Borut Pahor

Ljubljana – The ruling Freedom Movement is staying in the lead, polling at 33% in the June Vox Populi opinion poll commissioned by the newspapers Dnevnik and Večer. For the first time in two years, the work of the government is viewed as successful, although almost half of respondents remain undecided.

Photo: Slovenian President Borut Pahor arrives at a press conference after the Brdo-Brijuni Process summit. Photo: EPA-EFE/IGOR KUPLJENIK.

This comes after the European Commission last week recommended EU candidate country for the ex-Soviet republics of Ukraine and Moldova.

Ljubljana – President Borut Pahor has sent a letter to European Council President Charles Michel calling for Bosnia-Herzegovina to be granted the EU candidate country status without any conditions. Pahor believes this would strengthen the pro-European forces in the country and the pace of adjustment to the European norms.

Ljubljana – The Freedom Movement has gained 4.6 percentage points to 31% in the June poll commissioned by the newspaper Delo to extend its margin ahead of the Democratic Party (SDS) to 9.5 points, despite the opposition party reaching its high watermark.

Kočevski Rog – Victims of post-WWII summary executions were honoured on Saturday with a ceremony in Kočevski Rog, an area in south Slovenia where multiple mass graves have been discovered. Novo Mesto Bishop Andrej Saje and President Borut Pahor called for efforts towards reconciliation.

Brijuni – The presidents of Slovenia, Croatia and Austria urged accelerating EU accession talks with Western Balkan countries and condemned the war in Ukraine, which they believe cannot be resolved diplomatically at the moment. At their annual meeting in Croatia, they also discussed NATO enlargement and Croatia’s eurozone and Schengen zone entry.

Ljubljana – Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon will host her Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg in Ljubljana on Monday in what will be her first international bilateral meeting since the new Slovenian government assumed office. Schallenberg will also meet Prime Minister Robert Golob and President Borut Pahor.

Ljubljana – The Medical Chamber marked its 30th anniversary, and the 130th anniversary of its precursor, the first medical organisation in Slovenia, with a ceremony in Ljubljana on Friday. President Borut Pahor presented it with the Order of Merit for efforts in bringing doctors and dentists together to uphold the integrity of medical profession.

Ljubljana – Addressing a virtual international conference promoting Africa-Europe ties, especially in innovation and digital development, President Borut Pahor said on Thursday digitalisation should be based on human rights, the rule of law and democratic society. Foreign Minister Anže Logar called for the development of cybersecurity.

Berlin – President Borut Pahor argued in an interview for Der Spiegel in favour of continued arms supplies to Ukraine and warned of the unpredictability of Vladmir Putin, saying it could lead to a nuclear conflict. He warned against underestimating the Russian military and noted the risk of the conflict spreading to Moldova, Georgia and the Western Balkans.