In his address to the OSCE meeting in Milan on Thursday, Slovenia's Foreign Minister Miro Cerar expressed concern over the escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine in the Azov Sea, calling for a peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law and by respecting countries sovereignty and territorial integrity.

President Borut Pahor received President of the Government of Catalonia Quim Torra for an informal meeting in Ljubljana on Thursday, as Torra is in Slovenia on a two-day visit.

The government appointed Tomaž Besek a new non-executive director of the Bank Asset Management Company (BAMC) after dismissing Miha Juhart from the job on Thursday. He was dismissed over a dodgy land deal in Logatec through an intermediary to rubber maker Lonstroff.

The nominee for the new governor of Banka Slovenije Boštjan Vasle underlined his commitment to have the central bank operate as an open institution as a public presentation of his bid was held at the Presidential Palace on Thursday. He highlighted the significance of the central bank in what is a changing global environment.

The government adopted on Thursday a proposal for parts of the supplementary budget for 2019, envisaging a surplus of 0.3% of GDP with expenditure in the state budget rising from the previously envisaged EUR 9.7bn to EUR 10.16bn.

A group of acclaimed scientists and researchers have addressed a letter to Prime Minister Marjan Šarec urging him to increase research funding in 2019 and laying out several issues. Among other things, they expressed concern that only 2% of Slovenian grant bids to the European Research Council (ERC) are successful, while the EU average is 12%.

The leader of Catalonia, Quim Torra, will pay a two-day visit to Slovenia on Thursday and Friday to meet political party and business representatives. However, he will not be received by top Slovenian officials, said MEP Ivo Vajgl (ALDE/DeSUS), who invited Torra to Slovenia.

The Municipal Electoral Commission in Koper will decide on Thursday whether to order a recount of ballots cast in the Sunday mayoral run-off. This has been demanded by the incumbent Mayor Boris Popovič, who has lost the election by only seven votes.