Centre-left parties sign post-election pact
LJUBLJANA - The heads of the opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Social Democrats (SD), Left and Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) signed an agreement on post-election cooperation in which they commit to forming a government together after the election. Each party will run individually in the election with its own candidates and platforms. The agreement says that other parties can be invited to join the government coalition after the election if all four parties give their consent. Party leads said the goal was to lead a government that does things differently than the current government.
Pahor and Levits urge strengthening EU and enlargement
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor received his Latvian counterpart Egils Levits. The pair highlighted the similarity of their views, excellent bilateral relations, and the importance of Europe. They both believe that the situation in the Western Balkans calls for accelerating EU enlargement to the region. "That would not only be good for the development of these countries but also, at this moment, for security and stability itself," said Pahor. Levits said they also agreed that the situation in the region was worrying and that there was a real need for the EU taking action.
EU research ministers adopt resolutions on global approach to research, innovation
BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU ministers responsible for research adopted resolutions on a global approach to research and innovation. Their aim is greater resilience and competitiveness of the EU, said Minister of Education Simona Kustec. "Our goal is an effective and inclusive European Research Area that would bring faster social progress and greater resilience and competitiveness of Europe," she said. The ministers have urged the EU Commission to sign agreements on the association of third countries to the Horizon Europe programme.
Restructuring seen as biggest challenge for Zasavje
ZAGORJE OB SAVI/HRASTNIK/TRBOVLJE - Government officials were briefed on challenges that Zasavje faces as a region that used to be a mining and energy heavyweight but which is now lagging behind despite a strong high-tech cluster. Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said Zasavje would get a third of the EUR 250 million in just transition funds for the restructuring of mining regions, and the ministry would also earmark a million euro for better management of business zones. Companies from the region can hope for a share of the EU's recovery and resilience funds as well. In Trbovlje, government officials were picketed by several hundred protesters chanting anti-government slogans.
Top court to deliberate on Covid pass rule for civil servants Thursday
LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court will deliberate Thursday on a petition from a police trade union challenging the government's regulation mandating that state administration employees not working from home be either Covid-19 reconvalescent or vaccinated from 1 October. The SPS union of police officers said the court would decide whether to stay the regulation pending its final decision. The recovered-vaccinated rule for state administration employees is being challenged by a number of unions.
Downward coronavirus trend preserved
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 1,037 new coronavirus cases on Monday as the slow decline in the curve of infections continues, data from the National Institute of Public Health shows. Nine Covid-19 patients died. The 7-day average of new cases dropped by 39 from the day before to 839 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 was down by 17 to 619. Data released by the government shows 419 Covid-19 patients were treated in hospitals this morning, seven fewer than yesterday; 107 were in intensive care.
Finger-pointing as MPs debate violent protests
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Home Policy Committee on Monday discussed the violent protests in front of parliament on 15 September, with part of the coalition MPs seeking the causes for violence in the weekly anti-government protests that are supposedly instigated by certain opposition deputies. The opposition rejected these allegations. The committee adopted several resolutions, condemning all violent protests, urging for punishment of perpetrators and legislative changes to hold organisers accountable.
Slovenia gets EUR 4.8 million in Brexit adjustment funds
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia will get EUR 4.8 million under an EUR 5 billion adjustment instrument for member states hit by Brexit that the Council approved on Tuesday. Slovenia's allocation is the lowest among all member states. The calculations for each member states took into account the importance of trade with the UK, the importance of fisheries in the UK's exclusive economic zone, and the importance of neighbouring links for the maritime border regions with the UK.
New sources for EU budget financing discussed at conference
LJUBLJANA - An inter-parliamentary conference on stability, economic coordination and governance in the EU discussed a global digital tax and taxation of carbon-ridden imports as potential new sources to finance the EU budget. Slovenian Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj pointed to the debate on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, saying imported goods would better reflect their content of carbon. "This will be one of the important candidates for new sources of the European budget when it comes to green policy."
Prosecution files charges against two for inciting hatred in political magazine
LJUBLJANA - The prosecution confirmed having pressed charges against two individuals at the Ljubljana Local Court for publicly inciting hatred, violence or intolerance in an article published in the weekly Demokracija in December 2020 that was widely condemned as racist. The individuals, the author of the piece Aleksander Škorc and Demokracija editor-in-chief Jože Biščak, could face up to two years in prison. Biščak said in response that the piece was within the framework of freedom of expression protected by Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights.
Commercial real estate prices up in second quarter
LJUBLJANA - Prices of commercial properties - offices and retail spaces - increased by 1.1% in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter, the Statistics Office reported. The prices of retail spaces (shopping areas of all types and sizes, including restaurants, bars, hairdresser, dry cleaning, gyms) rose by 1.6% in what was the third consecutive quarterly rise. The prices of retail spaces were thus the highest after 2015 - 6.8% above the 2015 average.
Janša climbs Europe's tallest chimney
TRBOVLJE - Prime Minister Janez Janša climbed the disused chimney of the Trbovlje power station on the eve of the government's visit to the central region of Zasavje in what he said was a tribute to the region's mining tradition. The 360-metre-high chimney is arguably the tallest in Europe. Janša posted photos of the feat on his Twitter profile, saying the climbing party were not deterred by light rain in honouring the memory of the mining tradition of Trbovlje and Zasavje.
Klemen Pisk wins Lithuanian translation award
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian translator Klemen Pisk is this year's recipient of the St Jerome Prize conferred for translation of Lithuanian literature. Pisk is the first Slovenian to receive this prize, which has been given out since 2006 by the Lithuanian Culture Ministry and the Association of Lithuanian Literary Translators. A translator, writer and musician, Pisk has translated from Lithuanian for almost 20 years, while also translating from Polish and Czech.
