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This summary is provided by the STA:
PM's talks in Vatican dominated by Western Balkans
VATICAN CITY - Prime Minister Marjan Šarec discussed the situation in the Western Balkans with Pope Francis. "The Vatican and Slovenia strive for the same goal in this respect: that talks or negotiations on the EU enlargement start as soon as possible," Šarec said after his audience with the pope. Other foreign policy and international topics were also discussed, they exchanged views on migrations and talked about state funding for private primary schools, of which most are by the Catholic church in Slovenia. In the evening, Šarec also addressed the opening of an exhibition of the Vatican Museums on architect and designer Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) and his design of sacred objects.
Šarec says Slovenia, Italy should be aware of historical facts
LJUBLJANA/ROME, Italy - Prime Minister Marjan Šarec said in an interview with the Italian press agency Ansa ahead of his visit to the Holy See that the Slovenian-Italian relations were very good, highlighting that the countries would launch mixed border patrols on 1 July. The PM believes that this was another proof of the strong bilateral relations. As regards a proposal of an Italian right-leaning politician to introduce a special population census for the Slovenian minority in Italy, Šarec said that problems always start when politicians intervene and when statements are made which are in the interest of narrow political groups while damaging the everyday life of the minorities on both sides of the border.
NBI allegedly investigating Perutnina Ptuj management buyout
LJUBLJANA - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) searched the premises of a Ljubljana financial institution on suspicion of business fraud. According to unofficial sources, investigators were at Abanka looking for proof of wrongdoing in a management buyout of the poultry producer Perutnina Ptuj about a decade ago. News portal Siol.net said that former Perutnina Ptuj boss Roman Glaser was among the 16 persons targeted by the investigation suspected of defrauding the company of EUR 8 million.
Soil polluted by kerosene from derailed train to be removed
KOPER - Environment Minister Simon Zajc visited the location of the kerosene leak caused by a derailed freight train near Hrastovlje in SW Slovenia, saying that after the last damaged wagon had been removed from the tunnel, works on removing the polluted soil would start tonight. Speaking to the press after a meeting with stakeholders, Zajc said that everything had been arranged with the national railways operator Slovenske Železnice regarding the rehabilitation of the area hit by the spill. Rail traffic on the section is expected to resume on Friday.
Moody's upgrades NKBM credit rating to Baa2
LJUBLJANA - Moody's has upgraded the credit rating for the NKBM bank from Baa3 to Baa2 while it preserved the rating for Abanka, just sold by the state to NKBM pending regulatory approval, at Baa2. The rating review was conducted a week after Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) sold the state's 100% stake in Abanka, Slovenia's third largest bank, to NKBM for EUR 444 million to comply with commitments given by Slovenia to the European Commission during the 2013 banking system bailout. Moody's wrote the acquisition of Abanka, which had the lowest share of non-performing loans among all Slovenian banks at the end of last year, will consolidate NKBM's position on the market, raising its total assets to EUR 8 billion and its market share to 22%.
Adria says issues being tackled, partner sought but not vital
BRNIK - Addressing the press in the face of mounting criticism, the management of Adria Airways said it was aware of the carrier's issues but was also working hard to resolve them. CEO Holger Kowarsch said talks with potential strategic partners were under way, but he added Adria could also survive on its own. Adria, Slovenia's former flag carrier which is in German ownership since 2016 and has struggled with liquidity problems, will do all it can to reduce the number of cancellations and delays, Kowarsch said, but he added that these were normal for all airlines and could not be avoided entirely.
Left discontent with govt cooperation, Šarec sees no major problems
LJUBLJANA/VATICAN CITY - The Left, the opposition party that has pledged to cooperate with the minority government, expressed once again its discontent with the cabinet. Party head Luka Mesec said the government was increasingly leaning to the right. He said the party would like at least four of the planned 13 projects carried out before the parliamentary summer recess. If this does not happen, the Left will reconsider its cooperation with the cabinet, according to Mesec. PM Marjan Šarec assessed the relations with the Left as good.
Experts, politicians disagree on climate situation
LJUBLJANA - A debate on Slovenia's long-term climate change strategy hosted by President Borut Pahor showed that experts and politicians have quite divergent views on the current situation. While experts want a climate crisis declared and call for drastic measures, politicians advocate for prudence. Ecologist Dušan Plut said the civilisation was at a turning point, which demanded big changes, including a "change of our ethical compass". Right leaning parties meanwhile claim that fight against climate change was motivated by money.
Govt moves to scrap bonus for working welfare allowance recipients
LJUBLJANA - Highlighting a marked increase of both the basic welfare allowance and welfare recipients in the past year, the government proposed an abolition of a special bonus for welfare recipients engaged in part-time work, for instance as volunteers with NGOs. Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Minister Ksenija Klampfer told the press that the purpose was creating a clearer margin between the minimum wage, at EUR 667, and welfare allowance, at EUR 393 or up to EUR 593 with the bonus.
Govt amends emergency arbitration bill
LJUBLJANA - The government endorsed a proposal for amending the 2017 emergency arbitration bill to extend by another two years fishermen's right to compensation in the face of Croatia's rejecting of the border arbitration award. The right to compensation of holders of permits for commercial fishing expire at the end of this year under the current law. The fishermen receive compensation because commercial fishing in the Slovenian waters is hindered due to Croatia's refusal to acknowledge and implement the border arbitration award.
Govt against delaying uniform cigarette packages
LJUBLJANA - The government denied support to a legislative proposal that would put off obligatory standardised packaging for tobacco products until 2023. The move would undermine Slovenia's system of tobacco control, which is very modern and effective, the cabinet said. It upheld the view of the health and finance ministries, which argued that the proposed changes to the 2017 act on the use of tobacco and related products would undermine the effects of the entire set of measures that is already showing positive results, especially among the young.
Hospitality and tourism industry union present grievances
BLED - The Hospitality and Tourism Industry Trade Union warned ahead of the peak of summer season about their grievances, including a shortage of staff in the industry, unfavourable working time, difficult work conditions and low wages. Among other things, the trade union wants the wage model in the industry to be re-done. The trade union secretary general Breda Črnčec told the press that employees from the industry had been facing these problems for a number of years, including in state-owned companies. While the Employment Service has estimated that the industry needs more than 5,000 additional workers, the trade union believes the number to be at least as twice as big.
Fmr President Kučan reported to Serbia's war crimes prosecutor
BELGRADE, Serbia/LJUBLJANA - Serbian lawyer Dušan Bratić reportedly filed a criminal complaint against former Slovenian President Milan Kučan, accusing him of responsibility for genocide and the breakup of Yugoslavia. Kučan said the claims, published in the Serbian daily paper Politika, did not warrant a serious comment. According to the report by Politka, Bratić, who is researching alleged crimes against members of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, filed the criminal complaint against Kučan and five more individuals with Serbia's War Crimes Prosecutor's Office. Bratić reportedly focuses on the deaths of JNA members on the Škofije border crossing with Italy during the ten-day independence war and other alleged crimes.
Poetry and music festival gets under way in Goriška Brda
GORIŠKA BRDA - The literary festival Dreams in Medana kicked off in the picturesque western region Goriška Brda in the evening, featuring performances, concerts and discussions. Visitors will be able to indulge in wine and poetry readings as well, with the festival running until Sunday. Organised by the Ljubljana-based publishing house Sanje, the festival will start with an exhibition featuring architecture students' plans for the renovation of the family house of Slovenian poet Alojz Gradnik. Evening poetry journey performances will be the highlight of the annual festival, while musical performances will entertain visitors in front of the Vipolže villa and Castle Dobrovo.
Heat records broken across the country
LJUBLJANA - Heat records for June have been shattered in some parts of the country, as temperatures climbed to the upper 30s. People in Brežice (SE) saw their thermometers exceed 39 degrees Celsius, meteorologist Andrej Velkavrh told the STA. He said that records were broken today in Ljubljana (36 degrees) and at Kredarica, the country's highest mountain cottage at 2,515 metres of altitude (20 degrees), as well as a few other places.
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