26 Nov 2019, 04:41 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Tuesday, 26 November 2019

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Ljubljana seat of UNESCO-sponsored global AI research centre

PARIS, France - The UNESCO conference general unanimously decided that the first UNESCO-sponsored international centre for artificial intelligence will be seated in Slovenia's capital Ljubljana. Slovenia plans to found the International Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) early next year after an agreement on its establishment is signed by UNESCO and the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. The ministry believes the centre will put Slovenia at the top of global technological developments.

Development Days hear calls for action against climate change

LJUBLJANA - Discussions about the global warming marked the start of Slovenian Development Days as Foreign Minister Miro Cerar noted the country's initiatives in the fight against climate change, including the revival of the Green Group of six small countries, the promotion of sustainable water management and protection of bees. Meanwhile, climate experts, NGOs and young activists urged a much more determined approach to the climate crisis, including by imposing a carbon tax.

SDS regains poll lead as LMŠ loses ground

LJUBLJANA - The opposition Democrats (SDS) returned to the top of party rankings for the first time since January in a poll aired by POP TV on Sunday evening, as the ruling Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) lost ground to rivals on the left. The SDS polled at 15.4%, down from 15.7% in October, whereas the LMŠ lost two points to 13.8%. The coalition Social Democrats (SD) returned to third place with a four-point gain to 9.5%, and the opposition Left added over a point and a half to 8.8%.

Ex-governor argues banks should have been bailed out sooner

LJUBLJANA - Boštjan Jazbec, the former central bank governor, told the parliamentary inquiry examining potential wrongdoing at the Bank Assets Management Company that banks should have been bailed out before 2012 rather than in 2013. In this way, the erasure of junior bondholders may not have have happened. Jazbec believes the bailout and the erasure were in line with the constitution, but he argued that the government should have paid compensation to the vulnerable bondholders who had been wiped out.

SOVA reports Tonin for disclosure of intelligence

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Intelligence and Security Agency (SOVA) has reported Matej Tonin, chair of the parliamentary commission overseeing intelligence services, to law enforcement for having disclosed intelligence, the public broadcaster TV Slovenjia reported, citing an unofficial source. The leader of the opposition New Slovenia (NSi) is accused of releasing intelligence as part of a public section of a classified report his commission had compiled about SOVA's activity in Slovenia's preparations for border arbitration with Croatia.

Decoded, olm's genome to be applied in medical research

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian scientists have decoded the genome of the olm, an endemic cave-dwelling aquatic salamander, based on which new possibilities could oepn up in healthcare. A press conference in Ljubljana heard that the discovery, made in cooperation with Danish and Chinese researchers, could bring about new medical advances, for example to heal wounds, understand the causes of obesity and treat diabetes. The olm's genome is 15 times larger than that of humans.

National rail operator buying coach company Nomago

LJUBLJANA - Slovenske Železnice, the national railways operator, is buying Slovenian coach company Nomago, chiefly its 700 coaches which transport more than ten million passengers a year on more than 650 routes in seven countries, said TV Slovenija reported, adding the rail company would buy half of Nomago. The deal is worth EUR 20-30 million and could be completed next month, pending approval of the rail company's supervisors and Slovenian Sovereign Holding, custodian of state assets.

Hidria to hire more workers, expand production

JESENICE - Hidria, the Idrija-based concern that mostly manufactures hi-tech products for the car industry, announced it would hire 150 more staff and expand production after signing several multi-million contracts for the 2021-2030 period. Contracts worth more than EUR 300 million in total were signed after Hidria developed a new cost- and energy-efficient technology for the production of stators and rotors in highly efficient electro-motors for the new hybrid and electric vehicles.

Firms worried about EU directive on cross-border services

MARIBOR - Businesses from north-east Slovenia are worried that companies providing cross-border services in the EU could be severely affected if Slovenia introduces into its law the new directive governing cross-border services and posted workers "too rigorously". A study, commissioned by the Štajerska Chamber of Commerce, showed this would considerably lower or even stop the export of construction, engineering and transport services by Slovenian companies, particulaly in the part of Štajerska along the Drava river, which has an above-average number of such companies. Economist Jože P. Damijan predicts a loss of over 10,000 jobs around the country, and even up to 13,000 in the worst-case scenario, of which some 5,000 in the Drava area.

Business sentiment slumps

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's business sentiment worsened strongly in November with the business sentiment index slumping by 7.6 percentage points year on year and losing 1.7 points from October. Statistics Office data showed the index, at 2.4 points, hit the lowest since late 2014 and is now only 2.7 points above the decade-long average. Confidence in manufacturing deteriorated the most, declining by almost 4 points year on year and by 0.7 points since October.

Hotel in Šumi complex to be operated by Spain's Barcelo Group

LJUBLJANA - The hotel that is being built as part of the emerging residential and commercial complex at the site of the former candy factory Šumi in the centre of Ljubljana will be operated by the Spanish hotel chain Barcelo Hotel Group and under the Occidental Hotels & Resorts brand. The news was announced by the project's developer. The four-star hotel will feature 151 rooms, a bar and a car park under the building. The Šumi complex will feature 96 flats, shops, restaurants and bars.

Campaign targets digital violence against women

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia joined a 16-day international campaign addressing violence against women by placing various forms of online violence in the focus. Statistics show that one in two Slovenian women experience at least one kind of violence before turning 15. On the occasion, the Foreign Ministry underscored gender equality and women's empowerment as two of Slovenia's foreign policy priorities, urging empowering women and girls through education, including about human rights.

110th anniversary of Rusjan's pioneer flight marked

NOVA GORICA - Slovenia remembered the first powered flight by its aviation pioneer and aircraft constructor Edvard Rusjan (1886-1911), which took place near Gorizia, now in Italy, exactly 110 years ago. On the occasion, a documentary called The Flying Rusjan Brothers, directed by Boris Palčič, was screened in the Eda Center, a commercial centre in Nova Gorica dedicated to Rusjan's memory. Edvard Rusjan constructed the biplane he flew on 25 November 1909 together with his elder brother Josip.

Life of pilot Jurij Kraigher captured on film

PIVKA - The Park of Military History presented a documentary about Jurij Kraigher (1891-1984, a Slovenian innovator and pilot with an exciting career in the US, which will become part of the museum's permanent collection. "Slovenec, Ki Je Preletel Stoletja" (The Slovenian who has flown over centuries) presents the story of Kraigher, who was born in a village near Postojna and emigrated to the US after WWI in 1921, finding himself often in the centre of historic events.

Kinodvor wins Europa Cinemas programming award

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana art cinema Kinodvor won the Europa Cinemas 2019 award for best programming, one of the three awards presented at the network's 21st conference in Lisbon at the weekend. This is the second accolade from the European cinema network for Kinodvor after it was honoured for best young audience activities in 2010. Europa Cinemas brings together almost 1,200 cinemas in 43 countries.

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25 Nov 2019, 04:02 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Monday, 25 November 2019

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Police step up pressure on self-styled militia

NOVO MESTO - Slovenian police confiscated on Saturday seven pieces of weapons from 41 members of a self-styled militia known as the Štajerska Guard on the border with Croatia near the town of Krško. Its members said they were protecting the border against illegal migrants. The weapons will be sent for analysis and the individual prosecuted if found to have broken the law. The encounter was also reported to the prosecution, which however did not detect elements of criminal activity, according to the Novo Mesto Police Department. The government has recently decided to change legislation to be able to tackle the activities of such paramilitary formations.

NSKS in Austria's Carinhita marks 70th anniversary

BLEIBURG, Austria - The National Council of Carinthian Slovenians (NSKS), an umbrella organisation of the Slovenian minority in Austria, marked its 70th anniversary, with Slovenian PM Marjan Šarec saying that although divided by borders in the past, "we are all part of one nation" now symbolically and de facto united in the EU. He stressed, however, that Slovenia "must never forget Slovenians living beyond its borders". The NSKS was formed in 1949 based on a Christian-democratic agenda to expand the Slovenian minority's political representation in Austria beyond the regional unit of the Liberation Front for Slovenian Carinthia.

Slovenian ski jumpers to good start of new World Cup season

WISLA, Poland - Slovenia's Anže Lanišek placed second at the first individual event of the new, 41st Ski Jumping World Cup season in Poland's Wisla, only a day after the Slovenian team placed fourth in Saturday's team event. This is the first World Cup podium result for the 23-year-old, whom head coach Gorazd Bertoncelj had mentioned as one of the Slovenian favourites this season. Lanišek is "very happy" with the result. "I've been waiting for four years to finally get to the podium. I didn't think this would happen as early as Wisla."

No swine fever in Slovenia, but pork prices still rise

LJUBLJANA - Although no case of African swine fever has been recorded in Slovenia, pork prices in the country have risen by 10-12% this year as a serious outbreak of the disease in Asia has made global pork prices skyrocket. Slovenian meat producers believe the 10-12% rise will not suffice to cover the constantly rising producer price. The Slovenian Meat Processing Industry Association says the situation shows how vulnerable Slovenia is due to a rather low self-sufficiency rate for pork, which stands at 30%. The industry could survive the crisis if meat prices do not lag considerably behind rising costs, but expects that retailers will also have to rise pork prices sooner or later.

Profit for Slovenian arm of Schenker down in 2018, revenue level

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian arm of the German DB Schenker logistics group generated EUR 45.75m in sales revenue last year, which is on a par with the 2017 figure. Net profit decreased by 18% to EUR 2.79 million, shows the company's business report available on the website of the Agency for Public Legal Records (AJPES). Schenker Mednarodna Špedicija generates most of its revenue from road transport, the share of which increased by 3.1 percentage points to 48.6% after a decline the year before. The Ljubljana-based company ended 2018 with 145 employees, five more than it had at the start of the year.

Environmental sector's output up 6%

LJUBLJANA - The total output of Slovenia's environmental goods and services sector amounted to EUR 1.72 billion in 2017, up 5.8% over 2016, the latest data released by the Statistics Office showed. Around EUR 1,05 billion, or 61% of the total output, was generated by production of goods and services for environmental protection, and the rest by resource management (e.g. renewable energy production). The sector employed almost 25,700 full-time workers, up 4.4%.

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24 Nov 2019, 03:51 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, 24 November 2019

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Vajgl leaves DeSUS as tensions in party rise ahead of congress

LJUBLJANA - Tensions in the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) continue to increase ahead of the party's election congress in January as Ivo Vajgl, the former MEP and foreign minister, announced that he is leaving the party, the newspaper Dnevnik reported on Saturday. "Considering the positions I personally advocate, I have assessed that there is no room in DeSUS for me any longer, which is why I am leaving the party," Vajgl has told Dnevnik. His announcement comes after the DeSUS staffing commission said there were some reservations regarding the candidacies of Aleksandra Pivec and Borut Stražišar for the post of the DeSUS president. The two intend to challenge DeSUS president and Defence Minister Karl Erjavec at the January congress.

Pahor endorses W Balkans in EU and creation of mini Schengen

NOVI SAD, Serbia - Slovenian President Borut Pahor attended a youth forum of the Western Balkans with his Serbian and North Macedonian counterparts, Aleksandar Vučić and Stevo Pendarovski, expressing support in his address to enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans. Pahor said he was a friend of the region, a "big advocate of a strong and integrated EU, its enlargement, first and foremost to the Western Balkan countries." He also The Slovenian president endorsed the efforts to establish a joint market with free flow of goods, services, capital and people between Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, the so-called "mini Schengen" zone. Pahor also took advantage of the visit to Novi Sad to hold bilateral meetings with Pendarovski and Vučić.

Slovenia remembers defender of its northern border

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia observes Rudolf Maister Day today, remembering the general who established the first Slovenian army in modern history and secured what later became Slovenia's northern border. The holiday commemorates the day in 1918 when Maister (1874-1934) took control of Maribor. The main ceremony, held on the eve of the holiday in Murska Sobota, was addressed by parliamentary Speaker Dejan Židan, who praised Maister's courage, patriotism and determination also in his address to MPs yesterday. He said that Rudolf Maister Day was a great opportunity "for us to ask ourselves how do we contribute to a better society on a daily basis and whether we are worthy of the great deeds of our ancestors".

Beanpole wins main award at Ljubljana Film Festival

LJUBLJANA - Beanpole, a Russian historical drama directed by Kantemir Balagov, was declared the best film of the 30th Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe) as the awards were handed out. It was an unanimous decision by the international jury to confer the Kingfisher Prize on the story about a young woman returning with a child to Saint Petersburg after the Second World War. Last Year When the Train Passed By, a short by Taiwanese director Pang-Chuan Huang, was declared the best film in the respective category. The FIPRESCI award by a jury of the International Federation of Film Critics has been earned by Monos, a drama/thriller by Brazilian director Alejandro Landes. The Dragon audience's choice award went to Every Day a Good Day by Japan's Tatsushi Ohmori, about a Japanese student who learns about the tea ceremony.

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23 Nov 2019, 04:03 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 23 November 2019

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Budgets for 2020, 2021 confirmed as govt passes major test

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly voted 49:41 last 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 opposition Left walked away from an agreement that provided the government with a parliamentary majority, raising the possibility the budget bills would not be passed in time. The group representing local communities in the upper chamber of parliament said it would decide on Monday whether to propose to the National Council to veto the budgets over what it considers too low funds for municipalities. PM Marjan Šarec said he did expect a veto.

Welfare bonus for low-income earners and volunteers stays

LJUBLJANA - A special social benefit for those on welfare who are low-income earners or do voluntary work will continue to be paid out, as the National Assembly failed to override the upper chamber veto of a government proposal scraping the bonus early on Friday. The motion, which had divided the public and had been rejected by the National Council at the initiative of employer representatives with the argument it hurt vulnerable workers, got 39 votes against 20, well short of the 46 needed. The coalition itself was divided on the scrapping of the EUR 50-200 monthly bonus that the Labour Ministry claims has a destimulating effect.

Veto on rise in minimum student wage overturned

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly unanimously confirmed the minimum hourly rate for student work from EUR 4.13 to EUR 4.56 net, thus overturning a veto imposed by the National Council last month. The upper chamber opposed the rise, initiated by the opposition Left, because it had not been agreed with social partners on the Economic and Social Council, the country's main industrial relations forum. The councillors argued the rise would make student work too costly and would not only reduce the scope of such work but end it altogether. They said the impact of the rise should have been assessed first before making any such move.

VAT rate for books reduced to 5%

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed changes to the VAT act lowering the VAT rate for books and other publications from 9.5% to 5% as of 2020. The goal is to make quality texts more accessible to readers. Finance Ministry State Secretary Natalija Kovač Jereb said during the debate on Thursday it would be better to take such decisions after the EU reform of the VAT, but the government nevertheless did not oppose them. She noted the measure would reduce budget revenue by EUR 8 million annually. The planned lower VAT rate for e-publications will cut the annual revenue by another EUR 400,000.

Slovenia and Turkey hope for trade to top EUR 1bn

BRDO PRI KRANJU - The Slovenian-Turkish intergovernmental commission urged closer economic cooperation to further increase bilateral trade as it met for a session in Slovenia. The two countries expect their merchandise trade to top one billion euro if the current positive trends continue. Foreign Minister Miro Cerar and Turkish Minister for Youth and Sport Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu, who chaired the session, agreed it was a good opportunity to enhance the existing cooperation and plan cooperation in new fields, the Foreign Ministry said in a release. On the sidelines of the commission's session, Kasapoglu and Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Sport Jernej Pikalo signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in sport. An action plan on cooperation in agriculture, rural development and forestry for 2019-2021 was also signed.

Insurer Sava ups profit by a third in Jan-Sep

LJUBLJANA - Insurance group Sava reported 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 Slovenia. More moderate growth figures were recorded for the reinsurance business (3.6%), life insurance outside Slovenia (7.4%) and life insurance in Slovenia (0.4%).

Boris Šuligoj of Delo wins lifetime award for journalists

LJUBLJANA - The Association of Slovenian Journalists (DNS) honoured top journalistic achievements, with Delo's veteran commentator Boris Šuligoj receiving the award for a lifetime contribution to the development of Slovenian journalism. "For him, journalism is not a profession. He has lived for journalism for more than 40 years," the award jury said as the awards ceremony in Ljubljana wrapped up Naprej/Forward!, the 8th annual media festival organised by the DNS. In a statement for the STA, Šuligoj called for reflection about the difficulties and future of journalism in Slovenia, noting journalists in the print media were particularly in great trouble.

Tax-Fin-Lex panel hears fraud in business a systemic problem

LJUBLJANA - Fraud in business was emphasises as a systemic problem in Slovenia as the legal and tax information provider Tax-Fin-Lex hosted a round-table debate. The participants agreed that awareness-raising and a mindset change were a must in order to prevent this problem, which has a wide range of causes. The panellists also pointed to problems with public procurement, too complicated regulations, auditors and courts being overburdened with dealing with white-collar crime. Yuri Sidorovich, the managing partner and forensic leader for Deloitte's Adriatic region, said Slovenia had a huge problem with fraud and white-collar crime.

Parliament amends public procurement legislation

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed amendments to provide effective legal remedy against infringements in public contracting procedures, speed up procedures and improve the independence of the National Review Commission. The amendments make it possible to challenge decisions taken by the National Review Commission at the Administrative Court, and introduce priority handling of projects valued at more than EUR 10 million. It will be possible to submit a lawsuit against the National Review Commission's decision to the Administrative Court within 30 days after the decision is served.

Lower house overrides veto on bail-in recourse bill

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly overrode the upper chamber's veto against a bill that will allow the holders of subordinated bank liabilities wiped out in the 2013 bank bailout to sue for damages. However, the law will not be implemented just yet as the central bank is planning to challenge it at the Constitutional Court. The government-sponsored bill, passed in a 47:41 vote on Friday, provides legal recourse for up to 100,000 individuals, both shareholders and holders of junior bonds erased in 2013. Potential damages could run from zero to EUR 963 million, which was the amount of qualified liabilities erased at nationalised banks in 2013 and 2014, plus related amounts.

Slovenian Voyager engineer dies

LJUBLJANA - Anton Mavretič, a Slovenian-born scientist who worked on a key instrument that continues to travel through space aboard the Voyager space probes, has died aged 84, the Slovenian World Congress said. As a NASA contractor, Mavretič developed the electronics for the plasma spectrometer. Considered one of the most important instruments humans have ever sent into space, the plasma spectrometer has provided crucial insights into deep space and continues to operate on the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space probes, which were launched in 1977 and are now in interstellar space.

Constitutional Court judge again the most respected jurist

LJUBLJANA - Klemen Jaklič, a Constitutional Court judge best known for scathing dissenting opinions, was named the most respected jurist in Slovenia by the users of Tax-Fin-Lex, Slovenia's biggest portal for legal and financial information. The 44-year-old judge, whose nine-year term started in March 2017, won the recognition for the third year running by securing almost 90% of the online vote. Constitutional law expert Andraž Teršek and Supreme Court judge Erik Kerševan were also shortlisted for the accolade.

Slovenian trains to get wireless internet by year's end

LJUBLJANA - National railway operator Slovenske Železnice announced that wireless internet access would be enabled in a total of 29 of its Siemens Desiro and Pendolino trains by the end of November, and in another three by the end of the year. Signals from the telcos Telekom Slovenije and A1 Slovenija will be used to ensure the best possible coverage and connection speed. The process of upgrading the company's services with wireless internet will continue next year, when Slovenske Železnice is expected to introduce new passenger trains manufactured by Swiss company Stadler Rail.

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22 Nov 2019, 04:48 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 22 November 2019

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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.

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21 Nov 2019, 04:04 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 21 November 2019

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Slovenia's budgetary plans show risk of non-compliance, EU Commission says

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia's draft budgetary plans for 2020 contain risks that could lead to non-compliance with EU budget rules, the European Commission said, noting the country might still end up complying with the rules considering the high degree of uncertainty in output gap estimates. Slovenia is expected to soon bring its public finance debt below 60% of GDP and with its surplus in nominal terms, it is far from the deficit limit of 3% of GDP. However, it is not making progress fast enough, Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said on the day when the state budgets for 2020 and 2021 are debated in Slovenian parliament. In a response, the Finance Ministry attributed the Commission's view to differences in calculations in Brussels and Ljubljana which result from their different projections of economic growth and the output gap.

EUR 1bn public pharma tender annulled over price

LJUBLJANA - The National Review Commission annulled a public call to procure EUR 1.1 billion worth of drugs for Slovenian public pharmacies in four years because the call did not allow bidding based on the lowest price. The call was published by the Chamber of Pharmacies in July 2019 for 23 public pharmacies and the rehabilitation institute URI Soča. In the call the highest wholesale price of prescription drugs set by the Slovenian Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices was given as the fixed price. In the wake of the decision, the Chamber of Pharmacies has requested a meeting with Health Minister Aleš Šabeder, saying it wanted to prevent a shortage of medications in the market and ensure the population equal access to medications across the country. Its head Miran Golub said the regulated highest price was set in the call in order to ensure a diversity of medications on offer in pharmacies.

Coalition determined to save budget bills

LJUBLJANA - Statements by coalition party leaders after a crunch meeting on the budget debate in parliament indicate that the coalition are determined to push the budget documents through within the expenditure caps set by the Finance Ministry and in this way preserve the minority government. Prime Minister Marjan Šarec described the discussion at the meeting as frank and constructive, saying the coalition leaders were agreed in their determination to continue their work together. "Above all, we agreed that it's in no one's interest for this government to fall," Šarec told reporters on the sidelines of a business summit after hosting other coalition leaders over working lunch earlier.

Cerar supports seeking experts' opinion on NATO reform

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia's Foreign Minister Miro Cerar endorsed Germany's proposal to form a group of experts to work out proposals to reform NATO, while he called French President Emmanuel Macron's NATO "brain death" comment unproductive. Speaking in Brussels where he attended a ministerial in preparation for the NATO summit in London on 3-4 December, Cerar said that everyone agreed today that unity, solidarity and joint commitment to common goals were crucial to the alliance's preserving its role. "We have ascertained that NATO is very much alive," Cerar said.

GZS summit sees companies progressing, but challenges remain

LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) hosted its annual summit, expressing satisfaction with the achievements of companies in recent years but also hearing calls for cooperation in the search for answers to the remaining developmental challenges. GZS chairman Boštjan Gorjup said open development issues and challenges could only be solved by all social partners together, adding that the GZS was investing effort to draft an acceptable, but also an ambitious social pact. The summit was attended by PM Marjan Šarec, who said that the government wanted to cooperate with businesses, adding that the real sector and the public sector were equally important.

Slovenian EPP members urge repairing injustice done to N Macedonia

ZAGREB, Croatia - As the European People's Party (EPP) met for a two-day congress in Zagreb to install former EU Council President Donald Tusk as its new leader, two Slovenian parties attending the event argued for repairing the injustice done to North Macedonia through the EU's failure to open accession talks with the country. The host, Croatian PM Andrej Plenković said that one of the declarations to be adopted by the congress would repair the injustice done to North Macedonia and Albania, but Janez Janša, the leader of the Democratics (SDS), opined that when it came to the matter the two countries were likely to be set apart. Another Slovenian representative, the head of New Slovenia (NSi), Matej Tonin, described the EPP declaration on the Western Balkans as terribly important.

Employing foreign workers entails certain responsibilities, debate hears

LJUBLJANA - The labour shortage Slovenian companies are faced with due to demographic changes and technological development is most frequently solved with foreign workers, but the concern for those people must not stop there, heard a debate hosted by the government's macroeconomic forecaster, IMAD. An IMAD analysis meanwhile showed the pool of Slovenian labour force could be expanded if citizens entered the labour market sooner and continued working for longer, and if the unemployed and the inactive population are activated. Brain drain also remains a problem, so in order for the country to maintain a sufficient number of potential staff it is important that more people move into the country than leave it, which however calls for an efficient migration and integration policy.

Healthcare debate hears calls for partnership with decision-makers

LJUBLJANA - A debate on Slovenian healthcare hosted by AmCham Slovenija heard calls for more cooperation between health institutions and decision-makers, and with the pharmaceutical industry. Insurer Vzajemna boss Aleš Mikeln said the term public healthcare was often understood as state healthcare. "If we are to make any long-term and serious changes, we must abandon the idea of state healthcare." He believes in public healthcare, it does not matter who provides the service, what matters is that "I do not go bankrupt if I get sick". He also believes competition is needed among both those who provide funding and those who provide services.

Calls to better protect children heard on Universal Children's Day

LJUBLJANA - A young UNICEF ambassador urged MPs to think of their children and grandchildren when building a world for the future, as the National Assembly marked the Universal Children's Day remembering the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 30 years ago. Arja Ela Hvala said Slovenia placed high on rankings evaluating the quality of life of children, but 45,000 children still lived under the poverty threshold. Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina called on state bodies to work together to mitigate the problems of children, noting not enough was being done in practice to ensure the full protection of children's rights in Slovenia. President Borut Pahor hosted a reception for children at the Presidential Palace, announcing he could establish a permanent committee for climate policy in Slovenia as the firts permanent, consultative body at the president's office.

Tourism holding Sava completes financial restructuring

LJUBLJANA - Tourism holding Sava has sold off its non-strategic assets, consolidated strategic investments and reduced debt as part of a court-mandated financial restructuring, expecting to post record results this year, Sava CEO Gregor Rovanšek told the STA. Sava has thus become Slovenia's largest tourism group. Its creditors, which have been also its owners since a debt-to-equity swap three years ago (state-run SSH and KAD, and the York fund)), are now expected to decide whether it would be preserved, or liquidated and the assets sold. It will also be up to the owners to decide whether Sava should play a key role in the emerging hospitality holding which will pool state-owned tourism companies.

Slovenia gets first official translation of Geneva Conventions

LJUBLJANA - The first official translation of the Geneva Conventions and the accompanying protocols into Slovenian was presented to mark the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the latest versions of the documents. The translation was presented at the Ljubljana Faculty of Law by the Slovenian Foreign Ministry, which had commissioned and financed the translation issued by the publishing company of the Faculty of Social Sciences. State Secretary Simona Leskovar said the official translation of the four treaties and three protocols would "contribute to expanding the knowledge of international humanitarian law".

Cinkarna Celje profit in first three quarters drops 43%

CELJE - Chemical company Cinkarna Celje generated a net profit of EUR 15.9 million by the end of the third quarter of 2019. Although 91% above plans, the figure was also 43% lower year on year. Net revenue rose more than 1% to EUR 134.8 million. The management is nevertheless happy with the results, noting Cinkarna had expected to see a net profit of EUR 8.3 million for the first nine months. In 2018, the company posted a record profit of EUR 30.6 million.

Jurist, mathematician honoured for contribution to science

LJUBLJANA - Jurist Alenka Šelih and mathematician Josip Globevnik were honoured for their contributions to science as the Zois Prizes for lifetime achievements in science and research were handed out. Professor emeritus at the Ljubljana Faculty of Law, Šelih has been one of the foremost criminology experts in Slovenia for five decades and has lead more than twenty studies that are considered as groundbreaking in the field. Globevnik, retired professor at the Ljubljana Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, was long the leading Slovenian expert on complex analysis, a special branch of mathematics. Globevnik's work also had a strong international dimension, the jury said.

Slovenian electronic archives emerging

LJUBLJANA - The Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, the national archives, announced it was working on an all-encompassing Slovenian electronic archive, meant to emerge in the coming years. A collaboration with the other public archives in the country, the e-ARH.si platform is being developed with the help of EU funds that expire next year. The plan, which is being presented in detail at a two-day international conference in Ljubljana, is to digitalise the entire archive process and provide the material to users at home in a friendly and simple form.

Govt launches slovenia.si

LJUBLJANA - A new website, slovenia.si, was launched this month to "present Slovenia through written and video stories and the national brand I Feel Slovenia", the Government Communication Office said. Designed for the foreign public, the government's new website is in English, providing information about Slovenia and Slovenians ranging from special features and things the nation is proud of to outstanding Slovenians who have taken the word about the country beyond its borders. While slovenia.si is a novelty, Slovenia as a tourist destination has long been promoted at slovenia.info.

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20 Nov 2019, 04:26 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Wednesday, 20 November 2019

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Six EU members urge Commission to define steps on W Balkans enlargement

LJUBLJANA - Foreign ministers of Austrian, Czechia, Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia called on the European Commission to define by January 2020 concrete proposals on how to "enhance the effectiveness of the accession process as an instrument to support reform and integration efforts" in the Western Balkans. "The EU's openness to all European nations who share our values and are ready to accept the acquis communautaire is pivotal for the Union's historic mission of completing European unification," the ministers said, noting that a month ago the EU failed to reach consensus on accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia.

Cerar stresses need to preserve Slovenian political representation in Italy

KOPER - The need to preserve Slovenian representation in the Italian parliament was highlighted by Foreign Minister Miro Cerar after a session of the joint committee of Slovenia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. He said Slovenia would back all of the Slovenian minority's efforts to secure the honouring of the Italian act protecting it. He announced after what was an annual meeting by the committee that he would discuss the topic with the new Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio as part of his December visit to Italy.

FinMin hints resignation likely unless budget within limits

LJUBLJANA - Finance Minister Andrej Bertoncelj suggested he would resign if parliament confirmed opposition amendments to budget legislation that swell spending by about EUR 140 million per year, over a percent of total budget expenditure. Passage of the amendment granting local communities more money would create a mismatch between the budget act and the related budget implementation act. If that happens, "we will probably no longer have a finance minister," he said as a three-day debate on the 2020-2021 budgets started in parliament.

Angelika Mlinar, former Austrian MEP, slated for cohesion portfolio

LJUBLJANA - The Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) announced it will nominate Angelika Mlinar, an ethnic Slovenian politician from Austria, as minister without portfolio in charge of cohesion policy. The nomination will be submitted once the budgets for 2020 and 2021 are passed in parliament. Bratušek said Mlinar was a great fit to head the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy since she is adept at "opening doors in Brussels corridors". The previous minister, Iztok Purič, stepped down in September citing personal reasons.

New Russian ambassador to Slovenia appointed

MOSCOW, Russia - Timur Rafailovic Eyvazov was appointed Russia's new ambassador to Slovenia by President Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to the press agency Tass. It is not yet clear when Eyvazov will take over from the long-serving Ambassador Doku Zavgayev, who came to Ljubljana in 2009. Eyvazov has so far served as a counsellor at the Russian Embassy in France.

Slovenia gets half a million for Yugoslav embassy in Bonn

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry announced that the countries successors to Yugoslavia had sold the building housing the Yugoslav embassy in Bonn for around EUR 3.7 million, of which Slovenia would get 14% or slightly more than half a million euro. In addition to the Bonn residence, the successor countries also sold in the last year and a half the former consulate in New York and the former embassy in Tokyo. Slovenia has received a combined EUR 3.6 million for the real estate.

Analyst: European NATO members should become more assertive

LJUBLJANA - NATO, gearing up to mark its 70th anniversary at a London summit in December, is in a turbulent period, but Slovenian defence analyst Vladimir Prebilič believes it would be an exaggeration to say it is "brain dead" as claimed by French President Emmanuel Macron. However, he did say that European allies should be more assertive in their relations with the US and Turkey, bringing up the US's announcement of withdrawal from Syria and Turkey's offensive against the Kurds in north Syria.

Hospitals struggling with nursing shortages

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian hospitals find it increasingly hard to replace nursing staff who are leaving for better paid or less demanding jobs abroad, in primary care or in other sectors. Intensive care units have been hit especially hard. The situation is worst at UKC Ljubljana, Slovenia's largest hospital, which has had to limit admission of patients at about 40 out of 2,150 beds. Its Maribor counterpart faces a shortage of 25% of nursing staff. New work norms are expected to make the situation even worse.

Slovenian and Hungarian automotive clusters deepen cooperation

MARIBOR - The Slovenian and Hungarian automotive clusters signed an agreement to develop cutting-edge technologies which they hope would make them leaders in the transition to e-mobility. The signing took place at a business event in Maribor that was also attended by Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Hungarian Minster for Innovation and Technology Laszlo Palkovics. Slovenian companies are already involved in the development of Hungary's test track for conventional and autonomous cars.

NLB completes EUR 120 million bond issue

LJUBLJANA - NLB bank announced it had completed the issue of EUR 120 million worth of subordinate bonds. The demand for the bonds far surpassed the supply, with the book of orders reaching EUR 290 million. The first bond issue after the bank was privatised a year ago featured Tier 2 subordinate notes with a ten-year maturity and an interest rate of 3.65% per annum, callable after five years. The papers were listed on the Luxembourg stock market on the day of the issue.

Gorenje Tiki sold to Sweden's Nibe Industrier

VELENJE - The Velenje-based household appliances maker Gorenje sold its Serbian subsidiary Gorenje Tiki, which produces small water heaters, to Swedish company Nibe Industrier, a leading European player in the field of heating technology solutions. Gorenje did not disclose the value of the deal, which is still subject to anti-trust approval. The sale of Stara Pazova-based Gorenje Tiki, which mostly manufactures water heaters and heat pumps, is part of Gorenje's non-core businesses divestment strategy.

Kolektor Etra acquires Polish power tank maker

LJUBLJANA - The business newspaper Finance reported that the Ljubljana-based energy equipment maker Kolektor Etra acquired the Polish company Weltech for EUR 7 million. Kolektor Etra outbid two rival companies and two financial funds. Based in Myslowice near Katowice and employing 180 people, Weltech last year generated EUR 9.6 million in revenue, posting a profit. It produces power tanks and traction tanks, its key clients including Germany's Siemens and France's JST Transformateurs.

New Czech owner to modernise Vipap Videm

KRŠKO - RIDG Holding, the new Czech owner of Vipap Videm Krško, announced plans to invest in the modernisation of Slovenia's largest paper producer, which it believes offers huge untapped potential. "We come as an investor whose objective is innovation and expansion of the product portfolio, modernisation of production and stabilisation," said RIDG Holding representative Pavel Svoren. The holding recently acquired a 96.5% stake in the company from the Czech Finance Ministry.

Report: Moroccan man suspected of raping two students

LJUBLJANA - The newspaper Dnevnik reported that a 38-year old man from Morocco who came out of prison in late September after serving a two-year prison sentence for robbery in Slovenia, was suspected of raping two students in Ljubljana. He was brought before an investigating judge at the end of October, and was remanded in custody. According to the Ljubljana police department, one crime was committed at a student dorm in the Bežigrad borough and the other about ten days later in the city centre.

Man who attacked TV crew gets six-month suspended sentence

NOVA GORICA - A man who attacked a TV crew in Nova Gorica in August 2018 was given a six-month suspended sentence by the Nova Gorica District Court. The sentence was handed down in absentia since the defendant, Denis Koršič, 41 refused to show up at court again with the argument that he had already said everything there was to say. The man told the court in February that he had nothing against the media or the TV Slovenija crew he attempted to ram into, but he only wanted to be left alone.

Culture minister in Paris for UNESCO meetings

LJUBLJANA - Culture Minister Zoran Poznič is in Paris for the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference. On Monday evening he discussed hate speech and several other issues with the organisation's assistant director-general for culture, Ernesto Ottone Ramirez. He also talked about renovation of what used to be the Yugoslav exhibition pavilion at the Auschwitz-Birkenau remembrance centre, and about mounting a joint exhibition there under the patronage of UNESCO.

AV industry holds great potential but needs investment

LJUBLJANA - A study conducted by Deloitte into the audiovisual (AV) industry in Slovenia showed that the sector has positive effects on the economy and creates new jobs, while incentives from the state are far from sufficient. The AV sector's multiplication effect is estimated at 1.8. This means 80 jobs in various sectors for every 100 people working in AV. The industry has a nearly 40% fiscal effect, as for every EUR 100 invested in the sector, EUR 40 return into the national budget.

Dončić sets new Slovenian NBA record

DALLAS, US - Luka Dončić set a new Slovenian record in points scored in the NBA, scoring 42 points for Dallas Mavericks's 117:110 win against San Antonio Spurs on Monday evening. So far the record was held by Goran Dragić, who scored 40 points in February 2014 for the Phoenix Suns. Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle commented by saying that "this guy can do anything he wants to on a basketball court." Dončić. At the age of 20, Dončić is the second-youngest NBA player with a 40-point triple-double.

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19 Nov 2019, 03:54 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Tuesday, 19 November 2019

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Taiwanese diplomat sees room to grow relations

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia and Taiwan do not have diplomatic ties, but this does not mean they cannot strengthen cooperation, Vanessa Shih of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Austria, told the STA. The 23-million nation provides great business opportunities for Slovenian companies, she believes. Shih expressed regret that she has only limited access to Slovenian authorities. She has had some contact with Slovenian government representatives but not complete access to ministries and government offices and believes that the Chinese embassy in Ljubljana is the likely reason for this situation.

Šarec: Slovenia no exception in terms of third-country immigrants

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is no exception when it comes to immigrants from third countries, it is "the same in some other parts of the EU", PM Marjan Šarec said in parliament as he answered an opposition MP's question about an alleged major rise in third-country immigrants in Slovenia. Zmago Jelinčič of the National Party (SNS) also warned about a consequent rise in social transfers claimed by foreigners. Šarec admitted some might abuse the permanent or temporary residence procedure to claim benefits, but stressed the state had been dealing with this issue for some time.

Refund initiative for foreign film productions showing promise

LJUBLJANA - A 25% refund incentive for foreign film productions choosing Slovenian locations, which was introduced in Slovenia in 2017, is already yielding results. The Slovenian Film Centre (SFC) said EUR 775,000 had been refunded for EUR 3.1 million in total production costs last year and that similar figures were expected this year. The first call, which was published in 2017 and enabled the drawing of funds for in 2018, attracted producers from Italy, the Philippines, Croatia, Serbia, Korea, the US and the UK, the SFC told the STA, explaining the productions ranged from large-scale to TV series.

Quantity of municipal waste increasing, recycling rate too

LJUBLJANA - The Statistics Office warned that the quantity of municipal waste generated in Slovenia is increasing, standing at 495 kilos per capita, 13% more than in 2014. However, the rate of recycled municipal waste was also up between 2014 and 2017, rising by 22 percentage points. The quantity of municipal waste generated in households increased by 18% between 2014 and 2018, but the office is not surprised by the increase in the face of a consumer-oriented society.

Grid operator ELES launches high-tech analytics centre

DOL PRI LJUBLJANI - National grid operator ELES officially launched a high-tech diagnostics and analytics centre designed to provide a systematic approach to energy infrastructure management. The primary goals include the planing, construction, expansion, modification and maintenance of energy infrastructure, the head of the centre Uroš Kerin told the press. By making use of the digital potential, the objective is to monitor the efficiency of the network in real time, optimise costs and also find optimal solution in crisis moments.

Ljubljana city green-lights construction of new prison

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana city council unanimously endorsed a decree on the municipal zoning plan to allow the government to build a new men's prison in Dobrunje on the eastern outskirts of Ljubljana. The new facility will accommodate 388 inmates and is to replace the prison in Povšetova Street in Ljubljana, the occupancy rate of which ranges from 110 to 120%. The investment is estimated at around EUR 68 million. The Justice Ministry hopes construction could start in 2021.

Higher court annuls Electa Holding's simplified debt restructuring

LJUBLJANA - The Higher Court in Ljubljana annulled the simplified debt restructuring of Electa Holding, the partner company of the Electa group owned by the sons of Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković. Electa Holding's simplified debt restructuring was backed by the Ljubljana District Court in late-August, as the holding wanted to do away with EUR 7 million in debt. As a result, its creditors would get repaid only 5% of their claims by the end of 2021, which is only a fraction compared to a full-fledged debt restructuring. The same procedure was endorsed for another two companies from the group, Electa Inženiring and Electa Naložbe, with around EUR 29 million in total debt written off.

Slovenia one of safest countries for travellers

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is one of the safest countries in the world for travellers, faring very well in all three key indicators - security, medical risks and road safety, shows a risk world map for 2020 released by SOS International, an NGO. On a 1-5 scale for security, Slovenia places among only a handful of European countries with "insignificant" travel security risks alongside Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Greenland. The country also places highest in the category of medical risks.

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18 Nov 2019, 04:40 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Monday, 18 November 2019

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Tonin tells congress NSi determined opponent of both radical left and savage capitalism

MARIBOR - New Slovenia - Christian Democrats (NSi) leader Matej Tonin argued at the opposition party's congress that the NSi was a centrist party both in terms of its values and principles of operation. Addressing some 500 delegates and 200 supporters at the meeting that cements the NSi's move to the political centre, Tonin said the radical left in Slovenia tried to introduce equality in poverty and devalue work, while there was also savage capitalism that brutally exploited workers in an economy controlled by intertwined political and financial networks. The party adopted a new platform entitled For All People and meaning to place people rather than the state or capital at the centre of the agenda.

Poll sees LMŠ extending lead but majority feel govt doing bad job

LJUBLJANA - The November Vox Populi poll commissioned by public broadcaster TV Slovenija and the newspapers Dnevnik and Večer shows the senior coalition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) extending its lead ahead of the opposition Democrats (SDS) but it also shows more people disappointed than happy with the government for the first time this year. The LMŠ gained 1.2 percentage points compared to the October survey to poll at 21.3%, while the SDS lost 1.2 percentage points to 13.5%. Standing out among the remaining parties are the opposition New Slovenia (NSi) and coalition SocDems, the former having jumped to third place by gaining 2.2 points to 7.4% and the latter having fallen to fourth by shedding 3.3 percentage points to 7.1%.

Catalan foreign minister urges Slovenia to promote dialogue

LJUBLJANA - Catalan Foreign Minister Alfred Bosch has called on Slovenian officials to support dialogue between Barcelona and Madrid during a two-day visit to Ljubljana. "We're not imposing a Catalan republic on anyone. We want to sit down and discuss how the people can decide," he said at a debate on Saturday, adding that it is the Spanish government, not the Spanish people, that are Catalonia's political opponents. Bosch is in Slovenia at the invitation of the youth wing of the Social Democrats (SD), whose leadership resigned just days ago, one of the reasons reportedly being the invitation extended to Bosch.

Iskratel looking for strategic partner

KRANJ - Telecoms equipment maker Iskratel generated EUR 4.02 million in net profit at group level in 2018, a 21.2% increase on the year before. Looking to keep up with the latest trends, the company has announced changes to its organisation and business model, while it is also looking for a strategic partner. Iskratel's boss Željko Puljić has told the STA that a structured search for a strategic partner is under way. He did not disclose any details, but he did confirm that unsuccessful talks had been held with the German venture capital fund Bavaria Industries Group.

Slovenia beat Latvia, but miss out on UEFA Euro 2020

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian men's national football team beat Latvia 1:0 in Ljubljana on Saturday evening in the penultimate round of qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2020, but the door to the tournament have been closed as Austria defeated North Macedonia to claim the second place in Group G. With 14 points out of nine matches, Slovenia are currently third in the group, trailing Austria (19) and Poland (22), whom they will play in Warsaw on Tuesday to wrap up the unsuccessful qualifiers.

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17 Nov 2019, 04:11 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, 17 November 2019

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PM confident about budget passage

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Marjan Šarec expressed confidence about the passage of budgets for 2020 and 2021, despite a surprise spending increase of over EUR 200 million that the opposition voted through in committee. "Things are going in the right direction; it appears that the budgets will go through," he said about the budget documents that the National Assembly will debate next week.

Slovenian FDI growth steady

LJUBLJANA - Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia continues to rise, albeit at a slower pace than last year. In the first nine months of the year EUR 808 million in inbound FDI flows was recorded, compared to EUR 884 million in the same period of 2018. Equity capital accounts for the bulk of the increase, EUR 790 million, with reinvested profits at EUR 401 million, show the latest central bank data.

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