STA, 24 June 2020 - Delo says in Wednesday's front-page commentary that the recent ID-ing of individuals police were guessing could attend the parallel ceremony organised by protesters on the occasion of Statehood Day is without precedent in democratic law-governed Slovenia.

The paper starts by dismissing PM Janez Janša's labelling of today's rival ceremony to be organised in Ljubljana's Prešeren Square as indecent and detestable, noting he had organised rival ceremonies several times while he was the opposition leader.

What is more, there are quite a few differences between Janša's alternative ceremonies and the event being organised in Prešeren square. The latter is a citizens' event, not one that would be organised by parliament's political opposition.

There is nothing indecent about people celebrating Statehood Day, it is just a sign they identify with the state, even if they may not agree with the actions of the ruling coalition.

The alternative ceremony has not been officially registered and will cause a violation of the ban on gatherings in excess of 500 people still in place due to Covid-19.

The police responded to the development ahead of time, starting to ID last Friday those handing out flyers for the event, as well as passers-by, the reason being a suspicion they could break the law in the future.

"It is crucial to put the approach of the police in a historical context. Since the onset of democratic legal order, the police has never dealt with potential illegal actions that could happen in the future. The police is too serious an institution to be delving in fortune telling. The holiday will happen. If you will be celebrating it together with fellow citizens, wear a mask," Delo says in the commentary Celebrating with a Mask (Praznovanje z masko).

STA, 23 June - Prime Minister Janez Janša, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa agreed on Tuesday that the EU and its member states must find solutions to the social crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. They also confirmed the priorities for the trio's upcoming EU presidency.

The leaders stressed at today's videoconference that the right lessons must be learnt from this crisis and that Europe should gear up for the future. They reiterated their commitment to build a stronger, more sustainable, competitive and connected Europe after the pandemic, Janša's office said.

The three countries' priorities for their combined year-and-a-half stint at the helm of the EU, which starts next month as Germany takes over for six months, had been adjusted to the pandemic, so the main goal will be Europe's quick economic and social recovery.

Janša, Merkel and Costa agreed that the EU must come up with solutions for the post-corona period and recovery of the European economy.

They stressed the importance of green and digital transitions, and called for enhancing the EU's strategic autonomy and its capacities to tackle crises such are pandemics and cyber attacks.

The trio confirmed that tackling climate change was among the priorities of the trio whose stint will conclude with Slovenia's EU presidency in the second half of 2021.

Germany, Portugal and Slovenia will also be pushing for the strengthening of Europe's global role, and its influence on global policies.

Janša, Merkel and Costa stressed the importance of joint action in relations with China and India, future-oriented relations with Africa, and the continuation of cooperation with cross-Atlantic partners. They also highlighted the need for EU enlargement to the Western Balkans.

Originally, today's meeting was to be held in Berlin but was instead held virtually because of the coronavirus situation.

STA, 23 June 220 - The ceremony planned for the eve of Statehood Day (Dan državnosti)on Wednesday has once again proved divisive. After World War II veteran organisations had been excluded from preparations and included again upon an intervention by the president, an alternative event is being planned near the site of the official ceremony by artists critical of the prime minister.

On Monday, a group of artists who have been protesting in front of the Culture Ministry against its failure to help the sector in the face of the coronavirus epidemic, called for a boycott of the official state ceremony planned for Wednesday evening in Congress Square.

The group will organise its own event two hours earlier at the nearby Prešeren Square. It said in a press release last night that "the Republic of Slovenia has abused the plebiscite decision of its people to leave Yugoslavia for restoring outdated capitalism, plundering common property, erasing part of the population and for establishing the untouchable political class and its servants".

Albeit not naming him, they criticised Janša as being "the great leader" and "Independence Man" who is interested in nothing but power, accusing him of revising history, managing the present to his own liking and predicting a catastrophic future, offending and excluding, and persecuting those who think differently.

Responding to the call for boycott, Janša told the broadcaster Nova24TV last night that "calling for an anti-ceremony on Statehood Day was indecent, perverse and beyond anything the words 'normal' and 'civilisation' mean to us. I hope its organisers change their mind by Wednesday."

When Janša was still in the opposition, he often skipped official state ceremonies to attend the ones organised associations affiliated with his Democrats (SDS), including the Association for the Values of Slovenian Independence.

The boycott call was however not the only difficulty this time. Weeks ago, the government dismissed from the organising committee the representatives of the veteran associations, replacing them with representatives of the Association for the Values of Slovenian Independence, which is chaired by Interior Minister Aleš Hojs and where Janša is one of the presidency members.

The representatives of the other veteran associations were later included in the committee, following an intervention by President Borut Pahor.

Today, MEP and opposition Social Democrats (SD) leader Tanja Fajon addressed a letter to both Janša and Pahor, calling for an inclusive ceremony.

Fajon, who said she will attend tomorrow's official ceremony, believes that the pair must allow the nation to celebrate together by "including everybody, especially all veteran organisations, and above all with sincere regret of the deep division in society and reasons therefore".

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Marjan Šarec, head of the biggest opposition party LMŠ, said he would not attend the official ceremony, arguing attendance would give the government "legitimacy".

Commenting on the ceremony planned by the artists, Šarec said it would be a celebration by the people. He said he would attend his local Statehood Day ceremony in the town of Kamnik.

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:

New coronavirus infections at two-month high

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia saw a surge in coronavirus cases on Monday, when 13 out of 984 tests came back positive, the highest number of daily infections since 24 April. Six out of the 13 infections were imported and a further five were related to the imported cases with two yet to be determined. Mario Fafangel, the chief epidemiologist at the National Institute of Public Health, said Slovenia's epidemiological situation remained good, while the government will decide on potential new measures in response to the increase in cases tomorrow. Face masks could again become mandatory in public places.

Croatia still deemed safe despite minister's concern

LJUBLJANA - After Health Minister Tomaž Gantar expressed concern regarding the epidemiological situation in Croatia and mentioned possible quarantine for Slovenians returning from the country in an interview with POP TV on Monday, a public health official labelled Croatia a safe country whose situation was comparable to Slovenia's. Mario Fafangel, the chief epidemiologist at the National Institute of Public Health, told the government briefing that the epidemiological situation and the 14-day incidence in Croatia was comparable to Slovenia's, was not dramatic and was still at a safe level.

Janša, Merkel and Costa confirm priorities for upcoming EU presidency

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa agreed in a videoconference the EU and its member states must find solutions to the social crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. They also confirmed the priorities for the trio's upcoming EU presidency. The three countries' priorities for their year-and-a-half stint which starts next month as Germany takes over for six months had been adjusted to the pandemic, so the main goal will be Europe's quick economic and social recovery. Originally, today's meeting was to be held in Berlin but was instead held virtually because of the coronavirus situation.

Slovenian, Italian presidents plan reconciliation act for 13 July

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian and Italian presidents, Borut Pahor and Sergio Mattarella, will attend the 13 July signing of a document under which National Hall, a Slovenian commercial and cultural centre in Trieste, will he handed over to the Slovenian minority 100 years after being burnt down by Fascists. Before the signing, the pair will go to the outskirts of the town of Basovizza to lay wreaths at two memorials, one commemorating the Slovenian anti-fascists that were executed by Fascists in 1930 and the other the Italian victims of post-World War II killings by Partisans.

Logar and Di Maio agree to keep cooperating in fight against Covid-19

ROME, Italy - In what was their second meeting in less than three weeks, Foreign Minister Anže Logar and Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio called for continued close bilateral cooperation in the tackling of the pandemic. After restrictions on the Slovenian-Italian border were lifted on 15 June for the citizens of both countries, the pair agreed that epidemiological trends at home as well as in other countries needed to be monitored closely and reacted to so as to prevent a new wave. Logar also raised the question of Slovenian minority representation in the Italian parliament, while he highlighted the symbolic importance of the 13 July ceremony in Trieste that will mark the 100th anniversary of the arson of the Slovenian National Hall in Trieste by Fascists. EU topics were also discussed.

Tiffany Sadler appointed new UK ambassador to Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - Tiffany Sadler has been appointed the new UK ambassador to Slovenia to succeed outgoing Ambassador Sophie Honey in September, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced on its website. Sadler, who was director for Tech Overhaul Programme at the Foreign Office until 2019, has been preparing to take up a post in Slovenia, having studied Slovenian since last year. She has worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 1994. Honey, who came to Slovenia in March 2015, will be meanwhile transferring to another diplomatic service appointment after completing her term in Slovenia.

Veronika Simoniti wins Kresnik Prize for novel Ivana Before the Sea

LJUBLJANA - Veronika Simoniti, 52, won the 30th Kresnik Prize for best novel of the year for Ivana Before the Sea (Ivana pred Morjem). She thus became only the fourth woman to win the prestigious award, given out by publisher Delo. The novel tells multiple parallel stories happening in different periods to different generations in one family. The writer said it had been inspired by the old-fashioned character of a photo and the smell of an old sofa, adding she had played with memory and forgetfulness in it. Simoniti was shortlisted for the prize once before, in 2015, for Kameno Seme (The Seed of Stone), while today she won against another fourt shortlisted authors. Looking back at the award's 30 years, its "father", author Vlado Žabot said he was happy it had survived the three decades.

Environment minister welcomes EU climate law as key step

LJUBLJANA - Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak praised the planned European Climate Law as a key step in creating a stable investment environment in the EU, as he took part in a video-conferenced ministerial. Climate change will play a significant role in the EU's economic recovery as the bloc aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. "In terms of this, the European Climate Law is an important step in building a predictable investment environment," he was quoted as saying in a press release by the Environment and Spatial Planning Ministry. The ministerial focused on the European Green Deal and the measures it entails for the recovery of the EU's economy and to build a more resilient society.

NSi calls for extending furlough scheme for another month

LJUBLJANA - New Slovenia (NSi) will seek an extension of the furlough scheme by at least another month and amendments to the second stimulus package to help companies solve liquidity issues. The junior coalition party announced that after its ministers and MPs met representatives of business associations. NSi leader Matej Tonin said the first and third stimulus packages were very efficient and were producing results, but the second was not, so the NSi would push for changes to the furlough scheme.

Debate on EU in new global reality focuses on China, multilateralism

LJUBLJANA - The EU's relations with China and potential undermining of multilateralism were discussed in an online debate on the role of the EU in the new global reality, hosted by the European Parliament's Office in Slovenia. On the one hand, China is a key partner of the EU but also a strong economic rival and an adversary in terms of democratisation and human rights, RTV Slovenija correspondent in Brussels Igor Jurič illustrated. Jernej Müller of the Foreign Ministry said that there is an apparent trend of China increasing its economic and investment presence in Europe and the EU has started to address this. Zlatko Šabič of the Ljubljana Faculty of Social Sciences said that "the EU is not a player in international relations because it does not have a single voice".

First vouchers spent at the seaside, in spas

LJUBLJANA - Slovenians appear to have embraced the free vouchers for tourism accommodation facilities around the country with more than 3,390 of them being spent in the first three days. For now, the most popular destinations appear to be the coast and spas. Data from the Financial Administration show that tourism facilities received more than EUR 400,000 in voucher payments between Friday and 4pm on Monday. Cities and destinations that mostly attract foreign visitors such as Bled have seen few bookings.

Slovenia to reach GHG emission reduction goals

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is expected to reach its 2020 goals in greenhouse gas emissions not included in the EU emission trading scheme, according to the Climate Mirror 2020 report, compiled by the Environment Ministry and the Jožef Stefan Institute. The largest gaps remain in measures related to transport, in particular railway infrastructure and the promotion of public transportation. Meanwhile, steps are deemed satisfactory to improve energy efficiency of household- and municipality-owned buildings.

Slovenia's innovation performance down again

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia's innovation performance decreased again in 2019, with the country ranking 15th among EU countries, shows the 2020 European Innovation Scoreboard. Sweden continued to be the most innovative country, whereas the EU was doing better then the US for the second year in a row. Based on their performance, countries were listed as innovation leaders, strong innovators, moderate and modest innovators, with Slovenia classified as one of the top three moderate innovators. According to the report, its performance declined relative to that of the EU in 2012. The decrease started in 2018, including because of fewer new PhDs in science.

On 30th anniversary, Consumer Association urges better protection

LJUBLJANA - Marking its 30th anniversary, the Slovenian Consumer Association (ZPS) stepped up its call for restoring proper consumer policies and for giving consumers a voice in the government. "While Slovenia was an exemplary state when it comes to consumer policy when it entered the EU, this is no longer the case today," the association head Breda Kutin said, calling for a national strategy, a government programme and an advisory body for the coordination of consumer protection policies.

Recourse to remedy in local elections act found inadequate

LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court has ruled several articles of the local election act governing access to legal remedy unconstitutional, thus effectively calling into question the result of the 2018 mayoral election in Šmarješke Toplice. Deciding on a challenge filed by former Mayor Bernardka Krnc, who ended up two votes short of winning her fourth term against challenger Marjan Hribar, the court gave parliament one year to fix the local election act to ensure effective recourse to legal remedy. Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik said the ministry would address all the open issues, but added that the planned changes to the general election legislation would have to take precedence.

Govt to set up inter-ministerial task force for Roma issues

LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs met the mayors of Kočevje, Novo Mesto and Črnomelj to discuss the problems with the Roma community that the mayors had recently highlighted in a letter to the government. Hojs announced that to find solutions, an inter-ministerial task force led by his State Secretary Anton Olaj would be set up. Apart from representatives of all relevant ministries, it will feature two mayors from the most affected municipalities. The mayors welcomed this proposal, expressing hope that the issue would finally be tackled.

Cross-country sprinter Vesna Fabjan and ski jumper Tepeš retire

LJUBLJANA - Vesna Fabjan, Slovenia's elite cross-country skiing sprinter, and Slovenian ski jumper Jurij Tepeš, known particularly for his ski flying talent, announced their retirements from competitive sports. announced an end to her career. Fabjan won the Olympic bronze medal in Sochi 2014. The 35-year-old has six podium finishes in World Cup events, including two victories, while her best result at World Championships was a fourth place in Oslo in 2011.

Pro-Nazi poet priest stripped of Maribor freeman title

MARIBOR - The Maribor city council stripped Austrian Ottokar Kernstock (1848-1928) of his title of a honorary Maribor resident due to his deep involvement in the Austrian Nazi movement, the awareness of which re-emerged only recently. The decision to take away the title, awarded to Kernstock in 1909, was taken on Monday at proposal of the local branch of the Youth Party - European Greens. A priest and poet born in Maribor, Kernstock wrote the official anthem of a local Austrian branch of the Nazi Party.

Total number of children born in Slovenia down 1.3% in 2019

LJUBLJANA - A total of 19,328 children were born in Slovenia in 2019, 1.3% fewer then the year before, but the birth rate remained at 1.61. The number of deaths, at 20,588, exceeded the number of births for the third year running, show data released by the Statistics Office. This was the second year in a row that fewer than 20,000 children were born in Slovenia after the figure had been exceeded for ten consecutive years prior to 2018. Meanwhile, the number of the deaths increased by 0.5% compared to 2018. The average age of the deceased exceeded 78 for the first time last year, reaching 78.1, at 73.9 for men and 82.1 for women. The infant mortality rate was 2.1 deaths per 1,000 life births, decreasing in the last decade and being among the lowest among EU member states.

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Last week the Minister of Justice Lilijana Kozlovič visited Ig female prison where she was also presented with the annual report from the National Prison Administration (Uprava za izvrševanje kazenskih sankcij) for the year 2019.

Ig prison is located in a 500 years old castle building for which a renovation and extension is planned. The works are supposed to commence in 2021, and the investment itself is expected to amount to more than 34 million euros. Apart from Ig, another prison is planned to be constructed in Dobrunje, where male prisoners from Povšetova in Ljubljana would be moved.

Last year, an average of 1,435 people were imprisoned in the Slovenian prison system, which is 6% more than the year before. This significant increase is largely due to those detained for those caught helping people to illegally crossing the state border. A significant increase in foreigners among inmates has been noticed as well, with non-Slovenes composing 30% of the entire imprisoned population.

The problem of overcrowding was partially solved by moving people between different institutions; however, prisons in Ljubljana, Koper, Novo mesto and Nova Gorica were still working over the limit of their capacity.

In her press statement Lilijana Kozlovič said that there was a possibility of introducing an alternative to prison sentences. She announced that a material basis would be created for a different kind of sentencing, namely penalties of non-confinement, where she sees great benefits in some already existing re-socialisation and community service programmes.

STA, 23 June 2020 - Slovenia saw a surge in coronavirus cases on Monday, when 13 out of 984 tests came back positive. This is the highest number of new daily infections since 24 April, when 15 new cases were reported.

Six out of 13 infections were imported - three from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one each from Serbia, Croatia and Kosovo, Mario Fafangel, the head of the centre for contagious diseases at the National institute for Public health (NIJZ), told the press today.

Five other cases were related to the imported ones, one is still being investigated and in one case the source of infection is not known.

Fafangel stressed that Slovenia's epidemiological situation, with 14 cases confirmed this week, was still good compared to those in other EU countries. He assured the public that the imported infections were under control.

If the number of infections starts rising rapidly, various measures will be proposed, he said.

Slovenia had 25 new infections confirmed between 15 and 21 June, of which 11 were imported and 10 were related to those cases. Nobody got infected in their local environment in the country.

Five Covid-19 patients were is hospital yesterday, one in intensive care. One person was discharged from hospital and no new deaths were reported, the government said on Twitter.

So far, 94,165 tests have been conducted and 1,534 infections confirmed. A total of 109 people have died of the disease, the last one on 1 June.

Fafangel said today the surge in the number of new cases was not the second wave of the epidemic but oscillation. With the curve flattening, the situation seemed very promising, but now the figures are being kept at a stable level.

"All countries are trying to keep the situation under control at the global level, because it is not enough if only one country is taking measures," the NIJZ official said.

Government spokesman Jelko Kacin said the government would discuss the potential new measures tomorrow.

New infections were confirmed in nine Slovenian municipalities on Monday. Mostly one case was recorded in each municipality, except in Pivka were two cases were recorded, which Kacin linked to a party.

Fafangel said the number of hospitalised persons remains low because the demographic structure of those infected was different than during the epidemic. While back then, the patients were mostly elderly, now they are active people who travel.

STA, 22 June 2020 - Elan has launched a new sailboat, dubbed GT6, in what the company claims is the most technologically advanced and best vessel it has ever produced. Like many other companies, Elan is facing the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, but the number of clients has been increasing in the last month.

What is also one of the largest vessels ever produced by the company based in Begunje na Gorenjskem, GT6 is part of the GT series, which was introduced at the end of 2017 with the GT5 model.

Marko Škrbin, the director of Elan's nautical division, has recently told the STA that GT5 was in fact the last model presented before GT6, as the company focused in 2018 and 2019 on thoroughly refurbishing the Impression and E product lines.

GT is the most prestigious line, which uses the best technology, work processes and materials available, and concept-wise, it follows the grand tourer concept in the automotive industry, hence the name.

"It represents an ideal balance between a fast sailboat and comfort at the highest level for long trips," Škrbin said, adding that the new sailboat was also a product of cooperation with the renown Humphreys Yacht Design studio.

Elan has also signed a cooperation deal with Studio F. A. Porsche for interior and exterior design of its sailboats.

The company annually produces around 80 vessels and last year was the most successful in the last ten years business-wise, but Škrbin notes that the pandemic has left an impact and that 2020 will be an underachieving year.

"But in the last month, we have seen the return of a majority of private clients who had postponed their decisions to buy because of the situation, and some new ones," he said, adding that buying a boat was not an impulsive decision.

The company has noticed that people are going outdoors again while looking to minimise their carbon footprint. "This is practically the essence of sailing and the hope is that even more people will use sailboats," Škrbin concluded.

STA, 22 June 2020 - The 2020 Plečnik Prize for best architectural project in Slovenia was won by Matija Bevk, Vasa J. Perović and Christophe Riss for the Muslim religious and cultural centre in Ljubljana. The jury said the project was exceptional not only in the national but also in the European context.

The architects have proven how extremely important it is to have a comprehensive approach to a project, and consistently implement the concept both at the levels of the city and building, and individual architectural elements.

With the religious and cultural centre, Ljubljana has finally gotten another piece of top quality public architecture of sensible size after a few decades, the jury said.

The project by Bevk Perović Arhitekti is an example of how top architecture can be created with a determined approach based on winning an international architectural design competition.

It also shows that architectural design competitions are an excellent tool for making sure that the high standards in Ljubljana's architecture set by Jože Plečnik and visionary decision-makers continue.

The Plečnik medal for realisation went to Rok Žnidaršič and Žiga Ravnikar for the gym of the Vižmarje Brod Primary School, which the jury described as a "convincing and fresh solution exceeding ordinary standards in every aspect".

Tomaž Vuga received the Plečnik medal for important contribution to architectural theory for his book Projekt: Nova Gorica, intertwining his personal recollections of his home town with his professional work as one of the main urbanists of Nova Gorica. His research offers a unique insight into the construction and planning of Nova Gorica in the second half of the 20th century, the jury said.

Another medal went to Matevž Vidmar Čelik, the director of the Museum of Architecture and Design, for his contribution to architectural culture and for the promotion of the museum in the international architectural community.

As the museum head, Vidmar Čelik has set out a modern path for the institution over the last ten years. By participating in international projects and cooperating with international institutions, the museum has been promoting Slovenian architecture on a global level.

The Plečnik Prize, the highest recognition for achievements in architecture, landscape architecture, urbanism and interior design in Slovenia, has been conferred by the Jože Plečnik Fund, named after the famed architect Plečnik (1872-1957), since 1972.

STA, 22 June 2020 - The Education Ministry is working on a number of possible scenarios for schooling regime in the next school year, Minister Simona Kustec told the press on Monday, saying everything would depend on the epidemiological situation. But school will definitely start on 1 September, she stressed.

Addressing the press after the first hundred days in office, the minister of education, science and sport said that active and intensive preparations for autumn were under way.

"We don't yet know what the epidemiological situation will be then but we must not be caught off guard," she stressed, noting that the models of education the ministry was working on were being formed based on experience gathered in the hundred days of remote learning.

The goal is to have as much schooling as possible conducted at school, Kustec said, noting that the final details were being ironed out regarding the possible models of schooling.

School principals were informed of this today, while a detailed presentation of the models will be sent to them at the beginning of July.

The decision on how school will actually start in September will be made in the last week of August, she said.

According to Radio Slovenia, the ministry is also working on a model envisaging a combination of remote learning and education at school for secondary schools under which a group of students would go to school for a certain period of time, while the other group would study from home, and then they would switch.

Most secondary school students finished this school year from home because of restrictions in public transport and student dorms, and it is assumed that those restrictions would remain in place in the autumn as well.

Kustec said the period between 16 March, when schools were closed, and 18 May, when the first three grades of primary schools returned to school, had been most "unusual".

But despite the peculiar circumstances, pupils and students will finish the year by meeting their obligations. "This process was a great challenge and we were successful because we joined forces, and together we understood what needs to be done and how to keep our lives going," she said.

Kustec and President Borut Pahor thanked everyone involved for their efforts in a video address on Sunday, with the president saying that this experience would be a story to tell children and grandchildren.

Looking into the future, Pahor said that undoubtedly new technologies would be even more important in the learning process than they were now. "But there is also no doubt that in the future school, teachers and learning will be more than just that."

He said school was also friends and crushes, teachers who guide their students, and parents and family members, who celebrate their successes and stand by their side in difficult times.

Kustec noted that EUR 18.8 million had been allocated to those affected by the coronavirus crisis in education as part of the three government-sponsored stimulus packages. Eight millions were spent on student bonuses, and another eight to help teachers in private and public kindergartens, student dorms and those employed in sport, she said.

Four days after the epidemic was declared on 12 March, 190.156 primary school children and 72,783 secondary school students switched to remote learning in Slovenia. After more than two months, the first three grades of primary schools returned to school on 18 May. Ninth-graders followed a week later and the remaining primary school children returned to school at the beginning of the month.

STA, 22 June 2020 - A survey carried out by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) shows that Slovenian companies expect to generate lower revenue this year at an average rate of 17%, and that more than half of them believe their exports will also decline.

The survey carried out between 20 May and 15 June among 272 companies, and published on Monday, sees a majority of companies expecting lower revenue this year, while 13% expect higher revenue and 8% the same revenue as in 2019.

Among those which expect a decline in revenue, 18% believe their revenue will drop by 10%, 16% believe their revenue will drop by 20%, and 13% believe they are in for a 30% decline.

Some 63% of the surveyed companies expect their exports to decline this year, while almost a fifth expects an increase, and another fifth expects to see no change.

Slightly more than half of the companies expect that their investments will be lower this year than in 2019, more than a third think they will invest more and 15% think that they will invest the same amount as last year.

More than a fifth of the companies which intend to reduce investments will do this at a 50% rate or higher.

Generally, the surveyed companies will be firing more than hiring this year, and 53% expects their workforce to be reduced this year compared to 2019. Less than a fifth plans to increase the workforce and 28% thinks their workforce will remain the same.

A majority of the companies expect that their revenue will record an annual growth next year, with 31% expecting this will happen not later than at the end of June 2021.

Some 14% of the companies think this will happen by the end of this year, while 28% said this will not happen before the end of June 2021 or that this will happen even later.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the export presence of Slovenian companies will drop by 46 percentage points - the difference between the share of those which expect growth and those which expect a drop.

The survey also shows that subsidies for furloughed workers is the most used anti-coronavirus measure, as 55% of the companies used it. It is followed by tax deferral (24%), loan obligations deferral (19%) and loans from the guarantee scheme (14%).

On average, the surveyed companies had 33% of their workers on temporary leave during the survey. In half of the cases, the companies asked for loans ranging from EUR 100,000 to EUR 1 million, and 88% of the companies are yet to be approved their loans.