STA, 26 February 2020 - With spring approaching, farmers in areas that have seen an influx in bear and wolf attacks in the recent years worry that letting their animals out to pasture would prove fatal despite the emergency measures taken last year to decrease the population of large carnivores in Slovenia.

Between July 2019 and the end of January, the bear population has been reduced by 172 and the wolf population by 11, nearly on target with an emergency law passed last year. Specially authorised hunters shot 161 bears and four wolves, the rest died due to other reasons.

Nonetheless, 22 attacks on sheep, cattle and horses have been reported this year so far, the Environment Ministry told the STA.

No additional culling measures are planned at this point, and large carnivores can only be shot if they pose significant threat to humans and property, and under strict rules.

What is more, the Environment Ministry must draft a new quota reasoning for bears after an environmental NGO successfully challenged the previous one in administrative court in April 2019.

The ministry told the STA that the reasoning would be based on proving that the number of conflicts continued to increase despite measures addressing cohabitation issues.

The reasoning will also have to submit scientific proof that the planned cull quota will ensure an appropriate decrease in population to lower or stop the increase in conflicts.

Last year, bears attacked 461 times and wolves 327 times. Expert estimates suggested that some 1,000 bears lived in Slovenia last year and about 80 wolves.

Now, farmers in the woody Kočevje area are worried that they will face the same problems as last year once they let their animals out to pasture this spring.

"We are afraid that wolves will kill [our sheep] and we will lose everything. Many farmers have heard wolves gathering around sheep pens already," the civil initiative Aktivna Kočevska has said in a letter addressed to Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec.

They demand that the population of large carnivores be reduced to "numbers acceptable to the environment", which they believe was last the case in 1999 and 2000.

First step to this end may be made today, as the upper chamber of parliament, the National Council, discusses another emergency bill for the culling of large carnivores drafted by one of the national councillors.

All our stories about wolves are here, and those about bears are here

STA, 28 February 2020 - The insurance group Sava collected EUR 599.3 million in gross premiums last year, which is 9.7% more than in 2018, while its net profit was up 16.7% to EUR 50.2 million, show the unaudited financial results released by the parent company Sava Re on Friday.

The report says that the gross premium growth was contributed mainly by the Slovenian non-life insurance business, which was up 12.2%, and the non-life insurance business in foreign countries (+20.3%).

Sava Re noted that part of this came from an acquisition in Croatia, with the group member Zavarovalnica Sava acquiring outright stakes in the insurers Ergo Osiguranje and Ergo Životno Osiguranje.

The group's operating revenue was up by 10.1% last year to EUR 584.9 million, while pre-tax profit increased by almost 10% to EUR 60.7 million.

Return on equity also increased by 0.8 of a percentage point compared to 2018 to 13.8%.

The management of the reinsurer Sava Re, the parent company in the group, will present last year's results in detail at a press conference today.

Invest in Slovenia: Meet the Companies in the Benchmark Investment Index, the SBI TOP

STA, 26 February 2020 - The Slovenian NLB bank announced on Wednesday it had signed an agreement with the Serbian government to acquire the 83% state stake in the bank Komercijalna Banka. The deal worth EUR 387 million is pending regulatory approval and is expected to be finalised in the last quarter of the year.

Announcing the deal signed today between the NLB management and the Serbian government, the bank said the conclusion of the transaction was pending approvals from several institutions, including the European Central Bank and the countries' central banks.

According to the NLB, the purchase price for the 83.23% stake in Komercijalna Banka is EUR 387 million, which will be payable in cash on completion.

The Slovenian market leader added that, in accordance with the Serbian bank privatisation regulations, it was not required to launch a mandatory tender offer for the rest of the shares in the Serbian bank.

The purchase price implies a valuation of EUR 465 million for 100% of Komercijalna Banka's ordinary share capital.

It will be subject to a 2% annual interest rate between 1 January 2020 and closing, with NLB benefiting from the bank's earnings during that period.

Subject to approval of the Serbian central bank, the existing shareholders of Komercijalna Banka will receive a dividend equating to 50% of 2019 net profit up to a maximum of EUR 38 million before closing.

As a result of the transaction, NLB's market share in Serbia will increase to over 12.1% by total assets, making it the third largest banking group in the country, the Slovenian bank added.

"NLB's operations in Serbia will be by far the largest outside of Slovenia," commented Blaž Brodnjak, the CEO of the bank which already operates the NLB Banka Beograd subsidiary.

The Serbian subsidiary, which has 28 offices and which had total assets of EUR 614 million and posted EUR 4.1 million in net profit last year, posted a 29% growth in net loans to customers in 2019, the biggest in the group.

According to the Serbian media, Komercijalna Banka has EUR 3.5 billion in total assets, and last year posted EUR 74 million in profit. The bank has 2,744 employees and 200 offices in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

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.

A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here

This summary is provided by the STA:

Slovenian, Croatian presidents urge resolution of open issues

OTOČEC - Slovenian President Borut Pahor and Croatia's Zoran Milanović called for the resolution of all open bilateral issues as they met just over a week after Milanović was sworn in. They urged the governments of both countries to work towards excellent relations in all fields. Speaking to the press after their meeting in Otočec in south Slovenia, Pahor and Milanović said they touched on all open issues, including the border and Croatia's entry into the Schengen passport-free zone, agreeing they will not be resolved overnight.

Govt adopts measures in preparation for coronavirus, warns against panic

LJUBLJANA - The outgoing cabinet adopted measures to contain the new coronavirus in case it spreads to Slovenia. It released strategic commodity reserves to ensure enough protective gear but noted that borders with neighbouring countries remained open and that there was no reason for panic. Criticising checks conducted by Croatia on border crossings, PM Marjan Šarec said responsible action was needed as the side effects of the protective measures could be more harmful than the virus itself. No coronavirus infection has been recorded in Slovenia as yet.

Government adopts National Energy and Climate Plan

LJUBLJANA - The outgoing government adopted the National Energy and Climate Plan, a set of energy policy and climate change mitigation measures until 2030. It called the document "a key step towards a climate-neutral Slovenia until 2050". Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek said the goal was to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 36%, improve energy efficiency by at least 35% and have at least 27% of energy come from renewable sources. The plan was slightly altered after the draft was criticised by both NGOs and industry - the latter primarily lamented the absence of new hydro plants on the central Sava river and the final version now includes plans for further use of hydro energy.

Slovenia warns against two-tier EU in green transition

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Economy Ministry State Secretary Aleš Cantarutti, who attended a ministerial of the EU Competitiveness Council, called for an appropriate way of dealing with energy-intensive industry in the new EU industrial strategy, highlighting the importance of swift restructuring of those industrial branches, and cautioned against a two-tier Europe in the green transition.

Commission vote on EU court judge nominees postponed

LJUBLJANA - The Privileges and Credentials Commission postponed a vote on the nominees for judges at the EU's General Court in a development that could signal the lack of support for either of the two nominees for one of the available seats. Klemen Podobnik is the candidate for one of the two seats reserved for Slovenia, while Jure Vidmar and Nina Savin Bossière have been shortlisted for the second. While Podobnik seems to have enough support, the decision on the second spot could be influenced by the recent change in the constelation of the coalition.

Sava approves merger with hotel operator

LJUBLJANA - The shareholders of one of the biggest tourism companies in the country, Sava Turizem, approved the merger with Hoteli Bernardin. The merger is seen as big step in the setting up of the planned state-owned tourism holding. Hoteli Bernardin, 87% owned by Sava Turizem, will expectedly confirm the merger tomorrow, while today's decision will be challenged by the Association of Small Shareholders. In a related development, the state asset custodian SSH, a key owner of the Sava holding, brokered a deal with York Global Finance to buy the fund's 43% stake in Sava along with outstanding claims. Delo reported the deal was worth EUR 50 million.

Mlekarna Celeia reduced workforce by almost 10% last year

ARJA VAS - The dairy Mlekarna Celeia last year failed to extend fixed-term contracts to 12 employees and was also forced to lay off 11 workers on open-ended contracts as it is cutting costs as part of a business restructuring process. The cooperatives-owned dairy, based in Arja Vas near Celje, said job cuts had been made in various segments, ranging from administration to production. Mlekarna Celeia added that it currently employed 209 people, nine of whom would meet the conditions for retirement this year, and would not be replaced.

Zoran Mušič's Dachau drawings on show at Moderna

LJUBLJANA - Zoran Mušič's iconic drawings from the Dachau concentration camp, including some not yet exhibited in Slovenia, went on display at Moderna Galerija, the Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition Condemned to Hope - Drawings from Dachau brings together Mušič's Dachau sketches from Slovenia, those discovered in Italy in 2016 and a selection of his impressions on paper from the series We Are Not the Last from public and private collections in Slovenia and Italy.

Four cities remain in race for European Culture Capital 2025

LJUBLJANA - The cities of Nova Gorica, Ptuj, Ljubljana and Piran have made it into the second round of the competition for the title of the European Capital of Culture 2025, Cristina Farinha, the chairperson of the European Capitals of Culture Expert Panel announced. Two cities, Kranj and Lendava, were eliminated today. The final pick is to be announced in December.

Visiting Ljubljana? Check out what's on this week, while all our stories on Slovenia, from newest to oldest, are here

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

In a recent survey conducted by the Institute of Civil Engineering, the Architecture Studio Krištof and the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana, the experts examined possible solutions for earthquake reinforcement of the 15 most obviously problematic apartment blocks in the centre of Ljubljana that were built between the years 1959 and 1965, and for five of them they see no other solution than demolition and replacement construction.

The survey was commissioned by the Ljubljana City Government, with a focus on 15 buildings built before the first rules on earthquake-resistant construction were introduced following the 1963 earthquake in Skopje. In addition to the building standards, the criterion was also the height of the buildings, since the densest settlement would put most people at risk in the event of a collapse. The buildings in question are all towers between nine and 12 floor high, with only a few of them having even the minimum amount of reinforcement.

According to Marjana Lutman of the Institute of Civil Engineering, for ten of the buildings adequate earthquake safety can be achieved by internal or external fortification. For towers on Štefanova, Rozmanova, Pražakova and Cigaletova Street as well as Hrvatski trg, however, the experts see no other solution but demolition.

Amid mounting real estate prices in Ljubljana centre the question arises what exactly does this mean for the owners of apartments in these buildings?

For the national broadcaster’s MMC portal the city government explained that the results of the survey only indicate possible solutions, and that concern for the earthquake safety of buildings is primarily the responsibility of the owners. It is up to them to decide whether or not to accept the proposals.

However, interventions to increase seismic safety are associated with high costs. Both exterior and interior fortifications are expected to cost an average of € 5 million for each building, or more than € 110,000 for each housing unit. In contrast, the complete replacement of an old building with a new one would cost an average of almost € 8 million, which means up to € 180,000 per household.

Some apartment owners are convinced that the earthquake safety standards in the survey were unrealistic and that human factors could be taken into account in such cases, and so the criteria could be slightly adjusted. “Standard Eurocode 8 assumes 100% safety, but it does not hold that 100% safety must be maintained in order for a building to survive or fail in a major earthquake. We probably won’t just demolish the old city centre of Ljubljana just because it doesn’t meet the Eurocode 8 standard,”' stated an architect and resident of one of the endangered towers for MMC, Nika Grabar.

“Slovenia is located in a very earthquake-prone area, and according to some estimates there are more than 2000 earthquake safety inadequate buildings in Ljubljana  and around 550 in Maribor, among them several schools and other public institutions,” stated Dr. Peter Fajfar of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy for MMC. “There are 39 schools in Slovenia that were built at the most critical time, 14 of which are in Ljubljana. While considerable obstacles can be found with tackling this problem when it comes to private property in residential buildings, the state has no reason not to immediately undertake earthquake reinforcement measures when it comes to its own buildings,” he added.

All our stories about earthquakes and Slovenia can be found here

STA, 27 February - The outgoing cabinet adopted on Thursday measures to contain the new coronavirus in case it spreads to Slovenia. It released strategic commodity reserves to ensure enough protective gear but noted that borders with neighbouring countries remained open and that there was no reason for panic.

No coronavirus infection has been recorded in Slovenia as yet, but the country has been preparing for it as neighbouring Italy, Austria and Croatia all have patients with COVID-19.

According to Health Minister Aleš Šabeder, protective masks, glasses, gloves, coats and hospital shoe covers will be available in case of emergency.

Equipment in the total value of EUR 200,000 will be made available, including 48,000 protective masks, 5,000 hazmat suits, 500,000 gloves and hand sanitizers, the Economy Ministry said.

Prime Minister Marjan Šarec added the strategic commodity reserves were intended for medical staff not citizens. "First we must protect public workers, so that they can help citizens efficiently," he said.

UKC Ljubljana gets masks for coronavirus

Meanwhile, the UKC Ljubljana hospital received 100,000 protective masks today, a donation from the company Labena. The hospital said the masks from state reserves would be used only if existing supplies and further orders would not be enough to cover the hospital's needs.

Based on an agreement with the neighbouring countries, borders remain open. Experience from Italy has shown that fierce measures did not stop the spreading of the disease while they could cause substantial economic damage, Šarec said.

Croatia is conducting checks at the border crossings, which is causing long tailbacks of traffic. "Such measures are not efficient. Tailbacks on the borders are causing economic damage," Šarec warned.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in response that the measure was necessary. "Croatia acts as it should, peacefully and prudently, without panic, in order to protect public health and its citizens."

Hinting at Slovenia's measures at the Schengen border causing tailbacks in the past, Plenković said that "now we have a true reason to raise preparedness on the border, which is good both for us and for Slovenia".

Croatian President Zoran Milanović, who is meeting Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor in Otočec, said that the Croatian government probably had reasons to take such measures, adding that panic was unwarranted.

Pahor said that measures should be coordinated. "It's about our people's health and we have to do everything in our power to help each other find solutions which would preserve health," he added.

Šarec also stressed that responsible action was needed otherwise the side effects of the protective measures could be more harmful than the virus itself.

The outgoing PM listed the problems that could emerge if people started withdrawing their money from banks in panic or buying supplies in abnormal quantities, which is already happening.

The civil protection will get involved in case of multiple infections, and so will the army, sanitary service and others, he asserted. "But we'e not there yet. So those who have called for closing of the borders are merely spreading panic."

Both Šarec and Šabeder rejected claims by the Medical Chamber that health institutions were not informed of the situation and measures.

Šabeder called on the chamber to "immediately stop sowing fear and panic among the people and medical staff".

Presenting the agreements reached at a meeting of health ministers of Italy and neighbouring countries in the face of the coronavirus outbreak in Europe, Šarec said countries had agreed not to close the borders and to exchange information about the virus. They will hold regular videoconferences to agree on protective measures.

As yet, no major events cancelled

As regards cancellations of public events, decisions will be made on a case-to-case basis, with Šarec noting that Slovenia would also host some major events in the near future such as the Ski Jumping World Cup events in Planica.

Šabeder said that protective gear was being inventoried in all hospitals and community health centres, and that no institute was without it. This week, Slovenia will join a European public order for more protective gear.

Full protective gear is required only during swab taking, Health Ministry State Secretary Simona Repar Bornšek explained. She added that there was no need for healthy people who come from countries where infections have been recorded to be taking sick leave.

Presenting the scenario for action if case of a positive test, she said the first infected patient would be hospitalised and their family members or those living with the person would be isolated while other would not be affected.

All our stories on coronavirus and Slovenia are here

STA, 26 February 2020 - Three local communities in the north-eastern region of Prekmurje are upset after a cable operator announced it was expanding its TV package in the area with programmes catering for the Hungarian minority, which does not in fact live in the three municipalities. The development comes amid concerns about Hungary's expanding influence in the region.

Telemach said it would include five Hungarian programmes in its package in Lendava, Odranci, Velika Polana and Črenšovci, in response to the wishes of the Hungarian community in the area. The latter three communities are not bothered by the new programmes, but rather by the reason given for the move.

Jožef Horvat, the head of the parliamentary faction of the conservative party New Slovenia (NSi), has alerted the government in a letter that Hungary's influence in the municipalities with exclusively Slovenian population is expanding through the programmes.

"We are not bothered by the programme scheme and business decisions of a private subject even when it comes to bilingual programmes, but it does bother us that in its official release the company stated that this was in accordance with the wishes of our municipalities' residents and labelled them as bilingual, which they aren't," Velika Polana Mayor Damijan Jaklin said.

In his letter, MP Horvat said that it was commendable that the Pomurje Hungarian community was aspiring for Hungarian programmes, but that it was unacceptable that in public explanations Črenšovci, Velika Polana and Odranci were listed as mixed ethnicity areas populated by a sizeable Hungarian minority. "This is simply not true and it is common deceit."

Horvat, whose party has just agreed to be part of a new government formed by Janez Janša, the leader of the Democrats (SDS), accused the outgoing government of silently watching developments in Prekmurje, asking what it was planning to do to protect the majority nation and language in the region.

Črenšovci Mayor Vera Markoja says that Telemach has apologised to the community for declaring it is home to a Hungarian minority. The company told the STA its purpose was not to cause discord or "declare ethnically mixed areas", but rather to offer a choice of quality content to all viewers across the country.

Telemach said that as part of its switch to the digital programme scheme new Hungarian programmes would be available throughout the country. The company has one TV signal for Lendava, Odranci, Velika Polana and Črenšovci, which means separating the programme scheme by municipalities impossible.

Prekmurje has in recent time seen extensive Hungarian state and private investment, which has sparked considerable attention. While some see the investment as welcome aid benefiting the entire population of the underdeveloped region, others see it as Hungary expanding its influence in a region what used to be part of the Hungarian empire.

Hungarian investments in the region include the acquisition of the spa Terme Lendava, unofficially at the cost of EUR 9 million, EUR 6 million investment in the Lendava football academy as well grants distributed to individuals and entrepreneurs commanding Hungarian language.

Opinions on the Hungarian aid are also divided within the Hungarian ethnic community in the region with some arguing that the investments do not generate economic effects and questioning the motives behind them, suggesting that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was trying to assert his ways also in Slovenia.

Hungarian MP Ferenc Horvath believes that the aid is welcome. "Slovenia too should give as much here. Aid is welcome in the region. These are public funds, we know where they are destined, and they are also a contribution to Slovenia because money is spent here and taxes are paid here as well."

A similar view was taken by the SDS, which is facing allegations that media with ties to the party have received funds from Hungary.

The SDS believes that the Slovenian government is neglecting Prekmurje as well as the Slovenian minority in Hungary, "which is why the Hungarians help both". "If our investment was sufficient, the Hungarians would have nowhere to invest".

All our stories on Hungary are here

STA, 26 February 2020 - Coarse particles (PM10) are seen as the biggest air pollutant in Slovenia with data from the Environment Agency's monitoring stations showing the highest concentrations for urban areas of Celje, Murska Sobota, Zagorje ob Savi, Ljubljana, Maribor, Novo Mesto and Trbovlje.

Celje most polluted city, but getting cleaner

With a toxic industrial legacy, Celje stood out last year as the only location in Slovenia to exceed limit daily PM10 concentrations more than the allowed 35 times a year.

The limit 24-hour mean concentration of PM10 particles, set at WHO guideline value of 50 microns per cubic metre (ug/m3), was surpassed on 42 days, which compares to 35 days in 2018, 49 in 2017, 52 in 2016 and 70 days in 2015.

Excessive concentrations are recorded mainly in winter, when heating adds to other sources of pollution. Another downside is Celje's location in a basin where air pollution is aggravated by temperature inversions in winter.

Local authorities say the city will breathe cleaner air once they have implemented all sustainable mobility projects, and when the state builds a bypass to divert transit traffic out of the city.

To improve its air, the city is expanding its gas pipeline network and district heating system, renovating public buildings to make them more energy efficient and expanding its bicycle sharing system.

It has bought ten compressed natural gas city buses and built a modern filling station with a new park and ride facility to open on the city's outskirts by summer.

Environment Agency data show major air polluters in Celje are the Merkscha veneer mill and chemical company Cinkarna Celje, both of which say they have modernised to reduce emissions.

The mill says it has reduced annual dust emissions from 84 tonnes in 1974 to an average 13 tonnes a year, while Cinkarna says it has reduced its dust emissions by 69% since 2008.

Ljubljana improving its air

City authorities say that air quality in Ljubljana is good; above-limit particle pollution is recorded only occasionally during the heating season. The main challenge outside that season is traffic.

Three out of four homes in the capital are connected to the district heating systems, so pollution in winter is mainly due to household heating on the outskirts.

The Ljubljana-Centre monitoring station recorded an annual mean value of 34.4 PM10 ug/m3 last year, down from 35.8 in 2018; the number of days on which the limit was exceeded dropped from 51 to 37.

The value of PM2.5 stayed at 21 ug/m3, the limit being 25 ug/m3, and the average annual concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was reduced from 48 to 45.3 ug/m3, the limit being 40 ug/m3.

The Ljubljana-Bežigrad monitoring station, which is representative for the whole city, recorded the annual mean for PM10 dropping from 26.9 to 23.2 ug/m3 and the number of above-limit days reduced from 28 to 16.

The annual mean for PM2.5 fell from 19 to 17 ug/m3 and the annual NO2 mean fell from 25.7 to less than 25 ug/m3 although data for December are not available yet.

The key step to improving the city's air was the closure of a section of Slovenska Cesta thoroughfare to all traffic except for buses and taxis. "Measurements show the value of black carbon there has dropped by 70% compared to background area [Vojkova Street], nor have values at surrounding roads increased," city authorities say.

Apart from implementing the sustainable mobility strategy and promoting cycling and walking, a key measure ahead will be a new gas steam power station to replace two out of three coal units at the TE-TOL co-generation plant.

The EUR 130 million investment is to allow the city to replace 70% of coal with natural gas by the end of 2022. Coal is to be fully phased out at TE-TOL in the future.

Under a private-public partnership signed in 2017, 48 public buildings in the municipality are to be renovated to improve their energy efficiency at the cost of EUR 14.9 million, VAT excluded, to save 8.25 million kilowatt hours of energy or over EUR 1 million a year.

Maribor air improving, not yet matching guidelines

Slovenia's second city has been improving its air pollution track record, but PM10 values are still above WHO guidelines, in particular in winter. Between January and November 2019, daily values in the centre were above the limit on 10 days, which compares to 30 the year before.

The city authorities say that the concentrations measured in recent years have been the lowest since 2001, which they attribute to the many measures taken, in particular in sustainable mobility and heating.

However, emissions from industrial sources have almost doubled over the past decade, which is due to new companies mushrooming up in business zones on the sites of once large companies that went bankrupt after independence.

The register of fixed air pollution sources shows the car parts maker Cimos Tam as by far the largest generator of dust, with other major polluters being bread and pasta company Žito, abrasives maker Weiler, Maribor foundry and the hydraulic lifting systems maker Palfinger.

Maribor also gets 13% of all traffic emissions in the country. On the city's periphery the main problems is emissions from individual household heating devices.

Among other measures taken, the city is planning to electrify public passenger transport and expand the network of cycling paths and pedestrianised zones. The city is served by a hybrid bus and a small plug-in passenger vehicle called Maister, which is free to use.

In a public-private partnership and with the help of EU funds, 24 public buildings have been renovated to improve their energy efficiency, including schools, kindergartens and sports and ice rink arenas. The city is also expanding its district heating and gas networks.

Murska Sobota introducing automatic pollution notification

One of the areas with the highest levels of PM10 in the country, Murska Sobota saw the limit daily value exceeded 28 times last year, down from 46 in 2018. The data are from one of the two monitoring stations, with two more to be added soon.

The city is also introducing a smart sensor system to alert residents when to keep indoors due to excessive concentrations of air pollutants. Kindergartens, schools, nursing homes and other public institutions will get notifications automatically.

Based on the data gathered, city authorities will implement further measures to reduce PM10, including energy overhaul of buildings. The main sources of pollution are household furnaces and traffic.

The city has been promoting the use of public transportation, cycling and walking, slowing down traffic, securing its smooth flow, creating pedestrianised zones and expanding cycling paths and green areas.

Zasavje major particle pollution hotspot

The former mining and industrial region of Zasavje in central Slovenia remains one of the most heavily polluted regions in the country, the main reasons being emissions from industry, household furnaces and traffic, coupled with adverse meteorological conditions.

All of the region's major towns - Trbovlje, Zagorje ob Savi and Hrastnik - are located in the narrow, poorly ventilated valleys along the Sava River, which means that temperature inversion keeps polluted air close to the ground.

The Environment Agency (ARSO) has been recording a decline in annual mean concentrations of PM10 since 2002 as a result of lower emissions and purification systems at industrial facilities.

Last year the daily threshold PM10 values were exceeded 28 times in Zagorje, 16 times in Trbovlje and 9 times in Hrastnik.

But while ARSO data show that Hrastnik air is getting cleaner, those from the National Public Health Institute show the town had the highest death rate attributable to air pollution in the country between 2016 and 2018.

The local authorities argue that the data obtained from the ARSO monitoring station, located in a sports park away from sources of pollution, is not realistic. However, their appeals to ARSO and the Environment Ministry to relocate the station and set up additional ones has not been heeded.

In Trbovlje, the biggest source of PM10 are small household combustion installations. The biggest industrial polluter in the region used to be the cement plant, part of the Switzerland-headquartered multinational LafargeHolcim, which suspended production in 2015

The Hrastnik chemical company TKI would not disclose its air improvement measures for the STA, while the glassworks Steklarna Hrastnik as a major Zasavje polluter pointed to its investment into innovation and greener production.

Novo Mesto yet to see significant improvement

Novo Mesto saw the threshold daily PM10 concentration exceeded 18 times last year, which is on a par with previous years. City authorities say that this means that more effort by everyone involved will be needed to achieve meaningful improvements in air quality.

To help plan further measures and evaluate the results of those already taken the city set up own air quality monitoring devices at 14 additional locations last year.

Household heating devices are blamed for two thirds of coarse matter particle emissions, with the other major source being road traffic.

The city has been investing intensively in sustainable mobility projects, including by switching to gas- and electricity-powered public transportation, putting in place plug-in infrastructure for cars and promoting walking, cycling and car sharing.

Like in other parts of the country, measures to modernise household heating systems are being taken with the help of subsidies from the Eco Fund.

Šalek Valley air cleaner, concerns about waste incineration at TEŠ

Air quality in the Šalek Valley (NE) has improved since the launch of generator 6 at the Šoštanj coal-fired power plant (TEŠ) in June 2015. However, the plant's plans to replace part of coal with waste as fuel are causing public concern.

TEŠ says it has reduced CO2 emissions by 30% and substantially cut dust emissions. After the overhaul of the substitute unit 5 in 2017 and 2018, SO2 emissions have been halved compared to the recently phased out generator 4, NO emissions have been reduced by 60% and particle emissions by 80%.

The plant is considering waste co-incineration, which it says would reduce rather than increase the harmful impact on the environment. Its analyses show that 160,000 tonnes of alternative fuel would equal to 215,000 tonnes of fossil fuel, reducing SO2 emissions by 156,000 tonnes a year, with other emissions kept within permitted values.

The local environmental movement opposes the plans, arguing that co-incineration would "cancel out the first positive steps to improving the air". The movement also says that emissions from generator 5 show TEŠ has not met the cuts promised when planning unit 6.

The movement is collecting signatures against co-incineration, and a civil initiative is planning to challenge waste incineration in a referendum.

Kranj removed from air pollution blacklist

Kranj, Slovenia's fourth largest city, used to be one of the category 1 particle pollution areas in the country, but its air has since improved so that in February 2019 it exited the national air quality improvement programme.

The city has been focusing on measures to reduce emissions from building heating and road traffic. In a EUR 6.2 million project subsidised by EU cohesion funds, 22 public buildings have been renovated to reduce CO2 emissions by 1,300 tonnes a year.

Other measures include those aimed at improving traffic flow and promoting sustainable mobility with the first P+R and an integrated passenger terminal in the pipeline, along with the expansion of cycling paths and its cycle share network, the biggest e-bike system in the country.

Mayor Matjaž Rakovec is proud on the improvements, pledging for the efforts to continue. Residents can follow air quality monitoring at three most pollution-prone spots in the city.

Traffic major source of pollution on coast

Although the port town of Koper does not rank among areas with above-limit levels of air pollution, it does exceed limits at times, the main reason being transit traffic during the summer season.

Emissions from the city's dense road network rise several-fold in summer when the situation is compounded by ozone pollution.

As yet incomplete data from ARSO show hourly ozone warning limits in Koper were exceeded four times in 2019, all in June, while the daily 8-hour target level was surpassed 44 times, above the 25 permitted.

The daily PM10 mean concentration was exceeded 8 times in 2019, four times in 2018 and 18 times in 2017.

The city has made steps to reduce pollution, including measures to slow down traffic, expand green areas and promote green mobility, but local official say that the traffic problem may be solved comprehensively only in cooperation with the neighbouring communities and the national government.

The city has renovated more than half of all public buildings and partly refurbished 90% of buildings under its management in recent years to improve their energy efficiency.

PM10 levels are also monitored at the Koper port, but the operator Luka Koper says the values at the port are much lower than in many other parts of the country.

STA, 25 February 2020 - The Bank Association has observed a "marked fall" in freshly approved retail loans in the months following the central bank's brake on lending to households, both for consumer and housing loans.

"In the field of consumer loans, the situation has resulted in net repayments - a nominal decline - which increased further in December," the association said on Tuesday.

Data that 13 banks submitted to the association show the number of newly approved consumer loans reduced from 10,816 in September and 13,484 in October to 5,566 in November, 5,009 in December and 6,277 in January.

40% Fall in Housing Loans, 60% in Consumer Loans, After Slovenia Tightened Credit Rules

The number of housing loans dropped from 1,154 in September, 1,701 in October, 1,160 in November, 984 in December and 1,019 in January.

The association did not offer year-on-year comparisons which would eliminate seasonal changes in trends.

The central bank has recently assessed that the implementation of its decision on macro-prudential restrictions on retail lending has partly affected lending trends.

However, Banka Slovenije also said it would be premature to draw any conclusions on the effects of the measure because it was necessary to take into consideration non-typical conduct by banks and borrowers in anticipation of the measure, and after its implementation, delays in loan drawing and the effect of holidays and season.

Central bank data show that housing loans increased by EUR 105 million and consumer loans rose by EUR 14 million in the final quarter of 2019, which compares to EUR 64 million and EUR 69 million, respectively in 2018.

Year-on-year growth in housing loans stayed at 5.8% in December, while the net monthly growth in those loans, at EUR 23 million, was lower than the average for 2019, at EUR 29 million.

Bank Calls for Review of New Loan Restrictions After Dramatic Fall in Mortgages, Consumer Lending

The growth in consumer loans, at an average rate of 11.7% in 2019, slowed down to 8.9% year-on-year in December following the central bank's restrictions on consumer lending.

An increase in the volume of consumer loans in October was followed by a decrease in November and December by EUR 15 million and EUR 21 million, respectively, the central bank said.

Banka Slovenije imposed lending restrictions to curb excessive consumer lending and cut loan maturity. It expects the lending level to be stabilised to better match other economic parameters and that consumer loans will be directed with respect to their purpose into housing loans even though they are less profitable for banks.

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A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here

This summary is provided by the STA:

President Pahor nominates SDS leader Janša for prime minister

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor formally nominated Janez Janša, the leader of the Democrats (SDS), for prime minister after four parties reached an agreement to form a centre-right coalition. Having joined forces with the Modern Centre Party (SMC), New Slovenia (NSi) and Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), Janša can count on a slim but comfortable majority in the 90-member parliament, which has to vote on the nomination in seven days at the latest. Janša said the coalition agreement showed the four parties were willing to seek compromise solutions and would work to tackle the most pressing issues that Slovenia faces, even as he noted that only two and a half years remained until the next scheduled election.

New govt to revive conscription, secure border

LJUBLJANA - The coalition government that is being formed by Janez Janša is planning to reintroduce military conscription, effectively secure the border, decentralise the country and increase local government funding, as well as introduce a general child benefit. This follows from a 13-page draft coalition agreement obtained by the STA. Unofficial information indicates the four coalition parties have already signed the agreement.

Slovenia remains without any confirmed cases of coronavirus

LJUBLJANA - The government said that all test results for COVID-19 conducted in Slovenia so far - the results for 59 people were in by noon - had been negative. The news came in response to rampant misinformation on social media, with users widely circulating debunked rumours about alleged infections in recent days. Public institutions in Slovenia have started taking precautionary measures to protect staff against coronavirus infections, including by cancelling some events, although the Health Ministry says there is no reason to call off public events. Democrats (SDS) head and likely new PM Janez Janša suggested Slovenia should activate the Civil Protection Service.

Pahor does not expect breakthrough in first meeting with Milanović

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor toned down expectations ahead of a meeting with Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanović scheduled for Thursday. He said the meeting would be "very important" but would serve to establish mutual trust rather than achieve a convergence of positions. The plan is to broach border arbitration. While Croatia does not recognise the arbitration tribunal's award, the presidents will discuss how it may be possible to determine the course of the border as set by the arbitration tribunal in a reasonable time, Pahor told the press.

Serbia sells 83% of Komercijalna Banka to NLB for EUR 387m

LJUBLJANA/BELGRADE, Serbia - The Slovenian NLB bank announced it had signed an agreement with the Serbian government to acquire the 83% state stake in the bank Komercijalna Banka. The deal worth EUR 387 million is pending regulatory approval and is expected to be finalised in the last quarter of the year. As a result of the transaction, NLB's market share in Serbia will increase to over 12.1% by total assets, making it the third largest banking group in the country, the Slovenian bank added.

Slovenia making little progress in tackling key socio-economic challenges

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia has made little progress in tackling key socio-economic challenges the country faces, including one of the financially most important issues, the long-term care of its ageing population, shows a European Commission report. Some progress has been achieved in the professionalisation and independent oversight in public procurement, and in labour market policies that increase the employability of low-skilled and older workers by improving labour market relevance of education and training. Limited progress was also detected in economic policies facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Central Slovenia to get EUR 93 million for development projects

LJUBLJANA - Central Slovenia, one of Slovenia's 12 statistical regions, will get EUR 93 million in EU and state subsidies for 21 development projects under an agreement signed on Wednesday. Just over EUR 45 million of the total funding comes from EU cohesion funds, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said after signing a supplementary regional development agreement with Metod Ropret, the head of the Osrednjeslovenska Development Council. A combined EUR 67.5 million will be invested in fourteen projects promoting multi-modal urban mobility.

Analysts say new coalition long-term project, disagree on SMC

LJUBLJANA - Commenting on the formation of a new coalition around the Democrats (SDS), analysts agreed that the four-party coalition is a long-term project, while disagreeing on the role and strength of what is seen as the key partner, the Modern Centre Party (SMC). Slovenia will get a centre-right government with a noticeable left-leaning touch, Andraž Zorko of the pollster Valicon has told the STA, pointing to the SMC as the weakest link due to being the one which could tear the future government apart. Meanwhile, Rok Čakš of the news portal Domovina assessed that the SMC is "without doubt the biggest winner" of the coalition talks, while NSi could be less satisfied, but is not a loser as it will assume responsibility for relatively important departments.

Two Slovenian regions eligible for EU green transition funds

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Two Slovenian regions, Savinjska in the east and the central Zasavska region, are among a hundred EU regions eligible for financing from the EU fund for a fair green transition. The regions picked are either heavily dependant on coal or have the highest carbon emissions, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira said. Some EUR 7.5 billion have been set aside for the fund, of which EUR 92 million have been allocated to Slovenia.

Watchdog takes action against 2018 attempted takeover if Cinkarna

LJUBLJANA - The securities market watchdog has taken action against the Vienna-based Ring International Holding over market manipulation related to its attempted takeover of Cinkarna Celje. The private company published a takeover intent in June 2018 after manipulating the market to reduce the price of the chemical company's shares.

Slovenia spearheading right to healthy environment campaign

GENEVA, Switzerland - Foreign Ministry State Secretary Matej Marn, who attended the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, said that a group of countries led by Slovenia would start a discussion on declaring a right to a healthy environment at a global level. Marn highlighted Slovenia's commitment to international law, respecting human rights and effective multilateralism and pointed at the influence of the technological and AI development on human rights.

Debate hears green path, circular economy a must for Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - A panel debate on the European green deal saw Environment Minister Simon Zajc claim that a green path is a must for Slovenia as it would otherwise remain too dependent on foreign countries. He also pointed to the importance of circular economy, as those who fail to adopt it would very soon fall out of competition. Speaking at the event hosted by the newspaper Finance and BKS Bank, the minister noted that the new European Commission had set very ambitious and determined goals in the environment and transition to zero-carbon society.

Pahor decorates former Justice Minister Šturm

LJUBLJANA - Former justice minister and Constitutional Court judge Lovro Šturm received the Silver Order for Services from President Borut Pahor. Pahor also conferred the Order for Services on former Ljubljana mayor Jože Strgar and Slovenski Dom, a Slovenian cultural association from Zagreb. Šturm was honoured for his "extraordinary contribution to the implementation of the rule of law and the Constitution".

Slovenia donates EUR 30,000 for aid to Yemen

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has donated EUR 30,000 to the World Food Programme (WFP) for humanitarian aid to Yemen, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, adding that Slovenia has thus fulfilled its obligation for this year stemming from the pledge given at the donor conference for Yemen in Geneva a year ago. Slovenia promised in Geneva to donate EUR 100,000 to WFP for Yemen between 2019 and 2021. The donation announced today fulfils the country's obligation for this year.

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