News roundup - Tuesday, 28 March

Energy in focus as Croatian PM visits Slovenia

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Slovenian and Croatian prime ministers, Robert Golob and Andrej Plenković, agreed that the countries would sign a solidarity agreement on gas supply, as Plenković visited Slovenia. Moreover, Slovenia is interested in helping increase the capabilities of the Krk gas terminal and pipelines. They also expressed support for a new unit at the Krško nuclear power plant, which is co-owned by the two countries. The pair also discussed how Croatia, Slovenia and Italy could establish joint control of migration flows.

Changes to two acts passed to simplify hiring of foreigners

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed the government-sponsored changes to the foreigners act and changes to the law on employment of foreigners to simplify procedures to ease the hiring of non-EU workers. The changes to the foreigners act also bring a transitional period of 18 months for adult family members of non-EU workers in Slovenia to pass a basic Slovenian language proficiency test to be able to remain in Slovenia after being here for a year already. The Left opposed the language provision, while the opposition opposed all changes, warning of risks of abuse of social transfers.

Law passed to make mortgages more accessible

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed unanimously a bill to reduce the impact of the annual increase in the minimum wage on households' creditworthiness after the latest increase rendered much of the population ineligible for a mortgage. Amendments to the macro-prudential supervision of the financial system act will allow the central bank to adjust lending restrictions independently of the enforcement and security act, which linked the creditworthiness conditions to the minimum wage.

Energy minister welcomes exemption in gas reduction regulation

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Energy Minister Bojan Kumer attended an EU ministerial that agreed an extension of a regulation on voluntary reduction of natural gas demand by 15%. Slovenia was granted an exemption as the country's capital is about to swap out coal for gas in district heating, in line with climate goals. Kumer labelled the exemption vital. Without it exemption, the savings Slovenia achieved between August 2022 and March 2023 would be wiped out, he said.

President talks gender equality ahead of Summit for Democracy

WASHINGTON, US - President Nataša Pirc Musar addressed a virtual thematic event ahead of the official start of the Summit for Democracy to note the importance of gender equality. She will again speak at the second virtual summit hosted by the US Department of State and featuring representatives of more than 120 countries on Plenary Day on Wednesday. Pirc Musar spoke about equal treatment, gender equality and equal opportunities at the The Status of Women is the Status of Democracy event, chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Speaker discusses rule of law, EU elections in Brussels

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Parliamentary Speaker Urška Klakočar Zupančič paid a working visit to Brussels to discuss topical issues in the EU, including the rule of law, humanitarian aid and the upcoming European elections, with senior representatives of the European Commission and European Parliament. The meeting with European Commission Vice President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova focused on the importance of the rule of law and of free and independent media for democracy.

Ministers discuss bilingualism in Carinthia

GLOBASNITZ/KLAGENFURT, Austria - Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon and Minister of Cohesion and Regional Policy Aleksander Jevšek met with Carinthia Governor Peter Kaiser as part of their two-day visit to Carinthia, touching on bilingual education, the reform of the bilingual judiciary and cross-border cooperation. Arčon noted that private kindergartens are facing financial difficulties as the regional funds for multilingual kindergartens are not adjusted for inflation and increased costs.

Study shows Slovenian community in Austria shrinking

VIENNA, Austria - The Slovenian community in Carinthia continues to shrink, shows a study presented by the Austrian public opinion polling institute OGM. According to the findings, the use of Slovenian in everyday life is also decreasing in bilingual areas. It is still mainly used at home and in church, but less and less at institutions. The study, included a survey of 562 people who are fluent in Slovenian, cross-referencing data from a 2001 census.

Asylum seekers demand end of deportations to Croatia

LJUBLJANA - Several dozen asylum seekers, joined by activist organisations and trade unions, held a rally in Ljubljana to protest against discriminatory measures linked to the foreigners act and the difficulties they are facing in Slovenia. They demanded an end to deportations of asylum seekers to Croatia. One of the reasons for the rally was the government's failure to abolish the provision in the foreigners act requiring family members of foreign workers to pass a basic Slovenian language test to extend their stay. The enforcement of the provision was delayed by 18 months in a bill passed today.

Border fence to be removed by Minis after all

LJUBLJANA - The Interior Ministry has singed a contract with Minis, awarding the company that was in charge of erecting the fence on the border with Croatia a deal to remove it. The EUR 7 million deal went ahead after an additional review was carried out at the initiative of the opposition party New Slovenia (NSi). The ministry said the findings did not involve reservations that would preclude the choice of Minis. While some shortcomings were discovered concerning the background of a subcontractor, the needed documentation was obtained after the ministry put the deal on hold again last Thursday.

Croatia's Schengen entry prompts change in illegal migration routes

LJUBLJANA - Police apprehended over 5,000 foreigners who crossed into Slovenia illegally in January and February, a four-fold rise from the same period in 2022. However, since Croatia joined the Schengen area, illegal migrants have been arriving less often across the green border, preferring to opt for a bus or train, but smuggling still remains frequent. Countries of origin have also changed in recent months. While Afghans remain the largest group, Cubans and Moroccans are also at the top, and there is an increasing number of Russians who want to avoid mobilisation for the war in Ukraine.

Civil group files amicus curiae petition at top court in RTV Slovenija impasse

LJUBLJANA - A coalition featuring the Slovenian Journalists' Association (DNS) and three NGOs submitted an amicus curiae intervention to the Constitutional Court, urging it to secure the immediate implementation of overhauled appointment procedures at RTV Slovenija in order to protect media freedom and the public's right to access information. The move comes as the top court continues to deliberate on the amended act on the public broadcaster after having suspended provisions that would have led to the immediate replacement of the leadership appointed under the previous government.

President hosts debate on pension reform

LJUBLJANA - President Nataša Pirc Musar hosted a discussion on topical issues in elderly care, which focused on the need for a pension reform and possible intermediate measures to help pensioners, including supplementary allowance and widow pensions. Speaking to the press after the event, Pirc Musar called against "pensioners being abused in order to score political points", noting that the debate in public around a pension reform in recent weeks had at moments been "uncultured and inappropriate".

Mayor says president's call over sewerage project inappropriate

LJUBLJANA - Responding to President Nataša Pirc Musar's call to suspend a major sewerage project in the Ljubljana area so that stakeholders can thoroughly discuss it, Mayor Zoran Janković said her appeal was inappropriate since all the building permits needed for the project had been obtained. He said the project was in line with Slovenian legislation and EU guidelines. In a country governed by the rule of law, what matters should be laws and not mob rule, he added.

Economy experts believe 2022 current account deficit was cyclical

LJUBLJANA - The central bank hosted a debate on balance of payments today with experts assessing that last year's marked deterioration in the current account balance was of cyclical nature. Trends in 2023 will show whether structural reasons were behind the deterioration. If this was the case, economy policy will need to respond. In the decade leading up to 2021 Slovenia saw consistent current account surplus. But in 2022, it went from a 2 billion euro surplus to a 250 million deficit. This was caused by several factors, above all supply chain problems.

Multimillion healthcare tender suspended over corruption suspicion

LJUBLJANA - The Health Ministry has halted a EUR 38 million tender for 16 MRI machines after suspicion was raised that the tender was tailored to a specific provider. The ministry first pointed the finger at an expert group tasked with drafting the call, but the latter said it had objected to the technical specifications for the tender. The MRI tender would provide 16 new machines to 13 health institutions around the country.

Insurer Triglav proposes EUR 2.50 dividend

LJUBLJANA - The management of the insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav will propose at the 6 June AGM a dividend payout for last year of EUR 2.50 gross per share, or a total of EUR 56.8 million. Slightly more than half of net profit of the Triglav group for 2022 would be allocated for dividends, which represents a 6% dividend yield. The management said the figure exceeded investors' expectations regarding the average 4.3% dividend yield of shares of European insurance companies this year.

Long-serving SocDem MP dies aged 84

LJUBLJANA - Long-serving MP of the Social Democrats (SD) and law expert Miran Potrč died recently at the age of 84. After Slovenia's independence Potrč served five consecutive terms as MP and was appointed deputy speaker of the National Assembly in his last term. He retired from politics in 2011 and published his memoirs in 2014 in the book Klic Razumu (A Call to Reason), calling on politicians to consider the interests of the people rather than their own.

Bus driver suspected of sexual assault of a minor

KOPER - The Koper criminal police said they had filed a criminal complaint against a school bus driver on reasonable ground to suspect that he committed three criminal offences of sexual assault of a minor. According to Primorske Novice, the driver is a local. If guilty, he could face up to five years in prison. He reportedly spoke obscenely to the girls, gave them candy and even tried to pull one onto his lap, writes the news portal Žurnal24.si.

Frankfurt Book Fair authors list to be unveiled in June

LJUBLJANA - The list of Slovenian authors to be showcased at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair will be unveiled in mid-June. The list is expected to include some 70 authors. The accompanying programme will feature a performance by the world-renowned band Laibach, Katja Stergar, the Book Agency's acting head, said. In addition to the programme taking place at the main venue, Slovenia will also hold events at other locations around Frankfurt.