Andrej Šircelj

Ljubljana – President Borut Pahor cast his vote on Tuesday in early voting for the 24 April general election, joining civil society organisations and prominent politicians in urging citizens to exercise their right to vote.

Ljubljana – The National Assembly is meeting for its first regular session this year Monday to tackle some contentious bills, including amendments to the gaming act, a bill to tackle the issue of Swiss franc loans and changes to the communicable diseases act. The MPs will also decide whether to withdraw the much criticised amendments to the penal code.

Brussels – At a meeting chaired by Slovenian Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj in Brussels on Tuesday, EU finance ministers reached political consensus to upgrade the EU rules on reduced VAT rates, updating the list of goods and services for which reduced rates or exemptions are allowed.

Ljubljana – The National Assembly has passed investment-oriented budget documents for the next two years under which the deficit is to be reduced from EUR 4 billion this year to EUR 2.47 billion in 2022 and EUR 1.52 billion in 2023, although opposition MPs and the Fiscal Council have expressed doubt this is realistic.

Ljubljana – The National Assembly is in for a busy session this week as the draft budgets for 2022 and 2023 and ousting motion against Education Minister Simona Kustec will be discussed. The plenary will traditionally start with questions time with the cabinet on Monday.

Ljubljana – The National Assembly endorsed at first reading on Tuesday changes to the gaming act that introduce partial liberalisation of the field and allow for multiple organisers of classic games of chance. The centre-left opposition obstructed the session. Employees from the gaming sector and charities strongly oppose the changes.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša will lead a sizeable Slovenian delegation to the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, to be held between 31 October and 12 November. The roadmap posted on the government website estimates the cost at EUR 1.2 million, most of which is to be spent on an EU pavilion.

Ljubljana – Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj highlighted a substantial increase in investments, in particular in healthcare, as he presented the budget documents for the coming two years after the government session on Wednesday.

Brdo pri Kranju – EU finance ministers on Saturday spoke in favour of a continuation of the bloc’s current investment cycle, amidst warnings that the soundness of public finances has to be borne in mind as stimulus spending is gradually wound down.

Ljubljana, 29 July – The government has appointed Finance Ministry official Janez Mravljak to head the newly founded Recovery and Resilience Office as acting director starting from 2 August.