Latest News from Slovenia
EP mission concerned about tone of public debate in Slovenia
Ljubljana – A delegation of the European Parliament’s committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs (LIBE) visiting Slovenia on a fact-finding mission has expressed concern mainly at the tone of public debate, while also calling for the issues of STA funding and European delegated prosecutor appointments to be addressed urgently.
Defence Minister Tonin visits Montenegro
Podgorica – Defence Minister Matej Tonin was on a working visit to Montenegro on Friday to meet his counterpart Olivera Injac in Podgorica and attend the To Be Secure international security forum in Budva, the Defence Ministry said in a press release.
EU ministers urge considering social aspects in future economic measures
Luxembourg – EU employment and social affairs ministers met in Luxembourg on Friday to discuss the future of the European Semester, arguing that future economic measures and reforms should take social dimensions into account in a consistent manner.
Govt tweaks exemptions from quarantine, donates vaccines to COVAX
Ljubljana – The government changed on Friday a decree setting out exemptions from mandatory quarantine after a high-risk contact, so that those vaccinated against Covid-19 will be exempted from this indefinitely for now. The government also decided to donate some 578,300 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to COVAX.
EUR 432m available for investments in two-year defence budget
Ljubljana – The Defence Ministry will have EUR 432 million at its disposal for defence investments under the draft budgets for the next two years, shows a detailed breakdown of spending items debated by the parliamentary Defence Committee on Thursday evening.
BIRN Fact-Check: The Questionable Claims of Bosnia’s Dodik
Dodik blaming foreign powers for the tensions in Bosnia, accused them of wanting to create "a Muslim state" and warned that any move by the European Union to exclude the Republika Srpska from its initiatives in the country would only "cement the independence" of the entity.
Energy Chamber and businesses urge action in response to price hikes
Ljubljana – Soaring global energy prices are raising concerns in Slovenia, in particular in energy-intensive industry, which is already scaling down production in response to the situation. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) and the Energy Chamber are calling on the government to act. Boosting self sufficiency is also called for.
New coronavirus case count up 11% week-on-week
Ljubljana – Slovenia logged 1,081 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday in what is an 11% increase week-on-week, show fresh figures released by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). The test positivity rate stood at 20.1% yesterday.
Pahor and Mattarella to visit twin border cities next week
Ljubljana – The presidents of Slovenia and Italy, Borut Pahor and Sergio Mattarella, will visit Nova Gorica and Gorizia, the cities on each side of the Slovenian-Italian border, next Thursday to hail their title as the 2025 European Capital of Culture. On the occasion Pahor will decorate Mattarella with Slovenia’s top state honour.
Media’s advertising revenue down 10% last year
Ljubljana – Total revenue from advertising in leading media in Slovenia dropped by a good 10% to EUR 250 million in 2020 compared to the pre-Covid year 2019. The biggest drop was recorded in outdoor advertising and the smallest in print media, according to an annual report compiled by the magazine Marketing Magazin.
SBC champions responsible entrepreneurship under new leaders
Ljubljana – The Slovenian Business Club (SBC), under a new programme and the leadership of its new president, businessman Joc Pečečnik, will strive to promote responsible entrepreneurship. “Our interest is first and foremost to reduce labour taxation,” SBC executive director Sonja Šmuc said on Thursday.
Left seeks for MPs to call on govt to regulate energy prices
Ljubljana – The opposition Left has demanded for the parliamentary committees on infrastructure and social affairs to meet for a joint emergency session due to soaring energy prices. One of their proposals is regulating gas and power prices for end users.
Climate expert calls for truly green tourism
Postojna – Climate expert Lučka Kajfež Bogataj called for truly green tourism at a round table debate held as part of Days of Slovenian Tourism in Postojna on Wednesday. “If we are selling green, let’s become truly green,” she said, pointing to criteria such as energy use per tourist night, water consumption and the amount of food waste.
Tensions run high as protesters fill Ljubljana streets
Ljubljana – Tensions were running high in Ljubljana as opponents of Covid-19 restrictions took to the stress for the fifth consecutive week, disrupting traffic. A police water cannon was at the ready as the police were trying to disperse the crowd blocking a major crossroads in the centre of Ljubljana.
Janša for more inclusion of local and regional communities
Brussels – Prime Minister Janez Janša outlined the priorities of Slovenia’s EU presidency to the European Committee of the Regions on Wednesday, highlighting post-Covid recovery, green transition and the EU’s strategic autonomy, while also touching on subsidiarity.