STA, 27 September 2021 - Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič hosted a meeting of parliamentary speakers from the Western Balkans on Monday, saying that the EU must give the region a clear signal on when it could expect EU accession. The speakers of the Serbian and Montenegrin parliaments also called for more clarity regarding the EU enlargement.

Speaking to the press after the high-level meeting in Brdo pri Kranju, Zorčič said that the aim was to keep the process of the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans on the table and to facilitate it.

He noted that the "process has not only been stalled, but it has even turned into the wrong direction".

According to Zorčič, the parliaments of certain Western Balkan countries do not see the EU and getting closer to the bloc as their future, and some countries have given up on waiting for signals to come from the EU.

On the other hand, they continue making the necessary reforms and thus it is of "utmost importance that the EU gives the countries a clear signal on when they can accept the accession," he added.

Zorčič feels that the signals coming from the EU do not encourage trust in the enlargement process in the countries in the regions.

"It is important that Slovenia, as an EU member state that has historical connections with the Western Balkan countries and knows about this region, maintains the debate and even upgrades it in this direction," he added.

President of the National Assembly of Serbia Ivica Dačić agreed, saying that the EU needed to say when it would accept the Western Balkan countries, noting that the region deserved an honest attitude.

President of the Parliament of Montenegro Aleksa Bečić noted that there was no alternative to the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, and he demanded an answer from the EU as to whether this process is still alive.

The EU could show this in the case of Montenegro, he said, adding that the EU membership of the country would serve as a motivating factor for other countries in the region.

The meeting was also attended by the parliamentary speakers from Bosnia-Herzegovina and North Macedonia and the vice-president of the Albanian Parliament. The speakers of the Parliament of Kosovo has excused himself, Zorčič said.

The speakers adopted a joint statement with which they will acquaint the speakers of parliaments of the EU member states as they meet next year for a conference in Slovenia, Zorčič said.

The participants were addressed beforehand by President Borut Pahor, Foreign Minister Anže Logar and Foreign Policy Committee chair Monika Gregorčič.

Pahor said that Slovenia had always been an advocate of the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, and called for multilateral cooperation between the countries in the region to be strengthened, the president's office said.

In the afternoon, the meeting will continue with a talk with young people from Slovenia and the Western Balkans as part of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

The EU enlargement to the Western Balkans is one of the priorities of the Slovenian presidency of the EU Council, as part of which an EU-Western Balkans summit will be hosted next week.

Pahor expressed the hope that the summit would bring en encouragement for the enlargement process, while noting the mutual responsibility of both parties.

"The EU must keep the enlargement to the Western Balkans as a priority, and the Western Balkan countries must implement the necessary reforms in order to develop," the president was quoted by his office.

Logar expressed the expectation that Western Balkan countries will continue with reforms and said the EU could not be a successful global player without successfully integrating the Western Balkans and a stabilisation of its eastern and southern neighbourhood, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The meeting ended with a joint declaration which underlines the need to once again put the enlargement process high on the EU agenda and states that the EU must remain the first choice of strategic partner by the Western Balkans.

The speakers also called for greater solidarity in addressing common challenges and for an improvement of the situation of youths in the region.

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Zorčič calls for clarity in EU enlargement to W Balkans

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Speaker Igor Zorčič hosted a meeting of parliamentary speakers from the Western Balkans, saying that the EU must give the region a clear signal on when it could expect EU accession. He noted that the "process has not only been stalled, but it has even turned into the wrong direction" and that the signals coming from the EU do not encourage trust in the enlargement process in the countries in the regions. The speakers of the Serbian and Montenegrin parliaments also called for more clarity regarding the EU enlargement.

Anti-graft watchdog establishes breach of integrity by former state secretary

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption has established a breach of integrity by former Economy Ministry State Secretary Aleš Cantarutti as part of an investigation into the procurement of personal protective equipment. It said he had signed a letter of intent, a letter of support and a registration certificate to the company HMEZAD - TNT, which would become a major supplier of masks, even though he did not have the power to do so. Cantarutti disagrees with the findings and said that he would do exactly the same thing again if needed.

Coronavirus case count broadly flat as hospitalisations rise

LJUBLJANA - Another 285 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Sunday as the week-on-week decline in new cases slowed down to just 2%, the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) reported. According to the government, hospitalisations rose further and six Covid-19 patients died. The surge in vaccination appointments following the announcement of a Covid pass mandate was short-lived, with the number of coronavirus shots delivered into arms almost halved last week, show data by the Covid tracker Covid-19.Sledilnik.org.

Slovenia's spending on coronavirus vaccination at EUR 57m

LJUBLJANA - The government has so far earmarked EUR 56.97 million for vaccination against Covid-19, of which EUR 39.79 million for the purchase of vaccines and EUR 17.17 million to organise and carry out the vaccination, the Health Ministry said. The vaccines are bought directly by the state, while the cost of vaccination services is charged by vaccination providers to the ZZZS public health fund, which then sends the bill to the Health Ministry.

MPs urged to turn down bill to deregulate pharmacy business

LJUBLJANA - Practically all pharmacy stakeholders urged MPs to vote down a bill that seeks to partly deregulate the retail pharmacy market and lift the ban on vertical integration of pharmacies and drug wholesalers. Should this not happen, pharmacists are threatening with protest closures of pharmacies and a referendum. The call by the pharmacy stakeholders comes three days before the parliamentary Health Committee is scheduled to debate the bill.

Constitutional change proposed to secure minority representation in Italian parliament

TRIESTE, Italy - Senator Tatjana Rojc, a member of the Slovenian ethnic community in Italy, has proposed an amendment to the Italian Constitution as a way of guaranteeing that the Slovenian minority is represented in the Italian parliament. She proposes amending Article 56 of the Italian Constitution to state that a law must determine ways of securing representation of the Slovenian minority in Friuli Venezia-Giulia region, Primorski Dnevnik reported.

Govt raises funding for municipalities

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a decree on Sunday, raising the lump sum which municipalities receive per resident from the state and which represents one of the main sources of local government funding. In 2022 the sum will rise from EUR 628 to EUR 645 and to EUR 647 in 2023, the Public Administration Ministry said. The amount is higher than originally proposed by the government. The agreement will cost the state an additional EUR 34 million next year.

EU Youth Conference discusses the future of Europe

MARIBOR - Some 200 representatives of young policy-makers and youth experts from all EU countries are discussing the post-Covid future of Europe at the four-day virtual EU Youth Conference, which got under way in Maribor. The conference, held by Slovenia's Office for Youth in cooperation with the National Youth Council, is the largest youth event of Slovenia's EU presidency, according to the Education Ministry. The head of the National Youth Council Miha Zupančič stressed the importance of the ninth goal today, warning about the potential fragility of some fundamental democratic values.

OECD recommends more effort towards digital governance

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia should reinforce leadership and coordination of digital governance in the public sector and enhance cooperation of various stakeholders, the OECD says it its latest digital government review for the country. The report acknowledges the effort and change Slovenia has already made, but says "more is needed to govern the digital transformation across the public sector". Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik discussed the report with senior OECD officials today.

Acting director gets full term to lead UKC Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - The council of UKC Ljubljana, Slovenia's largest hospital, endorsed acting director Jože Golobič for a full term and proposed medical director Jadranka Buturović Ponikvar stay on for another term. Golobič took over as acting director in February after Janez Poklukar left to become health minister. Government approval is required before he can formally start his four-year term. Buturović Ponikvar has been the medical director since January 2018 and was the only candidate for the post.

Jaklitsch wraps up US visit in Illinois

LEMONT, US - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch wrapped up her 11-day tour of the US on Sunday in the Chicago suburb of Lemont, where the Slovenian community built the Slovenian Catholic Cultural Centre on land owned by Slovenian Franciscans. Jaklitsch thanked the Slovenian community in the US for the exceptional role in the efforts for democratisation, independence and international recognition of Slovenia, and for their loyalty to the Slovenian language.

POP TV poll shows NSi losing most ground among parties

LJUBLJANA - Most parliamentary parties have lost ground in the latest poll commissioned by the commercial broadcaster POP TV as the ruling Democratic Party (SDS) posted its worst showing this year and its coalition partner New Slovenia (NSi) slipped back the most. The SDS remains in the lead, followed by three centre-left opposition parties.

Ombudsman proposes free testing for people who need healthcare

LJUBLJANA - The Human Rights Ombudsman proposes that the government enable rapid antigen testing for coronavirus for all users of healthcare services, who are currently obliged to meet the recovered-vaccinated-tested (PCT) rule. This would protect the system from new infections and prevent irreparable deterioration of health of individuals, the ombudsman believes.

Istrabenz Plini opens new technical gas filling station in Serbia

BELGRADE, Serbia - Istrabenz Plini Group, a Koper-based Italian-owned energy company, opened a new filling station for industrial gases and a distribution centre in Šimanovci near Belgrade last week in an investment valued at EUR 16 million. By 2023, the company plans to invest EUR 4 million more in expansion of capacities.

STA, 27 September 2021 - The 13th Sonica festival of contemporary electronic music and transitory art, taking place in eight venues in Ljubljana from Monday, will explore "invisible forces that surround and emanate from our bodies, interact with our environment, with each other and with the many entities we are composed of."

This year's theme, Labyrinth Gives Way to Skin, refers to the title of a composition by Maryanne Amacher, created for the dance company of the choreographer Merce Cunningham, according to the organiser, the Museum of Transitory Art.

The festival will feature five concert nights, a performance, a film screening, a programme of round table debates and lectures and the opening exhibition in MSUM+ by Finnish artist Tuomas A. Laitinen.

Some of the highlights include the screening of The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye, a portrait of the influential transgender musician and performance artist Genesis P-Orridge, and a performance by Shackleton, the English producer and performer of electronica.

The final day of the festival on 2 October will be organised in cooperation with the City of Women festival and will be marked by "alchemist female mystique" with a performance by Aisha Devi in collaboration with Jessika Khazrik and Kezz.

See more at the Sonica website or follow on Facebook

STA, 26 September 2021 - Just over one out of three Slovenian households (36%) had at least one loan or instalment purchase to repay last year, excluding mortgage on their home, and about half reported making just as much to make ends meet without having to borrow or saving anything, according to a report by the Statistics Office.

Household expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages at home averaged EUR 306 in a typical month, ranging from EUR 208 per single-member households to EUR 404 for households of five or more members, the report shows.

Households also spent an average EUR 88 per month on food and drinks in restaurants, EUR 9 on public transport, EUR 225 on private transport.

The report also shows that 6% of households fell late in paying their non-housing bills such as telephone bills, internet, TV, kindergarten, school meals or health insurance, at least once in the past 12 months before the survey in 2020.

Out of the 36% households that had a loan or instalment purchase, more than half (52%) were repaying loans or leasing for a car or other means of transport.

Among the households repaying loans, 26% had just one loan, 8% had two and 3% had three or more; 69% had at least one loan from a bank or other financial institution.

The average monthly amount they had to repay was EUR 260.

In a survey, 49% of households estimated they had just enough money to make ends meet, without saving anything or having to live off their savings or having to borrow.

Meanwhile, 45% of households managed to put some money aside in a typical month, while 3% lived on their savings, and just as many had to borrow money.

Also, 17% of households reported having no savings. Among those who had, 56% reckoned they can keep up the same standard of living using only savings for a maximum of two months.

More on this data

STA, 25 September 2021 - The top bodies of three of the four centre-left opposition parties which have finalised an agreement on post-election cooperation unanimously endorsed the document at their respective sessions on Saturday, while the fourth party did so earlier this week.

The Alenka Bratušek Party's (SAB) council unanimously endorsed the agreement on cooperation after the next general election on Tuesday, when it was initialled by all four party leaders. Today, the top bodies of the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), the Left and the Social Democrats (SD) followed suit.

The content of the agreement has not been revealed yet. It will be presented at a news conference on Tuesday following its signing, the Left said in Saturday's release.

The idea for a post-election alliance was put forward by LMŠ leader and former Prime Minister Marjan Šarec in August.

He proposed three main points the parties should agree on: to normalise Slovenia, to form a government without the Democrats (SDS) and the parties supporting them, and that a prime minister-designate will be put forward by the participating party which has won the most votes.

The Left's leader Luka Mesec said in today's release that "the agreement is the foundation stone on which to form a government which will have to take the country out of the chaos in which it found itself due to the Janez Janša government's destructive, anti-democratic and far-right policies".

He believes the deal is also the basis to "decisively set out social change to boost democracy, decarbonisation and green transition, and economic and social justice".

SD leader Fajon said in a statement to the press that the SD unanimously decided today to strike a political agreement on cooperation with the opposition parties. She would like the parties to jointly and responsibly lead Slovenia towards a better and more sincere future.

"We cannot reconcile that we have lost so many people in the epidemic due to the destructive and hostile government which has pushed Slovenia into chaos," said Fajon, adding that the party would present its election platform in two weeks' time.

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Speakers from W Balkans meeting in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA/BRDO PRI KRANJU - National Assembly Speaker Igor Zorčič is hosting a two-day meeting with his counterparts from the Western Balkans. After a dinner in Ljubljana today, the meeting at Brdo on Monday will be addressed by Zorčič, President Borut Pahor, Foreign Minister Anže Logar and Monika Gregorčič, chair of the Foreign Policy Committee. The speakers will then discuss the role of parliaments in rebuilding trust in EU enlargement process, and have a discussion on the future of Europe with youth.

Andrej Saje ordained as new bishop of Novo Mesto

MIRNA PEČ - The new bishop of Novo Mesto, Andrej Saje was ordained at a ceremony at the parish church of Mirna Peč before he formally takes over from Andrej Glavan on Tuesday. After the consecration ceremony, performed by Glavan, assisted by Apostolic Nuncio to Slovenia Jean-Marie Speich and Jože Marketz, the bishop of the Gurk-Klagenfurt diocese in Austria, Saje addressed the congregation with an appal for fruitful cooperation and dialogue with everyone to create a society of peace and justice.

Minister Jaklitsch visits Wisconsin and Illinois

MILWAUKEE/LEMONT, US - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch is wrapping up her multi-day tour of the Slovenian communities in the United States by meeting Americans of Slovenian descent in Illinois, after she visited on Friday the federal state of Wisconsin, a home to around 6,500 people of Slovenian descent. During her stop in Milwaukee the minister visited the Golda Meir Library at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which keeps a Slovenian music collection, and visited Triglav Park.

Podgoršek discusses biodiversity in Budapest

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek discussed the need to preserve and increase biodiversity as a task of present and future generations as he addressed an international hunting and nature fair in Budapest on Saturday. With his Hungarian counterpart Istvan Nagy he addressed Slovenian Day at the fair today. He also held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event, including with Nagy and his Croatian counterpart Marija Vučkovič.

Coronavirus case count down for sixth day w/w

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged 444 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, the sixth consecutive day of week-on-week decline in new cases. Another five Covid-19 patients died. Figures released by the government show 407 Covid-19 patients were treated at hospitals in the morning, including 106 in intensive care. Both figures are up from yesterday, by 25 and two, respectively.

Fiscal revenue down by 2.3% in 2020

LJUBLJANA - After six consecutive years of growth, the total amount of taxes and social contributions collected by the state declined by 2.3% last year to to EUR 17.7 billion. Tax receipts declined by 7.2% to EUR 9.7 billion, while revenue from social contributions rose by 4.4% to EUR 8.1 billion, a report by the Statistics Office shows. Including social contributions, tax revenue accounted for 20.6% of GDP last year, the lowest share yet. The highest was in 2005 at 24%.

Local government debt keeps increasing

LJUBLJANA - The total debt of Slovenia's 212 municipalities and their utilities increased by a further EUR 47.5 million last year to EUR 971.2 million, or 2.1% of GDP. Average total debt per capita thus increased to EUR 473 in 2020 from EUR 449 in 2019, a report compiled by the Finance Ministry shows. The Finance Ministry believes the figures are not cause for concern as the loans are leveraged to contribute to economic growth and jobs.

Two-thirds of Slovenian households loan-free in 2020

LJUBLJANA - Just over a third of Slovenian households (36%) had at least one loan or instalment purchase to repay last year, excluding mortgage on their home, over half of them or their car, a report by the Statistics Office shows. About half reported currently making as much to make ends meet without having to borrow or making any savings. Of the 83% of people who said they had any savings, 56% reckoned they could keep up the same standard of living using only savings for a maximum of two months.

STA, 25 September 2021 - Slovenia will become the world's first country to issue its own non-fungible tokens (NFT) to promote the achievements of its businesses and its tourism destinations. The tokens will be gifted to visitors to Slovenia's pavilion at the Expo show in Dubai opening on 1 October.

The pioneering project, which is to boost Slovenia's Expo showcase, is the product of cooperation between the Slovenian Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, the public agency for the promotion of entrepreneurship and investment SPIRIT and the Ljubljana Technology Park.

Announcing the project at the European Blockchain Week, State Secretary Simon Zajc said it would put Slovenia on the map of the most advanced digital countries who understood development of blockchain as a technology of the future.

The NFTs will represent a collection of unique digital 3D exhibits and exclusive 360 degree panoramic high definition photographs. The tokens will be distributed to visitors to the Slovenian Expo pavilion as a gift in the form of a promotional card carrying instructions and a unique eight-digit number that will allow them to access the digital wallet to "claim" their non-non fungible.

"Slovenia is thus being presented at EXPO Dubai 2020 as an innovative, digital and smart destination whose pavilion is certainly worth a visit for its distinctive leafy facade, interesting content, new business opportunities and the NFTs," said Zajc earlier this week.

He noted that the NFTs would also provide an opportunity for the development of digital competences of individuals and companies as every visitor will be able to create their own digital wallet based on Slovenian blockchain technology.

Learn more about Slovenia’s pavilion

STA, 25 September 2021 - Slovenian kayaker Nejc Žnidaršič won the sprint event at the ICF's wildwater canoeing world championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Sunday to claim his fifth world champion title.

Žnidaršič finished 0.56 seconds ahead of France's Luca Barone, while another French, Maxence Barouh, won bronze. Slovenia's Anže Urankar placed fourth.

He made history by becoming the first whitewater competitor to win five world champion titles, which he said he was proud of.

"World championships have been on since 1952, but never has anyone become world champion for five times," the 37-year-old said.

He does not regret his sport not being an Olympic sport. "I want to do things that are fun. And if you are best at it, then I really see no problem."

This year's victory was more convincing that the previous, from two years ago, when he won by a mere hundredth.

He described the run as superb: "This was an optimal run, at least on this course," he said, attributing it partly to his vast experience.

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What follows is a weekly review of events involving Slovenia, as prepared by the STA.

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