11 May 2019, 08:36 AM

Abduction Suspects Detained, Analysts Fear Incident Will Spur Anti-Migrant Populism

STA, 10 May 2019 - The investigating magistrate in the case of the abduction of a man by illegal immigrants has ordered that all three suspects arrested on Wednesday remain in detention. Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar meanwhile said the police were in control of the situation on the border with Croatia and that "there is presently no need for protest rallies".

A 25-year-old Morocco citizen and two 18-year-olds from Algeria are accused of abduction, theft and car robbery, prosecutor Srečko Hočevar told the media.

The three were arrested on Wednesday by Italian police and handed to Slovenia on suspicion they had abducted a 79-year-old man working in his vineyard near the Croatia border and had used his car to get to Italy. The man was released before the border.

Responding to the developments today, minister Poklukar said he regrets "that this criminal act occurred", but is "happy that it ended well".

"The Slovenian police are effective and successfully completed the arrest of the perpetrators together with the Italian police," the minister said on the sidelines of a fair in Portorož.

While Poklukar is convinced Slovenia is a safe country with a functioning national security system, he said the country was facing an increase in the number of crossings on the Croatian border.

"In the recent days we stepped up police activities and increased the number of army units in municipalities with a higher number of illegal crossings."

Commenting on the protest rally announced for Saturday in the Bela Krajina border region, the minister said that the police were in control and that no protests or discontent were necessary.

Analysts fear rise of anti-migration populism after incident

STA, 10 May 2019 - Two analysts quizzed by the STA feel that Wednesday's abduction of an elderly man by illegal migrants will have a profound effect on the ongoing EU election campaign. Andraž Zorko of pollster Valikon and Igor Kršinar, a journalist for the weekly Reporter, also agree PM Marjan Šarec made a mistake by not responding to the incident more aggressively.

Zorko said "nothing will be the same" after Wednesday, arguing the incident confirmed the darkest fears spread by the far-right - "that it is not refugees who are entering Slovenia but economic migrants who can be violent".

He added the development would boost the campaign of the parties with the hardest anti-migration stances, primarily the recently formed Homeland League (DOM) followed by the opposition Democrats (SDS).

While Zorko believes the opposition National Party (SNS) and its head Zmago Jelinčič, "a left nationalist", can only hope to win over a few centre-left voters frustrated with their primary parties' migration policies, Kršinar believes Jelinčič will be the biggest beneficiary of the incident.

Kršinar said Jelinčič had already stood out during Thursday's campaign debate on TV Slovenija: "He might even make it to the European Parliament, which will definitely be a special kind of affair."

Kršinar does not believe DOM will benefit, arguing the party has not attracted enough media attention and that unlike Jelinčič, DOM's leader Bernard Brščič is not a capable public speaker.

"Jelinčič says in a few words what many people want to hear but do not have the nerve to say. So called serious parties actually have a problem in that they cannot perform in the manner Jelinčič is doing it," he said.

Kršinar meanwhile feels that it remains unclear for now how much the SDS can gain. "Of course it will try to use the incident in its favour and it will be among the more important participants of Saturday's rally in Bela Krajina" border region, where the immigrants abducted the man and his car to get to Italy.

As for Šarec's decision to reject the SDS's call for a session of the National Security Council, Kršinar said the prime minister "made a major mistake and missed the opportunity to publicly demonstrate his determination to secure order and peace".

Zorko also said this was "a very bad message to the people living on the border", while both also highlighted the failure of Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar to appear at Thursday's press conference of the police.

The pair agrees a determined reaction would have been necessary from the state, since the situation is feeding the growth of populist movements.

"A determined PM would have immediately sent the army to the border and extended the border fence," Kršinar said, suggesting Šarec's LMŠ party may even fail to get a single MEP elected in the upcoming election because of the situation.

11 May 2019, 08:04 AM

Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 11 May 2019

Bookmark this link and find the headlines faster each morning, or follow us on Facebook

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

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

This summary is provided by the STA:

Pahor, Steinmeier say peace in Europe must not be taken for granted

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier repeated their call to EU citizens, especially the youth, to turn out for the upcoming election as they addressed the press after a meeting. The pair discussed the challenges faced by the EU, from Brexit to migration, with Pahor saying that the EU's successful solving of these issues would be the basis of a more successful EU after the election. They warned against taking the EU for granted. Steinmeier believes that now, in the light of the upcoming EU election, it is time to review the situation the bloc is in at the moment. He said that he and Pahor had agreed that a debate or even a dispute was a part of political discourse aimed at setting the course for the future.

Abduction suspects remain in detention, minister says border situation under control

LJUBLJANA - The investigating magistrate in the case of the abduction of a man by illegal immigrants has ordered that all three suspects arrested on Wednesday remain in detention. A 25-year-old Morocco citizen and two 18-year-olds from Algeria are accused of abduction, theft and car robbery, prosecutor Srečko Hočevar told the media. Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar meanwhile said the police were in control of the situation on the border with Croatia and that "there is presently no need for protest rallies".

SDS accuses Erjavec of abusing spy agency, lying

LJUBLJANA - The opposition Democrats (SDS) submitted a motion to oust Defence Minister Karl Erjavec, alleging he abused the army intelligence service, unlawfully dismissed the army force commander, lied and misled the public. The motion was presented by MP Žan Mahnič, the deputy chair of the Commission for the Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services, which last month established that Erjavec had abused the intelligence service to spy on Brigadier General Miha Škerbinc before sacking him. Just as Mahnič was presenting the motion, the office of PM Marjan Šarec said the explanations provided by Erjavec in response to the allegation of abuse by the parliamentary commission were satisfactory.

Puigdemont tells Ljubljana audience his aim is strengthening Catalan democracy

LJUBLJANA - Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, who was invited to Slovenia by former Slovenian President Milan Kučan and MEP Ivo Vajgl (Alde/DeSUS), said in Ljubljanathat the aim of the Catalan independence movement was to strengthen democracy at the Catalan and EU level. Puigdemont and two former Catalan councillors have chosen Ljubljana as one of the first destinations for their EU election campaign since according to them Slovenia is Catalonia's friend and serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that small countries and democratic values can thrive in Europe.

National postal operator acquires 72% of logistics company Intereuropa

LJUBLJANA - The state-owned postal operatorPošta Slovenije has acquired just over 72% of logistics company Intereuropa from a consortium of six Slovenian banks pending clearance from anti-trust authorities. The news, revealed by Intereuropa, caps months of negotiations after Pošta Slovenije and British logistics company Xpediator, submitted binding bids in a call for expression of interest that was published in June 2018. The value of the deal has not been disclosed, but the business daily Finance has reported the transaction being in the EUR 100 million range together with debt. On the Ljubljana Stock Exchange the 72% stake was worth roughly EUR 30 million today.

Army intel service alleges MP divulged classified info

LJUBLJANA - Žan Mahnič, the deputy of the opposition Democrats (SDS) deputy who has accused Defence Minister Karl Erjavec of abuse of the military intelligence service appears to have been charged with divulging classified information. The Defence Ministry said its intelligence arm, the OVS, had notified the police of a potential criminal act committed by Mahnič. According to unofficial information obtained by the STA, the charge refers to disclosure of classified information. The move comes after Mahnič, the deputy chair of the parliamentary Commission for Oversight of Intelligence and Security Services, on 26 April accused Erjavec of having abused the OVS. Mahnič said he had not revealed classified information, wondering why the OVS did not file a criminal complaint.

Committee rejects SDS proposal on alleged cases of judiciary abuse

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Justice Committee rejected the proposal of the opposition Democrats (SDS) to have the National Assembly ask relevant bodies to analyse what the SDS labelled "publicly known cases" of abuse and pressure in the judiciary. The committee's coalition members said the proposal interfered in an open case, referring to the debate about Ljubljana District Court judge Zvjezdan Radonjić indicating he had been pressured to convict Milko Novič for the December 2013 murder of the Chemistry Institute boss. The rejection of the SDS's proposal by the committee means the National Assembly will not take a vote on it at Monday's plenary, but it will still discuss it.

SDS submits bill to compensate minor bailed-in holders

LJUBLJANA - An MP for the opposition Democratic Party (SDS), Jože Tanko, tabled a bill to pay compensation to junior share- and bond-holders who were wiped out in the 2013 bank bailout. "The goal of the bill is to repay the damages suffered by non-qualified investors," reads the proposal. The damages for the wiped out shareholders of NLB and NKBM banks would be calculated by multiplying the number of shares they owned on 17 December 2013 with the book value of the bank's share as of 31 December 2012. The damages per shareholder would be capped at EUR 10,000.

Slovenia's exports up 8.7%, imports 8.5% in Q1 year-on-year

LJUBLJANA - After a slowdown at the end of 2018, trade picked up again in the first quarter of the year. Year-on-year, Slovenia's exports in the period grew by 8.7% to nearly EUR 8.2 billion, while imports were up 8.5% to just over EUR 8 billion. Trade surplus was at EUR 169 million, the Statistics Office reported. In March, exports reached EUR 2.86 billion, up 2.9% year-on-year. The figure was also higher than the EUR 2.65 billion generated in February. Imports amounted to EUR 2.83 billion, up 6.2% from March 2018, as well as from the month before (EUR 2.58 billion).

Pivec presents World Bee Day project in Serbia

BELGRADE, Serbia - Agriculture Minister Pivec presented the World Bee Day project during as part of her visit to Belgrade. She expressed her gratitude to Serbia for being one of the first countries that have supported the Slovenian initiative. Pivec met with her Serbian counterpart Branislav Nedimović on the first day of her visit and highlighted the successful long-term cooperation between the two ministries during the meeting, her ministry said.

New lorry entrance accommodates Koper port's growth

KOPER - A second lorry entrance to the Koper port was inaugurated in an investment valued at EUR 5 million, expected to alleviate congestion at the current single entrance and in the city. Around 1,000 lorries enter the port every day, 40% of which will gradually be diverted to the new Sermin entrance. The number of lorries increased by 40% in the past decade to 325,000 last year. Addressing the ceremony, port operator Luka Koper chairman Dimitrij Zadel labelled the investment as a new step in the port's development, announcing a new lorry terminal within two years.

10 May 2019, 19:55 PM

What Mladina is Saying This Week: Doctors Should Not Be SPs

The cover and editorial from the leading weekly of the Left for the work-week ending Friday, May 10, 2019. Note that the only reason we’re not providing a summary of the editorial from Demokracija or Reporter is that STA didn’t provide on, and – in the interests of balance – we might stop this feature if something from the Right isn’t available in future.

STA, 10 May 2019 - The weekly Mladina rejects in its latest editorial the idea that doctors should work for public health institutions as sole proprietors. It argues that this would only benefit a handful of doctors, who would be able to negotiate good working terms for themselves, while the rest would be pushed into precarious work.

The idea allegedly comes from developed countries, but in reality the role model is Croatia and other Balkan countries, editor-in-chief Grega Repovž says.

According to him, the situation in Croatia now, after this system was introduced, shows how ill-conceived the proposal actually is.

Rather than solving the problems of doctors, the contract work only allowed a handful of doctors, who have good connections, to negotiate not only their pay but also their free time.

As a result, they now work only three days a week, shifting the workload onto the doctors who are still employed in the public sector, as community health centres are only allowed to hire a limited number of doctors on contracts.

In Croatia, another category of doctors emerged because of the new system: those who are hired by the sole proprietors. They are a new category - precarious doctors.

They cannot get a job in the public sector because of financial restrictions there, and cannot become sole proprietors because they have no connections. So the only other option is for them to be hired by their colleagues but for much lower pay.

In Slovenia, journalists went through the same process 25 years ago, when they thought subcontracting would be better because they could put a price on their work and decide on their working hours.

And for 10% of journalists this worked out fine, but the rest were screwed, Repovž says. Now the genie is out of the bottle and there is no way this can be fixed. "It a price of greed."

The Left recently proposed legislative changes to prevent this type of privatisation in healthcare, but the motion was voted down by the parliamentary committee on Wednesday. Only the Left and the Marjan Šarec Party (LMŠ) voted in favour.

But the fiercest opponent turned out to be the Health Ministry. It argued that the article preventing such contract work would also prevent hiring contractors for utility services, dental services, lab services etc.

But this is not true, Repovž says. The allegedly controversial article has been in place since 2017 and health institutes have been hiring contractors for these specific services since the 1990s.

This leads Repož to conclude that Health Minister Aleš Šabeder is not being sincere. He is "actually making a fool out of the prime minister, as he is clearly playing for the opposite team," says Repovž under the title Whose Is Minister Šabeder?

All our posts in this series can be found here

10 May 2019, 15:12 PM

WW2 Memorial Walk & Concerts Set for Ljubljana, Saturday 11 May, 2019

STA, 8 May 2019 - Commemorating the liberation of Ljubljana at the end of the Second World War, tens of thousands will take a walk along a marked gravel path surrounding the city on Saturday. A barbed wire used to trace the path during WWII, when Ljubljana was occupied first by Italian and then German forces.

The 63rd Walk along the Wire event will kick off already on Thursday, when kindergarten children will set out to conquer a part of the hike, followed by primary and secondary school children on Friday.

The commemoration's highlight will be Saturday's hike as well as the run of three-member teams, which is not about winning, promoting solidarity and participation. The time of a third member or the weakest link is thus recorded as the team's finishing time.

The running event is also an opportunity for a few laughs, with last year's teams running under witty slogans, such as Turbo Snails, Rolling Stones and (Un)Tamed Shrews.

Instead of stamps the event's organisers would like to gradually introduce a mobile application tracking the teams' progress.

The three-day event is expected to attract more than 30,000 participants, even more than last year, when almost 25,000 hikers and some 5,000 runners participated in the memorial walk.

The accompanying cultural programme will kick off on Saturday morning with a performance of the Partisan choir, honouring the WWII resistance movement. Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković will then address visitors, marking Ljubljana Municipality Day, followed by a concert of the Slovenian pop singer Lea Sirk.

The full programme, in Slovene and English, is here

Unlike at the Ljubljana marathon, there will not be many roadblocks, particularly not on Thursday and Friday, with some minor ones and city traffic detours in Ljubljana's centre on Saturday.

A barbed wire was put around Ljubljana in February 1942 by the Italian occupying forces to stop supplies to the Partisan resistance movement.

Ljubljana was the only European capital at the time to be locked out in such a way, with the regime lasting 1,170 days until the end of WWII in 1945 - Ljubljana was liberated on 9 May.

10 May 2019, 14:34 PM

Only a Few Days Left to Apply to the Most Innovative Summer School in Europe!

The last thing you’re likely to want to hear about in summer is school, we get it, but that’s exactly why this summer school is different. Meet Algebra, located in the Croatian capital city of Zagreb and easily accessible from any direction.

Algebra has been providing high-quality education for more than 20 years in digital technology with bachelor and master programs in computer engineering, digital marketing and design, as well as e-Leadership MBA. Accompanied with 150 faculty members and more than 500 experts ready to help whenever necessary, 1,100 students in higher education and 15,000 students attending the numerous programs the school offers annually, from courses to MBA programs, Algebra isn’t just your run of the mill summer school. Far from it.

Not everything is about school, and I believe it was the wonderful Oscar Wilde who once hinted at the good old ‘’school of life’’ being the most important ‘’faculty’’ one can attend. Algebra is very much a school to prepare its students for real life, and works to properly equip its students for the world of work, and this isn’t just some tired old mantra, but a reality. The proof is there to be seen, and as many as 96% of Algebra’s students find employment within just six months of graduation.

With bachelor and master programs not only in STEM, but in Arts as well, Algebra sets its students up for life in the world of work, and therefore sets itself apart as a summer school, caring less about being self-serving and more about creating the workforce of the future, and providing them with all of the necessary skills and knowledge to conquer everything from multimedia and programming to cyber security in an increasingly technological age dominated by artificial intelligence and Internet of Things.

With highly respected academic partners such as Microsoft, Oracle and IBM (just to name a few), it’s little to say that Algebra is a deeply trusted school.

From artificial intelligence and cyber security to digital marketing and data driven storytelling, digital sculpting fundamentals and creating 3D projects, to the internet of things and mobile application development, this school is successful in keeping up with the modern world of education, and paving the way for the future employees of the modern world of work.

Lasting three weeks during the summer, Algebra prides itself on placing an emphasis on the exceptionally high quality of its study program, its lectures, professors and of course, its enviable curriculum. For the latter, it’s perhaps best to see what the students themselves say:

“I was overwhelmed by the quality of the course I completed and the university staff were beyond supportive and accommodating.”

“Every lesson was taught by an expert in that field, so I enjoyed the focus on practical and experimental aspect and not only on theory’’

“Algebra summer school exceeded all my expectations. Great staff, excellent lecturers and a warm atmosphere.”

“This program perfectly offers courses of very high quality taught by professors who not only are great at what they do but that are also excellent in communicating their knowledge. The fact that the classes are small also adds on the benefit of one-to-one interaction, with professors that have the time to go over doubts and help students personally without wasting too much time.”

„Everything I expected and more, the courses are very hand on, challenging and intensive, but rewarding“

„I expected practical knowledge, my idea was to learn how to contribute and do something with my own hands. The quality of teaching was spectacular. Classes are small so the professor could help us in any moment. We got to visit 2 cities, and emerge ourselves to Croatian culture.“

„I expected to learn as much as I could and have fun, but I also found a great lecturer, the teaching level was really high. You can learn a little bit every day.“

„This summer school is all about combining future professions, summer and friends. Very intensive courses, really good professors with great knowledge and intention to explain and overcome the problems and situations.“

The old saying goes that the child in us dies when we stop wanting to learn new things. One can never know everything, as everything is always changing. This international summer school provides an excellent opportunity to learn something new in a way that truly inspires you. The university offers eight different courses which are both creative and very applicable, allowing for a summer spent gaining new skill sets and knowledge. Fancy trying your hand? Here’s what Algebra offers:

Digital marketing – New ways of communication

Data driven storytelling – Create stories using big data and advanced visualization

Digital sculpting fundamentals – Learn the basics of sculpting in Zbrush

Creating a Detailed Project in 3D – From the very basisc to the postproduction of the final image

Mobile application development – From idea to creation

Cyber security – The forc3 is strong with this one

Internet of Things – Create a weather measuring system with cloud visualization

Artificial Intelligence – Today and in the future

There’s nothing quite like meeting a person who happens to be interested in the same things you are, and is all in all likeminded. Algebra is the perfect place for that, and you’ll connect and make lifelong friendships with those who are also helping to shape the digital future. Here’s what was done last summer as part of a truly international experience.

080519-Summer School9.jpg

Travelling is something that almost everyone can agree is amazing. Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone in a new place to really discover who you are, and this is the perfect opportunity, not to mention the perfect country. Croatia boasts more than 1,000 beautiful islands and enjoys a massive 2700 hours of sunshine annually!

With Algebra, you’ll get to spend two weeks in the Croatian capital, which has close links to the Vienna, Venice, Budapest, Belgrade, Sarajevo and many more owing to its excellent geographical position. You’ll head down to the beautiful Dalmatian coast to the historic town of Sibenik during the height of the summer season. Sibenik is close to Krka National Park, Prvic island, and Smiljan, which is the birthplace of the genius Nikola Tesla.

Join Algebra from the 7th to the 27th of July, 2019, for an unforgettable learning experience in a summer school with a difference, the best in all of Europe.

Sounds good? If so, it’s time to get packing and looking forward to an incredible summer in Croatia. You’ve got until May the 20th to apply to the Algebra International Summer School, so the time is now to start planning the summer of a lifetime.

10 May 2019, 14:20 PM

Castle Days Returns to Ljubljana, 17 – 19 May, 2019

Ljubljana Castle is the most visited attraction in Slovenia, and each year it marks the beginning of the tourist season with Castle Days (Grajski dnevi), a series of free and varied events to welcome you up the hill, including reative workshops for children, a “search for the dragon's treasure” a medieval encampment, a knights tournament, and tours, with lost for all the famly to enjoy. This year the event runs from Friday, 17 May, to Sunday, 19 May, with most of the action being on the last day, from 10:00 to 18:00, when the Castle’s many attractions will be open to all.

castle days ljubljana castle.JPG

Screenshot

Access to all the events is free, but some require a ticket as space is limited. These can be obtained from May 13 from the entry pavilion of the Castle and at the lower station of the cable car / funicular on Krekov trg, next to the Puppet Theatre, with one person able to get up to four free tickets at a time. During Castle Days there will also be a discount on funicular tickets.

Be warned that many of the tours, including those for children, appear to be in Slovenian, which is why we’re not translating the details (found here). That said, the tours are only one aspect of the mini-festival, which will include a knights’ school for children (Saturday, 14:30), axe throwing, a medieval encampment (Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00), and this lively event is great way to see the building that has watched over the city for centuries, and to get in a holiday mood.

10 May 2019, 12:50 PM

Q1 2019 Saw Highest Job Vacancy Rate in Slovenia Since 2008

STA, 9 May 2019 - The number of job vacancies and occupied posts in Slovenia increased in the first quarter of 2019, which reflected in the highest job vacancy rate (2.6%) after 2008, the Statistics Office said on Thursday.

In the first three months of the year the job vacancy rate was the highest in construction (7.1%) and in administrative and support service activities (5.1%), and the lowest (0.3%) in electricity.

Slightly over 20,400 job vacancies were recorded, 1,200 more than in the previous quarter, when the job vacancy rate stood at 2.5%. Slovenia recorded the lowest job vacancy rate (0.6%) in the second half of 2009, just before the financial crisis.

Most of the job vacancies were recorded in manufacturing, construction and trade. In the first three months of the year employers with 10 or more persons in paid employment advertised slightly more than 12,600 job vacancies. This is almost 500 more than in the previous quarter and is a record high since 2008.

Seasonally adjusted data show that the number of occupied posts has been increasing since the second quarter of 2014. In the first quarter of 2019 around 766,500 posts were occupied, 4,700 more than in the previous quarter.

All our stories on employment in Slovenia are here

10 May 2019, 11:50 AM

Schengen Zone: Most Slovenian Parties Oppose Internal Border Checks, Some Call for Stronger Controls at Croatian Border (Feature)

STA, 9 May 2019 - With a number of countries within the Schengen zone continuing to carry out internal border checks, including neighbouring Austria, a majority of the parties standing in the 26 May European election claim such checks are unwarranted. Some perceive them as an expression of a lack of trust in Slovenian politics.

The coalition parties generally share the opinion that internal border checks are not warranted, as passing borders without checks is one of the most tangible advantages of EU membership.

The ruling Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) believes that the rules on temporary border checks within the Schengen zone should be redefined to prevent abuse of the system.

The Social Democrats (SD) think that checks on internal borders are unwarranted, except in extraordinary situations. Any obstacles to the free flow of people, services, goods and capital are unacceptable, the party says.

The Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) finds Austria's border checks unacceptable. "We don't want a future in which counties make unilateral decisions about such fundamental values and treaties, such as the Schengen Agreement."

The Modern Centre Party (SMC) sees Austria's decision as a violation of the fundamental principles of the EU, arguing that Slovenia is protecting the Schengen border responsibly. It sees the political situation in Austria as the main reason for border checks.

Also stressing that the checks on the Slovenian-Austrian border are unwarranted is the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB), which says it is a mere "implementation of cheap nationalist politics".

The opposition Democrats (SDS) and the non-parliamentary People's Party (SLS), who are running on a joint ticket, believe that internal border checks are a result of the increasing threat of terrorism and illegal mass migrations.

Internal border checks run counter to the idea of free movement of people, but only effective protection of the external border would make internal checks unnecessary, the parties says.

While noting that internal border checks undermine one of the fundamental freedoms in the EU, the opposition New Slovenia (NSi) believes that these are an obvious sign of distrust among EU member states, a problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

The Left, an opposition partner to the minority ruling coalition, warns that checks on internal borders run against the concept of open borders as one of the fundamental EU values. The measure is unlawful and undermines the principles on which the EU is based.

The opposition National Party (SNS), meanwhile, believes that Slovenia should seal its Schengen border with Croatia and let only people with valid documents in the country. Controls on the border should be constant and strict.

Similarly, the Homeland League (DOM) thinks that Austria's measure is self-explanatory, as Slovenia has failed to protect its border since 2015. "If border protection is not effective, the Schengen border will be moved from the river Kolpa to the Karavanke mountain range."

On the other hand, the Let's Connect list believes that such checks are no longer warranted from either the security or customs aspects. It is propaganda aimed at creating the false feeling of an outside threat, it says.

Good State believes that Austria is using the situation for political purposes. Internal checks are unwarranted and the Slovenian government should take counter-measures and check people coming to Slovenia from Austria.

10 May 2019, 09:59 AM

Pahor Joins Steinmeier, Other EU Presidents in Calling for Strong, Integrated Europe

STA, 9 May 2019 - The EU heads of state, including Slovenia's Borut Pahor, have issued a joint call ahead of the EU election, urging the people on Europe Day to vote and making a case for a strong, integrated EU. Pahor presented the initiative on Thursday with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who started a two-day official visit to Slovenia.

"European integration has helped to realise a centuries-old hope for peace in Europe after unbridled nationalism and other extreme ideologies led Europe to the barbarity of two world wars.

"To this day, we cannot and should not take peace and freedom, prosperity and well-being for granted. It is necessary that we all engage actively for the great idea of a peaceful and integrated Europe."

The statement is carried today by major European newspapers, including three dailies in Slovenia.

Na povabilo predsednika Republike Slovenije Boruta Pahorja se danes in jutri na uradnem obisku v Republiki Sloveniji mudi predsednik Zvezne republike Nemčije Frank Walter Steinmeier. Predsednika bosta skupaj proslavila današnji dan Evrope. pic.twitter.com/hWJGi2C2w4
— Borut Pahor (@BorutPahor) May 9, 2019

It was also presented in Ljubljana today by Pahor and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who thus started an official visit to Slovenia.

Pahor, who was, according to his office, among the first signatories of the appeal, stressed that this was the first time in 40 years since European election are being held that all presidents of member states had issued a joint call to EU citizens to support Europe by turning out for the election.

"I think this shows that we all share the view that we have reached an important crossroads regarding our joint European future and that perhaps it will be the European election that will decide the future course of our beloved European Union," Pahor said.

"Usually we ask what we can get from Europe, but now we can give something to Europe - our vote that any one of us can cast," he added.

Steinmeier said that the 21 signatories of the statement agreed that Europe needed a political debate in order to determine its future course.

"Together with other partners, Slovenia and Germany want to make sure not only that the cooperation in Europe continues but also prevent Europe from taking a step backwards, where we would perceive each other as rivals or even opponents."

In the statement, the presidents stress that this year's elections are particularly important, and urge the people to vote since the elected members of the European Parliament, along with the Council, decide which rules should apply in Europe and how Europe's budget should be spent.

The statement acknowledges that the EU is facing profound challenges, with some people "talking about rolling back one or more integration steps, such as freedom of movement or abolishing joint institutions" even as others call for more integration or for a multi-speed Europe.

»Združena Evropa potrebuje močan glas ljudstva zato vas pozivamo, da uveljavite svojo volilno pravico. Glasovali bomo namreč o skupni evropski prihodnosti.« pic.twitter.com/R709WTXjaZ
— Borut Pahor (@BorutPahor) May 9, 2019

"Views on these matters differ among the citizens and governments of the member states, as well as between us heads of state. However, we all agree that European integration and unity is essential and that we want to continue Europe as a Union. Only a strong community will be able to face up to the global challenges of our time.

"The effects of climate change, terrorism, economic globalisation, and migration do not stop at national borders. We will only meet these challenges successfully and continue on the road to economic and social cohesion and development by working together as equal partners at the institutional level."

The presidents thus make an appeal for a strong EU that has "joint institutions, a Union that constantly reviews its work with a critical eye and is able to reform itself, a Union that is built on its citizens and on its member states as a vital base."

"This Europe needs a vibrant political debate on the best path forward into the future ... Europe is able to withstand a very wide range of opinions and ideas. But there definitely must not be a return to a Europe in which countries are no longer equal partners but opponents.

"Our united Europe needs a strong vote by the peoples. This is why we call on you to exercise your right to vote. It is our common European future that is on the ballot," the statement concludes.

The statement was signed by all EU heads of state except from countries that are monarchies, since by convention monarchs do not sign such statements.

10 May 2019, 02:41 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 10 May 2019

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

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Elderly man abducted by illegal migrants

ČRNOMELJ/LJUBLJANA - A 79-year-old man working in his vineyard near the border town Črnomelj was abducted on Wednesday by a group of illegal migrants, who tied him up, put him in his car's boot and drove several hours before releasing him in a village near Sežana. Police said a 25-year-old Moroccan and two 18-year-old Algerians were arrested and have been remanded in custody on suspicion of kidnapping. Reactions by political parties indicated the incident could make law&order a top campaign issue ahead of the EU vote, with conservative parties urging the government to protect the Schengen border and prevent illegal migrations at all cost.

EU presidents issue call for strong, integrated Europe

LJUBLJANA - The EU heads of state issued a call ahead of the EU election, urging the people on Europe Day to vote and making a case for a strong, integrated EU. We cannot and should not take peace and freedom, prosperity and well-being for granted, says the statement, which was also jointly presented by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is paying an official visit to Slovenia, and Slovenia's Borut Pahor, one of its first signatories. Pahor said "perhaps it will be the election that will decide the future course of our beloved union", while Steinmeier that the 21 signatories agreed that Europe needed a political debate in order to determine its future course.

Brdo-Brijuni summit urges EU not to forget about W Balkans

TIRANA, Albania - Leaders of the Western Balkans signed a declaration at a summit of the Brdo-Brijuni Process urging the EU to make enlargement to the region a "matter of geopolitical significance". The EU must "bear in mind that the full integration of the Western Balkans into the European system of values is an important factor for the overall European stability as well," says the declaration. Slovenian President Borut Pahor said that enlargement to the Western Balkans would not likely be a priority of the next European Commission, which is why "we need to make the region more attractive to other EU members."

NSi proposes giving MEPs say in nomination of Slovenia's EU commissioner

LJUBLJANA - The opposition New Slovenia (NSi) tabled a legislative proposal that gives newly elected MEPs a major say in the appointment of Slovenia's candidate for EU commissioner. While the existing law stipulates that the nominee is put forward by the government at the proposal of the prime minister, the NSi would make the nomination conditional on nods by at least five of Slovenia's eight MEPs. Prime Minister Marjan Šarec said that changing the procedure was out of the question at the moment, and the coalition parties also expressed reservations.

Erjavec announces draft of white paper on defence for June

LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Karl Erjavec told the parliamentary Defence Committee that the first draft of a white paper providing the basis for strategic documents on the future of the Slovenian army would likely be ready in June. The white paper is meant to address issues like staff shortages and career options for Armed Forces members after they turn 45, while it is also to provide answers on the future direction of the army and its equipment.

Defence Ministry takes measures against soldiers' union

LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry said it had terminated the agreement with the Trade Union of Soldiers (SVS) after the union publicly called for an ouster motion against Minister Karl Erjavec. In cancelling the agreement, under which it provides the conditions for the union's functioning, the ministry invoked the article of the defence act which states that trade unions cannot express opinions about the armed forces' formations and organisation, equipment, operations and preparedness. The ministry added that it would propose a new agreement to the union within three months. The termination of the existing one is subject to a six-month notice period.

Watchdog says Hungarian minority MP should lose seat

LJUBLJANA - The Corruption Prevention Commission established that Ferenc Horvath, the MP for the Hungarian minority, is violating the anti-corruption law by continuing to head the Pomurje Self-governing National Community (PMSNS), the Hungarian minority's umbrella organisation, while serving as MP, Dnevnik reported. While the commission's head, Boriš Štefanec, feels Horvath's term should already have been terminated, it will now be up to the National Assembly to make the next move.

City of Women festival receives Princess Margriet Award

LJUBLJANA - The City of Women is the recipient of the European Cultural Foundation's annual Princess Margriet Award for Culture. The award, honouring the festival's achievement in supporting women in culture and its intersectional feminist approach, will be presented in Amsterdam on 2 October and comes with a EUR 25,000 grant. The foundation said that the festival advocated intersectional feminism, with its very name indicating "the utopian potential of a space that nurtures the social organisation of women and people of non-binary gender".

101 victims of human trafficking registered in 2018

LJUBLJANA - A total of 101 victims of human trafficking were registered by Slovenian authorities in 2018, most of them being victims of sexual exploitation, shows a report adopted by the government which also notes human trafficking for forced criminality being handled by the police for the first time last year. The police handled a total of 71 human trafficking crimes against 33 individuals and three legal entities. The Specialised Prosecution Service filed one indictment against seven persons, and seven persons were convicted in court.

Telekom Slovenije group net profit up 4% in Q1

LJUBLJANA - The group around telecoms incumbent Telekom Slovenije posted a net profit of EUR 10.1 million in the first quarter of the year, up 4% year-on-year, while net sales revenue was down 6% to EUR 172 million. The report notes that revenue in the first quarters of 2019 and 2018 are not directly comparable, as the former do not include the revenue of the Bosnian subsidiary Blicnet, sold in 2018. The core company saw its operating revenue drop by 5% to EUR 157.5 million, EBITDA were up by 13% to EUR 49.9 million and net profit up by 30% to EUR 12.6 million.

Concession agreement for Divača-Koper track signed

LJUBLJANA - The government and 2TDK, a company established to build a new railway link to the port of Koper, signed a concession agreement for the construction and management of the 27-kilometre track for the next 45 years. The investment, estimated at more than EUR 1 billion, is covered by 2TDK and so are the costs of the services of the infrastructure manager, SŽ-Infrastruktura, a subsidiary of the state-owned rail operator. The state will pay a monthly access fee to 2TDK.

Unicredit posts lower profit in Slovenia in Q1

LJUBLJANA - Italian banking group Unicredit posted a consolidated profit of EUR 8 million in the first quarter of the year in Slovenia, down more than 6% over the same period in 2018 due to impairments to the tune of EUR 2 million and to a 20.1% drop in profit from trading in securities. Net interest revenue increased by 0.6% to EUR 11 million, whereas fees and commissions rose by as much as 17% to EUR 7 million.

First quarter of 2019 sees highest job vacancy rate after 2008

LJUBLJANA - The number of job vacancies and occupied posts in Slovenia increased in the first quarter of 2019, which reflected in the highest job vacancy rate (2.6%) after 2008, the Statistics Office said. In the first three months of the year the job vacancy rate was the highest in construction (7.1%) and in administrative and support service activities (5.1%), and the lowest (0.3%) in electricity.

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