Latest News from Slovenia
Weather forecast: Things will change after May 7
According to his forecast models, the stream of warmer air from the south will flow through the region starting Thursday, bringing the warming. Todays maximum temperature is forecasted at 29 degrees, with steady temperatures around 25 degrees, with some 30 degrees on Sunday in the eastern part of the region.
Janša, Macron discuss cooperation during EU presidency
Paris – Prime Minister Janez Janša met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday to discuss the countries’ successive presidencies of the Council of the EU. Macron said before the talks that coordination was needed because of the extraordinary circumstances in which the two countries will hold the presidency.
Parties critical of govt as EU approves state funding of STA
Ljubljana – Several parties welcomed on Thursday the European Commission’s announcement that the state funding of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) does not constitute state aid because the STA is performing a public service. Most opposition parties said the government had inquired about this to delay the payment. The government has not responded.
EU Commission approves EUR 2.5 million state funding for STA
Ljubljana – The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, EUR 2.5 million granted by Slovenia to the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) in compensation to fulfil its public service mission.
Slovenia supports plans for EU’s future financial development
Ljubljana – Foreign Ministry State Secretary Stanislav Raščan took part in a meeting of ministers in charge of development cooperation on Thursday, discussing the EU’s future financial development architecture. They called for more cooperation among financial institutions, noting that no major systemic changes were necessary, the Foreign Ministry said.
Opposition critical of resilience plan, businesses expected more grants
Ljubljana – The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) has welcomed Slovenia’s recovery and resilience plan that the government adopted on Wednesday as a huge step forward from a previous version. Nevertheless, the chamber wants to see more grant funds. The opposition is meanwhile critical of the plan, saying it lacks environmental investments.
Slovenia logs 918 coronavirus cases for Wednesday, six deaths
Ljubljana – Slovenia saw its daily coronavirus count tick up again week-on-week after declining on Tuesday bank holiday. It logged 918 new infections on Wednesday, and six deaths, government data show.
Slovenia to host conference on population ageing during EU presidency
Ljubljana – The Labour Ministry announced on Thursday, the European Day of Solidarity between Generations, that Slovenia would host a conference focussing on population ageing during its presidency of the Council of the EU. The conference will particularly stress the importance of intergenerational solidarity and cooperation, the ministry said.
Brussels Pressures Slovenia to Resume Payments to Press Agency
The European Commission on Thursday said that it had approved, under EU state aid rules, the Slovenian government's compensation of 2.5 million euros to the Slovenian Press Agency, STA, "to fulfil its public service mission", which is currently hindered by disagreements with the government led by Janez Jansa.
The Financial Times: A perfect recipe for the war in Balkans
Commenting on the infamous "non-paper", the one that allegedly originated from the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, the FT states that mere defending the inviolability of borders in the Western Balkans is far from sufficient when it comes to the West's policy towards that region.
Slovenian Protesters Rally Against ‘Degradation of Democracy’
Several thousand protesters gathered in Ljubljana's central Preseren Square on Tuesday for an anti-government protest intended to "warn of the accelerated degradation of democracy" in the country led by right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa.
Controversial Non-Paper Proposing Border Changes in Western Balkans Requires Firmer Stance from Brussels
A firmer stance from Brussels - noticeably missing last week - against a controversial document proposing border changes in the Western Balkans would help calm the growing anxieties in the region, analysts said. At the same time, regional and international actors contacted by EURACTIV firmly rejected ideas from the phantom non-paper.
Convalescents to receive only one shot of vaccine
Ljubljana – Those in Slovenia who have had a confirmed coronavirus infection will receive only one shot of a coronavirus vaccine six months after they had the disease, according to new guidelines issued by the national advisory committee on immunisation.
Slovenia, Italy, Croatia sign joint statement on cooperation in Adriatic
Brdo pri Kranju – Slovenian Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Italian and Croatian counterparts, Luigi di Maio and Gordan Grlić Radman, signed in Brdo pri Kranju on Wednesday a joint statement on trilateral cooperation in the northern Adriatic. The document is the foundation for strengthening cooperation in areas that are key for all three countries, Logar said.
Johansson to broach issue of media freedom on visit to Slovenia
Brussels – European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson will start a two-day visit to Slovenia on Thursday to discuss the country’s EU presidency preparations. She intends to raise the issue of media freedom and pluralism as well. Slovenia should not underestimate the risk to its international reputation when it comes to this, Johansson has told the STA.