FRIDAY, 18 March
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša told RTV Slovenija that his visit to Kyiv with the Czech and Polish counterparts had not been coordinated with Russia. The EU did inform the UN about the visit though, which then informed Russia.
LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Janez Poklukar announced after meeting Polish Ambassador Krzysztof Olendzki that Slovenia would welcome Ukrainian patients, including those with tuberculosis, those who need haemodialysis, who have had organ transplants, cancer patients, pregnant women and some intensive care cases to mitigate the impact of the war in Ukraine on the Polish healthcare system.
ANKARAN - The government established a new centre for Ukrainian refugees at Interior Ministry premises on the Debeli Rtič peninsula, which have been transferred to the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants.
LJUBLJANA - Nevzet Porić, who was elected mufti of the Islamic community in Slovenia in June 2021, was officially inaugurated at a ceremony in Ljubljana's Muslim Cultural Centre, which was attended by representatives of the Islamic communities from the region, and representatives of other religious communities in Slovenia.
LJUBLJANA - Energy group Petrol generated sales revenues of EUR 4.96 billion in 2021, which is up 61% year-on-year. Net profit was up by 72% to EUR 124.5 million. The group posted EUR 543.4 million in adjusted gross profit, up 27% over 2020.
HOČE - The Austrian-Canadian multinational Magna Steyr announced it had resumed production at the Hoče paint shop after a suspension of almost two years due to the pandemic. The company has also been granted a two-year extension to meet its commitments in exchange for the government incentive approved in 2017.
LJUBLJANA - The Economy Ministry published a second call for applications to support airlines that will fly to Slovenia in 2022 offering EUR 2 million in fresh subsidies after many airlines suspended their flights during the Covid-19 pandemic.
AJDOVŠČINA - After selling ultralight aircraft Pipistrel to the US company Textron, CEO Ivo Boscarol decided to donate EUR 25 million of the proceeds to the Ajdovščina municipality where Pipistrel is based, to build a new community health centre and aviation museum, and to create new green spaces.
SATURDAY, 19 March
MARIBOR - Marjan Šarec was re-elected president of his LMŠ party as the only candidate to vie for the post. He said the party would aim to enter the new government to push for normalisation and a return to democracy.
LJUBLJANA - The Freedom Movement confirmed its list of candidates and presented its election platform centred on the green transition, modern welfare state, and a free and open society governed by the rule of law.
BIČ - Adria Mobil, a maker of caravans and motorhomes, launched a new plant for the production of camper vans, an investment worth over four million euros. The plan is to produce 7,000 camper vans per year.
BELGRADE, Serbia - Slovenia's Tina Šutej won bronze in the women's pole vault at the World Athletics Indoor Championships with 4.75 metres.
SAN REMO, Italy - Slovenian cyclist Matej Mohorič became the surprise winner of the 113th Milan-Sanremo after escaping a strong group that included race favourites Tadej Pogačar and Wout van Aert four kilometres before the finish line.
SUNDAY, 20 March
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša announced Slovenia planned to sent its diplomatic representatives back to Kyiv soon and would work to convince the EU do the same. The diplomats would return to Kyiv on a voluntary basis.
NEW YORK, US - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed former Slovenian President and the head of the Club of Madrid Danilo Türk to the High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism along with 11 other respectable former and current leaders and experts.
OBERSTDORF, Germany - Timi Zajc won a Ski Flying World Cup event in Obersdorf, Germany, in what was the second victory in his career after Oberstdorf in 2019.
MONDAY, 21 March
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Foreign Minister Anže Logar said after ministerial talks that Slovenia advocated stepping up sanctions against Russia, including by closing the ports to Russian vessels and banning imports of Russian energy.
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs presented Slovenia's activities and government measures related to the Ukraine crisis as he met foreign ambassadors in the country. He said that since 10 March, 4,400 persons from Ukraine had requested temporary protection.
LJUBLJANA - The National Institute of Public Health announced that its advisory group on immunization had proposed that refugee children be offered vaccination in line with Slovenia's national vaccination programme, including against tuberculosis and Covid-19, and small children also against flu.
LJUBLJANA - The Competition Protection Office announced it was investigating milling companies Mlin Korošec, Mlinopek, Mlinotest, Panvita and Žito on suspicion that they had colluded to fix wheat purchase prices.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Discussing measures to stabilise the EU food sector amid the war in Ukraine with EU counterparts, Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek said the European Commission would release around EUR 500 million in reserves to help the most affected farmers, with Slovenia entitled to EUR 1.7 million.
AJDOVŠČINA - Firefighters managed to contain a mayor wildfire in an inaccessible grassy area on the slopes of the Gora mountain near Ajdovščina in western Slovenia, but said it would be completely extinguished only by the first rainfall. The fire is believed to have been caused by ashes that were thrown out by a senior citizen.
TUESDAY, 22 March
LJUBLJANA - The government adopted an initiative to revoke an agreement with Russia on scientific and cultural centres because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and submitted it to the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee for confirmation.
LJUBLJANA - UNICEF Slovenija said it had sent emergency aid worth more than EUR 400,000 for children and families to Ukraine and its neighbouring countries in the past week. The organisation has also been providing assistance at the refugee accommodation centre in Logatec.
LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a decision that establishes conditions for allied unmanned military aircraft flying over Slovenia during the time of NATO's crisis response to the situation in Ukraine. It also adopted an amendment on the regulation dealing with sanctions against Russia.
LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) appointed economist Peter Drobež as the third member of the management board to complete the board of the state asset custodian after two board members resigned due to irregularities in January 2021.
LJUBLJANA - After a report last week about the ongoing integration of around 140 children from Ukraine into schools in Slovenia, Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković announced that nine refugee children from Ukraine were already enrolled in a primary school in Ljubljana, while preparations were under way for nine more.
LJUBLJANA - The national advisory committee on immunization announced that those who have received Johnson&Johnson's single-shot Janssen vaccine as their initial jab against Covid-19 would be able to get a second booster shot due to Austria's vaccination rules, which do not recognise the single dose Janssen jab as a full vaccination against Covid-19.
TREBNJE - Innova Capital, a Polish private equity fund, sold Trimo, a Slovenian-based maker of prefabricated building components, to Belgian company Recticel for EUR 164 million. The deal is expected to be completed in the third quarter.
NAZARJE - Home appliances maker BSH Hišni Aparati increased revenue by more than 20% to nearly EUR 500 million last year. This year, the Slovenian subsidiary of the Bosch group expects only moderate growth due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, its director Boštjan Gorjup told the STA.
LJUBLJANA - Legendary Croatian footballer and manager Robert Prosinečki officially took over as the new coach of Ljubljana's biggest football club Olimpija, which has recently seen a number of unconvincing performances and results.
WEDNESDAY, 23 March
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Prime Minister Janez Janša announced the Slovenian diplomatic mission in Kyiv would operate at the level of chargé d'affaires with full powers for the duration of the emergency situation. He did not reveal who the chargé d'affaires will be, but said that several volunteers had come forward.
DOHA, Qatar - President Borut Pahor started a two-day official visit to Qatar by meeting Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. They assessed that there are many opportunities to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, especially in energy, sustainable development, tourism and investment.
LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court dismissed a petition to examine whether the Left and the Social Democrats (SD) may be functioning in contravention of the constitution and whether their programmes may be unconstitutional, deeming it to be without merit. The two opposition parties welcomed the decision suggesting the ruling coalition Democrats (SDS) were behind the constitutional petition.
LJUBLJANA - The government confirmed plans to deploy up to 200 Slovenian troops in Slovakia as part NATO's enhanced forward presence on its eastern flank. The total includes support staff and staff serving at headquarters and rotations are possible.
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Green transition and digitalisation, connectivity in all areas, re-industrialisation and the role of the state and the financial system were identified as four main target areas at the Slovenian Business Summit, an annual event organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Brdo estate and featuring most senior government officials.
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed a new act on the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing, replacing the relevant act from 2016. While the government argued the act was needed so as to transpose three EU directives, the centre-left opposition is concerned that it will give relevant authorities too broad powers.
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly voted down a proposal sponsored by the opposition National Party (SNS) and backed by the ruling Democrats (SDS) to ban publication of political opinion polls for half a year before elections.
BUDAPEST, Hungary - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch warned about persistent differences in the level of rights, political representation and financing enjoyed by the Slovenian minority in Hungary compared to the Hungarian community in Slovenia as she addressed a session of a Slovenian-Hungarian commission for minorities.
LJUBLJANA - The four centre-left opposition parties and Robert Golob's Freedom Movement issued a joint statement to protest against what they see as attempts to subjugate public broadcaster RTV Slovenija and to support journalists' warnings about irregularities and pressure they experience at work. The leadership of RTV Slovenija retorted that the statement amounted to political pressure.
NOVO MESTO - Revoz, the Slovenian subsidiary of French car maker Renault, was forced to stop assembling cars earlier this week over an irregular supply of electronic components for cars it manufactures in Novo Mesto, south-eastern Slovenia. Production is expected to resume next week.
LJUBLJANA - SIJ, the Slovenian steel group in majority Russian ownership, reported it turned to profit last year after posting a net loss of EUR 49.9 million in 2020. Last year, net profit reached EUR 29.2 million.
THURSDAY, 24 March
LJUBLJANA - A senior Foreign Ministry official confirmed that Boštjan Lesjak will be sent to Ukraine's capital Kyiv as Slovenia's interim chargé d'affaires after Slovenian diplomats left Ukraine when the war broke out. Lesjak, a lieutenant-colonel, was previously an employee of the Defence Ministry, but has now been employed at the Foreign Ministry. The Slovenian ambassador to Ukraine is currently stationed in Poland.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Janez Janša warned as he arrived at the NATO summit that Russia's shelling of chemical facilities in Ukraine could lead to disaster. But it is unlikely the Russian army would use chemical or biological weapons on purpose for tactical achievements, because that would be "very unwise as it would cause a disaster of major proportions," he said on arrival at the NATO summit.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Janez Janša urged ending Europe's dependency on Russian energy as soon as possible, as he arrived at the EU summit. "This unfortunately doesn't mean tomorrow. We support as fast a path as possible. This train is already on its way and has no return. This will probably happen later than we wish, but much sooner than Russia wishes."
DOHA, Qatar - Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec discussed ways for Slovenia to reduce its reliance on Russian natural gas saying after talks with Qatari officials that Qatar could ship up to two ships of gas a year could through LNG terminals in the northern Adriatic. The first step will be to secure free terminal capacity.
LJUBLJANA - Refugees from Ukraine who apply for temporary protection in Slovenia will have the right to accommodation, financial assistance, access to the labour market and education under a decree adopted by the government based on the act on temporary protection of displaced persons.
MARIBOR - The University of Maribor announced it had made it possible for students from Ukraine to enrol temporarily in its study programmes without tuition under the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme. They can also apply for scholarships.
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee endorsed the government's initiative to revoke the 2011 agreement with Russia on scientific and cultural centres in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Under the proposal, the Russian Scientific and Cultural Centre in Ljubljana is to be closed.
RAČE - The Environment Agency (ARSO) issued a decision on 16 March denying US-owned chemical company Albaugh the go-ahead to expand four-fold production of phytopharmaceuticals at its location in Rače in NE Slovenia after a complaint from an NGO. The company has 30 days to appeal.
LJUBLJANA - The government gave its go-ahead for Slovenia to take part in a multinational bid to get midwifery listed on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. Preparations for the nomination are led by Germany, with Columbia, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Nigeria and Togo also taking part.
