory or recommended, and nearly 70% said they always put on a mask in such situations and a quarter said they do usually. However, 4% said they usually do not wear a mask when required, while nearly 2% said they never wear a mask. Nearly 50% believe masks should no longer be mandatory at schools, while 30% believe the reverse.

Slovenia observes first Intl Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia marked the first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste with the main message from NGOs being that consumers will have to change their habits and attitude towards food to generate less food waste and thus protect the environment as well as natural resources. To mark the event, the Slovenian Consumer Association (ZPS) signed a statement with other stakeholders, from the state administration and business organisations on cooperation in reducing food loss and waste.

A third of govt tourist vouchers redeemed

LJUBLJANA - More than 820,000 electronic tourist vouchers worth over EUR 113 million, a third of the total sum available, were partly or fully redeemed until Monday, data from the Financial Administration show. The Economy Ministry said a recent survey had shown 90% of Slovenian residents intended to spend the vouchers by the deadline at the end of the year. The poll, carried out by Valicon between 18 and 21 September, showed 36% had already spent their vouchers, whereas 50% still intended to do so.

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STA, 29 September 2020 - The Technology Park Ljubljana (Tehnološki park Ljubljana) a tech, startup and scaleup community that involves over 300 member companies, innovative teams, and individuals, is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The project, whose first contours were drawn at the Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS) in 1994, has helped develop a number services that have consolidated Slovenia's position on the map of technological innovation.

While more than 1,500 people are connected to its work, the centre itself employs 18 people and is a non-profit organisation.

Its biggest owner is the Ljubljana municipality, while other owners include the IJS, the Chemical Institute, the National Institute for Biology, as well as telecoms equipment maker Iskratel, electronics company Iskra and pharma company Lek.

The main fields of interest are automation, biotechnology, medicine, digital media, finance, industrial technology, information and communication technology, creative industries, the environment and energy, trade and life sciences.

Announcing the celebration plans, Technology Park Ljubljana director Jernej Pintar has told the STA the focus will not be on ceremonies but on presenting new services and products and highlighting the importance of technology for everyday life.

Pintar argued the global success of the companies involved was testimony to the good work of the Technology Park Ljubljana. He pointed to the potential harboured by cooperation, highlighting a recent effort to manufacture a ventilator as an example.

"We hadn't produced them in Slovenia, we also did not know much about them, so we basically started from scratch," he said, explaining a working prototype was developed to the surprise of everyone involved in only three weeks.

"This is an unbelievable demonstration of how erudite Slovenian engineers are what we can achieve when we join forces," Pintar said.

Among future goals, he noted that development achievement also need to turn into business products. "In Slovenia this still happens too rarely. Those who did succeed have shown its possible."

Pintar moreover announced a project involving mentorship for students by some of the world's leading experts, as well as the launch of three co-working spaces in Ljubljana.

STA, 29 September 2020 - A total of 99 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 were confirmed in 2,382 tests on Monday. No deaths were recorded yesterday, according to the most recent data released by the government.

The national Covid-19 tracker Sledilnik says that there were 1,656 active cases in Slovenia in Monday, with 84 patients requiring hospital care, while 16 were in intensive care.

The figures indicate that Slovenia is flattening the curve of contagion, after a record 192 new cases were detected on Thursday and the share of positive cases in total tests performed on a single day climbed to a record 8.24% on Saturday, while on Monday it was 4.16%.

In total, Slovenia has recorded 5,487 coronavirus cases and 149 SARS-CoV-2 deaths.

Janša says stricter measures not needed at the moment

STA, 29 September 2020 - Prime Minister Janez Janša said on Tuesday that despite a higher number of Covid-19 cases than in the first wave, hospitalisation figures in Slovenia were still manageable and did not yet call for stricter measures. Speaking at an AmCham Slovenia event, he announced a plan for different future scenarios would be presented shortly.

At the meeting, which focused on key challenges and reforms ahead for Slovenia and its role in the EU, Janša said that Slovenia was still in "the orange zone".

He said the government had already drawn up plans for the future, with the measures also depending on hospital bed occupancy numbers. On Monday, 84 Covid-19 patients were hospitalised, with 16 receiving intensive care.

Responding to criticism of some of the government's actions, Janša said much had been learned in the spring. "If we hadn't learned, the situation would be much more critical today," he said.

He added health and social welfare establishments had also managed to keep infections at bay much better now than at the beginning. There are still some problem points, but the reason mostly lies in people not keeping to the measures. However, the situation is still manageable without stricter measures, Janša argued.

Commenting on the contact tracing app, whose wide use he had said was the only path to a normal functioning of society until vaccination, the prime minister acknowledged that wide and effective use has not happened.

He argued this was also the result of the app being voluntary. Given Slovenia's location in the centre of Europe, the app would function better if it was pan-European, Janša says, expressing regret the EU failed to come to an agreement on this.

While the app is producing some results, these are not enough to be an alternative to the measures. This is why we wear masks, keep a distance and have other restrictions. This is causing debate, but many of these restrictions would not be needed if the app were used and existing measures were respected more consistently, Janša assessed.

He meanwhile pointed the government's latest stimulus package, announcing that after the vaccine stops the pandemic, additional targeted measures would follow for sectors that will need longer to recover. He feels this will be a much smaller problem, as optimism will be driving European and global economy forward then and everything will be easier.

Man gets into a fist fight with security guard over face masks

STA, 29 September 2020 - A man got into a fist fight with a security guard in one of Ljubljana's shops on Saturday after the security guard warned him and his family that they need to wear face masks if they want to enter the shop.

A couple with a child entered the shop in the Šiška borough without face masks, which are obligatory in all enclosed public areas in Slovenia.

After the security guard asked them to put face masks on or leave the area, the woman followed his instructions, while the man punched the security guard in the face.

According to the Ljubljana police department, the security guard then attempted to keep the man in place for disobeying his warning and attacking him, but the man resisted and started beating the security guard until another security guard intervened.

During the fight, the stroller that the man was holding overturned, but the child did not fall out or got injured.

The injured security guard was rushed to the hospital, police said, adding that investigation is under way.

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