News roundup - Thursday, 23 March

Russian ambassador summoned as indictment against spies final

LJUBLJANA/NEW YORK, US - The Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Timur Eyvazov after the indictment against two alleged Russian spies who were apprehended in Slovenia in December became final. "The indictment against two Russian citizens is final today. This means detention has been extended," Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told reporters on the sidelines of the UN Water Conference in New York. She said the meeting with the ambassador was held today and they expressed their protest in the strongest terms.

Golob says nuclear must be part of Europe's carbon-neutral future

BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Robert Golob said nuclear technology must have its place in Europe's carbon-neutral future as he arrived for the summit of EU leaders. A proposal for clean technologies the EU summit will discuss is more important for the long term energy market development that for specific projects such as Slovenia's second nuclear reactor. "It's in Slovenia's national interest for nuclear technology to be part an integral part of this package. Not necessarily as the technology that entire Europe mentions as the leading one but definitely as one of those allowed within this proposal of aid for carbon neutral technology," he said.

Slovenia keen to participate in ammunition production, Golob says

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia should take part in the production of ammunition, which should be equally divided across the EU, said Prime Minister Robert Golob as he arrived for the EU summit in Brussels. Golob sees it as beneficial that the EU is moving towards not only joint purchases but also joint production of ammunition. "Defence budgets will increase and it is right that the money is spent locally, in the member states and with the goal of economic development," he said.

Synthetic fuels compromise acceptable for Slovenia

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Robert Golob said the EU proposal to exclude synthetic fuels from the 2035 petrol and diesel engine ban was acceptable for Slovenia. "Slovenia's position is that what is good for Germany's automotive industry is generally always good for Slovenia's automotive industry," he said as he arrived for the EU summit. Germany was one of the EU countries to oppose a complete ban. A compromise solution excludes internal combustion engines fuelled exclusively by synthetic fuels made using renewable sources of energy.

Pirc Musar and Fajon happy with Slovenia's UN Security Council campaign

NEW YORK, US - On the margins of the UN Water Conference in New York, President Nataša Pirc Musar and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said that Slovenia's bid for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council in 2024 and 2025 was going very well. They are both optimistic about the country's chances of success in the June election. Slovenia's only rival for the non-permanent seat allotted to the Eastern European Group in the UN system is Belarus, which is not leading a special campaign.

Expenditure to be EUR 600m lower in revised budget

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a framework for a revision of this year's budget to align it to the cabinet's restructuring at the beginning of this year. The projected expenditure is being reduced by EUR 600 million, mainly because less money will be needed for measures to mitigate high energy prices. The 2023 budget passed in November set expenditure at a record EUR 16.7 billion and revenue at EUR 13.5 billion with a deficit of EUR 3.3 billion. The expenditure will now be reduced to EUR 16.1 billion and the deficit to EUR 2.7 billion.

Slovenia to donate mobile water testing lab to Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - The government decided to purchase a mobile water sampling laboratory for an estimated 104,000 euros to donate it to Ukraine. Ukraine asked for such a lab in August 2022. The government tasked the ministries of defence, foreign affairs and the environment to purchase and supply the lab. The mobile lab allows the sampling of groundwater, surface bathing water and drinking water, and the analysis of basic chemical and microbiological parameters according to standardised analytical methods.

Slovenia to take part in cyber capacity hub project in W Balkans

LJUBLJANA - Together with France and Montenegro Slovenia will participate in a project to set up a regional cyber capacity centre in the Western Balkans. Located in Montenegro, the centre will become operational in the first half of the year, and Slovenia will supply the country with the needed equipment and services. The project is seen as a major opportunity to raise the profile of Slovenia and France as well as the entire EU in efforts to ensure cyber resilience in the Western Balkans.

President calls for suspension of Ljubljana sewerage project

NEW YORK, US - President Nataša Pirc Musar called for the suspension of a sewerage project on the outskirts of Ljubljana and for dialogue among all stakeholders. On the sidelines of the UN Water Conference, the president said she was dissatisfied with the low level of dialogue on both sides of the dispute over the project. Those opposing the project C0, including the opposition Democratic Party (SDS), argue that it poses a risk to drinking water supply and that it is being carried out without all the necessary permits. The opponents have so far staged a number of protests to voice their concerns.

Top court bans pesticide use in Ljubljana buffer zone

LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court declared as unconstitutional articles in the laws on waters and plant protection products as well as parts of the regulation governing the Ljubljansko Polje groundwater catchment area. Until the situation is remedied, the use of pesticides is banned in the five-metre buffer zone around the local water intake areas. Handed down on 16 March, the ruling tasks the National Assembly and the government with remedying the unconstitutionality within one year.

Management of company in charge of Koper-Divača track replaced

LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of 2TDK, the state-owned company managing the construction of the Divača-Koper rail track, replaced the management after the government called for explanations for the project's delays and cost increase. Matej Oset was named new director general in place of Pavle Hevka and Božo Emeršič was replaced as the other management board member by Marko Brezigar. Oset in the past served as director of the holding running the Lipica Stud Farm.

Govt moves to simplify company registration procedures

LJUBLJANA - The government endorsed changes to the companies act that simplify the procedures for incorporating companies and subsidiaries of foreign-owned companies online. The changes also facilitate cross-border operations and corporate management. The goal is to increase the number of digital solutions for companies and transpose two EU directives into Slovenian law - on the use of digital tools and procedures in company law, and on cross-border transformations, mergers and spin-offs.

Govt adopts changes to register of companies

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted changes to the law on the register of companies to bring it in line with two EU directives to further facilitate online incorporation of companies and of foreign subsidiaries, and to digitalise the process in which a company must send its new data to the court at which it is registered. Under the new legislation, a company or a subsidiary of a foreign company could be incorporated and entered into the register of companies online.

Govt puts forward proposal to streamline patent processes

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a proposal to simplify industrial property procedures, such as filing a patent application, and make them cheaper. Another aim is to regulate administrative procedures relating to the revocation of a trademark and to further align Slovenia's system with the European and international. The proposal would amend the industrial property act, which regulates industrial property rights and their judicial protection.

Power and gas suppliers to get EUR 296 million in price cap compensation

LJUBLJANA - Electricity suppliers will get EUR 216.7 million and natural gas suppliers EUR 79.7 million in estimated compensation this year for having to sell energy at capped prices, the government announced. "The measure aims to prevent suppliers incurring damage due to regulation of electricity and natural gas prices with a view to preserving the economy's competitive edge," the government said. The government adopted the regulation providing for compensation in January.

Govt adopts changes to information security act

LJUBLJANA - The government endorsed changes to the information security act to increase the protection of the central information-communication system of the public administration. The government wants to fast-track the changes as it sees them as crucial for national security. The changes increase information and cyber security and resilience of individuals and the central system, as well as provide more effective control over whether measures are being respected, the government said.

Štajerska businesses warn of growing uncertainty

MARIBOR - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Štajerska warned that many companies in the region are looking to move abroad due to the growing uncertainty, including because of difficulties in obtaining environmental permits and the expected negative impact of the recent changes to the act on cross-border services. "Companies do not want to violate the law, let alone build on their development on shaky, unclear foundations. They prefer to move to environments where there are no such uncertainties," the chamber's director Aleksandra Podgornik said.

NSi to get all opposition seats on public finance commission

LJUBLJANA - The Freedom Movement is willing to temporarily renounce two seats on the parliamentary Commission for the Oversight of Public Finances to bring its line-up in line with the parliament's rules of procedure, under which the opposition has a majority in this oversight commission. The ruling party's two seats would go to New Slovenia (NSi) to have all seats allotted to the opposition until the Democrats (SDS) chose to name their members to the body.

NGO referred to police over referendum campaign funding from abroad

LJUBLJANA - The youth wing of the opposition Democrats (SDS) filed a criminal complaint against the 8 March Institute with the police and the Court of Audit for allegedly having financed its referendum campaign against a waters bill with funds from abroad. The NGO said it did get EUR 30,000 from a German foundation, but almost a year after the 2021 referendum. Under Slovenian law, organisers of election and referendum campaigns cannot use funds obtained from foreign legal or physical persons to finance such campaigns.

Book reveals surveillance of independence protagonist Pučnik

LJUBLJANA - Jože Pučnik, a key figure in Slovenian independence, was under the watchful eye of the Yugoslav National Security Service for more than 30 years as he was seen as a threat to the authorities, according to a new book by Igor Omerza launched as part of a series on the greats of Slovenian independence and the secret police. Pučnik (1932-2003) was imprisoned twice, supposedly because he tried to overthrow the communist regime, which, according to Omerza, is a made up story and Pučnik was actually imprisoned because of articles he published that criticised the regime.

Chemistry Institute spearheading EUR 6m multiscale simulation project

LJUBLJANA - A new multiscale simulation project is up an running under the leadership of the National Institute of Chemistry, which will aim to build a research ecosystem for supercomputing and accelerate the transition to supercomputing resources. The MultiXscale Centre of Excellence, as part of which code will be developed to allow supercumputers to execute multiscale simulations, was set up within the framework of the EuroHPC, a joint European initiative for European High-Performance Computing.

Hub for advanced digital technologies set up at Slovenian pavilion in Dubai

DUBAI, UAE - A regional hub for advanced digital technologies to showcase and position Slovenian companies in the Middle East and North Africa region and in Asian markets has been established at the Slovenian pavilion at Dubai Expo City, the site of the 2020 World Expo. The opening took place on the occasion of a visit by a Slovenian delegation to Dubai from Sunday to Wednesday, featured 17 Slovenian companies.

Inspectorate accuses Slovakian temp agencies and Engrotuš of major violations

LJUBLJANA - The Labour Inspectorate filed criminal complaints in a case involving two temp agencies from Slovakia and retailer Engrotuš. A number of shelf fillers at Engrotuš reportedly worked massive overtime. Acting chief labour inspector Luka Lukić presented to the press the results of a months-long investigation of operations involving several Slovenian companies that worked with Slovakian agencies Stominus and Pertas, which no longer had a temp agency services permit in Slovakia.

Shareholders of insurer Sava to get EUR 1.60 in gross dividend

LJUBLJANA - The supervisors and management of insurance group Sava have proposed that shareholders receive a dividend of EUR 1.60 gross per share, which is 10 cents or 6.7% more than last year. The date of the annual general meeting is yet to be determined. The insurer's dividend policy allows for the payout of between 35% and 45% of the net profit at the group level. Sava exceeded plans in 2022 to post a net profit of EUR 68.2 million.

Consumer confidence improves slightly

LJUBLJANA - Consumer confidence is gradually improving but remains low - the indicator measuring it improved by one percentage point in March compared to both last February and March 2022, while being still eleven points below the long-term average, the Statistics Office said. Compared to February, consumer confidence was boosted by more optimistic expectations about the state of the Slovenian economy (+4pp) and about the state of household finances (+2pp).

Slovenia's GDP measured in PPS up to 92% of EU average

LUXEMBOURG - Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita expressed in purchasing power standards in Slovenia was 92% of the EU average last year, up by two percentage points on the year before, shows data from Eurostat. With 92% of the EU average, Slovenia is in 13th place in the bloc, trailing Italy and standing ahead of Cyprus.

Slovenia open Euro 2024 qualifying with a win

ASTANA, Kazakhstan - Slovenia defeated Kazakhstan 2:1 in Astana to successfully open their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign after turning around a 0:1 half-time deficit. It was Maribor forward Žan Vipotnik who scored the winning goal for Slovenia in the 78th minute in his debut appearance for the national side. David Brekalo, who substituted for Miha Blažič after an injury in the 5th minute, equalised 1:1 in the 47th after a corner through Adam Gnezda Čerin. Slovenia now face San Marino at home on Sunday.

John Zorn returning to Ljubljana, this time with New Masada Quartet

LJUBLJANA - US saxophonist John Zorn's newest ensemble, New Masada Quartet, is coming to Slovenia for the Ljubljana Jazz Festival to give a concert at Cankarjev Dom on 7 July. Established in 2019, the quartet has quickly become regarded as one of the best and most exciting of the alto saxophone player and composer's bands. John Zorn's New Masada Quartet also features Julian Lage on the electric guitar, bas player Jorge Roeder and drummer Kenny Wollesen.