Agriculture Ministry

The northern province of Karabük, which is home to important cultural and nature tourism centers of Turkey, has started to make a name for itself in agro-tourism with its sunflower fields after its "miracle plant" saffron and purple lavender.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Culture Committee reviewed the report of the Broadcasting Council for the past year at a session on Monday, including the council’s recommendation to set down sanctions for fake news in a law. Some of the participants in the debate maintained that would be in contravention of the freedom of speech.

Ljubljana – Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič has handed her resignation, the Justice Ministry confirmed for the STA. The reason is the government’s decision to annul the procedure to appoint Slovenia’s two European delegated prosecutors and to publish a new call for applications, which Kozlovič sees no justified grounds for.

Ljubljana/Brussels – Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek discussed Slovenia’s EU presidency priorities concerning food safety, and animals and plants with European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides via videoconference on Tuesday. The minister said Slovenia would devote utmost attention to the safety of consumers, and food traceability.

Ljubljana – Marking World Water Day, experts stressed the importance of waters and the need to protect the abundance of water sources that Slovenia boasts for future generations, especially in the light of proposed changes to the waters act that would loosen the rules for water protection areas.

Beekeepers from all over the country mounted a protest in front of the Ministry of Agriculture in Sofia.The reason for their discontent is the high mortality rate in bee families due to spraying with unauthorized chemicals and pesticides, and the lack of national strategy for beekeeping industry.

Ljubljana – Slovenia is looking to better utilise its geothermal energy potential, not only for tourism, but also in seeking innovative solutions in many other fields, including food production and district heating. There are already some good examples in this respect, heard an online event held to present the GEOFOOD project.

The "Agriculture" State Fund announced a tender for projects for the building up broadband Internet network in villages and small towns in Bulgaria. A separate budget worth of BGN 82 million  is allocated for financing of the projects. These are funds provided under the Rural Development Program and the aim of the projects is to achieve 100% coverage of the country with fast internet.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša has said that he would nominate a new health minister when the MPs for the Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS), which recently left the government coalition, decide whether they will support the government or become opposition MPs. He said they have until Wednesday’s coalition meeting to decide.

Despite the 10-day ban on anchovy fishing in the Bosphorus announced by the Agriculture Ministry, the strait was again invaded by boats looking for other species, daily Hürriyet reported on Jan. 9.