FRIDAY, 4 March
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces made visible progress in 2021 in terms of readiness on the back of higher defence spending and staffing improvements, but there are still shortcomings and the force is not yet sufficiently prepared to comprehensively operate in wartime, showed an annual report on the army's readiness.
LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Policy Committee endorsed a draft resolution on the current situation in Ukraine that was tabled by MPs from all but one deputy group. The document condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine, expresses solidarity with the Ukrainian nation, supports humanitarian efforts and calls for efforts to establish peace.
LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Matej Tonin indicated that Slovenia might have to push forward its target to increase defence spending to 2% of GDP to 2030, five years sooner than currently planned. "Given the current situation ... it seems we will have to correct our decision slightly and shift the date of the achievement of 2% defence spending from 2035 to 2030," he said.
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor rejected initiatives that NATO should establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine in order to help the Ukrainian forces fight Russian aircraft, promoted by some EU leaders including PM Janez Janša. He said this would mean a "large-scale war" and a completely "unpredictable development of events".
LJUBLJANA - The war in Ukraine and sanctions imposed on Russia have so far had only a limited impact on Slovenia's economy and inflation, but risks are increasing, the central bank said. While it will upgrade its growth forecast for the year based on solid growth, it said future economic trends are unpredictable due to the situation in Ukraine.
LJUBLJANA - The Democrats (SDS) withdrew a lawsuit against Marjan Šarec, the leader of the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), over comments he made in March 2020 concerning the party's methods and financing. Layer Franci Matoz did not provide the grounds for the withdrawal.
LJUBLJANA - Jadranka Rebernik was appointed the full-fledged editor-in-chief of TV Slovenija's news programme for four years after serving as acting editor for a few months in the wake of Manica Janežič Ambrožič's resignation in mid-October, despite the having staff endorsed her rival with 82% of the vote.
HOLMKOLLEN, Norway - Slovenia's mixed team won a World Cup event in Norway's Holmenkollen with more than 75 points ahead of Austria in what is the third consecutive mixed team victory for Slovenia.
SATURDAY, 5 March
MARIBOR - The opposition Left held a congress to discuss the platform for the 24 April general election. The platform, due to be endorsed by members via a remote vote, addresses the "crisis of capitalism, crisis of climate and crisis of democracy", and presents measures in social affairs, climate, culture, media and foreign policy.
CELJE - The coalition New Slovenia (NSi) presented candidates for the 24 April general election. The party continues to promote an economically powerful and business-oriented Slovenia under the slogan Resolutely Forward.
LJUBLJANA - Public broadcaster RTV Slovenija suspended reporting from Moscow due to the entry into force of a new law against misinformation that led many other international media to leave Russia. Its Moscow correspondent Vlasta Jeseničnik will be off the air for the time being.
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Caritas sent the first shipment of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. 26 pallets of medicines, food, water and hygiene products are intended mostly for the most vulnerable groups in Kyiv, while some food was also distributed to refugees in Transcarpathia.
SUNDAY, 6 March
LJUBLJANA - The ruling Democrats (SDS) gained 3.3 percentage points to 18.3% in the latest poll conducted by Mediana to return on top, leapfrogging the Freedom Movement, the party of Robert Golob. The latter lost 2.2 points to 18%.
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Youth Orchestra, which brings together musicians aged 12 to 22, responded to a call for help by the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, and nearly a hundred young Ukrainian musicians fleeing war arrived in Slovenia.
OSLO, Norway - Nika Križnar won the Raw Air ski jumping tour in Norway after placing fourth in the final event. Olympic champion Urša Bogataj finished second in the final event for third place overall, behind Sara Takanashi of Japan.
MONDAY, 7 March
LJUBLJANA - Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 381 Ukrainian citizens have stated their intention to ask for international protection in Slovenia, police data showed. Many are accommodated in a refugee centre in Logatec, others have found alternative accommodation.
LJUBLJANA - After media reports that fuel prices were to go up significantly due to the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, queues formed at service stations around the country. Some stations temporarily ran out of diesel fuel.
LJUBLJANA - RTV Slovenija journalists held a news conference to demand full editorial independence and protest against deteriorating working conditions, mobbing and political pressure. They also pointed to unwarranted criticism from the Government Communication Office in its weekly reports on bias in RTV Slovenija reports.
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian public see the war in Ukraine as a much bigger cause for concern than they did Covid-19 at any time of the pandemic. A poll conducted by Valicon in Slovenia and three other countries in the region puts the rate of people being personally concerned about the war and its impact at 85, which compares to the high of 72 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
TUESDAY, 8 March
NICOSIA, Cyprus - President Borut Pahor started a two-day official visit to Cyprus by meeting his counterpart Nicos Anastasiades. The pair discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and topical issues such as the war in Ukraine, climate crisis, migration and energy security. Pahor said they had both strongly condemned the Russian invasion.
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Infrastructure Committee endorsed on second reading the government-sponsored amendments to the mining act, which now include a blanket ban on fracking, a proposal both coalition and opposition MPs tabled after an earlier version permitted small-scale fracking.
LJUBLJANA - Several hundred people gathered on International Women's Day to express opposition to gender-based discrimination against women. Five comprehensive demands were presented as part of the rally that sought to improve the position of women in society and ensure gender equality.
LJUBLJANA - Almost a hundred people gathered in Prešeren Square in Ljubljana to express support for Ukraine at an anti-war rally organised by Russians living in Slovenia who oppose Russia's attack on Ukraine.
WEDNESDAY, 9 March
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed a resolution on the situation in Ukraine that condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine, endorses sanctions against Russia and Belarus, and supports Ukraine's EU accession prospects.
LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a decision introducing temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine that effectively grants them a temporary residence permit, access to the labour market, accommodation, education, social care and healthcare.
LJUBLJANA - Roughly 40,000 of some 50,000 staff working in schools, kindergartens and higher education institutions staged a general strike. It is estimated the action affected half a million people.
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia/LJUBLJANA - The Slovak government approved the establishment of a new NATO battlegroup in Slovakia that is expected to feature 2,100 soldiers, including up to 100 Slovenian soldiers. The Defence Ministry said the procedure was yet to be completed.
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia and the other four countries successors to the former Yugoslavia signed an agreement to sell the Fifth Avenue building in Manhattan that used to serve as the headquarters of the federation's mission to the UN for US$50 million. Slovenia will get 14% of the sum or US$7 million.
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Jože Pučnik, a leading dissident under the Communist regime in Slovenia who played a key role in the country's independence, was honoured with a bust at Brdo estate on the 90th anniversary of his birth.
THURSDAY, 10 March
VERSAILLES, France - Arriving for an EU summit, Prime Minister Janez Janša called for the EU to end its reliance on Russian energy as soon as possible. He also said EU leaders should commit to Ukraine being guaranteed membership of the bloc similarly as they did for the Western Balkan countries at the Thessaloniki summit in 2003. They should also commit for this to happen as soon as possible.
LJUBLJANA - In the wake of rising fuel prices, the centre-left opposition filed a bill on regulation of prices of petroleum products that seeks to introduce the same pricing mechanism as it had been in force until April 2016 when price liberalisation started.
LJUBLJANA - the Insurance Supervision Agency said the exposure of Slovenian insurers, reinsurers and pension funds to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus was relatively low. Their investments amounted to EUR 38 million or less than 0.4% of total assets at the end of 2021.
LJUBLJANA - The MDS association of small shareholders asked the Constitutional Court to review a three-month freeze on network charges in electricity bills that is part of the energy relief package adopted by parliament in February.
LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Veterinary Faculty established a National Centre for Animal Welfare that will monitor and participate in scientific research, education and training, and drafting of relevant regulations at national and EU levels.
NOVA GORICA - The Nova Gorica city council endorsed Kaja Širok, the long-term head of the National Museum of Contemporary History, as director of the public institute GO! 2025 - European Capital of Culture Nova Gorica.
