05 Dec 2021, 04:22 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, 5 December 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

1,908 new coronavirus cases recorded on Friday

LJUBLJANA - Another 1,908 coronavirus cases were discovered in Slovenia on Friday, as 34.6% of PCR tests came back positive, data provided by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) show. The new daily cases are thus down week-on-week but up in daily comparison. Another 18 deaths have been reported. A total of 1,029 Covid-19 patients are being treated in hospitals today, down 30 from Friday, of whom 259 need intensive care, down 10 from the day before.

Italian army medical teams coming to Slovenian hospitals

LJUBLJANA - Fifteen Italian military health professionals will come to Slovenia on Sunday to join the medical teams of the Slovenian Armed Forces helping in Covid-19 hospitals. The Italian team will be greeted by Defence Minister Matej Tonin and Health Minister Janez Poklukar in Kranj, the Defence Ministry said in a press release. The arrival of the Italian team had been agreed at a meeting between Tonin and his Italian counterpart Lorenzo Guerini in Rome on 17 November.

Protest against new Covid legislation held in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - A group of protesters against government Covid-19 measures and the new bill on additional measures for curbing the epidemic and its consequences gathered in the Ljubljana city centre. There were some clashes with police and a few protesters have been detained. The protesters gathered unannounced in Ljubljana's Republic square at the invitation of the Resni.ca (Truth) party and civil initiatives. The party head, Zoran Stevanović, addressed the protesters, none of whom wore face masks or adhered to the rules on distancing.

GAS and SMC parties merge into Concretely

CELJE - The coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC) and the non-parliamentary Economically Active Party (GAS) merged at a congress into a new party called Concretely that will focus on the social and economic development of Slovenia. The new party promises a policy of cooperation and inclusion. Concretely will be a political partner of business, and the economic and social development will be its key priority, heard the merging congress. The head of the new party, Zdravko Počivalšek, said after the congress that Concretely offered a breakaway from the old politics that focusses on the past.

Police commissioner issues dismissal warnings to trade unionists

LJUBLJANA - Police Commissioner Anton Olaj has allegedly signed dismissal warnings for the heads of the two police trade unions, Kristjan Mlekuš from the SPS trade union and Rok Cvetko from the PSS, the newspaper Dnevnik reported. Mlekuš reportedly received the warning because of statements he made in an interview with the newspaper Svet24, which Olaj believes have caused big moral damage to the police force and were a violation of his employment contract. According to Dnevnik's unofficial information, Olaj also signed the dismissal warning for Cvetko, who gave an interview in mid-October.

Parliamentary body endorsees changes in education

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Education Committee endorsed late on Friday amendments to the organisation and financing of education act, which would change the composition of school and kindergarten councils to increase the influence of the founder - government or municipality, as members of the opposition obstructed the vote.

Small protest staged in Maribor targeting Mayor Arsenovič

MARIBOR - A small rally was held in Maribor's central square targeting Mayor Saša Aresnovoč. About a hundred people gathered near the Town Hall calling for his resignation. The protesters also burnt a few posters with the mayor's image. The rally was addressed by its initiator Roman Križnjak, known as a founding member of Viole, the ultras of the local football club Maribor. He said Arsenovič's rule was arrogant, lacked care for the vulnerable groups and that he was putting his own interests first.

Fitch affirms Slovenia rating, outlook stable

FRANKFURT, Germany - Rating agency Fitch has affirmed Slovenia's credit rating at A with a stable outlook, Fitch said on its website on Friday, adding that this reflected the agency's expectations of a permanent recovery of the Slovenian economy thanks to the expected increase in investment and continued exports.

Slovenian ski jumping team third in Wisla

WISLA, Poland - The Slovenian ski jumping team featuring Cene Prevc, Peter Prevc, Timi Zajc and Anže Lanišek finished third in the first World Cup team event in Wisla, Poland. The victory went to Austrians, while the German team was second. The Slovenian team scored 834.4 points in the event marked by strong winds, with Cene Prevc boasting the longest jump of 135 metres in the finals.

04 Dec 2021, 04:52 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 4 December 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Prešeren Prizes for classic philologist and conductor

LJUBLJANA - Kajetan Gantar, a translator of classical literature and philosophy, and Mirko Cuderman, a choir conductor, were declared the winners of the 2022 Prešeren Prizes, the highest national accolade for lifetime achievement in culture and arts. Meanwhile, the Prešeren Fund Prizes for individual accomplishments in the past three years will go to author Anja Štefan, actress Jette Ostan Verjup, composer Damijan Močnik, soprano Andreja Zakonjšek Krt, painter Dušan Kirbiš and animated film auteur Špela Čadež, the Culture Ministry announced.

Slovenia's coronavirus curve keeps flattening

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's coronavirus curve keeps flattening out with 1,737 cases confirmed on Thursday, more than a quarter fewer than the week ago and 18% down on the day before. Almost 32% of the PCR tests came back positive yesterday. Covid-19 hospitalisations remained high despite a drop and 17 more patients died, government data shows. According to the National Institute of Public Health, there are still 31,757 actively infected people in the country. This is down 1,770 compared with yesterday's estimate.

Quarantine mandatory for all in close contact with Omicron

LJUBLJANA - All those who have had a high-risk contact with a person highly suspected to be infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus will have to quarantine at home. The rule, adopted by the government, also applies to those who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have already recovered from it. A high-risk contact is a person confirmed to be infected with the Omicron variant or a person who was in the past 14 days in one of the countries where this variant is highly spread, according to the changes to the government regulation on exceptions to quarantine at home, which enter into force tomorrow.

Boštjan Napast appointed new CEO of Luka Koper

KOPER - The supervisory board of Luka Koper appointed Boštjan Napast the president of the management board of the state-owned port operator for a five-year term. Napast was until recently the head of the board of the gas distributor Geoplin. Chief supervisor Franci Matoz told the press after the session that the appointment had been made on proposal of a staffing commission and that the third member of the management board was yet to be appointed. The third member of the management board, who will be in change of finance, is expected to be found by the end of the year, but the supervisors say they would not rush things.

Govt proposes that current Fiscal Council line-up stay on

LJUBLJANA - The government decided to propose to the National Assembly to re-appoint for another five years Davorin Kračun as the president and Alenka Jerkič and Tomaž Perše as members of the Fiscal Council. With the current terms of the Fiscal Council members running out on 21 March 2022, the government issued on 1 October a public call for applications from potential candidates for the posts of the president and the two members of the advisory body. The current members of the Fiscal Council, tasked with assessing the sustainability and compliance of fiscal policies with the fiscal rule, were appointed in the spring of 2017.

Foreign Policy Committee approves new bill on deployment

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Policy Committee approved a proposed new bill on deployment in civilian missions and international organisations in second reading. The proposal is intended to enable the timely nomination and deployment of Slovenian experts, said Foreign Ministry State Secretary Gašper Dovžan, adding the amendments had been necessary because the existing law from 2006 proved to be partly unviable. The changes will make it possible to deploy judicial officials, which was not possible until now.

Funds for higher care staff pay to be secured from budget

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Labour Committee voted down a proposal by the centre-left opposition yesterday for the government to secure an extra EUR 16 million for higher wages of staff at care homes through a state budget reallocation after the ruling coalition tabled an amendment to the same effect to the long-term care bill. While the government initially calculated the fees for aged-case homes would need to go up by 5.6%, Labour Minister Minister Janez Cigler Kralj said yesterday there would be no rise in fees as a result of the amendment to the long-term bill.

Janša emphasizes connective role of CEI in address to summit

BUDVA, Montenegro - Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša discussed the need to bring the Western Balkans into the EU as he addressed by video link the summit of the Central European Initiative (CEI), and he also emphasised the initiative's role as a bridge between the EU countries in Europe's east and south-east. The main topic of the summit, hosted by Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, was EU enlargement and boosting cooperation with East European CEI countries, Janša's office said.

Logar says economic development in Africa key to less migration pressure

ROME, Italy - FM Anže Logar attended the Rome MED 2021 - Mediterranean Dialogues conference in Italy on Friday to discuss current issues in the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa. Speaking on a panel on the Mediterranean as a common good, Logar said that economic development in Africa was key to reducing the migration pressure. "There is a demanding period ahead of us and without adequate action, our problems will be unsurmountable in 30 years' time," he was quoted by the Slovenian Foreign Ministry.

Committee agrees with amendment to audiovisual services act

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Culture Committee endorsed on Thursday an amendment to the audiovisual services act filed by the group of non-affiliated MPs to transpose an EU directive after a government-sponsored proposal did not make it through parliament. The government too agrees with the proposed changes. Presenting the proposal, MP Branislav Rajić said the proposal was identical with the government's proposal only that it did not envisage a controversial contribution or a special budget fund for European audiovisual production.

Eco Fund to get nearly 72 million extra

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted on Thursday a revised 2021 business and financial plan for the Eco Fund under which an additional EUR 71.8 million will be allocated to the fund. The extra amount will go for environmental investment loans, energy efficiency grants and sustainable construction. Under the revised plan, the funding for the environmental investment loan scheme will increase by EUR 20 million to EUR 50 million.

Slovenia's joblessness declines in November

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's jobless total fell in November, with 65,379 people registered with the Employment Service, 1.9% fewer on a monthly level and 22.3% fewer annually. A total of 4,996 newly unemployed were registered in November, which is less than in October, year-on-year and November 2019, the Employment Service said. The number of newly registered unemployed persons decreased by 27.5% on a monthly level and by 32.1% annually. On average, 75,074 people were registered as unemployed in the first eleven months of the year, down by 11.5% on the same period last year.

Government bans serving of food and drink at outdoor stalls

LJUBLJANA - The government decided to ban as of Saturday the serving of food and drinks at outdoor stalls, with the exception of roasted chestnut. As for outdoor fairs, organisers will have to make sure that visitors move in a one-way direction, and access to the venue must be fenced off, so that entry outside the official entrance is not possible. Congresses and fairs are permitted to be held both outdoors and indoors, provided that the attendees meet the recovered-vaccinated-tested (PCT) condition, wear face masks and keep distance. Supervision of compliance with the rules and conditions must be ensured by the organisers.

Rules for safe operation of ski lifts adopted

LJUBLJANA - As the skiing season is starting, the government set the conditions for the operation of ski lifts, whose use is permitted to skiers who meet the recovered-vaccinated-tested (PCT) condition. Wearing surgical or FFP2 face masks is mandatory in enclosed facilities and also in outdoor facilities if distancing is not ensured. Windows must be open at all times, even while facilities are moving, and the distance between skiers while travelling with a ski lift and buying tickets must be 1.5 metres.

Zorčič urges climate change measures in Mediterranean

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič advocated the need to implement measures to tackle climate change in the Mediterranean as he addressed a summit of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean. The region is heating up 20% faster than other parts of the planet, he said, noting that the effects of climate change posed an increasingly big threat to the continued survival of humanity.

Slovenia presents collection on Google Arts & Culture portal

LJUBLJANA - A collection of Slovenian cultural and natural heritage, folk tales, stories and traditions was presented as part of the Google Arts & Culture portal. "This project will give many people around the world the opportunity to hear about Slovenia's natural beauty, culture and unique features," said president Borut Pahor. Google Arts and Culture Director Amit Sood explained that Google's new service was available free of charge, online or as a smartphone app. The Stories from Slovenia collection has been in the making for almost a year and, according to Sood, would surely inspire people to visit Slovenia.

Anti-graft watchdog insists Hungarian MP in breach of dual-office rule

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption has found that Ferenc Horvath, the MP for the Hungarian minority, remains in breach of the incompatibility of dual offices as he also serves on the council of a minority organisation in Lendava. Horvath failed to fix the breach despite being urged to do so within three months, the commission said. Horvath would not comment on the finding, telling the STA he had said what he had to say on the matter two years ago when the watchdog found his office as chairman of an umbrella minority organisation incompatible with his office as MP.

National postal company signs collective bargaining deal

LJUBLJANA - Staff at Slovenia's national postal company and its sheltered workshop are looking at higher pay under a collective bargaining agreement signed on Thursday that caps months of negotiations. The agreement, signed by the management and trade unions representing staff in both companies, is to provide a suitable level of social security to employees and stable and successful business in the long term for the state-owned company, the sides said.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities marked by calls for inclusion

LJUBLJANA - People with disabilities should be enabled full inclusion into society, organisations representing the disabled said on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. All obstacles both in the physical and social environments must thus be removed, they said, pointing to the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

EUR 19m worth of orphan assets from privatisation unclaimed

LJUBLJANA - EUR 19 million worth of assets left behind from the privatisation in the early 1990s are still waiting for their rightful owners to claim them. Unless they move the securities to trading accounts by the end of the year, the assets will pass irreversibly to the state. The assets concerned are left behind after the KDD clearing corporation in January 2017 discontinued free accounts on which citizens had kept shares they received in exchange for privatisation vouchers during denationalisation.

Maribor's new cultural centre gets govt funding

LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR - The Culture Ministry approved EUR 12.7 million in state co-funding for the city of Maribor's new centre that will host the main library, an art gallery and a cinema. The Rotovž Centre, estimated at around EUR 25 million, will be built in Rotovž Square in the city centre where Maribor's dilapidated library will be torn down. The centre will solve the pressing space issue of the main library, while also improving conditions for fine arts and other creative practices, the ministry said as it endorsed the city's request for emergency co-funding. Construction work is expected to start in the spring of 2022.

Merry Day of Culture brings mix of online and in-person events

LJUBLJANA - This year's Merry Day of Culture, a celebration of the birth anniversary of Romantic poet France Prešeren (1800-1849), one of Slovenia's greats, is marked in hybrid form. Cultural institutions, where admission is free the entire day, organised both online and in-person events. A number of theatres are again taking part in the cultural celebration, as well as museums and galleries, with free guided tours and activities for children.

03 Dec 2021, 04:39 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 3 December 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Over 2,000 Covid infections confirmed Wednesday amid downward trend

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged another 2,125 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, a figure down by over 130 from Tuesday and by over 540 from a week ago, show the latest figures released by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). The seven-day average decreased by 77 to 1,986 in a day and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents by 73 to 1,591. Government data show that there are now 1,087 Covid patients in hospitals, down 14 from yesterday, of whom 280 are in intensive care, up by three. 14 people died of Covid-19 yesterday, one fewer than a day earlier.

EU-Western Balkans ministerial calls for closer cooperation to better manage migration

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Home affairs officials from the EU and the Western Balkans who meting at Brdo estate agreed on the need to improve the exchange of information and cooperation on the ground in the combat against organised crime and terrorism and managing of migration, Slovenian Interior Minister Aleš Hojs said after the meeting. The minister said the discussion at the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum had also ascertained that the cooperation between EU agencies and Western Balkan countries "is a two-way road". It is not just that the agencies offer assistance but also that the countries properly apply the tools at their disposal and share their information with the EU.

Govt revamps Slovenia's foreign policy strategy

LJUBLJANA - The government put down in writing a new version of the national foreign policy strategy, which takes into account new challenges, particularly hybrid threats and other crises. The document was referred to the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee. The document, titled Slovenia: Safe, Successful and Respected in the World - Foreign Policy of the Republic of Slovenia, is a revised and updated version of the country's strategy endorsed in July 2015, said the Government Communication Office (UKOM) after the session.

Agri minister happy EU members endorse 2023-2027 CAP

BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU member states confirmed the common agricultural policy (CAP) for 2023-2027 to make the CAP greener, fairer and more transparent. "We have finally reached the finish line after more than three years of hard work," said Slovenian Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek, who chaired the Council session. "The new CAP, endorsed today, represents a milestone in the EU's agricultural policy as it paves the way for EU farmers to have a more just and transparent future," the minister said.

Logar urges restoration of mutual trust at OSCE meeting

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Attending a session of the OSCE Ministerial Council, Foreign Minister Anže Logar advocated in Stockholm the restoration of mutual trust and strengthening of political will of the organisation's members. He warned such efforts were key as conflicts in the region were on the rise and the threshold for use of violence was being lowered.

No proof that wholesale energy markets do not work, says Vrtovec

BRUSSELS, Belgium - After chairing a session of EU ministers in charge of energy, Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec said that the main conclusion of the meeting was that there was no evidence that wholesale energy markets were not working. The meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council was mainly aimed at discussing soaring energy prices and measures to mitigate the situation, as well as an interim report on the situation of the wholesale markets by the EU's Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).

Pahor attends memorial ceremony for Giscard d'Estaing

STRASBOURG, France - President Borut Pahor attended a ceremony remembering Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who served as the president of France from 1974 to 1981. On the first anniversary of his death, Giscard d'Estaing was remembered in the European Parliament for his role in the Convention on the Future of Europe, which concluded its work in 2003 by drafting the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. Upon his death, Pahor wrote a letter of condolences to French President Emanuel Macron, saying that France and Europe had lost a great European and statesman who persistently advocated closer European integration.

Former minister Lovro Šturm has died

LJUBLJANA - Lovro Šturm, former minister, Constitutional Court judge in the 1990s and professor emeritus at the Ljubljana Faculty of Law, has died aged 83, New Slovenia (NSi) said. Šturm became professor of administrative law at the Ljubljana Faculty of Arts after he got his PhD there in 1966. He was also active in international organisations of jurists. He was appointed judge at the Constitutional Court in 1990 and presided the court in his final two years in office, until 1998. In 2000 he served as minister of education and sport in the Andrej Bajuk government and in 2004-2008 as justice minister in the first Janez Janša government. Janša said today he had been a great patriot, intellectual and human rights fighter.

Govt endorses new UKC director

LJUBLJANA - The government endorsed the decision of the council of UKC Ljubljana, Slovenia's largest medical centre, to appoint acting director Jože Golobič for a full term. He starts his four-year term today, the government said. Golobič took over as acting director in February after Janez Poklukar left to become health minister. He was appointed for a full term pending the government's approval at the end of September.

Underdeveloped communities with Roma population to get more funds

LJUBLJANA - The government submitted to parliament a bill amending the financing of municipalities act whose goal it says is to streamline the procedure to award funds to the local communities with Roma settlements. The amendments also expand the list of state-subsidised services provided by joint municipal administrations. A release issued after the government session said one of the changes concerned the provision on the co-financing of municipalities with Roma populations which the government says has been open to misinterpretation.

Govt extends validity of this year's vouchers

LJUBLJANA - Given the poor epidemiological situation and the fact that almost half of the vouchers issued this year to help the hospitality, tourism, sports and culture sectors have not been cashed in yet, the government decided on Thursday to extend their validity until the end of June 2022. The 2021 vouchers were introduced with an emergency law for tourism and associated sectors and awarded to all those who had a permanent residence in Slovenia on 30 June.

Govt donates EUR 860,000 to international organisations

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a decree allocating EUR 860,000 to international and other organisations active in foreign policy, international development cooperation and humanitarian aid this year. EUR 510,000 of the money will go for emergency aid in various humanitarian crises, the government said. The money will go to several UN funds and agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Caritas Internationalis, the World Food Programme, the OECD Development Assistance Committee and several other international organisations.

Govt declares 2022 Tartini's year

LJUBLJANA - The government on Thursday decided 2022 will be the year of Piran-born Italian composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770), as 330 years will have passed since his birth next year. This means the government will encourage events and programmes dedicated to the anniversary. The Culture Ministry has urged public institutions in culture to plan projects marking the anniversary, which will also be an "excellent opportunity for enhanced cooperation between important sectors such as education and tourism".

Water bottling company Costella up for sale

LJUBLJANA - The Swiss company Agrokor, which is in liquidation, is soliciting interest in the purchase of the Costella water bottling company, whose most valuable asset is a water extraction concession valid until 2035. Non-binding bids for the company are expected in the coming days, Finance reported. The paper added that Costella has never even come close to exploiting the water extraction capacity granted by the currently valid concession: 250 million litres of water per year. Current capacities, built in 2006 and 2007, enable the extraction of up to ten million litres of water per year per shift.

Slovenia's Expo pavilion and partners to launch new sustainable initiative

LJUBLJANA - An initiative in which the company Knauf Insulation and its partners Riko and Sophia Academy focus on a comprehensive approach to sustainable development and living will be launched in Dubai in January as part of Slovenia's Expo showcase under an agreement signed today. The three partners will set out the philosophy of their initiative on a broader scale at a large event in Dubai in January and early February. Aimed mainly at the business community, the events will address topics such employee well-being, sustainable construction and green solutions.

NGO proposes container deposit system

LJUBLJANA - Eko Krog, an environmental NGO, proposed Slovenia introduce a container deposit system for drinks packaging including plastic bottles, cans and glass bottles as a means of improving the recycling rate and the economics of waste management. "Precious materials in the form of waste is disappearing from Slovenia, while waste that cannot be used is piling up and being burned," Eko Krog president Uroš Macerl said. The NGO says ten European countries already have such systems, and 15 plan on introducing one. A survey carried out by Eko Krog among almost 1,900 respondents showed 99% support for such a system.

Volunteers clock in more than 7.3 million hours of work a year

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian volunteers clock in over 7.3 million hours of work annually, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik noted in his address to a two-day virtual congress of Slovenian volunteers, which started today, focusing on the role of volunteers and solidarity in addressing social and environmental challenges. The volunteer hours have somewhat dropped in the past two years as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic after some activities were suspended while new forms of voluntary work have come to the forefront, he said, praising the response of volunteers during the epidemic as exceptional.

02 Dec 2021, 04:32 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Thursday, 2 December 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Logar urges addressing risks following Afghanistan pull-out

BRUSSELS, Belgium/RIGA, Latvia - Following a two-day NATO ministerial, FM Anže Logar said the developments after the withdrawal from Afghanistan had come as a surprise and had brought up numerous risks that needed to be properly addressed. When planning future missions, goals should be laid out in advance according to regional characteristics, he noted. When it comes to the Western Balkans, the current situation there shows progress is not a given, he warned.

Hojs rejects allegations of pushbacks

LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs rejected allegations by NGOs that Slovenian police officers were engaged in pushbacks on the Slovenian border in an interview with the newspaper Delo, while he criticised Croatian police for giving migrants instructions to ask for international protection in Slovenia. Hojs said requests for international protection had increased by almost 60% in Slovenia this year whereas the number of intercepted illegal migrants dropped by some 40%.

Italian parliament approves return of National Hall to minority

ROME, Italy - The Italian Chamber of Deputies put into law a government decree on the transfer of National Hall in Trieste thus giving the go ahead for the process to start to return it to the Slovenian community there. According to a report by the Trieste-based Slovenian newspaper Primorski Dnevnik, the Mario Draghi government pegged the passage of a multi-purpose decree to a vote of confidence which it won in a broad majority. The return was agreed during last year's ceremony marking the centennial of the torching of the building by the Fascists.

Daily coronavirus infections down further, 15 deaths

LJUBLJANA - The number of new daily coronavirus infections was down both in weekly and daily comparisons on Tuesday to 2,257 as almost a third of PCR tests came back positive. Another 15 people died of Covid-19. Robert Carotta, the Health Ministry's coordinator for Covid beds, told the press that hospitalisations had apparently reached a plateau that would probably continue until mid-December, while noting that the healthcare system still operated at maximum capacity.

Multiple testing imposed on arrivals from southern Africa

LJUBLJANA - Due to the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, the government decreed that passengers arriving in Slovenia from seven countries in southern Africa are required to take three PCR tests during mandatory 10-day quarantine. The government imposed mandatory self-isolation on persons residing in or visiting South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe in the past 14 days before entering Slovenia on Saturday, now imposing testing on 1st, 5th and 10th day.

OECD significantly upgrades Slovenia's growth outlook

PARIS, France - The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) substantially upgraded Slovenia's economic growth forecast. It projects the economy to expand by 5.9% this year, up from its May forecast of 3.5%, whereas the outlook for 2022 was revised by 0.8 percentage points to 5.4%. Growth is projected to slow to 3.2% in 2023.

Finance Committee clears higher general tax relief

LJUBLJANA - The Finance Committee approved amendments to the personal income tax act that would raise the general tax relief and thus take-home pay for everyone, as well as reduce capital gains tax. Opposition MPs expressed concern over the impact on fiscal sustainability but Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj argued it would be offset by rising tax revenue on the back of an economic rebound. If passed at the plenary session later this month, the changes will come into effect on 1 January 2022. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry says economic growth would increase by 0.5-0.75 percentage points as a result.

Government to provide more funds for agriculture

LJUBLJANA - The government will allocate an additional EUR 210 million to agriculture in 2023-2027, on top of the EUR 100 million promised in the summer under an agreement reached as agricultural organisations met with PM Janez Janša and Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek. "This will be the first time since Slovenia's EU accession that more money will be provided for agriculture than is required by EU rules," said the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry.

Home Affairs Committee okays de-bureaucratisation bill

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Interior, Public Administration and Local Self-Government Committee endorsed a de-bureaucratisation bill. The proposal aims to facilitate access to public services and cut red tape. However, legal experts raised concern about many of its aspects they deem problematic. The first segment of the omnibus bill amends 14 laws from various areas in a major red tape cutting effort, while the other annuls 207 laws and all by-laws based on them, including providing for expiry of 18 Yugoslav federal laws.

Prosecutors oppose changes to appointment of EPPO members

LJUBLJANA - The State Prosecutorial Council expressed strong opposition to the proposed amendments that would give the government greater say in the appointment of Slovenian prosecutors delegated to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), saying that this allowed for "inadmissible political staffing." The council issued the opinion after discussing the amendments, drawn up by the Justice Ministry last week, at a session yesterday.

Transparency concerned about gaming act procedure

LJUBLJANA - Transparency International Slovenia warned about what it perceives as doubtful transparency in the adoption of amendments to the gaming act now in parliamentary procedure. It noted that the influence on individual changes should be clearly identified and recorded. The comments come ahead of today's second reading of the amendments on the parliamentary Finance Committee. The organisation notes that criticism and doubt had been expressed in the media regarding the transparency of their drafting.

Ski resorts hope for better season

LJUBLJANA - As the new ski season starts this weekend, ski lift operators hope that it will not be like the previous one, when ski resorts were on the brink of survival due to Covid-19 measures and many of them would be in serious trouble without government aid. Manuela Božič Badalič, the head of the Association of Ski Lift Operators, said the operators had managed to agree some improvements regarding Covid-19 restrictions with the health authorities ahead of the new season.

Events industry appeals for emergency aid

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian conventions and events industry urged the government to provide emergency aid to the tune of EUR 50 million. Half the companies in the business are at risk of collapse next year, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) said. Large segments of the industry have been shut down for more than a year. Concerts and other events without seating are currently banned with strict restrictions in place for events that may still be held. The sector saw a 61% drop in revenue in 2020 with similar results expected this year.

Defence Studies department opposes plans for officer training school

LJUBLJANA - The department of Defence Studies at the Ljubljana Faculty of Social Sciences is surprised at the recent proposal by the coalition NSi and SDS to set up an officer training school. The department's experts argue against the plan, saying that such a step would fundamentally change the structure of military education in Slovenia. They also note that the defence and education ministries and other experts have not been involved in the bill's drafting.

Painter Marko Jakše to represent Slovenia at Venice Biennale

VENICE, Italy - Slovenia will be represented by Marko Jakše, a painter best known for his surrealist Dali-esque canvases, at the 59th Venice Biennale, which will be held between 23 April and 27 November 2022. The exhibition of Jakše's works will feature canvases from different periods, Moderna Galerija said.

Clug's ballet on show at the Bolshoi

MOSCOW, Russia - A ballet based on the Russian classic The Master and Margarita by Romanian-born Slovenian choreographer Edward Clug will open at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow this evening, with four reruns scheduled until 5 December. Clug, the artistic director for ballet at the Slovenian SNG Maribor national theatre, conceived the production together with a team he has worked with for a number of years.

Bogataj's book of Slavic cuisines wins cookbook award

LJUBLJANA - A book about Slavic cuisines written by Slovenian ethnologist Janez Bogataj has been declared one of the best books in the 25-year history of the Gourmand world cookbooks awards. The book was published by the Forum of Slavic Cultures in Slovenian and English in 2015. The Best of the Best in 25 Years award was handed to Bogataj and the forum's director Andreja Rihter in Paris by Edouard Cointreau, the founder of the Gourmand awards, which were first given out in 1995.

Disabled note progress but also challenges ahead

BRDO PRI KRANJU - As Slovenia's top officials hosted a reception ahead of the 3 December International Day of Persons with Disabilities, representatives of the disabled noted several improvements this year, including the "historic achievement" to enshrine the sign language and tactile signing in the constitution. However, Borut Sever, head of the National Council of Organisations for the Disabled, also noted issues such as discrimination and poor access to public buildings, mobility, information and communication.

Call for end to stigmatisation of people with HIV

LJUBLJANA - There are about a thousand HIV-infected persons in Slovenia, with most of them being treated. While there has been tremendous progress in fighting AIDS over the years, people with HIV are still stigmatised, Janez Tomažič from Ljubljana's Infectious Disease Clinic told the STA ahead of World AIDS Day. "Persons receiving treatment have an undetectable virus, so they are not dangerous. You will not get infected even if you have unprotected sex without a condom with them," he said.

E-tolling stickers for cars become available

LJUBLJANA - Electronic vignettes became available today to eventually fully replace toll stickers. Annual e-vignettes for cars and semi-annual e-vignettes for motorbikes became available today, with weekly and monthly e-vignettes to follow in February 2022. Prices remain unchanged, while the annual vignette is no longer linked to the calendar year.

40 years pass since worst plane crash in Slovenian history

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia remembers today the worst plane crash in its history. In the morning of 1 December 1981, a plane of the former Slovenian flag carrier Inex-Adria crashed on Corsica's Mont San-Pietro, killing all 180 passengers and crew members on board. It was world's worst air accident that year. To honour the victims, President Borut Pahor laid a wreath at the grave site at Ljubljana's Žale cemetery.

Almost 160 money mules caught in latest sting

LJUBLJANA - As part of the latest effort to crack down on money mule schemes in Europe, the Slovenian police investigated 126 cases to identify a total of 156 money mules. A total loss by legal entities and individuals of EUR 1.4 million was thus prevented, the General Police Administration said. The seventh European Money Mule Action identified more than 18,000 mules and helped prevent EUR 70 million in damage in 27 countries. It was conducted between 15 September and 30 November.

01 Dec 2021, 04:56 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Wednesday, 1 December 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Slovenia's GDP up 5% in third quarter

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's GDP grew at an annual rate of 5% in the third quarter of 2021. Just like in the previous quarter, it was largely fuelled by household consumption, up by 9.3%, and gross capital formation, up 9.6%, the Statistics Office said. On the other hand, external trade balance had a negative impact on growth, as imports rose more than exports, by 19.9% and 10.6%, respectively.

Annual inflation accelerates to 4.6% in November

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's annual inflation rate accelerated to 4.6% in November from 3% in the month before, the highest it has been since late 2008, on the back of higher prices of oil derivatives, which contributed 1.8 percentage points to the overall consumer price growth. At the monthly level prices were up by 0.7%, show the latest Statistics Office data. The only groups where prices dropped were telecommunications and health services.

Janša and Schallenberg discuss booster shots as Omicron spreads

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša spoke with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg via videoconference about the Covid-19 pandemic, including the new Omicron strain of coronavirus, to note the importance of booster vaccine shots. They assessed the epidemiological situation and exchanged information about measures aimed at managing Covid-19 and their effects. The Austrian chancellor wrote on Twitter that he and Janša had agreed on the importance of vaccination with a booster dose in view of the Omicron strain of coronavirus. They also discussed developments on the Belarusian-Polish border and the Western Balkans.

Young woman's death confirmed to be related to Janssen vaccine

LJUBLJANA - A commission appointed to examine the death of a 20-year-old woman after she was given the Janssen vaccine in September announced its unanimous assessment that the death was "definitely linked" to the vaccination. The investigation confirmed the vaccination led to the thrombotic thrombocytopenia in the woman. Upon suspending the use of the vaccine, the government made it available only on a person's specific demand accompanied by a written consent, which Health Minister Janez Poklukar said would be made into a new, permanent rule.

Almost 2,500 new cases confirmed as infections keep receding

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged 2,482 new coronavirus cases for Monday as infections kept receding, with the daily count of newly confirmed infections dropping by over 900 from the same day a week ago, while the PCR test positivity rate remained a high 46.2%. The number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 decreased by 28 to 1,128, data released by the government show. The number of those treated in intensive care was 280 this morning, one fewer than yesterday. Covid-19 has claimed 16 more lives.

Economy minister calls for work from home

LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek called on businesses to organise work from home wherever possible and to stick strictly to the Covid pass rule and other precautionary measures in what he says is the only way to avoid potential new restrictions. In his call, Počivalšek said Slovenia could not afford a shutdown or new harsh limits on economic activities. "We must do all in our power to avoid new restrictions on activities or lockdown," he said.

Testing guidelines issued for arrivals from southern Africa

LJUBLJANA - The Health Ministry issued guidelines on testing for persons who receive mandatory quarantine orders following their return to Slovenia from areas and countries with the new coronavirus variant Omicron. The ministry urged all testing providers to test those persons with PCR tests and to label their samples as arrivals coming from the areas. The latest guidelines also urge all persons in quarantine due to the risk of importing the new strain to take a PCR test as soon as quarantine is imposed, and then again on the fifth and tenth day.

Only one MP in favour of SAF development referendum on committee

LJUBLJANA - An initiative by the opposition Left to call a consultative referendum on a long-term programme for the development of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) was voted down by eight votes to one on the Defence Committee. While the Left opposes this key defence resolution, covering a period until 2035, arguing its lacking a social consensus and being misguided, Defence Ministry State Secretary Uroš Lampret said the intention of the referendum run against national defence interests and Slovenia's international commitments and contrary to its strategic defence and security documents. The vote is not binding on the plenary.

President warns against politicisation of police

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor addressed a ceremony remembering the 1989 Operation North, a police campaign which prevented a Serbian nationalist rally in Ljubljana and is thus seen as one of the first steps in Slovenia towards the country eventually declaring independence. In his speech, Pahor warned against politicisation of police, noting that depoliticisation of police started at the time of Operation North and it was one of the milestone processes on the path to Slovenia's independence.

EU culture minsters call for support from media sector

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU culture ministers meeting under the chairmanship of Slovenia's Vasko Simoniti, noted the role of cultural heritage for sustainable development and the fight against climate change, in particular its contribution to social cohesion and jobs. They also called for measures to support the audiovisual and media sector, as Simoniti expressed concern over the continued impact of the pandemic on the European audiovisual and media industry.

Kustec calls adoption of European model of sport "historic"

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU ministers in charge of sport endorsed the European model of sport that calls for solidarity, open competition and accessibility of sport for all. Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Sport Simona Kustec said the adoption of the resolution was a "historic day for sport and the European Union". The ministers pledged to defend the European model of sport, especially its values such as "openness, solidarity, equality, transparency and human rights", she added.

Large fire breaks out in warehouse in Šentvid

LJUBLJANA - A fire broke out in a large warehouse in Vižmarje in the north-western Ljubljana borough of Šentvid during the night. The fire spread from pallets piled up next to the building inside the warehouse of several companies, including a tyre company, the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief said. The fire has been mostly put out now but some parts of it are difficult to access, so the large-scale efforts will continue for a while, the Ljubljana Fire Brigade said. According to police reports, nobody was in the building at the time of the fire.

Deep 2020 loss for Slovenian energy sector

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian energy sector posted a net loss of EUR 277.5 million at the end of last year, compared to a EUR 303.6 million profit in the year before. This is the worst result since 2015, showed a report by the Energy Chamber. The performance of the Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant (TEŠ) and its parent company, the power utility HSE, was the main cause of the loss. The year was also profoundly marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected mostly the sales of petroleum products.

Govt to help pig farmers with almost EUR 1.9m

LJUBLJANA - The government will help Slovenian pig farmers with EUR 1.87 million in financial aid, to be paid out on 23 December, to cope with falling prices of pork and pigs and rising prices of fodder, the Government Communication Office (UKOM) said. The aim is to help over 580 farms whose main or only source of income is pig farming preserve their economic ability to continue with pig farming, UKOM said in a release. The government decided to provide the aid as part of the 2021-2024 national development projects to help out after purchase prices of pork and pigs started plummeting in the EU and Slovenia in June.

Number of households and families in Slovenia up

LJUBLJANA - The population in Slovenia increased by 59,000 in the decade between 2011 to 2021, with the number of households up by 46,000 and families by 20,000. Households have an average of 2.41 members, while families with children have an average of 1.56 children, according to the Statistics Office. Slovenia's population numbered 2,108,977 on 1 January 2021. The largest number of households were single-family, a total of 462,744 (54%), while one-person households accounted for 292,301 (34%).

30 Nov 2021, 04:25 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Tuesday, 30 November 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Pahor urges progress in Prishtina-Belgrade dialogue

PRISHTINA, Kosovo - President Borut Pahor called for headway in the Prishtina-Belgrade dialogue as he held talks with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and PM Albin Kurti. He endorsed Kosovo's efforts to join Euro-Atlantic organisations and urged the country to continue adopting and implementing reforms, while emphasising the need to implement the Kosovo-Serbia agreements reached so far and to look for a comprehensive solution in relations between the two countries. The talks in Prishtina came a day after Pahor held talks in Belgrade with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić focused on the EU accession prospects of the Western Balkans.

LIBE committee discusses report on Slovenia mission

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) discussed a report on a mission to Slovenia it completed in October. The debate saw a heated exchange between Slovenian MEP Romana Tomc, who said the mission had missed the mark, and chair Sophie in 't Veld, who dismissed the criticism and urged the EPP to cooperate constructively. The publicly released report expressed deep concern over the climate of hostility and deep polarisation in Slovenia, which it says undermines trust in and between public institutions.

Zorčič and Bečić on Montenegro's European prospects

LJUBLJANA - Montenegrin parliamentary Speaker Aleksa Bečić started a three-day visit to Slovenia at the invitation of his Slovenian counterpart Igor Zorčič. The pair discussed primarily Montenegro's European prospects, with Zorčič saying that as the presiding EU country, Slovenia was committed to accelerating the EU enlargement process in cooperation with Western Balkan countries. He said Montenegro was an element of stability and a regional leader in terms of EU integration.

Kukovec clears last hurdle to becoming EU General Court judge

LJUBLJANA - Damjan Kukovec will soon become a judge at the EU General Court after Committee 255, which vets candidates for EU Court judges, endorsed his candidacy on Monday, President Borut Pahor announced on Twitter. Kukovec, a senior lecturer in law at Middlesex School of Law in London, was endorsed by the National Assembly in July and will join the second Slovenian judge at the court, Maja Brkan, who started her term in July.

Coalition NSi, SDS propose setting up school for officers

LJUBLJANA - The coalition New Slovenia (NSi) and Democratic Party (SDS) presented a bill last week to establish a higher education institution for military training. The school for officers would be part of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF), operating under the Centre of Military Schools. It would be classified as the first Bologna cycle institution providing interdisciplinary studies. These amendments would reduce the average age of officers on first duty from the current 28 to 23.

Slovenia setting up RescEU protective equipment stockpile

LJUBLJANA - The Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief will set up the RescEU stockpile of protective equipment on Wednesday. The first batch of face masks has been already received, and in 2022, the reserve is expected to provide supplies of protective masks, gloves, coats, aprons, goggles and visors. The first delivery to inaugurate the stockpile includes a million FFP2 masks and was received at the national logistics centre in Roje on Monday.

Coronavirus infections keep falling

LJUBLJANA - 1,034 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Sunday, roughly a quarter fewer than the same day a week ago. Hospital figures remained stable but 19 more patients died of Covid-19, government data shows. As of this morning 1,156 people are treated in hospitals for Covid-19, including 281 in intensive care. According to the National Institute of Public Health, the 7-day average of new cases dropped to 2,318 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 to 1,821.

EU ministers adopt recommendations for blended learning in response to pandemic

BRUSSELS, Belgium - In response to the coronavirus pandemic, EU education ministers adopted recommendations on blended learning approaches which combine school site and other physical environments away from the school as well as digital and non-digital learning tools. The recommendations feature short-term measures as a direct response to the health crisis, whereas the long-term measures are designed to strengthen the education systems for a more resilient Europe.

NGO draws up amendments to communicable diseases act

LJUBLJANA - The NGO Legal Network for the Protection of Democracy has drawn up amendments to the communicable diseases act in cooperation with experts after parts of the law were found in breach of the constitution and the National Assembly failed to amend them by the deadline imposed by the Constitutional Court. The NGO sent the proposal to all parliamentary factions. Noting the fourth wave of coronavirus, it said it was high time that an appropriate legal basis for Covid measures was in place.

Public broadcaster's content plan for 2022 confirmed

LJUBLJANA - The Programming Council of RTV Slovenija confirmed the public broadcaster's production plan for 2022, which had been met with criticism from the broadcaster's news staff because several news shows are being cancelled and some moved to the lower-rated second channel. In a secret ballot, 17 councillors voted in favour, two were against and five abstained. A special resolution was added to the plan allowing a three-month transitional period for a gradual roll-out of the changes and additional adjustments in collaboration with the news staff.

Photographers warn about "harmful effects" of UKOM-STA contract

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian photojournalists and photographers warned the photography provisions of the recently signed public service agreement between the STA and the Government Communication Office (UKOM) is detrimental and "could lead to a complete collapse of the visual content market", urging a different solution. The warnings refer to the portion of the agreement which makes photos part of the STA's public service, thus making them free. This would lead to a collapse of the Slovenian photojournalism market, as other photographers and photojournalists would not be able to sell their work.

Over 60% oppose government in POP TV poll

LJUBLJANA - The voter approval rating for the government fell further in the latest poll commissioned by the commercial broadcaster POP TV. The proportion of those who approve of the government's job fell by 1.1 of a percentage point from October to 28.3% as the percentage of those who disapprove rose by 0.2 points to 62.2% in November. The ruling Democrats (SDS) remain in the lead but have lost 2.5 percentage points to 16.1%, after they gained 3.6 points in October.

STA to join new European Newsroom with 16 news agencies

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Slovenian Press Agency (STA) is one of the 16 European press agencies that will join forces in a common European press centre whose creation was announced today by the European Commission in a bid to strengthen the European media space. The pan-European Newsroom will be supported with EUR 1.76 million in EU funds and coordinated by the German news agency dpa. The project is due to start in January, while the Newsroom is expected to become operational in mid-2022.

Portal launched to increase presence of women in media

LJUBLJANA - A portal called Ona Ve (She Knows) was launched to increase the share of women appearing in Slovenian media and at public events. Half of Slovenia's population are women but they feature in only 24% of media appearances, ex-journalist and ex-ambasador Marta Kos, the chair of the association behind the portal, said upon the launch. The portal features more than 110 women experts which media outlets or event organisers can contact when looking for experts to appear on their shows to have more gender balanced line-ups.

Heating costs highest in Maribor, lowest in Celje

LJUBLJANA - The rising prices of energy in wholesales markets are already affecting retail prices of distance heating in Slovenia, which rose by an average 38% to EUR 118 in November in a year-on-year comparison. It was the most expensive in the municipality of Maribor and the cheapest in Celje, shows a survey by the Energy Agency. The price of heating went up the most in municipalities where the main source of energy is gas or coal. The Energy Chamber meanwhile warned the state should be prudent when introducing measures for mitigating the negative effects of energy prices for either households or companies.

Telekom quitting electricity retail business

LJUBLJANA - Telekom Slovenije, the state-owned telecoms operator, will quit the electricity retail business as of New Year's, the second company to leave the retail market in the last few months amidst surging electricity prices. The company said the users must find new suppliers or switch to emergency supply provided by SODO, the distribution system operator, by 1 January. Telekom had a 2% share of the household market according to data by the Energy Agency and is the biggest supplier so far to call it quits. It entered the electricity retail market in 2016 and focused on households, offering bundles of telecoms services and electricity.

Printing sector to get higher wages

LJUBLJANA - Social partners signed an annex to the collective agreement for the graphical sector raising the lowest base pay in the sector as well as the compensation for meals during work time to mark 30 years since the signing of their collective agreement. The fourth annex was signed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) and the Association of Employers (ZDS) on behalf of employers and the KSS Pergam trade union and the Trade Union of Graphical Activities on behalf of employees.

Slovenian culture, sports, cuisine celebrated in Brussels

LJUBLJANA - A number of cultural, sports and culinary events presenting Slovenia will be held in Brussels this week as the country's EU presidency draws to a close at the end of the year. The highlight will be the Slovenian festival at the Schuman Roundabout, where achievements of Slovenian athletes, scientists and artists will be presented until Wednesday. This evening's opening event was addressed by Education Minister Simona Kustec and European Education and Culture Commissioner Mariya Gabriel.

Handke translator wins German-Slovenian translation prize

LJUBLJANA - Amalija Maček received this year's Fabjan Hafner Prize for translation from German into Slovenian for her translation of Peter Handke's 1994 novel My Year in the No-Man's-Bay. The translation took several years and the result is a "masterful translation artwork" very much in tune with the original, the Goethe-Institut Ljubljana quoted the jury as saying on Monday. The prize includes a EUR 4,000 cash prize, a one-month residency in Berlin, and a reading of the work at the Musil Institute in Klagenfurt, Austria.

28 Nov 2021, 20:09 PM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Monday, 29 November

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Pahor and Vučić discuss situation in region

BELGRADE, Serbia - Visiting Belgrade as part of the preparations for the next summit of the Brdo-Brijuni Process, President Borut Pahor met his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić. Pahor said that the process of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans was too slow, which led to renewed policies of nationalism and border changes that threaten security. Both sides should step up their efforts in this process, the Slovenian president added.

Almost 1,500 Covid cases confirmed as w/w drop continues

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,478 PCR tests returned positive on Saturday as cases kept falling week-on-week, show the latest data by the National Institute of Public Health. Another 23 Covid-19 patients died, the government reported. Hospitalisations increased by 20 on yesterday to 1,140, and 285 patients required intensive care this morning, up by one. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population was down by 43 to 1,858.

Ski jumper Anže Lanišek wins World Cup event in Ruka

RUKA, Finland - After fishing second at the men's Ski Jumping World Cup event in Ruka on Saturday, Slovenian ski jumper Anže Lanišek won the second such event at Finland's ski resort this season in what is his first World Cup individual event victory. Three of Slovenian ski jumpers made it to the top six, apart from Lanišek also brothers Cene and Peter Prevc, who finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

PM Janša to hold talks with Schallenberg on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša will hold talks with Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg via video link on Tuesday, Janša's office said. This will be the pair's first bilateral meeting since Schallenberg assumed office in October. The pair will discuss bilateral relations between Slovenia and Austria, Covid-19 and the Western Balkans situation, as well as preparations for the Eastern Partnership summit, the situation in Belarus and other current foreign policy issues.

Construction of nuclear waste repository to start in 2022

KRŠKO - The construction of a special storage facility for low- and intermediate-level waste in the vicinity of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) is expected to start at the beginning of 2022, as the project is in the final stages of obtaining necessary documentation and selecting contractors. A trial launch is expected to take place in late 2023 or early 2024, Sandi Viršek, the head of the national Radioactive Waste Agency (ARAO), recently said. The project, which is behind schedule, is expected to cost EUR 194 million.

Medical Chamber calls for improving doctors' status

LJUBLJANA - The Medical Chamber called for efforts to improve the status of doctors on Friday, as it warned that their current pay, not comparable to Western European countries in terms of workload, was resulting in brain drain. Young doctors are less and less likely to take up certain medical specialties due to difficult working conditions, it said. Decreased interest is most evident when it comes to family medicine.

28 Nov 2021, 10:47 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, 28 November 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Quarantine imposed on arrivals from areas with Omicron Covid variant

LJUBLJANA - Travellers arriving in Slovenia from areas with the new coronavirus variant that the WHO has declared to be of concern face mandatory quarantine on arriving in Slovenia under a decision taken by the government on Friday. Entry is banned to foreigners without a residence permit in Slovenia arriving from those areas. The list of areas and countries with the new variant B.1.1.529, named Omicron by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is being published by the National Institute of Public Health. Those are currently South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The new variant has not yet been detected in Slovenia.

Curbs placed on Christmas fairs

LJUBLJANA - The government made a few changes to Covid restrictions on Friday, including detailing rules for open-air Christmas fairs, which will have to be fenced off with separate entrances and exits. Open-air stalls serving food and drinks need to put up notices limiting customer numbers. Other provisions in that section of the regulation remain unchanged, which means that existing restrictions on the number of customers and their being required to have a Covid pass still apply. But the pass will no longer be required for customers accepting mail and package deliveries, except at post offices.

Slovenia's coronavirus curve keeps falling

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's daily coronavirus count continued its downward trajectory as 2,224 new cases were reported for Friday, down both on the day and the week before. Hospitalisations remained stable, but another 23 Covid-19 patients died yesterday, government data shows. The number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 dropped by 17 to 1,120 this morning ad 284 still required intensive care, down by five. The 7-day average of new infections dropped to 2,478, 144 less than the day before, and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 fell by 67 to 1,901, according to the National Institute of Public Health.

Covid vaccine boosters recommended for all adults

LJUBLJANA - The national advisory committee on immunization recommends a booster shot of a vaccine against Covid-19 to all adults, that is everyone aged 18 or over. The body decided to expand the booster shot recommendation to all adults at its latest session after initially recommending boosters for several groups, including to over 50-year-olds, particularly vulnerable people with chronic conditions regardless of their age, care home residents, family members of immunocompromised persons and those particularly exposed at work. According to the National Institute of Public Health, more than 281,700 people in Slovenia have already received booster shots.

LMŠ sets out plan for country's normalisation, development breakthrough

LJUBLJANA - The Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) of the previous prime minister endorsed its election manifesto and platform at a virtual congress setting out solutions which they say should restore a normality in Slovenia and pave the way for a development breakthrough. Marjan Šarec said the next government would have its work cut out fixing the consequences of the current rule. He promised staff replacements "where those in power at the moment have politically subjugated institutions that are supposed to be independent and vital to the state's functioning and survival". With the platform, the LMŠ refashions itself as a development-oriented liberal party.

NSi offers itself as solution to end bi-partisan antagonism

LJUBLJANA - New Slovenia (NSi) met for a virtual congress in preparation for next year's general election where their leader Matej Tonin said the Christian democratic party should get the mandate to form a government in order to avoid the "inefficiency" of the centre-left and the "sharpness" of the SDS, the NSi's partner in the current coalition. Tonin, the incumbent defence minister, said the NSi would not be breaking up the government in the few months ahead of the April election. The party's programme aims to boost the economy, secure accessible public healthcare through competition and an even development of the whole country.

President Pahor condemns Kosovo bus shooting attack

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor condemned Friday's shooting attack on a bus in western Kosovo in which three people were killed. In a post on his Twitter profile, Pahor also expressed his deepest condolences to the victims' families. Pahor is due to visit Kosovo on Monday for talks with his counterpart Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. He will also visit Slovenian troops participating in the NATO Kosovo Force. The Kosovo authorities said terrorism was likely the motive behind the attack.

Minister visiting Slovenian communities in Dalmatia and Montenegro

LJUBLJANA - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch is visiting Slovenian communities in Dalmatia and Montenegro this weekend. At meetings in Zadar and Split yesterday she learned about the communities' lively activities. She visited the Slovenian association Lipa (Linden tree) in Zadar and Triglav in Split as well as the Slovenian Consulate General in Split. Jaklitsch today visited Dubrovnik before travelling on to Montenegro for meetings with representatives of the Slovenian community in Podgorica.

Thirty years since the first internet connection in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The internet is thirty years old in Slovenia. The first internet connection was established on 27 November 1991 at the Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS), when researchers obtained permission to pass IP packets through CERN in Geneva and through Germany to a router at the Institute of Physics and Mathematics in Amsterdam. Preparations for establishing an internet connection in Slovenia started in the mid-1980s, and in May 1991, IJS researchers were finally granted permission to lease a direct line to connect to the international network infrastructure of the COSINE project, which was called IXI (International X.25 Infrastructure) at the time.

Public transport strongly affected by epidemic

LJUBLJANA - The latest Slovenian Energy Efficiency Survey shows that public transport is regularly used as a key mode of transport by around 10% of households, 53% use it very rarely, while 27% of households never use public transport. The survey results also show that the use of public transport has been strongly affected by the epidemic. The use of public transport is more common in larger cities like Ljubljana, where 23% of households used public transport regularly, and Maribor, where that share was 15%. The share of households that never use public transport stands highest in settlements with less than 2,000 inhabitants (37%).

Double win and a podium in prefect day for Slovenian ski jumpers

NIZHNY TAGIL, Russia/RUKA, Finland - Slovenian women ski jumpers secured their first ever double victory in the individual World Cup event in Nizhny Tagil, Russia. Ema Klinec won the second event of the season after finishing as the runner-up at the same venue yesterday. Her teammate Urša Bogataj placed second. Their male counterpart Anže Lanišek finished second in the World Cup event in Ruka in Finland to round off a perfect day for Slovenian jumpers.

27 Nov 2021, 04:34 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 27 November 2021

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This summary is provided by the STA:

Janša discusses current issues with Merkel

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday. The issues discussed included the situation in the EU's eastern neighbourhood and the Polish-Belarusian border, the EU's common position on migration pressure, and the build-up of Russian military on the border with Ukraine. "It is important that the EU is united, vigilant and active," Janša was quoted as saying.

Inquiry finds police use of force at 5 Oct riot lawful

LJUBLJANA - A police inquiry has found that officers acted lawfully when they used various types of force during a 5 October riot by opponents of vaccination and the Covid pass mandate in Ljubljana. The commission, appointed by Police Commissioner Anton Olaj, did however identify certain irregularities. "Officers used types of force with which they were able to carry out police tasks with the least damaging consequences," says the report, adding that use of force stopped once order was restored.

Coronavirus continues to retreat as ICU cases go up further

LJUBLJANA - Coronavirus keeps retreating in Slovenia with Thursday's 2,364 new cases pushing the 14-day incidence below 2,000. However, data released by the government also show the number of ICU rising to a new high as the disease claimed 17 more lives. The number of patients in intensive care increased by a further three from what was already a record figure yesterday to 289 this morning as the overall number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients declined slightly to 1,137.

Luka Koper group ups nine-month net profit by 3% to EUR 22.4m

KOPER - The port operator Luka Koper generated EUR 168.2 million in net sales revenue in the first nine months of the year, a 9% increase year-on-year, while net profit increased by 3% to EUR 22.4 million, shows an unaudited report. The report notes that the higher net sales revenue is attributed mostly to increased volume of container transshipment, which was up by 6% to 755,980 container units. Overall, the maritime throughput registered in the January-September period increased 6% year-on-year to 15.7 million tonnes.

Balkan Warrior verdict annulled, defendants released

LJUBLJANA - The Supreme Court annulled the verdict in the Balkan Warrior drug trafficking case and ordered retrial, and the defendants, including the chief defendant Dragan Tošić, were released. The decision, first reported by commercial broadcaster POP TV, was confirmed for the STA by the Supreme Court, which said it had returned the case to the first instance court for retrial. A decision on the release of the defendants has been issued, while the verdict is yet to be written.

ASEM marked by calls for Asia-Europe cooperation

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - The 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) concluded with calls to enhance cooperation, especially in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and climate change and in free trade efforts. The summit, which was held virtually, was attended by Slovenian PM Janez Janša as the representative of the EU presiding country. Janša, speaking at the joint press conference at the end of the summit, said ASEM had proved to be a unique forum of encouraging dialogue and cooperation. He also pointed to solidarity as an important principle of the EU's workings, the prime minister's office said in a release.

Ministry advises Slovenians in South Africa to return home ASAP

LJUBLJANA - Due to a new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry advised Slovenians who are currently in South Africa to return home as soon as possible and monitor the situation, as increasingly many countries are introducing restrictions for passengers arriving from the area. Passengers planning a trip to countries where the new B.1.1.529 variant of the virus has been detected are advised to postpone or cancel non-essential trips. The National Institute of Public Health said that the new variant, named Omicron by the World Health Organisation, had not been confirmed in Slovenia so far.

Belgrade to return 13 films to Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The government approved a draft agreement on the basis of which 13 Slovenian feature films currently kept at the Yugoslav Cinematheque in Belgrade, Serbia, will return to Slovenia. The classics, including the first Slovenian feature sound film On Our Own Land (1948), had been sent to Belgrade because Slovenia did not have an adequate storage facility for movies shot on a very flammable nitrate film. Under the agreement Slovenia will pay Serbia nearly EUR 44,000 for keeping the films.

Former police commander Glavič denies political interference

LJUBLJANA - Former head of the Ljubljana Police Administration Boštjan Glavič denied he had been under political pressure on the job as he was interviewed by the parliamentary commission investigating suspicion of political interference in police. Janez Rupnik, the current head of the Ljubljana Police Administration, told the commission that the police work at the 5 October protest, at which a water cannon and tear gas were used, was professional and lawful. Commission chair Rudi Medved (LMŠ MP) meanwhile said that politics had already achieved its goals in the police in terms of staffing in all key posts.

Unemployment rate remains below 5% in Q3

LJUBLJANA - The unemployment rate stood at 4.5% in the third quarter, which is 0.2 percentage points higher than in the previous quarter, but lower than a year ago, according to the National Statistics Office. The labour force participation rate also increased, and there was more student work. The unemployment rate was 4.8% for men and 4.2% for women. The office pointed out that the number of people aged 15-24 in employment increased more markedly compared to other age groups.

EU research ministers agree on new ERA management

BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU ministers in charge of research adopted conclusions on new governance of the European Research Area (ERA) and a three-year action plan, which Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Sport Simona Kustec hailed as an important milestone for European science and a major achievement of Slovenia's EU presidency. She also chaired a session of ministers in charge of space where long-term sustainable development and financing of "New Space" were discussed and the "Space for Everyone" conclusions adopted.

Ministers adopt Ljubljana Agreement on EU Urban Agenda

LJUBLJANA - Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak chaired an informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for urban development, who endorsed the further implementation of the EU Urban Agenda by adopting the Ljubljana Agreement. Slovenia's initiative to include small and medium-sized cities in policy-making processes was also successful. Vizjak stressed at the online informal meeting that Slovenia will support the implementation of the Ljubljana Agreement and the EU Urban Agenda, and will strive to actively integrate Slovenian cities into multi-level cooperation.

Trade union collects 24,000 signatures against changes in education

LJUBLJANA - The SVIZ trade union of teachers has collected over 24,000 signatures among employees in education against amendments to the organisation and financing of education act, which would change the composition of school and kindergarten councils to increase the influence of the founder - the government. Speaker Igor Zorčič backed the initiative, as he received SVIZ representatives. "In light of what we are seeing today in our country, ... a staffing tsunami, these provisions cannot be understood in any other way than politics trying to influence staffing in education as well ..." he said.

Literary historian Boris Paternu dies

TRIESTE, Italy - Slovenian literary historian and academician Boris Paternu died in the Italian city of Trieste at the age of 95, the Primorski Dnevnik newspaper reported. His expertise was Slovenian literature of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, while he also extensively studied the poetry of Slovenia's greatest poet France Prešeren. Paternu's studies were published in many European countries as well as in Russia, the US and Australia, while he lectured at more than a dozen European universities.

Cetis to produce new residence permits for foreigners

CELJE - Cetis, a printing group specialising in secure documents, will produce new temporary and permanent residence permit cards and residence registration certificates for foreigners in Slovenia. The contract, signed on Thursday by Interior Minister Aleš Hojs and Cetis director Roman Žnidarič, is worth almost EUR 16 million. Cetis is to produce one million cards over the next ten years. In early November, Cetis also signed a framework deal for the production of biometric identity cards for Slovenian citizens. The first ones are expected to be issued at the end of March 2022.

World Olive Day marked with event in Paris

LJUBLJANA/KOPER/PARIS, France - Marking World Olive Day, the Agriculture Ministry co-organised the Masterclass event in Paris as part of Slovenia's EU presidency, where Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek met his French counterpart, Julien Denormandie. The pair underlined excellent relations and cooperation between the two countries. The event largely placed focus on Slovenian olive oil, the ministry said. An online round table discussion on the recommended price for extra virgin olive oil was meanwhile organised by the Koper Scientific Research Centre - ZRS Koper to mark the occasion.

Cinkarna Celje almost doubles Jan-Sep profit

CELJE - Cinkarna Celje, the Celje-based chemical company, saw its sales revenue rise by 12% year-on-year in the first nine months to EUR 145.9 million. Net profit, which amounted to EUR 13.7 million in the first nine months of last year, rose 90% to EUR 26.2 million in the same period in 2021. Releasing the nine-month results in a regulatory filing with the Ljubljana Stock Exchange, the company said the demand was favourable across the geographical regions owing to a general uplift in buyers' confidence.

Unior stays in the black

ZREČE - Unior, a Zreče-based group specialising in forged metals and tools, continues to post positive business results, having generated EUR 8.1 million in profit in the first nine months of the year after posting a loss of EUR 4.9 million in the same period last year. Net sales revenue until the end of September reached EUR 180.4 million, which is EUR 30 million or 20% more than in the same period last year. In the first ten months sales revenue was up 27% year-on-year to EUR 141.5 million.

Revenue service seizes 11 tones of tobacco in record bust

LJUBLJANA - Financial Administration (FURS) officers have discovered 11 tones of loose tobacco hidden inside 75 foil wrapped cardboard boxes in a lorry with Slovenian license plates in what is a record such bust. They hit upon the illegal cargo on Tuesday as its staff inspected a lorry operated by two foreign nationals who were without an employment contract. FURS said the damage to the national budget should the cargo be sold on the black market would be at least EUR 1.8 million.

Festive season gets under way despite Covid

LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR/KOPER - Holiday season is starting in Slovenian towns as hundreds of thousands of lights are being lit and Christmas fairs launched in major towns. However, due to the epidemiological situation no mass events will be held on the occasion. Ljubljana and Maribor will be the first to switch on Christmas lights today. Like last year the exact time has not be announced to avoid crowd. In the capital, the decorations celebrate the importance of community and harmony.

Ski jumper Ema Klinec makes podium in Nizhny Tagil

NIZHNY TAGIL, Russia - Slovenia's Ema Klinec was second in the women's Ski Jumping Word Cup meet in Russia's Nizhny Tagil, finishing in between the first-placed Marita Kramer of Austria and her compatriot Daniela Iraschko-Stolz. The Slovenian women's ski jumping team had a good showing at the first World Cup event this season with three Slovenian ski jumpers making it to the top ten. Urša Bogataj placed fourth and Nika Križnar, the winner of the last World Cup season, finished eight.

26 Nov 2021, 05:00 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 26 November 2021

Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.

This summary is provided by the STA:

Janša urges stronger cooperation in fight against pandemic at ASEM

LJUBLJANA/PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Prime Minister Janez Janša called for stronger cooperation in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic as he addressed the Asian-European Meeting (ASEM) by videolink. "Better cooperation and an effective response to crises such as health emergencies requires cooperation and mutual coordination," he said. "To fully overcome the pandemic, we need to strengthen solidarity and resilience of our societies. The EU is fully aware of this and is therefore the biggest per capita vaccine donor in the world," Janša said.

Slovenia hails EU agreement on digital markets and services

BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU ministers in charge of competitiveness clinched a political agreement on two key digital acts - on digital markets and services at a session chaired by Slovenian Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Digital Transformation Minister Mark Boris Andrijanič. Počivalšek lauded the agreement an important milestone on the path to create a more open and competitive digital market, while Andrijanič and European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton This described the achievement as a historic day for EU consumers.

Opposition critical of changes to appointment delegated prosecutors

LJUBLJANA - Centre-left opposition parties expressed criticism of the amendments to the act on the public prosecution regarding the appointment of Slovenian prosecutors delegated to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) just as Slovenia's two prosecutors received full five-year terms. The EPPO and the European Commission would not comment on the amendments, which would give the government more say in the appointment of delegated prosecutors. Speaker Igor Zorčič suggested parliament should vote the proposal down. Justice Minister Marjan Dikaučič said the amendments were not finalised yet.

MPs give go-ahead for higher budget spending cap

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly on Thursday in favour of the government's proposal to raise the cap on state budget expenditure for this year by EUR 670 million to nearly EUR 15 billion. The government said the rise was to allow the financing of Covid-19 response measures to continue undisrupted, but the centre-left opposition argued the government had lost a grip on public finances. The amendment to the budgeting framework regulation for the 2020-2022 period was backed by 45 votes in favour and 42 against.

Ban on sale of certain plastic products put into law

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly unanimously passed an act prohibiting the sale of certain plastic products, including disposable products, with the aim of reducing the quantity of discarded packaging and, consequently, improving public health. In line with the act, with which a relevant EU directive is being transposed in Slovenian law with some delay, it will be prohibited to sell products from OXO-biodegradable plastics and disposable plastic products in Slovenia.

Parliament votes fracking ban fit for further reading

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly backed a proposal for a ban on hydraulic fracturing in Slovenia, tabled by three centre-left opposition parties, on first reading in what is the fifth attempt to thwart British company Ascent Resources's fracking plans in the north-eastern Prekmurje region. The relevant amendment to the mining act, sponsored by the Left, Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), and Social Democrats (SD), would ban the extraction of hydrocarbons by fracking in Slovenia.

Another attempt to endorse totalitarianism resolution fails

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly failed to muster the majority needed to pass a declaration to support the European Parliament's 2009 resolution on European conscience and totalitarianism. This was the fifth attempt by the ruling Democratic Party (SDS) to endorse the resolution which condemns all totalitarian regimes, with the previous one failing in March 2019. 42 MPs of the coalition parties and the opposition National Party (SNS) voted in favour of the declaration, while 45 centre-left MPs voted against.

Govt adopts bill to facilitate licensing of doctors

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted amendments to the medical services act that facilitate licensing of doctors, transfer the jurisdiction of professional exams to the Medical Chamber and simplify hiring of foreign doctors with regard to Slovenian language skills. Health Minister Janez Poklukar said the changes would improve the functioning and accessibility of the healthcare system, in particular at primary level. Junior doctors not yet assigned speciality are to work for the first three months in family medicine or emergency medicine.

Parliament unanimously passes amendment to healthcare act

LJUBLJANA - The parliament passed on Wednesday evening an opposition amendment to the act on emergency measures in healthcare with 86 votes in favour and none against, introducing financial compensation for the self-employed, partners in companies and farmers in the event of a quarantine order due to Covid-19 or subsequent childcare obligations. The benefit payment is set at EUR 250 for each occurrence of a quarantine order, with a maximum limit of EUR 750 in one month. The amendment will apply retroactively, from 1 July onwards.

Downward trend in Covid infections continues

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged another 2,668 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, a figure down both on daily (3,144) and weekly (3,662) levels, show figures by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). Overall hospital numbers dropped slightly to 1,145, but the number of ICU cases rose to a new record of 286. Eleven patients with Covid-19 died, the government reported. Both the 7-day average of new cases and 14-day incidence per 100,000 population decreased.

Simoniti says Drama renovation to continue, but with lower budget

LJUBLJANA - Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti acknowledged on Wednesday that the renovation of the SNG Drama theatre in Ljubljana will be delayed, which was the reason for the resignation of theatre's director Igor Samobor. Simoniti indicated this was because the ministry wanted to clear up certain issues to make sure the project was transparent. Simoniti dismissed Samobor's claims the ministry did not communicate with the theatre.

Govt proposes changes to Financial Administration, tax procedure

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted changes to the Financial Administration act and the tax procedure act as part of efforts to upgrade the tax system. According to the government, the new legislation is to increase the legal safety of taxpayers and cut the red tape. The changes envisage organisational changes within the Tax Administration that should speed up proceedings and increase efficiency. They introduce a panel for deciding on the most complex tax proceedings.

TV Slovenija news journalists protest 2022 production plan

LJUBLJANA - Journalists of the news programme of the television arm of RTV Slovenija protested over the relevant draft programme and production plan for 2022, calling on the programming council of the public broadcaster to reject it on Monday and adjust it so that it "appropriately implements the mission of RTV". The main issue was that news content was being shrunk with some programmes moved from channel 1 to 2. TV Slovenija acting director Valentin Areh rejected the claim, saying the idea was to put the interest of viewers first.

STA among recipients of Watchdog Awards for journalism

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Journalists' Association announced this year's recipients of the Watchdog Awards, as the jury noted that Slovenian journalism had remained responsible, professional and ethical despite a challenging year. The most prestigious Watchdog Award went to Glorija Lorenci, a journalist at the Večer newspaper. One of the Watchdog Awards for outstanding journalistic achievement was awarded to the editorial board of the Slovenian Press Agency.

Govt forms council for open issues with Evangelical Church

LJUBLJANA - The government decided to establish a government council to address open issues with the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovenia. The new body will be in charge of identifying, recording and examining the open issues between the state and what is the largest Protestant church in Slovenia. The council will be led by State Secretary at the prime minister's office Bojan Pograjc, the government said after its session.

Retailer Mercator rebounds from loss on slightly higher sales

LJUBLJANA - Mercator, Slovenia's largest retailer, recovered from last year's deep loss as it posted a net profit of EUR 12.6 million for the first nine months of the year. Sales revenue was up by almost a percent to EUR 1.63 billion, shows the group's earnings report. Operating profit (EBIT) stood at EUR 57.5 million compared to an operating loss of almost EUR 28 million in the same period last year. The company said sales were also up by 2.9% on pre-Covid 2019, on the back of strong sales in its core market in Slovenia, where sales were up by nearly 5% on the same period in 2019.

EU's SET Plan discussed at Bled conference

BLED - A sustainable energy transition, and the role of innovation and investment to enhance it, is in the focus of a two-day conference on the EU's SET Plan which began in a hybrid format in the town of Bled. The event is organised by the Slovenian Ministry of Infrastructure and the European Commission. The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) is designed to boost the transition towards a climate neutral energy system through the development of low-carbon technologies in a fast and cost-competitive way.

Slovenian Digital Coalition forum starts in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - An open forum of the Slovenian Digital Coalition started in Ljubljana, with the progress of digitalisation in Slovenia and European digital market regulations at the forefront of the debates. Speakers at the forum also stressed the importance of strengthening digital competences. The main points of interest for the coalition are regulation, environment, infrastructure, education and inclusion.

NGOs call for zero tolerance of violence against women

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian non-governmental organisations called for zero tolerance of violence on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. They warn that women still often do not get the help they expect and need, highlighting the importance of cooperation among all political groups and other institutions in this field, and legislation that strives to boost the protection of victims of sexual violence and harassment.

Slovenia gets contact point for encouraging EU values

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia got its national contact point for the EU project Citizens, Equality, Rights & Values (CERV), which will support organisations of the civil society to strengthen the rights and values that are shared by all EU countries promoting pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and gender equality. CERV is a project worth almost EUR 1.5 billion aimed at building open, democratic and inclusive societies based on the rule of law.

Pogačar wins the Velo d'Or

PARIS, France - Slovenian Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar received the 2021 Velo d'Or, a prestigious cycling prize awarded by the French sports publisher l'Equipe. The 23-year-old ended the year at the top of the World Cycling Union (UCI) rankings, having become the 13th rider to defend the Tour de France title. Last year's laureate Primož Roglič came in second.

Mura pull off sensational win against Tottenham

MARIBOR - Slovenia's national football champions Mura made history by delivering a shock 2:1 defeat to Tottenham in the 5th round of the UEFA Europa Conference League to the thrill of roughly 5,500 spectators at the Maribor stadium. The lowest ranked team in this new competition, Mura claimed their first points. The winning goal against the top favourite of Group G was scored in the stoppage time by Amadej Maroša. This was after Harry Kane cancelled out Tomi Horvat's sensational opener.

Combined estimated worth of 100 richest Slovenians record-high

LJUBLJANA - The 100 wealthiest Slovenians are worth a combined EUR 7.1 billion, which is a record amount and almost a quarter or EUR 1.3 billion more than a year ago. There are no changes on the top, with the assets of Iza Sia Login and Samo Login being almost double of that of the second-placed couple of Sandi Češko and Livija Dolanc. The largest increase in the assets of the 100 richest Slovenians since 2008 is a result of higher estimates at stock markets, the newspaper Finance said as it unveiled the ranking.

Importance of health literacy underlined at expert meeting

LJUBLJANA - A national health literacy survey, presented at a health experts meeting, found that 48% of the adult population in Slovenia has limited health literacy. "The survey is the first of its kind in our country and represents one of the steps towards a national strategy to raise health literacy," the Health Ministry said. Meanwhile, the survey also showed the level of digital health literacy among Slovenian students to be quite high, even though half have difficulty assessing the reliability of information.

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