Slovenian Press Agency

A new report published on Wednesday says that Slovenia, which takes over the rotating presidency of the EU on Friday, "has seen press freedom deteriorate ever since [Prime Minister Janez] Jansa returned to power in March 2020".

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 – CIVICUS, an international alliance of NGOs, on Wednesday placed Slovenia on its list of countries to be monitored for a decline in fundamental civil liberties. Under Janez Janša’s government, civil society organisations have been undermined by funding cuts and journalists and the national press agency have been targeted, they wrote.

Brussels – Commenting on the new government regulation on the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), the European Commission has said that it expects swift solutions to unblock the agency’s funding, noting such solutions should completely preserve the STA’s autonomy. It should be checked whether the regulation is in line with existing acts governing the STA, it added.

Ljubljana – As the Ljubljana District Court has rejected a temporary injunction proposal with which the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) sought immediate payout of EUR 845,000 due from the Government Communication Office (UKOM), the STA announced it would appeal the decision, while noting that the court’s explanation indirectly supports STA’s case.

Ljubljana – The Slovenian Press Agency (STA) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a ceremony in front of its headquarters in Ljubljana on Sunday amid a rather uncertain financial situation to mark the day 30 years ago when it published its first news article.

Ljubljana – Two members of the European Parliament from the Greens-European Free Alliance group have concluded their three-day mission to Slovenia, assessing that, politically-speaking, the situation was very complex, and that they are leaving the country feeling concerned.

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 – President Borut Pahor has announced he will award presidential decorations to the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), the Koper bureau of public broadcaster RTV Slovenija and the Slovenian bureau of Italian public broadcaster RAI.

Brussels – President Borut Pahor has expressed the expectation that the government will have secured stable financing of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) and resolved the appointment of European delegated prosecutors by the start of the country’s EU presidency.