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This summary is provided by the STA:
Logar, Linde talk EU presidency, Ukraine, Russia
LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and Swedish counterpart Ann Linde discussed cooperation in light of the coming Slovenian EU presidency and Sweden's current OSCE chairmanship, as well as relations with Russia, and the Ukraine situation. "Our efforts will be targeted towards strengthening the EU's resilience," Logar told the visiting minister as he presented the priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency. The pair also discussed the Western Balkans, with Logar noting both Slovenia and Sweden considered EU enlargement important for the stability of the region and the entire EU. Linde expressed support for Slovenia's efforts. Broaching relations with Russia, both said that the EU should be united in its stance on the matter. Linde also met President Borut Pahor.
Speaker: Parliament should dissolve unless committee participation issue resolved
LJUBLJANA - Unless MPs find an agreement on the participation of four unaffiliated MPs in parliamentary working bodies, the National Assembly should be dissolved, Speaker Igor Zorčič, himself one of the unaffiliated quartet, told the current-affairs show Politično on Sunday evening. He also commented on ideas coming from the opposition that the unaffiliated group could boycott the parliament unless the issue is resolved. Zorčič believes this would only be beneficial to the coalition.
Slovenia urged to nominate candidates for EU prosecutor's office
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi addressed a letter to Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič expressing concern Slovenia has not yet proposed its two candidates to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), to be launched on 1 June. "The procedure to select the two European delegated prosecutors from Slovenia ended at the start of December 2020, but almost five months later, the EPPO has not yet received the nominations." Kozlovič had put forward Matej Oštir and Tanja Frank Eler after they were proposed by the State Prosecution Council, but the government has not yet formally got acquainted with the proposal.
Resistance Day marked on the eve of holiday
LJUBLJANA - The WWII Veterans' Association marked Resistance Day with a call to "liberate the Slovenian nation once again" as its head Marijan Križman criticised the authorities for curtailing fundamental rights under the pretext of containing the epidemic. He also said the association rejected current attempts at reconciliation as its members believed they amounted to historical revisionism which attempted to turn traitors into victims. Earlier in the day, the German Embassy unveiled a memorial plaque at the house in which the Liberation Front, which led the armed resistance against the occupying forces, was founded in 1941. Germany bought it in 2016 and turned into its ambassador's residence. Ambassador Natalie Kauther apologised on behalf of Germany for the suffering her country caused during WWII.
Week-on-week decrease in Covid cases back for second day in row
LJUBLJANA - A total of 191 persons tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday in 1,354 PCR tests in what is the second day in a row that the week-on-week decrease in daily case count was back following a short upward curve. Another five Covid-19 patients died. Hospitalisation totalled 643 this morning, up by 13 on Sunday, and the number of ICU cases increased by one to 158.
State asset custodian ends 2020 with 4.3% return on equity
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) posted EUR 26 million in net profit in 2020 after ending 2019 with EUR 16.6 million in net loss. The SSH estimates to have achieved a 4.3% return on equity in 2020, which is 1.6 percentage points below the target. Publishing the annual report for 2020, SSH said that last year's pre-tax profit totalled EUR 26.6 million. The target figure was EUR 39.9 million. Due to restrictions imposed by regulators, the SSH saw a lower total sum of dividends collected last year than expected, which resulted in a shortfall of more than EUR 19 million.
Accommodation facilities reopen, sport events allowed
LJUBLJANA - Accommodation facilities across the country, which is largely in tier orange of restrictions, could reopen in a limited scope, each allowed to accept guests in no more than 30 rooms. All guests must prove they are not infected with coronavirus, either by producing a negative test, a vaccination certificate or proof of having recovered from Covid. Also allowed are sport events and competitions, but without spectators. The tourism sector has welcomed the latest easing of restrictions, but said it came at very short notice and under some unreasonable conditions.
Slovenia wants flexibility in CAP green architecture
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenian officials advocated flexibility in a debate about the "green architecture" of the EU's new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Agriculture Ministry state secretaries Aleš Irgolič and Anton Harej told an online ministerial a two-year pilot period was needed when it came to the CAP climate and environmental component. Another important issue for Slovenia is the definition of active farmer, which should be simple and should not exclude mixed farms or farms with subsidiary activities. Slovenia remains committed to a constructive debate with the aim of achieving a political agreement on a new CAP by June, the Agriculture Ministry said.
STA's revenue up 1% in 2020
LJUBLJANA - The STA generated EUR 4.28 million in revenue in 2020, up 1% on 2019 despite the aggravated situation due to the the Covid epidemic. Net profit reached EUR 17,800, according to the annual business report, which was endorsed by the supervisory board. The STA increased its Slovenian-language news service output by almost 9% over 2019, while the output of its English service increased by 16%, the agency said the session of the supervisors. The supervisors also discussed the government's proposal to dismiss director Bojan Veselinovič, but concluded that in the STA-related March decisions the government refers to an UKOM report, which the supervisors have not yet received.
Fortenova issues letter of intent for Mercator takeover
ZAGREB, Croatia - The Fortenova group issued a letter of intent for the takeover of all outstanding Mercator shares. The expected move comes only days after Fortenova, the successor of defunct Mercator owner Agrokor, took over a majority of Mercator shares from Agrokor. Fortenova currently holds 88.10% of Mercator shares. The takeover bid will follow in no sooner than 10 days and no later than 30.
Govt approval rating lowest yet
LJUBLJANA - The government approval rating hit the lowest level since it took office in March 2020, the most recent Mediana poll showed. While 29.6% of the respondents said they supported the government, as many as 60.9% said the opposite. Meanwhile, the National Assembly's approval rating is even worse, as 19.7% of the respondents said they supported the parliament's work and as many as 66.9% were not supportive of its work. Nevertheless, the senior coalition Democrats (SDS) continue to top the party rankings with 17.6%, a percentage point less than in March.
Ten years since agreement on bilingual signposts in Carinthia
KLAGENFURT, Austria - Exactly ten years ago the Austrian government, the state government of Carinthia and Slovenian minority representatives signed an agreement to erect bilingual town signs in 164 localities in the state. The deal is seen as having helped improve the situation of the minority, but there is still room for improvement. The signs have been set up, but a memorandum accompanying the agreement has been implemented only partly.
Synagogues in Szeged, Murska Sobota in focus of exhibition
LJUBLJANA - An exhibition exploring the architecture of the synagogues in Szeged, Hungary, and the Slovenian city of Murska Sobota was launched to mark the anniversary of the deportation of Prekmurje Jews. Both synagogues were built by Hungarian Jewish architect Lipot Baumhorn, the author of over 20 synagogues. The one in Murska Sobota was demolished by the Communists in 1954 while the synagogue in Szeged remains standing as the second largest synagogue in Hungary.
Two lynxes released into the wild in Gorenjska
BOHINJ - Two lynxes, a male and a female, were released into the wild on Jelovica Plateau a part of efforts to reintroduce the species to north-western Slovenia after a successful rejuvenation of the lynx population in south Slovenia. Zois and Aida were translocated from Romania and will help improve the long-term prospects of the Dinaric-Alpine lynx population, which had been severely inbred and on the verge of extinction not long ago. On Wednesday, three more will be released into the Triglav National Park, as part of LIFE Lynx, an EU-funded project aimed at preserving the Dinaric-Alpine lynx population.
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