STA, 18 May 2022 - The Democrats (SDS) have tabled a motion to call a consultative referendum on the proposed changes to the government act, the National Assembly said. The SDS opposes an increase in the number of ministries and would like to give the government more "time to think about" government formation. This could delay the process by a month.

Under the proposed changes, the new government would have 19 ministries and one minister without portfolio, which would according to the emerging coalition of the Freedom Movement, Social Democrats (SD) and the Left boost efficiency and responsiveness.

The incumbent government of Janez Janša has 14 ministries and three without portfolio.

Freedom Movement MP Tamara Vonta said during today's debate in parliament on the changes that the new government would have three ministries more but that did not mean more spending.

There will also be no additional hiring in contrast to what the incumbent government is doing by offering a few hundred jobs in public administration just before leaving office, she said.

SDS deputy group head Danijel Krivec said the number and division of ministries had been made "based on the interests of parties and individuals" from the future coalition.

He said certain ministries were being "artificially divided, merged and transferred". He was particularly critical of the ministry for solidarity-based future, which he finds "artificially created and confusing".

This was echoed by Vida Čadonič Špelič from New Slovenia (NSi). She said every coalition had the right to form a government but that the NSi still disagreed with such increase in the number of ministries.

Lena Grgurevič from the Freedom Movement replied that the majority of voters had supported the party's programme and the proposed changes were a step towards implementing the desired model of managing the state.

Commenting on the referendum motion, the head of the SD deputy group, Jani Prednik, said this was "blatant misbehaviour" and a negation of the will of the people, who "said no to such politics in the April general election".

Speaking on the sidelines of today's parliament session, Prednik noted that every emerging coalition had the opportunity to form a government, pick the number of ministers and set its course, which was what the first 100 days were for.

"The current opposition is misbehaving and is already showing the modus operandi it had been displaying for four years, which we find unacceptable, and probably they are showing they are not happy with the election result, but sooner or later they will have to accept it."

The three coalition partners would like to form the government by 3 June, but now that the referendum motion has been filed, 30 days must pass before the National Assembly can vote on the motion and only then can changes to the government act be put to a vote.

According to Prednik, this could mean that the formation of the government will be delayed or that it will be formed under the existing government act and then rearranged later in line with the proposed changes.

Prednik thinks it is not very likely that President Borut Pahor would be asked to put forward the prime minister candidate later than planned, so the National Assembly is expected to vote on the prime minister next Wednesday as planned.

The coalition partners are yet to decide on future steps, he said.

This move is similar to the 33 legislative motions that were filed at the parliament's maiden session, said Mojca Šetinc Pašek, an MP for the Freedom Movement.

She believes these procedural blockades are something constitutional experts should deal with.

Freedom Movement head Robert Golob is scheduled to comment on the matter later this afternoon.

The head of the Left deputy group, Matej Tašner Vatovec, said stalling was the plan of the outgoing government to "buy time to continue its corrupt conduct". He also pointed to "staffing that is under way".

STA, 18 May 2022 - Under amendments to the RTV Slovenija act sponsored by the opposition Democrats (SDS), the public broadcaster's license fee would no longer be mandatory. The new coalition opposes the proposal, saying it would ruin RTV Slovenija, whereas the other opposition party, New Slovenia (NSi), supports it.

Since the SDS filed a motion today to call a referendum on the changes to the legislation, the bill's consideration will take more time than initially thought.

In addition to the license fee becoming voluntary, the amount payable would be determined by citizens themselves, said Alenka Jeraj from the SDS as she presented the proposal at Wednesday's session of the National Assembly. According to her, the broadcaster is not as credible and objective as it should be and has lost 200,000-250,000 viewers in the past ten years.

The emerging coalition of the Freedom Movement, Social Democrats (SD) and Left finds the proposal an attempt to undermine RTV Slovenija in a financial sense as well.

They agree that the RTV Slovenija act needs to be changed, but in a way to depoliticise the broadcaster and ensure editorial autonomy, said Predrag Baković from the SD in parliament. They have also tabled their own version of the bill to achieve this, he added.

STA, 18 May 2022 - The Slovenian property market saw a record year in 2021 in terms of increase in prices and the number of transactions involving land for residential buildings, with the commercial property market also being revived. The Surveying and Mapping Authority (Geodetska uprava) has reported more than 37,000 transactions worth a total of EUR 2.9 billion.

The number of transactions in apartments and houses increased by about 20% last year compared to 2020 and was higher than the figure for the pre-epidemic year 2019.

The increase mainly owes to the record sales of houses, caused by the growing demand for houses outside urban centres, shows the report by the Surveying and Mapping Authority on the Slovenian property market for 2021.

Last year, the market for land for residential construction "virtually exploded", the report says, noting that compared to 2020, the number of transactions in land for houses and multi-apartment buildings was up by approximately 45%.

In the tourist centres in the Slovenian Alps, the number was up by more than 80%, in the southern suburbs of Ljubljana by about two-thirds, in Ljubljana and Celje by about 60% and in Maribor by about 45%.

According to the report, the record number of land transactions is expected to be followed by an accelerated expansion of housing construction, which has in the last three years been notable in the capital, but also in other parts of the country.

Prices of apartments in multi-apartment buildings increased by 15% last year, while prices of houses were up by 13%. Land for construction of residential buildings was meanwhile 12% more expensive than in 2020.

The growth in prices of residential property is the result of excess demand, with the supply of new buildings gradually catching up, the reports says.

The high demand for residential property for own use, and especially as an investment, is still being largely driven by low interest rates and accessibility of loans, and, more recently, by the growing fears of increased inflation.

Putting additional pressure on the property prices is the high growth of construction costs due to the global rise in energy prices and building materials due to the Covid-19 pandemic and, as of recently, the war in Ukraine.

The report notes that, considering the prices and the volume of new construction in Ljubljana, a peak of the property cycle is near, as the market supply will exceed demand that could be backed by solvency and sales will be slowing down.

A general decline in demand for residential property could also be triggered by a rise in interest rates that is expected in the near future, while a turnaround in the price trend is not expected until supply exceeds demand.

The report notes that the number of transactions with commercial property increased by approximately 30% last year, but the number was nevertheless still some 10% lower than in the pre-Covid year 2019.

A PDF of the full report, in Slovene, can be found here

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STA, 18 May 2022 - Red pumps, red sandals and red trainers could be seen a lot in parliament today as female members of the future coalition parties decided to express solidarity with Speaker Urška Klakočar Zupančič, who became the target on insults on social media over her outfit at Friday's maiden session of parliament. 

Klakočar Zupančič wore a black mid-size dress, a black jacket and red pumps at Friday's parliamentary session at which she was elected speaker.

Prva ženska na tem položaju. Čestitke Urška Klakočar Zupančič za izvolitev za novo predsednico @Drzavnizborz Veselim se dobrega sodelovanja. pic.twitter.com/n4OuMjaMAi

— Tanja Fajon (@tfajon) May 13, 2022

But her choice of shoes triggered insulting, sexist and vulgar comments on social media, web portal N1 reported.

As a result, a kind of red shoe movement emerged among female users of social media, urging women to support Klakočar Zupančič by wearing red shoes.

MPs of the future coalition parties, especially the Freedom Movement, responded by appearing in all types of red footwear in parliament today.

"I'm glad that women have recognised red shoes as a symbol of resistance to extreme chauvinism," Klakočar Zupančič was quoted as saying by N1.

"It's time for women to stop being judged by their looks and outfit," said Deputy Speaker Meira Hot. "It's inadmissible in 2022 that a parliamentary speaker is a target of such insults," she added.

Within Slovenia’s vastly forested landscape roams a sizeable population of European brown bear. There once was a time many years ago when trying to spot one, let alone photograph one, was all but impossible. Despite its might and fearsome reputation, the brown bear is in actual fact a shy and elusive creature. Spotting one in the wild was the realm of local people and hunters. However, all that has now changed. Many little bear tour companies have popped up over the years. Although, when it comes to bear photography, all roads lead back to one place and one person, Miha Mlakar of slovenianbears.com. This is the best way to photograph bears in Slovenia.

Combining his passion for bears and photography

Having spent his childhood roaming the forests of Snežnik, Miha secretly watched all the wild animals as they went about their daily lives, including brown bears. He got to know their patterns, habits and more importantly learned to read their traces. Brown bears are most common in this part of Slovenia, and encounters with the king of the Slovenian forest have left an indelible mark upon him.

A fortuitous meeting with two renowned Italian photographers sent Miha on his path to photographing bears and other wildlife himself. This subsequently led him to his idea for building special photographic hides in order to ensure a safe environment for both the bear and the photographer.

The best combination of knowledge

By combining his years of knowledge and experience watching and tracking the bear’s habits with his newfound knowledge and skills as a photographer, Miha has pioneered the way for nature and wildlife photographers to visit Slovenia and capture these elusive creatures in all their wonder and glory. Not only does he know how to build a hide that would be safe for both the occupant and the bear, but he also knows exactly what photographers need inside to maximise their chances of capturing great bear photos.

Miha’s intimate knowledge of the bears, their movements, habits and habitat means he knows in which locations you are most likely to have a sighting. His knowledge of photography has helped him decide where to place the hides in order to make use of the best afternoon and morning light. A limited amount of food, corn, is placed in specially selected areas. These areas, along with the hide placements, have also been chosen for optimum light and with the photo angle in mind. The viewing windows are aligned as much as possible for a straight on view rather than looking down. When photographing wildlife, you need to get down to the animal’s level.

The locations of these hides and feeding areas have also been selected in cooperation with the hunting organisation. This ensures the same locations are used throughout. The amount of feeding areas and food is strictly regulated by the Slovene authorities. While it may seem controversial, feeding of the bears and other wildlife has long been a tradition in Slovenia and other European countries. Feeding helps keep track of numbers and control the population, but more importantly reduces the chances of human contact by helping to ensure hungry bears do not stray into inhabited areas. Additionally, this feeding cycle increases the chance of sighting and photographing bears from Miha’s hides. Therefore, as you can see, everything is done in perfect harmony.

Return to the forest

Back in May 2015, when I ventured down to his base in Markovec to embark upon my first long-awaited experience photographing bears in Slovenia, Miha had only recently begun building his special photographic hides and thus his Slovenian Bears business. He started in 2014 and based it, quite naturally, at the family guesthouse, Mlakar Inn. Accommodation is also offered in conjunction with your bear experience, along with home-cooked food before and after. You can choose to book a photo hide for one day, or several days. Or you can go on one of the many multi-day trips he offers for the chance to capture mothers and their newborns.

On my first visit, I was able to photograph two young brothers, and two big bears. Within an hour of entering the hide, the brothers came and spent at least two hours frolicking in woodland before us. I came away with some great shots.

Upon my return this year, 7 years later, Miha now has a grand total of 36 hides placed in strategic locations within the densely forested regions of Notranjska and Kočevje. The hides are scattered throughout an area covering 30 x 20kms. Obviously as demand has grown, Miha has also collaborated with other guesthouses around the region to offer food and accommodation for the trips. I was invited to join Miha and two Italian photographers at the lovely Gostišče Ana in Retje, Loški Potok, where lunch was waiting.

Being well prepared

“Do you have a tripod with you?” asked Miha.

“Yes, I do.” I replied. Thankfully I always take it with me, even if I think I won’t need it.

“Bring the head,” he told me. “I have made special wooden blocks you can attach it to.

This was, as it turned out, an ingenious idea.

As we drove off in the car to where we would start our short walk to the hide, Miha gave everyone a rundown of the rules and etiquette, which are not only designed to protect the photographer but also the bears. Once in the hide, no one must leave until Miha comes back. Absolute silence must be maintained at all times. This also means considering the use of controls on our camera.

“Turn off the focus beep, and the focus light,” said Miha. “Strictly no flash photography. And also turn off continuous shoot. Just one shot at a time, otherwise the noise will scare off the bear.”

Miha went on to explain how to behave when a bear comes. “Don’t start photographing right away. The bear will approach cautiously, and first will be very alert to any possible danger. It will scout the area and only start to eat when it feels safe. Wait for the bear to settle and start eating before taking any photos. Also, don’t photograph birds or any other animals while waiting for the bears, as they may be nearby and be scared off before they arrive.”

Tracking the bears

Miha drove us deep into the forest along a dirt road before stopping at a small lay-by. From here it was a relatively short walk to the hides. Along the way, he stopped to look at one of the many cameras he has strapped to a tree. While he is an expert tracker, he also now makes use of modern technology.

These cameras are strategically placed around his hides. Any movement triggers a sensor and the camera starts taking photos, some of which are sent to Miha's phone. The cameras also have infra red (IR) capability for night shots. This is a very effective way of monitoring activity around his hides, which of course allows him to choose the best hides for the photographers. Naturally, this increases the chances of a sighting on the day. The camera showed a lot of activity that very morning, so the chances were good.

Into the hide we go

There were three of us, and we were given a hide each. We checked our mobile signals to ensure we could contact Miha in case of an emergency, and he also gently reminded us to put our phones on silent. Once inside, I screwed my tripod head to the wooden block and setup my camera. The hides are designed for photographers. Along with the windows there are special camera holes with a cover you place over your camera. Then you put the lens through the cover hole so only the lens is poking out. The rest of you and your camera are camouflaged.

Equipment

The feeding area here is around 10-20 metres away. Photography distances vary from hide to hide, but they are around 10-50m. On my shoot back in 2015 we were also about 10-20 metres away.

Now I’m not normally one to talk about people needing great equipment for taking photographs, but there are times when a certain type of camera and lens are necessary. Given the distance, and the varying distance, a good zoom lens is essential; ideally a 100-400mm or anything up to 500mm or more.

I used the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. At 400mm, this lens allowed me to get close to the bears, while also being able to pull back and show the bear in its surroundings. A good quality lens is important too, although you can make do with a lower end one if that is all you have. But given this unique opportunity, my advice is to either borrow a higher quality lens from a friend, or rent one.

A good camera body is essential too. I was using the Canon EOS 5Dm3. Photographing wildlife in the forest can often mean low light levels, so in many cases you will need to increase the ISO to get a fast enough shutter speed. Therefore, a camera that can perform well in low light and offer low noise at high ISOs is essential. The stability provided by the tripod head attachment meant that the risk of camera shake was significantly reduced. An alternative here is to use a beanbag.

How to get the best photos

We entered the hides around 2pm, and at 4pm we got our first visitor, an adult bear. The morning rain had cleared away and now we had a lovely afternoon of patchy sunlight. The urge to start shooting was overwhelming. However, I heeded Miha’s instructions and waited patiently for the bear to feel safe. It was clear that the bear was on edge, and you could see how it was alert and scouting the area to ensure it was safe. When it started eating, I started photographing.

This is where Miha’s knowledge of photography pays dividends. The light was breaking through the trees and spotlighting the exact areas where the food had been laid out. The bear lifted his head high to smell the area, and beautiful soft light illuminated his face. My first shots were magical, and we had only just begun.

Shortly after though, something obviously spooked the bear and it ran off into the forest. Just goes to show how timid even the big ones are. However, this was just the beginning. A little while later, two bears came together and after settling down were obviously more at ease because they stayed for quite a while, offering numerous photo opportunities.

When they left, a short wait later our smallest visitor yet came by. Hard to say how old, but it was alone so maybe 2-3 years old. This cute little fella seemed to enjoy having the place to himself and also remained for quite a while.

Miha returned for us around 7.30. I had seen four bears that day. Apparently, unbeknown to me at the time, there were two more down to the left just before he came. I hadn’t been able to see them from my hide, but the two Italians had. When Miha came he whistled and called out. Partly to tell us it was him coming, and also to warn any bears of his approach I assume. These two bears ran off when they heard him.

Bear safety

Bear attacks are rare, and in most cases usually the result of a bear being startled or someone getting between a mother and her cubs. This usually happens when people are not making any noise. Bird watchers are especially at risk because they are creeping around the forest trying not to disturb the birds. The general rule of safety when out walking in the forest is to be mindful of this and conscious of making your presence known. If you are with others, then talk. Walk with a heavy footfall. If you are alone, take a stick and bang occasionally on trees or branches or hang a small bell on your backpack.

Bears have an acute sense of smell and hearing, so it’s highly likely they will smell or hear you before you see them; in which case they will move away. Going out alone to take photos is dangerous, and you risk startling a bear. Therefore, going with a specialised organisation like Slovenian Bears is the best and safest way.

As you have also seen here, you will be far more successful and able to photograph more bears than you would if you try it alone. Plus, you won’t hurt yourself or any bears. It’s important to remember that if a bear does attack a human, it’s not only the person who gets hurt or killed, but the bear is then scheduled for termination and the hunters must track down and shoot it.

Do you really want to give yourself and a bear a death sentence?

Responsible tourism

Although Miha has 36 hides, they are not all in constant use. The Slovenian Bears ethos is to minimise the impact on the bears and their habitat. Therefore use of hides is rotated to ensure the bears have peace and quiet as much as possible. This also helps to ensure the bears get to know this location as a safe and reliable source of food, thus maximising the chance of their return and your chance of spotting them.

The best way to photograph bears

So as you can see, without doubt the best way to photograph bears in Slovenia is with Slovenian Bears for both safety and reliability. When it comes to viewing wildlife there is never a 100% guarantee, but Miha’s superb setup ensures the highest rate of success.

For more information contact Miha Mlakar: Website: slovenianbears.com / Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / Tel:  041 582081

STA, 18 May 2022 - The Slovenian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Slovenia fully respected and supported the decision of Sweden and Finland to join NATO, labelling the two countries as the closest partners of the alliance.

STA, 17 May 2022 - The Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC) announced it had sold its outright stake in footwear maker Alpina to K&H, a Czech company that is part of the Franco de Poisd'eau & CIE group, for an as yet undisclosed amount.

The buyer has been picked not just because it submitted the best financial offer but also because of a thorough development strategy, BAMC said on Tuesday.

The new owner has already presented its plans to the management and workers as it announced that it will focus on restructuring improvements in production and sales, and the development of the Alpina brand.

"Alpina is an established and sought-after brand, as evident from great demand by potential buyers. The new owner has recognised this potential and has bold development plans," BAMC chairman Franci Matoz was quoted as saying.

Franco group owner František Pivoda added that Alpina was purchased because it was a strong and high-quality brand that has a strong position, especially in the sports segment.

"We're convinced that the purchase has great potential for growth," he said, adding that the brand would remain unchanged but its identity would be upgraded.

"We are confident that under the new leadership, numerous opportunities will open for the Alpina group, opportunities that a brand as renowned as Alpina deserves," said Alpina supervisory board president Sebastian Cafuta.

Jure Krivina, the chair of Alpina's works council, said the first impressions were good and the covenants provided by the representatives of K&H show they understand Alpina's role as a traditional brand and local employer.

The purchase price has not been revealed but earlier media reports indicate K&H offered EUR 20 million, well above the EUR 17 million offered by Slovenian sports goods maker Elan.

Alpina generated EUR 44.7 million in revenue 2021 while posting a loss of EUR 0.9 million, considerably lower than the 4 million recorded in 2020.

The bad bank took a majority stake in Alpina in 2015, whereupon it converted nearly EUR 20 million in debt to equity and secured loans totalling EUR 24 million.

Alpina is best known for winter footwear and is a major global producer of shoes for cross-country running. It also owns the stylish Peko brand.

STA, 17 May 2022 - Five Slovenian MEPs have sent a public letter to Austria and the European Commission criticising the recent decision of Austria to again extend police controls on the border with Slovenia, labelling the move as unjustified and disproportionate. They argue that this is confirmed by the valid EU law and the recent decision of the EU court.

The letter signed by Irena Joveva, Klemen Grošelj (both Renew/LMŠ), Milan Brglez (S&D/SD), Ljudmila Novak (EPP/NSi) and Franc Bogovič (EPP/SLS) is addressed to Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Ylva Johansson as the competent European commissioner.

It notes that Slovenia was more than appropriately addressing the challenges in irregular migration, possible terrorist threats and trafficking in human beings.

The functioning Schengen Area poses no threat to Austria, while border control severely restricts freedom of movement, the letter says, adding that there were no new threats to justify the decision.

According to the five Slovenian MEPs, the subsequent six-month extensions of internal border control since 2015 have not been in line with the EU rules.

They have urged the Austrian government to reconsider its intention to renew control on the EU's internal border, and asked the Commission to issue an opinion about the necessity or proportionality of the decision of the Austrian authorities.

The MEPs noted that reintroducing internal border control should be a measure of last resort and that alternative measures for internal border control should be sought.

The Commission told the STA that the relevant ruling of the EU Court of Justice clarified the rules applied for temporary reintroduction of internal border control. A preliminary ruling says the matter must now be decided by a national court.

It added that it was working with the EU member states to end the continued reintroduction of internal border control in close technical and political dialogue.

The Commission is also ready to work with the European Parliament and the Council to address the issue in the ongoing negotiations on updating the Schengen Borders Code, it added.

In April, the EU Court of Justice said that a Schengen Area member state could reintroduce border control in the event of a serious threat to its public order or internal security, but should not exceed the maximum total duration of six months.

It may reintroduce the measure immediately after the end of this six-month period, but only if it faces a new serious threat that is different from the one originally identified.

Austria notified the Commission last week that it would extend control on its borders with Hungary and Slovenia for at least six months. The war in Ukraine was cited among the reasons for the decisions this time.

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Talks with Germany on military gear swap continue

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defence Minister Matej Tonin acknowledged that talks with Germany for a swap under which it would send Yugoslav-era tanks to Ukraine in exchange for more modern German armoured vehicles have stalled, but he said negotiations were continuing. "Slovenia has done its part. The equipment we intend to send to Ukraine is ready for transport. We've notified the Germans in writing what kind of equipment we want, now we're waiting for feedback from the German side," he said. Slovenia is interested only in "modern equipment which the arms can actually use in the next ten to fifteen years."

Vote on PM-designate to be held on 25 May

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly could vote on the appointment of Robert Golob as Slovenia's next prime minister as early as Wednesday, 25 May, Speaker Urška Klakočar Zupančič and President Borut Pahor said at their first meeting. The names of the heads of deputy groups in the new parliament will be known this Thursday. On Friday, Pahor will send them invitations for formal consultations on the PM-designate, which will take place next Monday.

Remaining candidates for minister revealed

LJUBLJANA - The names of all nominees for ministers in the Robert Golob government have now been revealed. The Left confirmed that the party's vice-president Asta Vrečko, a curator and art historian, was slated for the culture portfolio and Simon Maljevac, the party's secretary general, for labour, the family and social affairs. Irena Šinko, a senior civil servant who served two terms as the director of the national Farmland and Forest Fund in 2010-2018, is the Freedom Movement's candidate for agriculture ministry.

Changes in government structure pass first hurdle in parliament

LJUBLJANA - The temporary parliamentary Joint Committee passed changes to the government act with which the emerging coalition proposes a new structure of the government, consisting of 19 ministries and one government office. While the coalition thinks this will improve efficiency, the opposition argued the result would be the opposite. Under the proposal from the Freedom Movement, Social Democrats (SD) and Left, the new government will have three ministries more than the outgoing government.

Slovenian MEPs complain over Austria extending border control

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Five Slovenian MEPs sent a public letter to Austria and the European Commission criticising the recent decision of Austria to again extend police controls on the border with Slovenia, labelling the move as unjustified and disproportionate. They argue that this is confirmed by the valid EU law and the recent decision of the EU court. The letter signed by Irena Joveva, Klemen Grošelj (both Renew/LMŠ), Milan Brglez (S&D/SD), Ljudmila Novak (EPP/NSi) and Franc Bogovič (EPP/SLS) is addressed to Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Commissioner Ylva Johansson.

NATO mission in Slovakia to upgrade Slovenia-Czechia cooperation, minister says

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defence Minister Matej Tonin met his Czech counterpart Jana Černochova in Brussels before a meeting of EU defence ministers. The pair discussed NATO's mission in Slovakia and the role of EU presidency, which the Czech Republic will assume in July, the Defence Ministry said. Tonin offered to share Slovenia's experiences in the challenges of the EU presidency. He is happy the Czech presidency's priorities are in line with Slovenia's ambitions in defence policy, including strengthening EU-NATO cooperation.

Minister candidate says doctors will be able to work on the side

LJUBLJANA - After the announcement in the draft coalition agreement that doctors in the public sector will be banned from working for private providers was met with pushback from doctors' organisations, Danijel Bešič Loredan, the candidate for the health minister, said that such work would not be prohibited for now. He told POP TV and TV Slovenija that such a ban was part of a different, more distant part of the coalition agreement that is planned to be in place by 2024.

Writers find coalition agreement vague, artists and NGOs hopeful

LJUBLJANA - The coalition agreement of the future government of Robert Golob lacks vision and concrete solutions, said the Writers' Association. An association of freelance artists and NGOs finds the document ambitious, while economist Andrej Srakar welcomed the announced stable financing of culture. Mitja Šuštar, the head of the Glosa trade union of culture workers, expressed fear that culture will again be marginalised.

Dismissed TV Slovenija boss now put forward for the job

LJUBLJANA - Andrej Grah Whatmough, director general of the Slovenian public broadcaster, has put forward for director of the broadcaster's TV arm Natalija Gorščak, whom he himself dismissed from the job in August last year. RTV Slovenija said Gorščak was the only candidate to apply for the job in line with the terms of the call by the 13 May deadline. Another application arrived by e-mail and was thus not considered.

Alpina sold to Czech company K&H

LJUBLJANA/ŽIRI - The Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC) announced it had sold its outright stake in footwear maker Alpina to K&H, a Czech company that is part of the Franco de Poisd'eau & CIE group, for an as yet undisclosed amount reported to be EUR 20 million. The buyer has been picked not just because it submitted the best financial offer but also because of a thorough development strategy, BAMC said. The new owner has already presented its plans to the management and workers as it announced that it will focus on restructuring improvements in production and sales, and the development of the Alpina brand.

Prevent & Deloza takes over German business

LJUBLJANA - Prevent & Deloza, the Celje-based protective clothing manufacturer, has taken over Askö, the German maker of fire-resistant gloves for what the newspaper Delo reports is roughly EUR 2 million. The company plans subsequent takeovers to form a group that will offer a comprehensive range of equipment for firefighters, police and the military. "We're in talks on new acquisitions, eyeing north and west," CEO Boštjan Marolt told Delo.

Slovenian companies to seek business opportunities in Nevada

MARIBOR - A memorandum of understanding between the SPIRIT agency and the Office of the Governor of Nevada was signed to help Slovenian companies enter the US market, a priority market for Slovenian companies as defined in a government strategy. The memorandum, signed on the sidelines of the PODIM conference, should create a basis for increasing bilateral trade, investment, and technology transfer between Slovenia and Nevada, said acting SPIRIT head Rok Capl.

EU Commission clears EUR 150m aid scheme for companies

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission approved the re-introduction of a Slovenian scheme, including an EUR 150 million budget increase, to support companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the development of coronavirus-relevant products. The original scheme was approved in August 2020 and expired on 31 December last year. Slovenia sought the re-introduction of the scheme until the end of June this year.

Presidential decorations for humanitarian work

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor has decorated four individuals for work spanning remembrance of the Holocaust, fight for the rights of the victims of war violence, and helping children with cancer. Robert Waltl, a theatre director and leader of the Jewish Cultural Centre, received the Order of Merit, as did Ivica Žnidaršič, who heads the Association of Slovenian Deportees 1941-1945. The husband and wife team of Valerija and Ivo Čarman, founders of the Golden Bow Institute, a charity for children with cancer, received a Medal of Merit.

Restored monument to Ukrainian Isonzo Front fighters unveiled

PANOVEC - A restored monument to the Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the WWI Isonzo Front was unveiled in Panovec near Nova Gorica, with the speakers noting that it was not a monument to generals and military leaders, but to ordinary soldiers who had died there. The monument to the 20th Imperial-Royal Landwehr Infantry Regiment, which fought around Nova Gorica, was erected in 1917 in the vicinity of its command and today represents the central monument to all Ukrainians who fought on the Isonzo Front.