Latest News from Slovenia
Stores reopening amid complaints about testing
Ljubljana – Many stores in Slovenia opened on Saturday following several months of being closed for in-person shopping, after the government last night gave the go-ahead for the nation-wide reopening of a large segment of services businesses. There is some concern about testing since staff in many types of shops will have to be tested for coronavirus weekly.
Two top-three finishes for Slovenian ski jumpers
Klingenthal/Linz – Slovenia ski jumpers won two World Cup podium positions on Saturday as Bor Pavlovčič finished third in Klingenthal, Germany for his first-ever top-three finish, whereas Nika Križnar was the runner-up in Hinzenbach, Austria.
Requirements for daily cross-border commuters simplified
Ljubljana/Ljubno ob Savinji – One day into the implementation of a decree that sets the public health rules for border crossing, the government has changed the decree to make it simpler for daily cross-border commuters and students, after complaints that the system was unsustainable due to insufficient testing capacity.
Preliminary environmental approval issued for Magna expansion
Hoče – The Environment Agency issued a preliminary environmental approval this week for an expansion of the factory of the automotive giant Magna near Maribor. The document has been sent to the planing authorities, while archaeologists are already inspecting the site.
Ski jumps: Double victory for Slovenian female team in Austria
Linz – Slovenia celebrated a double victory at the Women’s Ski Jumping World Cup in Austria’s Hinzenbach on Friday. Nika Križnar bagged her first World Cup victory with 237.4 points, followed by Ema Klinec with 236.6 points. Third place went to Norwegian Eirin Maria Kvandal (226.6 points).
Pipistrel enters partnership with C-Astral to upgrade NUUVA v20 planes
Ajdovščina – Pipistrel, a Slovenian ultra light plane developer, has paired up with another hi-tech Slovenian company, C-Astral Aerospace, as its main industrial and development partner to work on expanding its NUUVA v20 unmanned cargo plane beyond cargo transport.
The NUUVA V20 was originally designed to transport cargo, such as spare parts, high-value items or medicinal devices.
Four opposition parties file motion to oust culture minister
Ljubljana – The opposition Social Democrats (SD), Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), the Left and the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) have filed an ouster motion against Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti. Talking to the press on Friday, opposition MPs listed a number of arguments, among them ineffective Covid crisis measures in the culture sector.
EIB ready to co-fund Slovenia’s post-crisis recovery
Ljubljana/Luxembourg – The European Investment Bank (EIB) is ready to help Slovenia financially after the Covid-19 crisis, EIB vice-president Lilyana Pavlova told the press on Friday. Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj stressed the importance of investment for post-epidemic recovery.
Ikea launching sales in Slovenia on 25 February
Ljubljana – The Swedish furniture group Ikea will be launching its online store for Slovenia on 25 February. If coronavirus restrictions will allow, its new brick-and-mortar store in Ljubljana will also open on the same day, the company said in a press release on Friday.
Fewer exceptions for entering the country without quarantine, negative test
Ljubljana – The government amended the rules for entry into Slovenia last night to scrap some of the exceptions for entering the country without the quarantine requirement or a negative coronavirus test.
Tatjana Mlakar nominated for ZZZS head
Ljubljana – The general assembly of the public health insurer ZZZS has named Tatjana Mlakar, the head of the ZZZS unit in Krško, general manager pending clearance from the National Assembly. She had been nominated by the ZZZS management board in January following the third call for applications.
1,267 coronavirus cases on Wednesday as hospitalisations drop below 1,000
Ljubljana – Slovenia reported 1,267 new coronavirus cases from 14,545 tests on Wednesday as the epidemiological situation kept improving. Hospitalisations dropped below 1,000 for the first time since early November. Further 16 Covid-19 patients died, fresh official data show.
Novel geothermal project planned in Lendava
Lendava/Maribor – A pilot project designed to extract geothermal energy from abandoned oil and gas wells will kick off in Lendava, in what is seen as a potential use case for abandoned wells around the world.
OMV selling off service stations in Slovenia
Ljubljana – The Austrian energy group OMV has decided to sell off its 120 petrol stations in Slovenia as part of an ongoing EUR 2 billion divestment programme, the group announced on Thursday. In Slovenia, the group operates filling stations under the brands OMV, Eurotruck, Avanti and Diskont.
EU defence policy discussed by presidency trio’s defence ministers
Ljubljana – The defence ministers of the EU presidency trio of Portugal, Slovenia and Germany held an online meeting on Wednesday, the first as part of Portugal’s EU presidency, to discuss defence policy before the 2-3 March informal meeting of EU defence ministers.