Delo: Polish KTO Rosomak carriers potential alternative to German Boxers
LJUBLJANA - After the government submitted the deal to buy 45 German-made Boxer troop carriers for a review shortly after assuming office, the newspaper Delo reported the government is now in talks to potentially buy Polish KTO Rosomak carriers instead. Citing several unrelated sources, Delo writes that KTO Rosomak carriers would come at about half the cost of the Boxers for the same number and similar configuration of the vehicles and could be supplied quicker. Former Defence Minister Matej Tonin warned the KTO Rosomak vehicles were outdated and provided a lower level of safety.
Committee proposes ratification of NATO accession of Finland, Sweden
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee discussed a bill to ratify the protocols on Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO and decided to propose to the National Assembly to pass it. The committee proposed that the bill be discussed at an emergency session on Thursday. Before the 13:1 vote, Foreign Ministry State Secretary Samuel Žbogar told the committee that Finland and Sweden had decided to join NATO in light of the changed security circumstances, mostly due to the war in Ukraine.
Jourova: Developments in Slovenia prompted idea for media legislation for all EU
BRUSSELS, Belgium - As the European Commission released its third annual Rule of Law Report on Wednesday, its Vice President Vera Jourova said past developments in the media in Slovenia, including the suspension of financing of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) have prompted the Commission to start thinking about media rules that will apply to all EU member stats. The justice and culture ministries as well as human rights ombudsman welcomed the report, while the Trade Union of Journalists said Slovenian media landscape was at a crossroads.
Freedom Movement officially nominates Kos for president
LJUBLJANA - The senior coalition Freedom Movement confirmed its vice president Marta Kos as its candidate for the autumn presidential election. The decisions by the party's executive committee and party council were unanimous. Mirta Koželj, the party council president, said there were no doubts in the party about the nomination, including in the light of criticism that if Kos won, it would be inadmissible to have members of a single party holding the three top positions in the state.
Committee okays healthcare accessibility bill, despite objection from the Left
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Health Committee approved for third reading a bill aiming to improve healthcare accessibility despite objections from the opposition and the coalition Left. The opposition believes the bill will not have the desired effect, while the Left believes it will undermine public healthcare. Health Minister Danijel Bešič Loredan told the committee that the bill was the first step of a healthcare reform.
NSi determined to oppose gay adoptions
LJUBLJANA - The opposition New Slovenia will use all legal means available to oppose the Constitutional Court's recent decision to allow gay couples to get married and adopt children and its ramifications, including any changes to the family code that will be based in this ruling, the party's deputy group leader Janez Cigler Kralj said. There is no such thing as "the right of adults to adopt children", said the previous minister of labour, family, social affairs and equal opportunities.
New crime police head speaks of "brutal pressure" under previous govt
LJUBLJANA - David Antolovič, the new director of the criminal police department, told 24ur news site he had never witnessed as "brutal pressure" on individual investigations undertaken by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as under the previous government. Antolovič was deputy NBI director when the NBI started investigating public purchases of the protective equipment during the first wave of Covid in 2020, which he believes triggered efforts to dismantle the NBI.
Regions confirm draft agreement to draw EUR 4.5bn by 2027
LJUBLJANA - The relevant bodies of Slovenia's two cohesion regions last week endorsed a draft agreement that would allow them to tap on EUR 4.5 billion in cohesion funds in the 2021-2027 period, as part of which the EU is to contribute EUR 3.2 billion. The agreement on partnership with the European Commission is one of two strategic documents needed to implement cohesion policy. Slovenia needs to submit it to the Commission as soon as possible or else it risks losing almost EUR 500 million in EU funds. The other document is operative programme for implementation of European cohesion policy in 2021-2027, which is still being drawn up.
Coronavirus cases up a quarter week-on-week
LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,845 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Slovenia on Tuesday, up 25.5% from a week ago but down 28% from Monday's three-month record daily count. One patient with Covid-19 died, the Health Ministry said. The number of patients hospitalised due to Covid at regular wards was 55 and another eight were in intensive care units, with the former figure by up 72% from a week ago. The seven-day average of cases reached 1,362, up 54 in a day. The 14-day number of cases per 100,000 was at 787, up 38 from the day before, data from the National Institute for Public Health shows.
Banks' pre-tax profit down 18% in first five months
LJUBLJANA - Banks in Slovenia posted a total of EUR 174 million in pre-tax profit in the first five months of the year, which is 18.2% less year-on-year due to higher operating costs and the creation of EUR 12.8 million in net impairments and provisions, the Banka Slovenije central bank reported. Deposits by the non-banking sector increased by EUR 392 million in May, while the volume of deposits by non-financial companies decreased by EUR 140 million. The total assets of banks in Slovenia at the end of May amounted to EUR 48.8 billion, which is an increase of EUR 522 million compared to the beginning of the year.
Third Slovenian satellite launched in space
KOUROU, French Guiana/MARIBOR - Trisat-R, a nanosatellite developed at Slovenia's University of Maribor, was launched in space just after 3pm in French Guiana. It was carried into space aboard Vega-C, a new European launch vehicle, as the third Slovenian satellite to date. Stakeholders watched the launch at an event the university organised in Maribor.
Report: Ex-Mayor Kangler entitled to damages only for Ježovita case
MARIBOR - Franc Kangler, an ex-state secretary who served as Maribor mayor in 2006-2012, will not get EUR 587,700 in damages as the Ljubljana District Court has rejected in a retrial his two compensation claims for the trials in which he was either acquitted or the charges were dropped. This was reported by the newspapers Delo and Slovenske Novice, which noted that the ex-mayor, MP, member of the upper chamber of parliament and state secretary, initially asked for a total of EUR 635,000 in damages.
Slovenia sides with FIFA, UEFA as Super League hearing starts
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Slovenia expressed support for FIFA and UEFA in the proceedings at the European Court of Justice related to the proposed European Super League project, arguing that the relevant rules in the statutes of the international organisations were not in conflict with the rules of the EU competition law and fundamental freedoms. Slovenia's position was announced by sources close to the EU as the EU Court started on Monday the hearing of the request of the Spanish court for an interpretation of the EU law in the lawsuit by the European Super League Company against FIFA and UEFA.
NKBM to sell its leasing arm to Luxembourg-based company
MARIBOR - The shareholders of NKBM bank decided on Monday the bank will sell its leasing firm Summit Leasing Slovenija to Biser Topco, the Luxembourg-based owner of NKBM's owner Biser Bidco. Biser Topco is owned by the US Apollo fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the former holding 80% and the latter 20%. Shareholders also appointed a new supervisor who will start her term after the ongoing sale of NKBM to Hungarian OTP bank is completed.
Rail freight transport in Slovenia up by 5% last year
LJUBLJANA - A total of 20.3 million tonnes of goods were transported by rail in Slovenia last year, which is 5% more than the year before, the Statistics Office reported. Almost two-fifths of the cargo was represented by unspecified goods in containers and mixed types of goods. The number of tonne kilometres covered amounted to 4,937 million, which is also 5% more than in 2020, the office said, noting that international freight transport, which includes transit, accounted for 86% of the total volume.
Greek human rights ombudsman visiting Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina has met Greek counterpart Andreas I. Pottakis, who heads Europe's section at the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), as part of hos visit to Slovenia. Pottakis has also been received by President Borut Pahor, Svetina's office said in a press release. Svetina and Pottakis discussed the role of human rights, foremost from the aspect of the war in Ukraine and the Covid pandemic, and issues which prompt people to turn to them for help.
Tadej Pogačar loses yellow jersey in Tour de France
SERRE CHEVALIER, France - Slovenia's cycling star Tadej Pogačar lost the yellow jersey of the overall leader at the world's most prestigious road cycling race as he finished the eleventh stage in seventh place. The 23-year-old defending champion was 2 minutes and 53 seconds behind the winner, Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark, who claimed the jersey.
Ljubljana ballet ensemble honoured in Italy
LJUBLJANA - The SNG Ljubljana ballet ensemble were honoured for their artistic achievements at the International Festival of Dance and Dances in Nepi, central Italy, last weekend after impressing audiences in Granada and Murcia in Spain with their production of Le Corsaire. Staš Ravter, director of the SNG Ljubljana Opera and Ballet, was happy with the outcome of the tour, which culminated with the ensemble being presented with the Schiaccianoci d'oro (Golden Nutcracker) award in Naples.
Syrian pulled over with a vanload of illegal migrants
MARIBOR - A van with Austrian licence plates and driven by a Syrian citizen was transporting 17 illegal migrants when pulled over by Slovenian police on the motorway in Pomurje, north-east, on Tuesday. The driver was detained for unlawful crossing of the border and will be taken before an investigating magistrate in Maribor, the Maribor Police Department said. The migrants he transported - citizens of Afghanistan and Iraq - meanwhile asked for international protection and were taken to an asylum centre.
Maribor successful in UEFA Champions League qualifications
ISTANBUL, Turkey - The Maribor football team has made it to the second round of qualification of the UEFA Champions League after winning a return match against Shakhter Soligorsk 2:0 in Turkey's Adapazari. After a draw in Maribor a week ago, the Slovenian team showed its supremacy tonight at the Atatürk stadium without spectators. Both goals were scored by Rok Baturina, in the 12th and 56th minutes.
