STA

Ljubljana – Manica Janežič Ambrožič, the TV news programme editor-in-chief at public broadcaster RTV Slovenija, stepped down on Friday. She said she had decided to do so because she disagreed with changes to the programme and production plan for TV Slovenija’s news programme for next year, RTV Slovenija said in a statement.

Brussels – European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova has called for a “swift solution to fund the STA that would fully preserve its independence” in a letter addressed to Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti.

Ljubljana – President Borut Pahor will organise a meeting between the directors of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) and the Government Communication Office (UKOM) on Tuesday in a bid to find a solution to “issues that resulted in suspension of financing of the STA public service”.

Ljubljana – The Justice Ministry confirmed it had received two applications for the two posts of Slovenia’s European delegated prosecutors in the second nomination procedure. Matej Oštir and Tanja Frank Eler, the candidates that had been rejected in the first call, have already said they have applied.

Ljubljana – The government has asked its communication office to transfer a EUR 845,000 advance to the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) for the expected expenses related to the performance of public service once the STA provides UKOM with access into business documentation for the last ten years and if a contract on public service is signed.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Culture Committee got acquainted on Monday with the Slovenian Press Agency’s (STA) annual report for 2020. The debate mainly revolved around ongoing suspension of STA funding and the new government regulation that details how the STA should perform its public service.

Ljubljana – The new government regulation that details how the STA should perform its public service does not address the underlying issues relevant to the agency’s survival and development, it raises new questions, STA staff said after the government adopted the regulation.

Ljubljana – The public service provided by the STA would be subject to detailed new rules under a draft government regulation that the agency’s director has described as yet another attempt to bypass two laws that require the government to provide public funding for the agency and as unlawful.

Ljubljana – Labour inspectors checking on the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) on the government’s initiative have found no infringements with respect to the employment relationships act or safety at work, including in response to the Covid-19 epidemic, while they have issued a warning over a minor issue that has been tackled, the STA management has said.

Bern – The European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA) has addressed an open letter to Prime Minister Janez Janša calling on him to resolve the dispute with the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) while expressing concern about Janša’s tweet accusing STA director Bojan Veselinovič of being an accomplice to the “murder” of former STA editor-in-chief Borut Meško.