News roundup - Thursday, 4 May

Govt to refund fines issued for breaking Covid-19 restrictions

LJUBLJANA - The government endorsed a bill to halt infraction proceedings and refund fines issued for breaking Covid-19 restrictions under the previous government which were later declared unconstitutional. Thus, the government is meeting one of its key coalition agreement commitments, Justice Minister Dominika Švarc Pipan told the press. Between 7 March 2020 and 30 May 2022 a little more than 62,000 infraction proceedings were launched unconstitutionally and the fines issued totalled EUR 5.7 million. About 30% or just over EUR 1.7 million has been paid or recovered, while the rest is in the process of being recovered, Švarc Pipan said.

Slovenia part of initiative for changes to EU decision-making

BERLIN, Germany/BRUSSELS, Belgium - Nine EU countries, including Slovenia, have initiated a procedure to change the EU decision-making system, proposing that decisions on the EU foreign and security policies are reached with a qualified majority and no longer a consensus, the German Foreign Ministry said on Twitter. The nine countries have set up a group to launch the process of initiating the changes to strengthen the EU as a global player capable of making decisions more quickly. Apart from Slovenia, the group also includes Germany, Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Šketa sworn in for second term as chief prosecutor

LJUBLJANA - Drago Šketa was sworn in for a second six-year term as state prosecutor general in front of National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič. He intends to strive for an independent and professional prosecution service and supports the prosecutors' efforts to address pay disparities. As a principle, prosecutors and judges are equal in terms of pay under international standard, Šketa said after prosecutors recently expressed concern with not being invited to pay talks alongside judges. He also pointed to staff shortages and prosecutors leaving their jobs because their work bears a lot of responsibility and is very stressful.

Proposal to legalise assisted suicide unanimously rejected by Medical Ethics Commission

LJUBLJANA - As the collecting of signatures from voters continues to go on to allow an NGO to table a bill legalising assisted suicide, the Medical Ethics Commission at the Health Ministry issued an opinion opposing the bill, which it says entails a high level of ethical risk. The opinion has the members of the commission unanimously rejecting the bill in what follows a negative stance also expressed by the Medical Chamber in July last year. While the proposal has good intentions, it is problematic in its nature as it would put a burden on doctors that is explicitly at odds with the medical ethics code, the commission said.

Government wants to extend FDI oversight mechanism

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted changes to the Investment Promotion Act that extend a screening mechanism for potentially risky foreign direct investments. The provision applies above all to investments from third countries, Economy Minister Matjaž Han said after the government session. The changes also include some improvements based on experience gained so far. Moreover, a contact point will be established for FDI screening and exchange of information with other member states and the European Commission.

Sate to allocate EUR 150m for sports infrastructure in next five years

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted the investment programme for sports infrastructure for the next five years, worth EUR 150 million. Speaking about "dilapidated sports infrastructure", Economy, Tourism and Sport Minister Matjaž Han announced that funds for this year's open call for applications will total just under EUR 11 million, of which EUR 8 million will be allocated to multi-purpose halls and gyms and EUR 2.9 million for outdoor sports facilities. The government also passed changes to the Bloudek Awards Act under which the highest national awards for achievement in sports will automatically be conferred to all Olympic medallists.

Agency for Communication Networks and Services gets new acting director

LJUBLJANA - The government appointed Mark Pohar as acting director of the Agency for Communication Networks and Services (AKOS). He will serve from 8 May until the new director is appointed for a five-year term with the possibility of re-appointment. Pohar, who replaces acting director Tanja Muha, who was appointed for a full term at the beginning of November 2017, had served as acting director of the agency in 2011, when it was called the Agency for Post and Electronic Communications. It was renamed AKOS in 2014.

Špela Stres acting head of new science and innovation agency

LJUBLJANA - The government appointed Špela Stres acting director of the Agency for Research and Innovation in Science (ARIS) after it formally founded the organisation last week as a legal successor to the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS). She will head the agency until a full-fledged director is appointed, but not longer than six months, the government said. Stres is coming to ARIS from the Jožef Stefan Institute (IJS), where he has until now served as assistant director for evaluation and quality.

Bezjak Cirman gets full term as govt's communications officer

LJUBLJANA - Petra Bezjak Cirman was granted a full five-year term as the head of the Government Communication Office (UKOM) after serving at the post in acting capacity since August last year. Formerly a journalist with the public broadcaster TV Slovenija, Bezjak Cirman took over as the government's acting chief communications officer after Dragan Barbutovski left the post after just over two months on the job. Under the decision taken by the government today, she will start her term on Friday.

PM and National Assembly president shut door to pensioner rally head after offensive statements

LJUBLJANA - The office of the prime minister and National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič joined the condemnation of offensive statements by the leader of pensioner rallies Pavel Rupar and ruled out the possibility of future dialogue with "individuals and groups spreading hate speech". Rupar, a former MP for the Democrats (SDS), took issue during Wednesday's rally with an adviser to President Nataša Pirc Musar, saying that Biserka Marolt Meden "must be removed" over her involvement in a proposed bill enabling assisted dying. He also said that "even Hitler in the German Reich would have been be happy about such an adviser".

Migrant rights groups say systematic deportations to Croatia continuing

LJUBLJANA - NGOs and migrant rights groups from Slovenia, Croatia and the wider region told a public debate on deportations that no stop has been put to systematic deportations of migrants to Croatia, which then directly returns them to Bosnia-Herzegovina. They have called for a substantive processing of asylum applications. The Interior Ministry, which cancelled its participation, rejected the allegations in a written response, saying "each case is treated individually, taking into account all specific circumstances."

President hopes Belgrade shooting is a wakeup call

GRAD - A day after a mass shooting at a primary school in Belgrade, in which a 13-year-old pupil used his father's gun to kill eight children and a school security guard, wounding seven other people, Slovenia's President Nataša Pirc Musar expressed the hope that the tragedy will be a wakeup call for the school system. She is not keen on measures such as heightened security and metal detector screenings at schools, but advocates work with children. Pirc Musar spoke of gaming addiction and the widespread use of firearms.

Serbian embassy opens condolence book for Belgrade shooting

LJUBLJANA - The Serbian Embassy in Ljubljana has opened a book of condolence after Wednesday's shooting in a primary school in Belgrade in which nine people, including eight pupils, were killed by a 13-year-old fellow pupil. People will be able to record their condolences in the embassy on Friday, Saturday and Monday. As the embassy announced today, the book of condolence will be available on Friday between 10am and 3pm, on Saturday between 10am and 2pm and on Monday between 10am and noon.