European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said it was urgent for all EU members to work together to find the right solution to the migration issue, as she visited Slovenia on Friday. Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar said Slovenia was ready to debate new concepts, noting the country had been constructive all along.

More than two dozen companies from Slovenia, China, Turkey and several other countries have submitted bids for the principal construction works on the new rail section from Divača to Koper, kicking off what promises to be a fierce contest for an estimated EUR 700 million.

Jure Leben, the popular environment minister who had to resign a year ago over allegations concerning his previous job, declined to comment on Friday on a newspaper report alleging he was forming a new green party with a well-known Slovenian environmental activist.

Representatives of small business meeting in Ljubljana on Friday complained that their demands remained unmet. Prime Minister Marjan Šarec assured them the government was working on solving their problems.

The battle for the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) top job will culminate on Saturday as party delegates decide between incumbent leader Karl Erjavec and Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec. The odds favour Erjavec but the outcome is by no means certain and may have significant implications for relations within the government.