STA, 2 July 2020 - Croatia, France and Czechia will be removed on Saturday from the green list of countries considered epidemiologically safe by Slovenia, government coronavirus spokesperson Jelko Kacin said on Thursday. Belgium and the Netherlands will on the other hand be green-listed. Kacin also announced efforts to serve quarantine orders already on the border.

Being put on the yellow list means that most foreign citizens arriving in Slovenia from these countries need to subject themselves to a two-week quarantine, while this does not apply to Slovenians [ed. or those with a residence card] returning from yellow-listed countries.

Kacin said that the SarS-CoV-2 situation was improving in some countries, in particular in western Europe, with the the number of infected persons falling below 10 per 100,000 inhabitants. This is why Belgium and the Netherlands will be put on the green list.

However, there are also countries where things are deteriorating, which is why the government is to decide at today's correspondence session that Croatia, Czechia and France be put on the yellow list, effective Saturday.

Kacin said that Slovenians returning from Croatia will not have to go into isolation, but he stressed they would be asked at the border if they are really returning from Croatia and not from other Western Balkan countries that are on the red list and entail quarantine in Slovenia also for Slovenian citizens.

"There has been too much misleading. Police will get instructions and our travellers should get ready to reveal a little more about where they have been," Kacin said, explaining it will also be necessary to provide evidence.

He again urged against travel to Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina or Kosovo, where the virus is spreading fast. "Everywhere where they had elections and election rallies, the number of infected persons is rising," he added.

As for Croatian citizens planning a holiday in Slovenia, Kacin said that bookings made before Saturday will allow a holiday without quarantine.

Kacin moreover announced the government would examine today the border regime with a focus on putting in place conditions for the effective serving of quarantine orders and strict controls at entry points into Slovenia.

"The government will do all it can so that these quarantine orders are served already on the border to prevent delays and have everybody informed - the National Institute of Public Health, the Health Ministry, the health inspection and, if needed, the police as well," Kacin said, explaining those affected will have to drive directly to their quarantine location.

Referring to administrative rules that have been preventing an effective serving of quarantine orders and thereby enforcement, he said "it will no longer be the case that the quarantine passes before people even receive the order". He added the relevant ministries and other institutions have until Saturday to organise and adapt.

Kacin said more oversight will also be necessary at health institutions and nursing homes and that instructions will be sent out on Friday on how to avoid infections there.

He did not directly comment on Moravče Mayor Milan Balažic issuing today a decree that prohibits any public gatherings as well as private parties or Church mass in this municipality north-east of Ljubljana.

He said the government is trying to prevent the entering of the virus from abroad, expecting the measures to be effective and thus eliminate any need for individual mayors to take action. "But if such gatherings are really happening in their territory, we understand people's concern," Kacin added.

STA, 1 July - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek does not intend to step down following yesterday's house searches related to an investigation into alleged wrongdoing in the procurement of medical and personal protective equipment during the epidemic. He told the press today that he had Prime Minister Janez Janša's full support to carry on.

The Modern Centre Party (SMC) leader also said he was not indifferent to the probe, but had cooperated with the police investigators and had provided all the evidence. He expects them to do their work constructively and promptly.

The minister was not surprised by the investigation, saying it was a result of all the pressure, political manoeuvring and insinuations that has appeared in the public.

"I'm not going to apologise for the decisions I took during the epidemic to prevent the loss of lives, but will defend them everywhere and always."

Except for a tweet on Tuesday evening, this is Počivalšek's first statement after Tuesday's house searches. He denied reports he had been detained, saying he had merely been deprived of his liberty for the duration of the searches in line with standard procedure.

The minister insisted that the government had merely pursued the goal of securing enough equipment, which was vitally needed during the epidemic. Even though conditions were tough and a state of emergency reigned, all actions were legal and transparent, he said.

"We've been witnessing a persistent and political distorting of basic and objective data to an extent where our successful fight with the epidemic has been completely devalued before the Slovenian public," he said, arguing this might benefit some political groups but not the country.

Announcing full cooperation, Počivalšek said he took the investigation "seriously and above all with the awareness and understanding that the institutions in charge need to do their job".

The minister believes the agony around the procurement during the crisis will continue until all institutions present their findings. He added that presumption of innocence was a principle that seemed to be overlooked often in these times.

Počivalšek also said he had managed to talk with some SMC members after the police probe to establish there was even more determination now to move forward together.

He expressed regret Aleš Hojs resigned as interior minister because of the investigation, saying they had cooperated well in the government.

All our stories on the PPE scandal in Slovenia

STA, 2 July 2020 - Out of 1,198 coronavirus tests conducted on Wednesday, 21 came back positive, the highest daily figure since 16 April when Slovenia recorded 36 new cases. Nine persons were in hospital, one more than the day before. None required intensive care, show latest government data.

There were no Covid-19 fatalities recorded yesterday. The national death toll thus remains at 111.

The total of estimated active cases is 122, according to the national Covid-19 tracker site data.

On Wednesday, five new cases were confirmed in Ljubljana, five in Ravne na Koroškem (N), four in Dravograd (N), and one each in seven other municipalities.

In the past week, Slovenia saw 87 new cases. A total of 140 infections were confirmed in June, whereas only 34 in May, show the Health Ministry data as reported by public broadcaster RTV Slovenija.

The government's chief Covid-19 advisor Bojana Beović told Radio Slovenija today that the bulk of new cases continue to be imported, although the virus is also spreading within the country, the source of which cannot be established.

"Those who bring the infection from abroad, generate additional cases here, in the family, working environments. It's a cause for great concern," she said.

Beović said that those who were getting ill with Covid-19 in the past few days "were mostly not members of high risk groups. However, recently a more severe case has emerged as well".

The virus has been spreading among the younger generations mostly - on Wednesday, six infections were confirmed among people aged 15-24, seven among those aged 25-34 and three among those aged 35-44.

However, Beović warned that the young could develop a more severe form of the disease as well, not to mention that they could pass the virus on to older relatives.

Eva Grilc of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) also expressed concern over the developments today.

The NIJZ has detected two hotspots so far; one each in the Štajerska region in the north-east and Koroška region in the north.

The Štajerska hotspot has been triggered by imported cases from Serbia, whereas the Koroška one is a result of imported infections from Bosnia-Herzegovina, reads a NIJZ press release.

Meanwhile, Mateja Logar of the UKC Ljubljana clinic for infectious diseases told RTV Slovenija that the situation was very serious for the virus had been spreading within the population and the cases were no longer merely imported.

"It is no longer possible to always know from whom the person contracted the virus," she said, adding that contact tracing had been thus made more difficult.

In recent days, an adult working at a kindergarten in Oplotnica near Maribor tested positive. The kindergarten has implemented all the required precaution measures and informed the parents of the developments, said the municipality.

The infected person as well as 18 children who were in contact with her have been quarantined.

According to a media report, another infection at kindergarten was confirmed in a student who was helping at a kindergarten in Ljubljana.

The student stayed at home as soon as it turned out she might be infected, while 21 children and two employees were sent into a two-week quarantine.

The total number of infections confirmed so far in Slovenia stands at 1,633, after one of the previous cases has been removed from the case count since further testing failed to confirm the infection.

Poll shows growing concern as Covid-19 count increases

STA, 1 July 2020 - A recent poll by Valicon shows a significant change in public opinion as the number of confirmed daily Covid-19 cases has increased again in Slovenia, with the share of concerned people increasing and reaching the level from the end of April.

While in mid-June the share of concerned respondents was 47%, at the end of June it was again at 67%, which is the highest share recorded since the end of April.

Valicon attributes the growing concern to concern about the family and personal health, which is again getting into focus.

Perhaps the most telling information is that "concern that the situation could last for a long time" has given way to concern for the economy, the pollster said on Wednesday.

What is even more drastic is the assessment of the developments, as 55% of the people polled said the things were turning for the worse, which compares to only 11% two weeks ago.

The current situation is normal or rather normal to less than a quarter of the 529 participants in the latest #Newnormality poll between 24 and 29 June, down from two-fifths from mid-June.

Some 35% said that the situation was "acceptable and bearable", up five percentage points, while the share of those who think that the circumstances are unpleasant was up by ten points to 34%.

There is also a shift in the perception of the government's anti-epidemic measures. The share of those who think they are too strict was down by 11 percentage points to 22%, the lowest since the end of March.

The share of respondents who think the measures are not strict enough was meanwhile up from 14% in mid-June to 32%, the highest share since the end of March.

All our stories on coronavirus and Slovenia

STA, 1 July 2020 - Slovenia's former Ambassador to Switzerland Marta Kos has told the newspaper Dnevnik that she resigned on Monday because of diverging views on how the embassy should be run and foreign policy led. She also confirmed that the resignation was linked to recent oversight by the Foreign Ministry of her management of the Embassy in Bern.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed for Dnevnik that a four-week extraordinary oversight of Kos's work had been conducted at the Embassy in Bern between late May and mid-June.

It was launched after the staff complained that the embassy was not run adequately. These allegations have persisted since she served as ambassador in Berlin, the ministry said.

The oversight report was given to Foreign Minister Anže Logar and to Kos. The ministry did not want to elaborate on the contents of the report, Dnevnik said.

Kos's resignation, sent out on Monday, took effect on Tuesday.

Kos, who is not a career diplomat, was appointed ambassador to Switzerland in September 2017 and her term would have expired in July 2021. Before Bern, she was ambassador to Germany.

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:

Počivalšek will not resign, wants prompt and professional investigation

LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek does not intend to step down following Tuesday's house searches related to an investigation into alleged wrongdoing in the procurement of medical supplies and personal protective equipment during the epidemic. He told the press today he had PM Janez Janša's full support to carry on, while his Modern Centre Party (SMC) is also strongly behind him. He said he had fully cooperated with the police and expected them to do their work promptly and professionally and without apparent political motivation. "I'm not going to apologise for the decisions I took during the epidemic to prevent the loss of lives, but will defend them everywhere and always," he said.

NBI director denies house searches politically motivated

LJUBLJANA - The director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Igor Lamberger, rejected the allegation by now outgoing Interior Minister Aleš Hojs that Tuesday's house searches related to the procurement of medical and protective equipment were politically motivated. The police investigators have proved that they are guided exclusively by the principles of legality and expertise, he told the news portal 24ur.com. He said that police investigators "are unbiased in their work no mater who is a suspect". He recalled the NBI had launched the investigation on the basis of a report it received in April. "I stand behind by employees and given their professional work, I see no reason for my resignation," said Lamberger, who was appointed acting NBI boss under the Janez Janša government in early May. Hojs's statements were also strongly criticised by police associations and trade unions. Political analyst Alem Maksuti meanwhile said that Hojs's resignation was a carefully crafted manoeuvre designed to divert attention and that by resigning, Hojs protected Prime Minister Janez Janša.

Andrej Jurič appointed acting police commissioner

LJUBLJANA - The government appointed late on Tuesday Andrej Jurič acting police commissioner effective from 1 July to replace Anton Travner, who handed his resignation along with Interior Minister Aleš Hojs. Jurič has been with the police force since 1986, serving as commander of the Trbovlje Police Station and the Ljubljana Traffic Police Station and most recently as a senior inspector at the Centre for Minor Offence Cases at the Uniformed Police Directorate of the General Police Department.

13 new infections as concern raised about secondary cases

LJUBLJANA - The government's chief Covid-19 adviser Bojana Beović raised concern about the emergence of secondary infections in Slovenia as well as cases without no apparent source as cases are rising exponentially. She told the government press briefing that she was worried Slovenia might close down its borders too late, while she said the advisory team she heads were divided on whether to close the border to the Balkans. This was after Slovenia recorded 13 new cases across the country for Tuesday, bringing the tally of estimated active cases to 110, and the total case count to 1,613.

Janša says EU multi-year budget must be adopted before break

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša reiterated the need for the EU to adopt the next multi-year budget before the summer break as he talked to EU Council President Jean Michel in a videoconference. He warned that the current, relatively advantageous situation, as far as the coronavirus pandemic went, might be misleading as everything could change very quickly. Janša believes the EU must focus on the key recovery package, meaning aid to those member states that have been hit worst and have the poorest recovery outlook. He also expressed support for additional cohesion policy measures, rural development and the fair transition fund.

Logar defends president's wreath laying in Basovizza

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar told the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee that he did not understand the disquiet around the 13 July Trieste meeting of President Borut Pahor with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, who will also pay tribute to Italian victims of post-WWII killings. Quizzed by a SocDem MP on the matter, Logar said that the meeting, taking place 100 years to the day after Fascists burnt down the National Hall, a community centre built by the Slovenians in Trieste, was "extremely symbolical" and would mean the two countries "turning a new leaf" in their relations.

Slovenia joins EU statement on new Hong Kong law

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia joined the EU's declaration which expresses the bloc's concern with China's 30 June adoption of a law which curbs Hong Kong's autonomy as well as rights and freedoms of its residents. The document urges preserving Hong Kong's high-degree autonomy as set down in the Hong Kong basic law and China's international commitments, the Foreign Ministry told the STA. The EU maintains that in line with the assurances China gave in the past, rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents should be fully protected, and the rule of law and human rights not violated.

Resignation of Ambassador Kos linked to internal oversight

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's former Ambassador to Switzerland Marta Kos told the newspaper Dnevnik that she had resigned on Monday because of diverging views on how the embassy should be run and foreign policy led. She also confirmed the resignation was linked to the Foreign Ministry's recent oversight of her management of the Embassy in Bern. The ministry told Dnevnik oversight had been launched after the staff complained the embassy was not run adequately. These allegations have persisted since she served as ambassador in Berlin, it added. Kos's resignation took effect on Tuesday.

Iskratel acquired by Austria's S&T

KRANJ, Slovenia/LINZ, Austria - The Slovenian telecoms equipment maker Iskratel, which has been looking for a strategic partner for a while, was acquired by the Austrian group S&T under a EUR 37.5 million deal, signed on Tuesday. The transaction is expected to be finalised in the autumn as it awaits regulatory approval. The Iskratel group, which last year generated EUR 115 million in revenue, has been guaranteed to be able to keep its identity and brand as part of the S&T group.

Lindab closing down Slovenia subsidiary

IDRIJA - Swedish multinational Lindab will close down the IMP Klima Group, its Slovenian-based cooling arm that it acquired in 2015 from industrial conglomerate Hidria. The decision will affect 212 jobs in Slovenia and 14 in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina by the end of the year. Lindab cited fierce market competition, losses recorded by IMP Klima for several years in a row and a further deterioration due to the coronavirus crisis as the reasons for its decision announced on Tuesday.

Slovenian Sovereign Holding chairman Gabrijel Škof resigns

LJUBLJANA - Gabrijel Škof resigned as the chairman of Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH), the custodian of state assets. He cited personal reasons, saying he would focus on new challenges. The holding will be now temporarily headed by Igor Kržan, a member of the supervisory board. Škof took over as SSH chairman on 1 October 2019, replacing Kržan, who was in charge temporarily following the resignation of chairwoman Lidija Glavina. Škof said in a written statement that he was leaving SSH in a stable condition, showing good results and having met all the managerial goals.

TEŠ takes first step to get permit for waste co-incineration

ŠOŠTANJ - The TEŠ coal-fired power station from Šoštanj has sent the Environment Agency an environmental impact assessment report related to its plan to introduce co-incineration of solid recovered fuel (SRF) obtained from non-hazardous waste, thus officially launching the relevant procedure. The plan to introduce co-incineration of waste at TEŠ's newest generator, an investment estimated at EUR 6-10 million. TEŠ director general Viktor Vračar said the co-incineration plan is acceptable, as it would not worsen the existing environmental situation in the Šalek Valley.

TI Slovenia presents new tool for keeping track of lobbying

LJUBLJANA - Transparency International (TI) Slovenia has launched a new website called Integrity Watch, featuring tools for keeping track of lobbying contacts of the government and parliament, and business restrictions that apply for them. The NGO hopes the tool will improve transparency in decision-making and strengthen political integrity, thus increasing people's trust in state institutions. The tool makes it possible to select and filter data, make charts and analyse the results.

Free bus and train rides for pensioners

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's pensioners, people with disabilities and war veterans are entitled to free intercity bus and train rides from 1 July in line with changes to the road traffic act that were passed unanimously in October 2019. Some 600,000 persons are eligible for free public intercity bus and rail services, but they are required to submit an application to make use of the benefit. Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec has indicated he will seek to expand free rides to city transit services.

Beethoven music opens Ljubljana Festival

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Festival opened with Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Piano Concerto No. 3. Conducted by Charles Dutoit, the opening concert featured Slovenia's lading pianist Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak, the orchestra and choir of the Slovenian Philharmonic, and the Megaron choir, and soloists Sabina Cvilak, Monika Bohinec, Egils Silins and Rodrigo Porras Garulo. The 68th summer festival will be running in Ljubljana until 30 August.

Exhibition at Ljubljana Castle marks 40 years of Laibach

LJUBLJANA - An exhibition of posters for Laibach concerts, theatrical performances, films and exhibitions dubbed Liberty Leads the People will open at Ljubljana Castle tonight to mark the 40th anniversary of the internationally acclaimed Slovenian art and music group. It is not widely known that since their inception in 1980 Laibach have been creating works of art, visual pieces such as posters, paintings, woodcuts, installations, videos, performances and artistic magazine projects, known as Laibach Kunst.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

The Sava Dolinka and Sava Bohinjka confluence in Lancovo by Radovljica has been a local recreational and fishing spot for as long as people can remember, helping to maintain the high quality of life for the those who live there.

The area is not only a place of great natural beauty, but also an ecologically important one and a spawning ground for indigenous fish.

Now an investor has shown up who is planning to “develop” the spot into a profitable tourist centre. Within the confluence area the investor plans to construct an artificial lake, apartment blocks, catering facility, picnic places, toilets, 62 spaces for caravans and parking lots. The plan also includes multi-purpose playgrounds and recreational facilities.

These plans did not make the locals very happy, so they started a "Save the confluence" petition, whose purpose is to stop the Tourist and Recreation Center Lancovo project, which would deprive the public of access to the natural attractions. The goal of is for concerned citizens to gain the right to participate in the planning of construction projects that will interfere with their living space and thus prevent the destruction of nature, and so protect the quality of life in the area.

To add your name to the petition click here.

STA, 1 July - The Ljubljana Festival will start this evening to the joy of both the audience and performers, who will be able to take the stage despite the many restrictions due to the coronavirus situation. The festival will open with the sounds of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Piano Concerto No. 3.

Conducted by Charles Dutoit, the opening concert will feature the first lady of the Slovenian pianist Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak, the orchestra and choir of the Slovenian Philharmonics, and the Megaron choir and soloists Sabina Cvilak, Monika Bohinec, Egils Silins and Rodrigo Porras Garulo.

The award-winning Swiss conductor told the press on Tuesday he was happy that the Ljubljana Festival did not share the fate of most other festivals around the world that had been cancelled because of coronavirus.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's birth but most events have been cancelled, except those in Ljubljana, "so I'm extremely happy to be here", he said.

Darko Brlek, the festival's director and artistic director, has recently told the STA that the coronavirus situation has affected mainly large multinational ensembles because of "mobility and such". Thus, the Bolshoi Theatre will not be able to play its Fidelio in Ljubljana.

But the festival has instead managed to attract artists that have been on its wish-list for years, including Austrian-Russian soprano Netrebko and German tenor Jonas Kaufman, he said.

According to him, the highlights of the festival will be a concert marking the 90th birthday of the great Slovenian pop music composer Mojmir Sepe, operettas Gräfin Mariza and Die Fledermaus, ballet performances Falling Angels and the Corsair, opera Nabucco, a concert by I Solisti Veneti, the musical Lolita from St Petersburg and Beethoven's violin sonatas performed by Slovenian violinist Lana Trotovšek and Spanish pianist Maria Canyigueral.

The closing event will be a concert by the La Scala orchestra from Milan.

The festival's main venue will be Congress Square, where preventive measures can be implemented more easily, while some events will be held at the Križanke open-air venue, and some in Cankarjev Dom.

The 68th summer festival will be filling the evenings in the centre of Ljubljana with classical music until 30 August.

You can see the full the progamme, and book tickets here. Some shows are already sold out

STA, 1 July 2020 - Representatives of police officers are very critical of Interior Minister Aleš Hojs for claiming that the police force was being run by the deep state as he resigned on Tuesday. They have dismissed the claims as inappropriate and insulting and called on the outgoing minister to apologise.

While accepting the resignation of Police Commissioner Anton Travner and resigning himself after an investigation had been launched into ventilator procurement, Hojs said that the police were serving the deep state.

Interior Minister, Police Commissioner Resign, Move Linked to Procurement Scandal

"It will be hard to convince me that this is not a political police force," said the minister, whose resignation letter also speaks of structures that are allegedly still linked to the Communist secret service UDBA and the Communist Party.

In its response, the Association of Criminal Police Officers called on Hojs yesterday to apologise for the uttered "insults and accusations" and "completely unproven constructs".

"As professionals, we are not interested in political developments and politicking, and we will not let ourselves be turned into a playground for political games," the association added.

Its president Slavko Koroš said that certain politicians had been attacking the police for a while, in particular criminal police and specific criminal police officers.

"The attacks, insults and accusations have gained new proportions with the statements by Minister Hojs as he listed the reasons for his resignation," he added.

According to Koroš, criminal police officers have never bothered dealing with the question who will be the interior minister and which party they will come from.

"The only wish is that we are able to investigate criminal acts lawfully and without political intrigue, regardless of the status of the suspects," he said in reference to Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek being temporarily detained yesterday.

The association also dismissed the claim about the structures linked to UDBA, saying that in 30 years of independent Slovenia, the police had been completely overhauled staff-wise.

The Police Trade Union (SPS), one of the two police trade unions, labelled on Wednesday Hojs's statements as inappropriate and insulting to all police employees.

"Police officers are not guided in their work by any obscure forces, but only out objectivity and search for material truth under the principles of the profession," it added.

Regardless of whether certain groups or individuals like it or not, police officers perform their duties without bias and fairly, and enjoy an exceptionally high reputation among citizens, the SPS added.

The Police Trade Union of Slovenia (PSS) already said yesterday that the statements were completely unfounded, and detrimental for all police employees. It expects that the outgoing minister will apologise.

This was echoed by the Association of Police Chiefs, which also noted that at the recent ceremony marking Police Day, Hojs had commended the work and sacrifice made by police officers, including criminal police.

The association added that it strongly condemned Hojs's statements and that it was deeply disappointed, asking the minister to apologise for the "unfounded allegations which are detrimental for all employees in the Slovenian police."

It said that the police had made much progress in recent years in professionalising employees, raising ethical standards and strengthening personal and organisational integrity.

Speaking of this are also public opinion polls, which suggest a high level of reputation. "Public opinion therefore does not confirm the subjective and, to a certain measure, insulting statements by the outgoing minister," the statement concludes.

STA, 1 July 2020 - The Slovenian telecoms equipment maker Iskratel, which has been looking for a strategic partner for a while, has been acquired by the Austrian group S&T. The deal, worth EUR 37.5 million, is expected to be finalised in the autumn as it awaits regulatory approval.

The S&T group, a global IT consulting, solutions and services provider based in Linz, signed the contract to take over the outright stake in the Kranj-based group on Tuesday, Iskratel has announced.

The Iskratel group, which last year generated EUR 115 million in revenue, has been guaranteed to be able to keep its identity and brand as part of the S&T group.

The release adds that variable purchase prices had also been agreed depending on profit developments in the next three years.

The companies recognise numerous synergies with the takeover, in particular in the development of 5G networks, solutions for industry 4.0, digital transformation of industry verticals and next-generation optical broadband networks.

Opportunities are also seen in the strengthening of the sales network in the Adriatic and Eastern Europe regions, and expansion to the Western European markets.

The takeover concludes a year-long search for a strategic partner which, according to Iskratel, will "enable further growth and development and implementation of the long-term business strategy."

Željko Puljić, the CEO of the company employing 900 people and present in more than 50 countries, said that "faster portfolio development and market penetration ... will be fostered through the combined know-how, innovation drive, sourcing and sales network."

S&T CEO Hannes Niederhauser added that the company "expects to gain an advantage by strengthening our 5G product portfolio", and that, due to the synergies, it would be possible to increase Iskratel's earnings by 10% within the next 2 years.

"With this acquisition, we are positioning ourselves even more strongly for the future in our focus areas of smart factories and train radio for high-speed trains."

S&T employs some 4,900 people and operates in more than 30 countries around the world, as a leading provider of IT services and solutions and supplier of IT systems in Central and Eastern Europe, the release adds.

Commenting on the takeover for the STA, market analyst Lojze Kozole from stock brokerage Ilirika said that Iskratel had made a good deal.

Although financials for 2019 are not yet available, Kozole calculated on the basis of the 2019 figures the company had been sold at a price eight times higher than its EBITDA.

"If the EBITDA trend from the past years continued into 2019, then this is a good price," he said.

STA, 30 June 2020 - Contrary to previous announcements, Slovenia has decided not to delist Croatia as a Covid-19 safe country based on new assessments and steps taken by the country.

Jelko Kacin, the government spokesman, told reporters on Tuesday that even though the number of infections per 100,000 residents in Croatia has exceeded ten a day over the past fortnight, which merits the removal from the list, Slovenia believes Croatia will succeed in slowing down and eventually stopping the spread of infections in the coming days.

This is based on new assessments and Croatia's decision to close night clubs, venues that Kacin yesterday described as a major cause for concern.

"Based on an agreement between the countries' national [public health] institutes and a talk between both prime ministers, the Croatian government decided to adopt Slovenian action patterns and close night clubs as well as cancel such (massive) events," said Kacin, adding that Slovenia had hence come to a conclusion not to delist Croatia "at the moment".

He pointed out that Slovenia had given Croatia a chance to stem the spread of the infections by imposing the measures and thus lead by example among the Western Balkans countries.

Nuška Čakš Jager, the deputy head of the Centre of Infectious Diseases of the National Public Health Institute (NIJZ), earlier told the press that Croatia recorded 10.77 infections per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks.

Kacin pointed out that both countries kept regular contact on a daily basis, highlighting that removing Croatia from the list remained an option. Slovenia will keep closely monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country in cooperation with health experts, said the government spokesman, adding that the coronavirus spread trends were checked twice a day.

Interior Minister Aleš Hojs, who announced his resignation at the press conference, meanwhile said that the government had decided to keep Croatia on the list for now because the removal would "not change a thing for Slovenian citizens".

If Croatia was put on the yellow list, the Slovenian citizens would still be able to return to Slovenia from Croatia without having to quarantine, whereas Croatian citizens wanting to enter Slovenia would face different requirements. Only in case of exceptions they would not be required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

The situation will be re-assessed at the end of the week, Hojs added.

Statements by Croatian and Slovenian officials however indicate that things are not clear-cut at present.

Croatian Interior Minister Davor Božinović told the press he had no knowledge of any promises to Slovenia to close night clubs, nor of any decision by Croatian authorities to do so.

He acknowledged, however, that such a possibility was on the table if night clubs became coronavirus hotspots.

And Slovenian Health Minister Tomaž Gantar told Kanal A in the evening that the decision not to delist Croatia was not prudent and was difficult to understand. "I don't know at which level the decision was taken," he said.

Hojs also commented on the EU list of Covid-19 safe third countries, saying that Slovenia would append a special statement to the document in which the country would state that it reserved the right to keep forming its own green, yellow and red lists.

Member states are expected to lift restrictions on the external border as of 1 July in case of certain third countries based on the list, however Hojs pointed out that the list was merely a set of guidelines and that it was up to individual EU countries to decide upon opening borders to third country citizens.

The EU has set down an average of 16 infections per 100,000 residents over a fortnight as a limit for declaring a country Covid-19 safe.

The NIJZ plans to keep the standard of 10 infections per 100,000 residents for Slovenia will not lower its standards, said Kacin, adding that the final decision on categorising countries according to their epidemiologic situations would be up to the government.

Among third countries that are expected to see lifting of border restrictions on the EU external border on 1 July are also Serbia and Montenegro, the two countries that have been put on the Slovenian red and yellow lists, respectively.