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This summary is provided by the STA:
Ex-Slovenian EU commissioner says Brexit sad affair
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia is seen as a stable, constructive and pro-European country which however does not fully use the potential to play the role a small country can play in the EU, Slovenia's former European Commissioner Janez Potočnik told the STA ahead of the 15th anniversary of Slovenia's EU accession. He would also like the country to engage in strategic reflections about its problems and future. He believes Slovenia's major challenge, especially with a view to its EU presidency in 2021, is the same as for the entire EU and the world - a transition to an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable economy. Slovenia's chief negotiator in EU accession talks regrets the EU is shrinking, pointing to Brexit. He believes the country name deal between Greece and North Macedonia should be used to revive the enlargement process.
Report: Nearly 50 drug-related deaths in 2017
LJUBLJANA - 47 people died in Slovenia in 2017 of causes related to drug abuse, seven more than in 2016, shows data from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), which also says that drug-related deaths have been rising since 2013. The vast majority of the 2017 deaths, or 79%, were men, according to the publication on illegal drugs in Slovenia in 2017 and the first half of 2018. The NIJZ's estimates Slovenia's earmarked 10,4 million euro for various programmes dealing with drug addition in 2017.
Ormož eye wear maker increasing production
ORMOŽ - Safilo, the Ormož-based eye wear manufacturer owned by the Italian Safilo Group, returned to sales growth last year following a dip in 2017. The company generated sales of 32 million euro, up 2 million from the year before and 7 million above plans. Profit rose by a tenth to 1.25 million euro.
Protest as locals demand better border protection
JELŠANE - Some 400 locals living along the border near the Jelšane crossing staged a rally demanding better border protection and rejecting the idea of their community hosting a processing centre for migrants. Ivan Cegnar, who heads a local civil initiative that has spearheaded the protests, said the locals demanded that the state protect the Schengen border in line with the law, which would render the processing centre unnecessary.
Pahor says Resistance Day "glorious"
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor described Resistance Day as a "glorious day" that celebrates rebellion against attempts to destroy the Slovenian nation. Rebellious people risked their lives and resisted are patriots who deserve respect and admiration notwithstanding what accompanied the national liberation struggle, he said.
Moody's keeps Slovenia at Baa1, upgrades outlook
LJUBLJANA - Ratings agency Moody's upgraded Slovenia's outlook to stable from positive as it kept its country rating at Baa1. The outlook was changed due to the government effective response to issues exposed by the debt crisis, the Finance Ministry said, adding that it also indicated a forthcoming rating upgrade provided Slovenia implements its policy roadmap.
Final tally shows 103 candidates vying for eight seats in EU parliament
LJUBLJANA - A total of 103 candidates running on 14 lists will vie for eight seats allotted to Slovenia in the European Parliament, shows the final tally by the National Electoral Commission. There will be 51 women on the ballot and 52 men and six lists, including by five parliamentary parties, have made women their top candidates.
