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This summary is provided by the STA:
Golob supports Ukraine EU candidate status
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Robert Golob expressed Slovenia's unequivocal support for granting Ukraine EU candidate status as he met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on the first day of his first official trip abroad since taking office. He underscored the significance of the EU's unity in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and said Slovenia would provide help to Ukraine "where we can help and where help is wanted". He reaffirmed Slovenia's position in the core EU.
Slovenia to ask for first payment from recovery fund by end of June
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Robert Golob and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed the post-pandemic recovery and the plan to reduce the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Golob announced that Slovenia would ask for its first reimbursement from the EU's post-pandemic recovery fund by the end of this month. He said the national recovery and resilience plan would be amended later to provide more for digitalisation and green investments.
Pahor writes to Michel over candidate status of Bosnia-Herzegovina
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor 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 pro-European forces in the country and the pace of adjustment to European standards. In light of the war in Ukraine, he believes tangible steps need to made for the EU to expand to the Western Balkans as soon as possible.
Defence minister says commitments to NATO unchanged
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia's commitments to NATO remain unchanged, the country does not plan to reduce its defence spending, and remains committed to establishing a battalion-sized battle group, Defence Minister Marjan Šarec told the press in Brussels after he attended his first, two-day NATO ministerial since he took office on 1 June. "We have no intention of reducing the funds, but we will have to have a serious discussion on how to use them so that they are well used," he said.
PM says regulation of gas, electricity prices also an option
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob announced regulation of gas and electricity prices as possible additional measures to fight price hikes on Wednesday evening, adding that the government also intended to make public basic food basket prices at individual retailers. Speaking for the broadcasters POP TV and TV Slovenija, Golob said several measures were being planned when it came to the high electricity and gas prices.
Gas supply to Slovenia uninterrupted, distributor says
LJUBLJANA - Gas distributor Geoplin assured the public gas supply to Slovenia was uninterrupted. While supply from Russian Gazprom has been reduced slightly, Slovenia is making up for the difference from other sources, the company said in the wake of reports that Slovenia had received in the past days 25% less gas than planned. Geoplin said that while the quantity of gas in the past days was indeed somewhat lower than the agreed contractual daily maximum, they offset this from other sources.
Ahčin to be nominated for Court of Audit head, Cvikl for C-bank vice-governor
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor announced he would nominate Jana Ahčin for Court of Audit president and Milan M. Cvikl for a new vice-governor at the central bank after the coalition parties picked the pair as their favourite candidates. The coalition has 53 seats in parliament, far more than the 46 needed for the two candidates to get elected in a secret ballot. The two MPs representing the Italian and Hungarian minorities also said they will support whichever candidate Pahor nominates.
New minister critical of digital vouchers
LJUBLJANA - New Digital Transformation Minister Emilija Stojmenova Duh is critical of digital vouchers, a measure that was initiated by the previous government, saying they will not help step up digital literacy and inclusion, instead they will widen the digital and social gaps. From Wednesday EUR 150 vouchers are available to students from last three grades of primary school through to university to purchase computer hardware. In less than two days EUR 826,438 worth of vouchers were redeemed.
Professionals working abroad encouraged to return
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Slovenian scientists and business people living and working abroad came together for their annual meeting. Government representatives addressing the event underlined the importance of sharing in the knowledge gained abroad and expressed worry about brain drain. "Slovenians living around the world are a great treasure in business, science and diplomacy," Slovenian World Congress president Boris Pleskovič said. Like him, the minsters of the economy and education expressed the wish that more of those who leave would choose to return.
Issue raised with persons with intellectual disabilities being unable to vote
LJUBLJANA - The equality ombudsman assessed that the National Assembly election act discriminated against persons with mental and psychosocial disabilities and unjustifiably deprived them of the right to vote. The assessment is based on the provision related to evaluation of the ability to understand the purpose, significance and impact of elections, which the ombudsman said allowed for persons with mental and psychosocial disabilities to be deprived of the right to vote.
Slovenians generous with donations for Ukrainian orphans
POSTOJNA - Ukrainian orphans staying in Slavina near Postojna have aroused sympathy and generosity among Slovenians, with donations coming in from all parts of the country. According to Cvetka Kernel, the director of the Postojna student dorm, which provides accommodation for the Ukrainian staff taking care of the children, many of the donations are unexpected and unimaginable such as the one that came from the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia in the form of a EUR 18,000 check.
RTV Slovenija management surprised at announced strike
LJUBLJANA - The management of public broadcaster RTV Slovenija said it was surprised at yesterday's announcement of a strike by the in-house trade unions, arguing that a number of proposals had been offered to implement the strike demands during the talks in the wake of the 23 May token strike. "The management regrets that the trade union has intensified its strike activities by abandoning the search for solutions," the management said.
Telekom shareholders to get same dividend as last year
LJUBLJANA - Telekom Slovenije shareholders have decided to distribute EUR 29.24 million for dividends, or EUR 4.50 gross a share, to be paid out on 2 August. The management proposed a EUR 3.5 dividend, but the shareholders backed a small shareholder association's counter-proposal. The telecoms incumbent is 62.54% owned by the state, which is managed by the Slovenian Sovereign Holding, which in turn holds another 4.25%.
Tourist Board unveils digital transformation strategy
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) presented its 2022-2026 digital transformation strategy that aims to empower stakeholders in data-driven decision-making, personalise the guest experience and improve digital skills of tourism staff. Under the strategy the organisation plans to spend at least EUR 5 million on digital transformation of the tourism sector by 2026. Around 90% of Slovenian tourism companies do not have an IT department or a person in charge of the company's digital transformation.
Spanish group to manage three major Ljubljana hotels
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian real estate fund Equinox will transfer management of three hotels in the centre of Ljubljana, among them the iconic Grand Hotel Union, to Spanish group Grupo Hotusa for 20 years with the option of two five-year extensions. The deal will see the Spanish group manage Grand Hotel Union, Hotel Lev and uHotel, with Exqinox entitled to a minimum rent regardless of how well they do, which translates into more than EUR 100 million in 20 years. The variable part of the rent will depend on revenue growth.
Exhibition marks 50 years of first motorway in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - The Museum of Contemporary History launched an exhibition to mark 50 years since the first motorway was built in Slovenia. The 32-kilometre section between Vrhnika and Postojna on what is now southwest-bound Primorska motorway began on 22 May 1970 and was inaugurated on 29 December 1972. The section was divided into three parts that were built by companies from around the former Yugoslavia.
World's largest sports film event held in Rogaška Slatina
ROGAŠKA SLATINA - Rogaška Slatina is hosting until 19 June the first international festival of sports film of the Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs in Slovenia. Under the banner Culture Through Sport, the festival will bring more than 35 feature films and documentaries, and a number of activities, events and presentations.
Groenewegen wins stage 2 of Tour of Slovenia
ROGAŠKA SLATINA - Dutch cyclist Dylan Groenewegen won the second stage of the Tour of Slovenia. The BikeExchange Jayco rider lived up to his reputation as the best sprinter in this year's race, beating Belgium's Lionel Taminiaux and Germany's Pascal Ackermann in a large group sprint with the help of teammate Luka Mezgec of Slovenia. Polish rider Rafal Majka, who is the main helper of Slovenian superstar Tadej Pogačar on the UAE Team Emirates, held on to the leader's jersey.
