STA, 22 November 2019 - The national railway operator Slovenske Železnice has announced that wireless internet access will be enabled in a total of 29 of its trains by the end of November, and in another three by the end of the year.

The process of upgrading the company's services with wireless internet will be continued next year, when Slovenske Železnice are expected to introduce new passenger trains manufactured by the Swiss company Stadler Rail.

The company told the Uporabna Stran portal on Friday that wireless internet access would be introduced in its Siemens Desiro and Pendolino trains.

It added that the signals from the telcos Telekom Slovenije and A1 Slovenija would be used to ensure the best possible coverage and connection speed.

Slovenske Železnice is awaiting the delivery of passenger trains from Stadler Rail, with 26 trains commissioned last April and another 26 this May. In total, the price tag has reached EUR 320 million, VAT excluded.

According to the national railway operator, these trains will be equipped with wireless internet access technology. First Stadler trains in Slovenia are expected to hit the rails in the spring of 2020.

In 1925 Nikolaj Muster, known as Miki Muster, a Slovenian academic sculptor, illustrator, cartoonist and animator was born in Murska Sobota.

Muster was a pioneer of Slovenian comics and one of the most successful creators in both that field and the one of animation. His creative opus is extremely large and characterised by technical perfection and lively content.

Miki, born to a Hungarian mother and a Slovenian father, moved to Ljubljana at the age of eight, where he lived and attended schools for most of his childhood, except for the WWII era, when his mother was employed by the occupying Hungarian administration and he attended grammar school in Murska Sobota.

During these years he dreamt about leaving for the United States to join Disney Studios after the war, which wasn’t possible due to the Iron Curtain. He began drawing his first comic book when Yugoslavia was in the Stalinist era, before the Tito-Stalin split in 1948, and the American, Disney-style characters were not allowed.

Muster completed his studies in sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana. Between 1952 and 1973 he published his comic Dogodivščine Zvitorepca Trdonje in Lakotnika (The Adventures of the Trickster, Hardie and Hungerly) in Slovenski poročevalec, where he was employed as a journalist and illustrator. They were later reprinted several times in book form.

He is well known among children for his picture books Medvedek Neewa (Neewa Bear), Maja the Bee, Snežek, and others.

In 1973, he moved to Germany and dedicated most of his time to animation. Most successful was his animation series Mordillo, based on the work of the Argentinian comic book artist Guillermo Mordillo and produced between 1976 and 1981. Also well known in Germany are the Knax cartoons, the first four of which Muster created in the mid-1980s for Deutsche Sparkasse.

In the 1990s, his work was marked by TV sports and animated commercials such as those with the Cik-Cak Bunnies, created to announce the end of kids programming after the evening cartoon on national TV, and ads for High C candies, Jelovica, Medex, Pomurje Dairy Farms, Pips and others.

On his return from Germany Miki Muster engaged in competitive swimming and eventually won gold in the masters category (for 75 to 85-year-olds) at the 2000 World Championship in Munich, and bronze and silver at the 2003 European championships in France.

Miki Muster died in 2018 in Ljubljana.

A Czech oligarch set to become the biggest player on Slovenian TV screens is facing criticism in his home country. Czech as well as European journalists point out the  dangers associated with PPF’s political influence over the media in Central and Eastern Europe

The recently announced acquisition of CME by PPF (Reuters reporting here), owned by the richest Czech oligarch, has a rather significant impact for the Slovenian media market.

Provided that the EU as well as Romanian and Slovenian regulators approve the deal (Czech public TV broadcasting here), Slovenia’s PRO Plus, which belongs to Central European Media Enterprises (CME), is to become part of PPF Group in 2020. In other words both POP TV and Kanal A as well as Brio, Oto and Kino are part of a major shift in media ownership, a move which has already stirred controversy in the Czech Republic.

Although the owner of PPF Group, Petr Kellner, lives in the Czech Republic and has recently become active in promoting “conservative values” through establishing a conservative think-tank and expressing his concerns in the PPF annual report over the developments in the West and EU, particularly over the increasing “egalitarianism and relativizing of traditional values”, his PPF Group consists of numerous companies spread across the world (PPF itself is registered in the Netherlands).

While Kellner and PPF made Czech headlines in connection with the Panama Papers affair few years ago (Seznam news in Czech here), many of the PPF companies are also registered in Cyprus where they enjoy greater tax leniency and anonymity than in the Czech Republic. According to the PPF website the group’s greatest turnovers occur on the Russian, Chinese and southeastern markets in Asia, where PPF’s Home Credit International is active.

In fact, PPF prides itself in being the “first foreign entity to be licensed by the Chinese regulator to provide consumer finance services in China” (already since 2009 according to PPF’s official history, as stated here). In the meantime analysts at the Czech-based charity organization People in Need have reported that the Czech branch of Home Credit has been participating in the illegal extortion of property from its clients. (People in Need statement on Home Credit in Czech here).

It needs to be noted that Czech population is struggling with a soaring debt crisis which according to analysts has been sparked by the legislative measures resembling the debt legislation of Russia and China and falling short of the standards exercised across the EU (Observer published a report on Czech debt crisis here).

The Czech online outlet Sinopsis.cz, which focuses on China and is run by lecturers and researchers from the Institute of East Asian Studies at Charles University, regularly reports about Home Credit’s clients in China complaining of “usury practices” of “the Czech credit” as PPF is known in the People’s Republic of China (here).

In September and October much of Czech media reported on an announced controversial partnership between the Charles University and Home Credit under which Home Credit was to use the title of an “exclusive partner” of the oldest and most respected Czech university. Amid the public outcry, student petition and several faculties distancing themselves from such partnership (Charles University vice-chancellor Zima is since then facing calls to resign), Home Credit stepped away from the announced partnership (report in English available here).

Many Czech observers point out that PPF’s acquisition of CME is the group’s latest attempt to garnish their public image, but perhaps even more importantly a tool of asserting their political influence not only in the Czech Republic, but in the Central European region more effectively.

The Czech Syndicate of Journalists has called on PPF to guarantee independent journalism and democratic standards (the full statement in Czech is here) in a way reminiscent of demands Le Monde journalists addressed to another Czech oligarch, Daniel Křetínský (Kellner’s business partner and a partner of his daughter), who purchased a 50% stake in Le Monde’s parent company (Courriere International on Kretinsky and Le Monde  and Columbia Journalism Review here).

PPF’s Director of Communications Vladimír Mlynář refused to address the demands of the Czech Syndicate of Journalists when presented with the statement by the Czech public TV broadcaster. Moreover, Mlynář went as far as questioning the Syndicate’s legitimacy saying he does not know who they represent and quoted his journalist and dissident past to support his own one-sided judgment of the Syndicate and of the Czech TV reporter whom he accused of displaying emotions (debate on Czech TV available here).

Since then the Czech Denik N has reported on Josef Šlerka, chairman of the Czech Fund of Independent Journalism, whose participation in the TV debate was canceled shortly before the start of it, just as he was on the way to the studio. Czech TV responded by saying that this has been a regrettable mistake by an individual employee of the company (full report here).

Previously, the Fund had issued a statement warning against further deterioration of media independence in the Czech Republic, which the forthcoming acquisition will facilitate, and called on PPF to publicly declare that CME will not become an instrument of “PPF’s business, financial and political interests” in the Czech Republic as well as in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia (full statement here).

The Fund’s statement echoes the recent warnings issued by the European Federation of Journalists and Reporters without Borders about the state of journalistic independence and freedom in the Czech Republic (here and here). Once a highest-ranking post-communist country in World Press Freedom Index, the Czech Republic has been steadily sliding down the list (in 2019 sitting 40^th, a far cry from its top ten placement at the beginning of this decade).

Reporters without Borders cite the concentration of media ownership in the hands of few oligarchs and Czech PM’s political influence over the media, and police intimidation of journalists investigating the Czech PM (besides being Czech Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš is a tycoon in control of large business agro-chemical empire and the second largest media group Mafra).

Babiš’ media influence is rivaled only by that of the aforementioned Daniel Křetínský who owns Czech News Center, a large collection of dailies, magazines and lifestyle and sport outlets. Petr Kellner is now poised to join or even overshadow these two.

It will be rather remarkable to follow the respective regulators in the EU, Romania and Slovenia, whose turn it is now to assess the impact of the CME acquisition on their respective markets, and to see whether these have any legal means to address concerns voiced by the Czech and European community of independent journalists.

In what can be a glimpse at how PPF views opposition to its investments, PPF’s chief boss regarding the media, Mlynář has already downplayed the role of the Bulgarian regulator (which in the past prevented PPF from entering Bulgarian market) in the afore-mentioned debate on the Czech public TV.

Mlynář called the Bulgarian regulator’s then decision-making process “below standard”, without giving any further evidence to support this, perhaps trying to capitalize on the stereotypes associated with the post-Communist and Balkan authorities. Needless to say, his statements make the future of media freedom in the Czech Republic look ever more questionable, and may have the same implications for Slovenia.

STA, 22 November 2019 - The National Assembly voted 49:41 on Friday night to pass the budget acts for 2020 and 2021, in what was the first major vote for the minority government and an important test of the coalition's strength. The populist National Party (SNS) and both minority MPs provided the missing votes.

The vote was on the agenda just weeks after the Left walked away from an agreement that provided the government with a parliamentary majority, raising the possibility that the budget bills will not be adopted in time.

Tellingly, the opposition staged a show of force in committee last week when it joined forces to outvote the government and swell budget spending, mostly on account of a EUR 140 million increase in the annual budget transfer to municipalities.

But with the help of the SNS, the coalition voted down the amendment to bring the budget within the framework that the Finance Ministry says complies with the constitutional balanced-budget rule.

Budget revenue and expenditure will be at record levels both years, a reflection of the long period of economic growth, but slightly below original plans, as the treasury heeded warnings that growth is gradually slowing down.

For 2020 budget expenditure is capped at EUR 10.36 billion and revenue at EUR 10.77 billion, making for a surplus of EUR 415 million.

In 2021 expenditure will rise to EUR 10.45 billion and revenue is projected to climb to EUR 11.1 billion, with the surplus swelling to EUR 657 million.

Finance Minister Andrej Bertoncelj, who had threatened to resign unless the budgets remain within the treasury's bounds, said after the vote that spending was focused on social issues and development. He said the budgets would "improve the prosperity of everyone".

While the EU Commission has recently said Slovenia's budgetary plans for next year contain risks that could lead to non-compliance with EU budget rules, Bertoncelj said the budgets were putting Slovenia on track to leave the group of countries at risk of breaching EU budget rules.

As for the political aspect, Bertoncelj said the budgets were "a major step forward" that "shows the coalition is strong". "It's important that we have the budgets and that the government continues doing its job."

Whereas the coalition was able to deflect the increase in budget transfers to local communities, the opposition nevertheless squeezed through amendments that raised spending by a few million.

Even the coalition contributed the votes earmarking EUR 400,000 to the Celje Mountaineering Association which will be spent on rebuilding two mountain huts destroyed in separate fires last year and last month.

An additional EUR 6 million has been set aside for investments in preschool buildings and EUR 5 million for remediation works on a landfill in the Savinja Valley.

And a million euros each this year and next will be spent restoring the Žiče Charterhouse, an earmark proposed by the SNS. Žiče is located in the district where SNS leader ran in the 2018 election.

These amendments were confirmed as part of the budget implementation act, a technical piece of legislation that gives the government authority on budget management and borrowing.

This act also contains a ceiling on borrowing, which is set at EUR 1.6 billion for 2020 and EUR 2.7 billion for 2021. The majority of the borrowing will be used to refinance existing debt in order to reduce debt servicing costs.

The government will also be allowed to issue state guarantees of up to EUR 800 million in both years.

Most of the guarantees will go towards building a new rail track to the Koper port, but a quarter is to be spent on a special guarantee for housing loan that the government plans to put in place after the central bank severely tightened rules on consumer lending.

The budget package includes a special piece of legislation that curtails pay rises in the public sector, adopted after the government forecaster, IMAD, downgraded its GDP growth forecast for the year and warned that the economy was slowly cooling down.

To shave an estimated EUR 100 million off the annual public sector wage bill, senior civil servants will forfeit a portion of performance bonuses and limits will be put in place regarding payment for higher workload.

The act also includes a 6.5-euro across-the-board increase in pensions in December 2020, assuming GDP growth exceeds 2.5%; the latest forecasts indicate Slovenia's economy should expand by just under 3% next year.

STA, 22 November 2019 - The insurance group Sava reported on Friday a net profit of EUR 37.7 million for the first nine months of the year, a 29.3% year-on-year increase driven by high premium growth and improved cost-efficiency. Operating revenue was up 8.7% to EUR 427.5 million.

The group wrote EUR 471.1 million in non-life premiums, up 9.5% year on year, mostly on account of 10.9% growth in gross premiums written in the non-life insurance business in Slovenia and 20.3% growth in the non-life insurance business outside of Slovenia.

More moderate growth figures were recorded for the reinsurance business (3.6%), life insurance outside of Slovenia (7.4%) and life insurance in Slovenia (0.4%).

In the first three quarters of the year, Sava wrote 84.9% of its full-year premium target for 2019.

The company added the group's performance had also been bolstered by better cost-efficiency, with a 1.5-point year-on-year improvement in the expense ratio of insurance business, primarily reflecting faster growth in premiums over expenses.

Net claims incurred increased by 21% to almost EUR 287 million. "The net incurred loss ratio was somewhat larger than planned, mainly due to the impact of higher net claims incurred by the group's non-life insurers".

Primary insurance saw an increased claims burden in Croatia, where claims rose in motor third-party liability and in motor casco business, as well as owing to the integration of the Ergo non-life insurer into the group, the business reports says.

Sava said that in addition to achieving significant organic growth, it remained committed to its strategy of acquisitions-based growth.

In October 2019, Sava issued subordinated bonds worth a total of EUR 75 million, with a scheduled maturity of 2039. It said this would provide the group even more flexibility to pursue growth.

The total assets of the Sava group, which has a 2,500-strong workforce, stood at EUR 1.84 billion at the end of September, 8.1% more than at the end of 2018.

STA, 21 November 2019 - The National Assembly endorsed on Thursday legislation that curtails pay rises in the public sector but also brings an unscheduled increase in pensions in December 2020 assuming GDP growth exceeds 2.5%.

Related: Slovenia's GDP Forecast Downgraded by 0.3pp to 3.1%

Despite opposition from pensioners' associations and several parties, the increase will be a flat 6.5 euro for all pensioners, rather than a percentage increase.

If GDP growth is significantly higher, 3.5%, which is unlikely according to the latest forecasts, pensions would rise by 9.75 euro.

The portion of the bill dealing with curbs on public sector pay was adopted after the government forecaster, IMAD, downgraded its GDP growth forecast for the year and warned that the economy was slowly cooling down.

To shave an estimated EUR 100 million off the annual public sector wage bill, senior civil servants will forfeit a portion of performance bonuses and limits will be put in place regarding payment for higher workload.

The bill forms part of the 2020-2021 budget package that the National Assembly is debating today. With dozens of amendments to process, the budget debate is likely to drag well into the night.

All our stories on the elderly in Slovenia can be found here

STA, 21 November 2019 - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has downgraded Slovenia's GDP growth forecast for 2019 from 3.4% to 3.1% after already downgrading it slightly in May. Forecast for 2020 and 2021 indicate similar growth of 3.0% and 3.1%, respectively.

The OECD says that private consumption will continue to be the main driver of growth, sustained by higher wages and solid employment gains.

"Uncertainty about the external environment will slow the pace of new business investment. Improvements in export performance will slow with rising labour unit costs."

Fiscal policy will remain supportive of growth in the coming two years, driven by higher public sector wages and social transfers, the OECD says.

Measures to restrict pathways to early retirement would mobilise older workers, while accelerating privatisations and decentralising wage bargaining, would contribute to improve labour allocation, and alleviate labour shortages and wage pressures, the OECD says.

Meanwhile, economic growth is projected to remain broadly stable in 2020 and 2021. A deterioration in cost competitiveness, owing to higher labour costs and weak productivity gains, will hold back export growth, says the OECD.

Investment will continue to slow somewhat in the next two years, despite higher construction activity, as spending on machinery and equipment weakens. A slow recovery of exports and business investment is expected towards the end of 2021.

The main upside risk stems from a faster recovery of business sentiment and business investment growth. On the downside, prolonged tensions in the international environment could lead to lower-than-anticipated export market growth.

Today's downgrade comes after the OECD has already changed Slovenia's forecast from 3.6% to 3.4% for 2019 in May. However, at that time the OECD also improved the country's forecast for 2020 from 2.7% to 3.1%.

This forecast for Slovenia for 2019 is the most optimistic of all forecast updated in recent weeks, both domestic and foreign.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development expects Slovenia's GDP to grow 3.0%, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 2.9%, the government macroeconomic think tank IMAD 2.8% and the European Commission 2.6%.

Banka Slovenije is yet to update its forecast this fall after saying in May that the country's economy is expected to grow 3.2% this year.

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:

Provisions on prosecution of paramilitary groups taking shape

LJUBLJANA - The government postponed the adoption of legislative changes meant to simplify the prosecution of paramilitary militias, but the part of its plans that has been disclosed points to a clear definition of such groupings and their actions. Damir Črnčec, a state secretary it the office of PM Marjan Šarec, told Radio Slovenija that all actions through which such groups manifest themselves as a type of a military structure trying to imitate the execution of police or army powers and tasks would be penalised. This is meant to also resolve the dilemma concerning the freedom of association, since the purpose of the association and activities is very clear in the case of paramilitary-type groups.

Pensions to increase in December 2020 assuming growth exceeds 2.5%

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed legislation that curtails pay rises in the public sector but also brings an unscheduled increase in pensions in December 2020 assuming GDP growth exceeds 2.5%. Despite opposition from pensioners' associations and several parties, the increase will be a flat 6.5 euro for all pensioners, rather than a percentage increase. If GDP growth is significantly higher, 3.5%, which is unlikely according to the latest forecasts, pensions would rise by 9.75 euro.

Janša urges accession talks with N Macedonia, Schengen zone expansion

ZAGREB, Croatia - The leader of the Slovenian Democrats (SDS), Janez Janša, urged the EU to start accession talks with North Macedonia and to admit Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia to the Schengen zone, as he addressed a congress of the European People's Party (EPP). He warned against double standards and called for promises to be met, especially those that can be "easily implemented if there is enough political will". Janša also expressed support for the new EPP leader, Donald Tusk, and new European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in implementing the EU's strategic programmes.

Govt changes definition of animals from things to living beings

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted legislative changes redefining animals, until now considered things by Slovenian legislation, as living beings. Talking to the press after the government session, Justice Minister Andreja Katič said she wanted animals to be defined as sentient living beings, but the cabinet did not support this. She expressed hope that the definition will be amended to say just this by the National Assembly. The bill was drafted in cooperation with legal experts and NGOs, with Katič saying that it had been impossible to push the "sentient living beings" definition through inter-departmental coordination, delaying adoption by the government by four weeks.

Anti-graft watchdog warns transparency of lobbying poor

LJUBLJANA - The Corruption Prevention Commission warned in a report on lobbying in 2018 that eight years after the implementation of legislation in this field, lobbying remains a grey area. The commission received 1,276 reports on lobbying in 2018 concerning a total of 4,353 contacts with lobbyists. In 2017, the number of reports was slightly higher, at 1,379, while the number of contacts was lower (3,061). What the commission finds particularly worrying is lobbying at the local level. In 2018, only three reports on lobbying arrived from a single municipality, and the situation was the same in 2017.

Soldiers' union takes ministry to labour court

LJUBLJANA - The Trade Union of Soldiers (SVS) appealed to the Labour Court to resolve a dispute with the Defence Ministry as a result of which shop stewards can no longer count union activity as a full-time job. The ministry terminated the agreement on union activity with the union on 20 May arguing violation of unionist activity, after the union publicly urged an ouster motion against Defence Minister Karl Erjavec over the dismissal of a senior army commander. The agreement's termination is effective as of today.

Krka's net profit up 42% to EUR 172m in first nine months

LJUBLJANA - The Novo Mesto-based pharmaceutical group Krka said it had generated EUR 1.09 billion in sales revenue in the first nine months of the year, which is 12% more than in the same period last year, while net profit increased by 42% to EUR 171.9 million. The core company Krka saw its sales revenue rise by 10% to top EUR 1 billion, while its net profit rose by 46% to EUR 174.8 million, shows the company's business report. Sales went up in all regions and for all groups of products and services. Krka generated the most revenue in Eastern Europe, where sales went up by 18% to almost EUR 339.7 million in the first nine months of the year, which is 31% of total sales.

OECD slightly downgrades Slovenia's 2019 GDP growth forecast to 3.1%

PARIS, France - The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) downgraded Slovenia's GDP growth forecast for 2019 from 3.4% to 3.1% after already downgrading it slightly in May. Forecast for 2020 and 2021 indicate similar growth of 3.0% and 3.1%, respectively. The OECD says that private consumption will continue to be the main driver of growth, sustained by higher wages and solid employment gains. The downgrade comes after the OECD had already changed Slovenia's forecast from 3.6% to 3.4% for 2019 in May.

Intereuropa 9-month revenue, profit nearly level y/y

KOPER - The logistics group Intereuropa generated EUR 120.2 million in revenue in the first nine months of the year, which is 1% more than in the same period last year. The group's net profit was up 2% to EUR 4.2 million year-on-year, according to the group's unaudited business report. The parent company's revenue went up by 1% to EUR 84.5 million, while its profit dropped by 5% to EUR 3.6 million. The group's EBITDA reached EUR 10.3 million, which is 5% less than in the same period last year and 2% more than planned.

Reading habits unchanged for over 40 years, study shows

LJUBLJANA - Reading habits in Slovenia have remained practically unchanged since 1973, when the first study into reading was carried out, publishing industry expert Miha Kovač has told the STA as he presented this year's research into reading habits and book purchases. Kovač, long-serving head of the Publishers' Academy, says the study shows three interesting trends. The number of non-readers is practically the same as in 1973. The number of readers rose by a few percent when Slovenia was gaining independence, but then fell again. Then, compared to 2014, the number of regular readers dropped by five points to 13% in 2018.

Consumer confidence down in November

LJUBLJANA - Consumer confidence in Slovenia deteriorated for the fourth month running in November to reach the lowest point since mid-2016. Consumers were much more pessimistic than last month about the suitability of the moment for major purchases, the Statistics Office said. The index was down by two percentage points in monthly comparison, and came close to the long-term average, exceeding it by just four points. The index was down because of drops in all four indicators. Consumer expectations about the economic situation were down by 3 points, and expectations regarding the financial situation in households, number of unemployed and savings by 2 points each.

Satisfaction with state of society declines after positive streak

LJUBLJANA - Slovenians' level of satisfaction with the general state in the country deteriorated this year for the first time following a steady climb of seven years, suggests the Slovenian Mirror survey released by pollster Valicon. Measuring the perception of the general state in Slovenia, expectations and personal happiness, the survey showed the share of discontent respondents increasing for the first time after the 91% peak, recorded in 2012, a year of country-wide street protests. Slovenian Mirror also measures trust in institutions and professions and found trust in institutions remaining on par with 2018, at -19% and still among the highest in the history of the survey.

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 1948 the first Slovenian feature film with sound, titled On Our Own Land (Na svoji zemlji), was released in Union Cinema (Kino Union) in Ljubljana. The film, directed by France Štiglic, was nominated for a Palme d’Or at the 1949 Cannes Film Festival.

The first film ever made in today’s Slovenia was a two-minute long portrait of Ljubljana, filmed from Ljubljana Castle in autumn 1898. The film, which has unfortunately been lost, was then shown in Tivoli Park for about a week in May, 1899.

In 1905 three short films were made about the life in Ljutomer and in 1909 Ljubljana, a seven-minute film depicting Slavec Worker’s Choir’s 25th anniversary celebrations was created and can still be seen today.

In the years 1931 and 1932 two feature silent films celebrating mountaineering were made, that is In the Kingdom of the Goldhorn (V kraljestvu Zlatoroga), which is also the first Slovenian feature film, and The Slopes of Mount Triglav (Triglavske strmine).

After these nothing else was filmed for about a decade, as if the only thing Slovenians needed at the time was to put Triglav on film.

In 1941, just before WWII reached Slovenia, O Vrba was made, a documentary film that shows the house of the Slovenian poet France Prešeren when it was opened as a museum, an event that happened on the same day the film’s creators found out about the German invasion of Poland. The film’s release, however, had to wait until 1945, due to cultural silence imposed by the occupying forces during the war.

Another film was also released in 1945, the first post-war film and documentary with some acted scenes inserted, titled Ljubljana Welcomes Liberators (Ljubljana pozdravlja osvoboditelje).

In 1948, however, Slovenia finally got its first proper feature movie with sound. On One’s Own’s Land was based on the novel Grandpa Orel (Očka Orel) by Ciril Kosmač, and depicts partisan resistance during the last two years of WWII in the Slovenian Littoral, occupied by the Italians, then after capitulation of Italy when it was occupied by the Germans.

The film was the first produced by the company Triglav Film, established in 1946.

You can watch it below, although it’s only available online with Croatian subtitles.

STA, 21 November 2019 - Reading habits in Slovenia have practically not changed since 1973, when the first study into reading was carried out, a publishing industry expert has told the STA, presenting this year's research into reading habits and book purchases in the country.

Miha Kovač, long-serving head of the Publishers' Academy segment at the annual Slovenian Book Fair, says the study, carried out this summer and published in the book headlined The Book and Readers VI, shows three interesting trends.

"The number of non-readers is practically the same as in 1973, meaning that reading habits have practically not changed in more than 40 years."

The number of readers rose by a few percent when Slovenia was amid efforts to gain independence, but then fell again, he says.

Then, compared to 2014, the number of regular readers - those who read more than 10 books a year - dropped by five points to 13% in 2018, three times less than in Norway.

In the same period, the number of those who read weekly dropped from 44% to 38%, with the number of those who read a few times a month or even less rising from 25% to 30%.

"All this shows that reading is not very high on the agenda of our country," Kovač comments on the main trends from the study, which was based on a survey of over 1,000 people aged 18 to 75.

Another interesting trend is that the number of young people reading in English is rising, with as many as 86% of the younger generation preferring to read in English.

While he welcomes the trend from the aspect of bilinguality and cognitive skills, Kovač says it can become a problem if English starts to undermine the mother tongue.

He also says a trend that Slovenian readers buy world best-sellers in English online instead of waiting for the Slovenian translation has gained traction over the past decade.

"Earlier, a Slovenian publisher could publish a translation with a year-long delay, but this did not reflect in the sales.

"Some readers have apparently become so much accustomed to buying and reading in English that it actually presents competition to books published in Slovenian."

The study compares Slovenia with Norway. Kovač says this is because both started researching reading habits almost simultaneously and because Norway fares much better than Slovenia in this respect.

"A Norwegian buys an average ten books a year as opposed to two bought by a Slovenian, which however means that at least theoretically the Slovenian market can still grow."

The number of readers in Norway has increased by 20 percentage points to around 90% since 1979. "Practically everyone is reading there. Based on this, I dare say we have wasted over 40 years of culture and education policies."

Asked what Slovenians could learn from Norwegians, Kovač says that at least 80% of Norwegian parents read to their children as opposed to only 30% in Slovenia, while there are also differences in the educational systems, with the teacher profession being much more prestigious there than in Slovenia.

"So I think we should launch a thorough debate on how to make reading a family value and what to do at school to better develop reading habits," he says.

He admits this is a very long process, regretting that such long-term thinking is not exactly an asset of Slovenian politicians or other decision-makers.

A third set of changes would have to be taken to encourage the publishing industry, he believe.

"But even this will be of little help if reading does not become part of the personal identity of the majority of people."