Slovenia

Ljubljana – The newspaper Dnevnik takes issue in Monday’s commentary with the decision of the Modern Centre Party (SMC) to stay in the Janez Janša-led government despite his constant abuse. While agreeing that Karl Erjavec might not be the best option for prime minister, the paper says the party is also unhappy with all other potential candidates.

Ljubljana – Slovenian ski resorts are allowed to open on 1 January, but only for skiers who test negative for coronavirus, the government decided on Thursday.

The government decree gives the operators of ski resorts the option to set up rapid testing sites at entry points to their ski resorts.

Ljubljana – The Court of Audit has completed a draft report on the purchasing of protective personal equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus epidemic. The report will not be made public until the audited institutions and individuals have given their comments, but court president Tomaž Vesel said that suspicion of criminal conduct had been detected.

As the EU and UK have reached a trade and cooperation agreement to enable smooth transition to the full Brexit, British Ambassador to Slovenia Tiffany Sadler has assessed that, as the UK will always be a “close friend and partner to Slovenia”, the deal enables the UK to continue to work with Slovenia as partners to tackle global challenges.

Ljubljana – Slovenian residents travelling to Croatia to help in the disaster relief efforts in Croatia following Tuesday’s devastating earthquake in the Petrinja area and staying there up to 48 hours will be allowed to re-enter Slovenia without quarantining or producing a negative test for the novel coronavirus.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša spoke with his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenković on Tuesday to offer Slovenia’s assistance in the relief efforts following a devastating earthquake near Petrinja, south-east of the capital of Zagreb. Solidarity and readiness to help was also expressed by President Borut Pahor.

The management of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) has appealed to Prime Minister Janez Janša and members of his government to support the call by the agency’s staff and supervisory board for the Government Communication Office (UKOM) to restore the financing of the public service provided by the STA.

Braslovče – BSW Timber, a Scottish forestry group, has shelved plans to build a large sawmill in Gomilsko, west of Celje, due to delays in the construction of a key connecting road and local opposition to the plan. It may however build the sawmill elsewhere in Slovenia.

Ljubljana – Slovenia observes Independence and Unity Day on Saturday in memory of the 1990 independence referendum in which Slovenians voted overwhelmingly to leave Yugoslavia. Almost 95% of those who cast their votes, equalling 88.5% of all eligible voters, voted in favour of independence.

Ljubljana – Slovenia has welcomed the deal on future relations between the EU and UK. The Foreign Ministry said it served as a basis for an “ambitious and comprehensive” agreement that would determine preferential treatment of the UK as a trading partner.