News roundup - Friday, 12 May

Slovenia concerned about EU measures on Ukrainian grain

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The agriculture ministers of 13 EU member states, including Slovenia, wrote to the European Commission this week to express concern about the restriction on imports of four agricultural products from Ukraine to five eastern EU member states. They also demand explanations regarding the proposal for EUR 100 million in related aid to these countries. In the letter obtained by the STA, the ministers expressed "serious concerns regarding ... the European Commission selectively restricting imports" of four products to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria without consulting member states.

Slovenia and Guatemala sign memorandum of understanding

CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA, Guatemala - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon and her Guatemalan counterpart Mario Adolfo Bucar Flores signed a memorandum of understanding between Slovenia and Guatemala at the 9th summit of the Association of Caribbean States. Fajon said the two countries had committed to boosting cooperation in trade, environment, water management, renewable energy, science, research and technology. "We have excellent cooperation with Guatemala as part of the UN and I'm sure that the memorandum paves the way for strengthening bilateral relations," said Fajon.

President to visit Rome and Vatican next week

LJUBLJANA - President Nataša Pirc Musar will pay a working visit to Italy and the Vatican between 19 and 22 May. She will meet her Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, visit Slovenian soldiers stationed in Naples and be received by Pope Francis, her office said. Pirc Musar will meet Mattarella on Friday in what will be the first official meeting between the two. They previously met at the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the Vatican City in January and at the recent coronation of King Charles III in London.

Airmen commemoration marks Slovenian-US Friendship Day

POLZELA - A ceremony commemorating the crew of a US bomber that crashed near Polzela during World War II marked the Slovenian-American Friendship Day, with President Nataša Pirc Musar saying the events 79 years ago help see the importance of Slovenia in international relations. The ceremony, held at the cemetery in Andraž nad Polzelo, where the crew members who lost their lives were buried, was attended by US Ambassador to Slovenia Jamie Harpootlian.

National Assembly president happy with work done in first year

LJUBLJANA - Saturday will have marked a year since the maiden session of parliament. National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič believes the legislature has been remarkably efficient during this period, having convened 44 sessions and passed 100 laws, and that the level of communication has improved. She believes MPs have come to realise that respectful communication, even when expressing criticism, helps improve communication at all levels.

MPs end session on farmers without vote on SDS's resolutions

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly ended a session on farmers without voting on a set of resolutions proposed by the opposition Democrats (SDS), after its proposals were rejected by the Agriculture Committee yesterday. The proposals largely coincide with the demands the farmers presented at two recent rallies, including more relaxed conditions for farming in Natura 2000 areas. Agriculture Minister Irena Šinko rejected the SDS's criticism that not enough is being done. She said the government is well aware of the role of Slovenian agriculture, while noting that the goals of food production and environmental protection do not have to exclude each other.

SSH managers' 50% higher pay upsets coalition parties

LJUBLJANA - A decision by the supervisors of the Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) to raise pay for the two-member management board by almost 50% has upset all three government coalition parties, which want the government as the SSH assembly to limit it. They also see it as totally inappropriate as the government and public sector are in talks on better pay. According to a report in the newspaper Finance, chairman Žiga Debeljak will get a gross monthly pay of EUR 18,500, up from EUR 12,800, and board member Janez Tomšič will receive EUR 16,500 a month, up from EUR 11,500.

Foreign Ministry advises caution to those travelling in Israel

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry said Slovenian citizens who are currently in Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank should be cautious in the face of escalations between the Israelis and Palestinians. They are advised to follow the situation closely, observe the warnings and instructions from local authorities, and avoid dangerous areas. Several rocket attacks have been launched from Gaza on the south and central Israel, including Tel Aviv, in the past few days.

Interior Ministry to get less funds under revised budget

LJUBLJANA - The Interior Ministry will get less funds than initially planned under the revised 2023 budget due to Croatia's accession to the Schengen area, the parliamentary Committee on the Interior, Public Administration and Local Self-Government learned. The Public Administration Ministry will also receive less funds. The Interior Ministry will have EUR 552.3 million at its disposal this year, or EUR 22.3 million less than initially budgeted, the ministry's State Secretary Tina Heferle told the committee.

Food delivery couriers stage two-hour work stoppage

LJUBLJANA - The Trade Union of Food Delivery Couriers staged a two-hour work stoppage after delivery companies Wolt and Glovo refused to recognise the union or enter talks on a collective bargaining agreement. More than 100 couriers took part in the action, according to the union, which invoked the Constitution and EU regulations in arguing that freelancers had the right to unionise and bargain. Wolt and Glovo said the strike did not affect work, with Wolt saying that only around 10 of its couriers went on strike.

Engineers call for quake-safety legislation

LJUBLJANA - Earthquake engineers called for legislation to better prepare Slovenia for a possible powerful earthquake. Roko Žarnić, former minister of spatial planning and the head of the Earthquake Engineering Association, said Slovenia has a lot of experience from the rebuilding after the devastating quake that hit the Soča Valley in 1998. "Let's turn this around now, let's act before a quake hits. We can be well prepared, we have a wealth of experience." There were also calls to amend legislation to make sure energy renovations are accompanied by structural improvements.

Researchers make breakthrough in treating frontotemporal dementia

LJUBLJANA - A Slovenian-German-Dutch team of scientists has identified a modification of the FUS protein, which plays a role in the early onset frontotemporal dementia. The finding provides an important insight into the causes of the disease and the development of new strategies to treat it, the Jožef Stefan Institute said. The research team not only identified the mechanism, it also developed a special detector, an antibody that detects the modification on a protein responsible for a tenth of frontotemporal dementia. The study was published in the neurology journal Brain.

Cinkarna suffers steep decline in Q1 profit, sales

CELJE - Cinkarna Celje, a chemical company which specialises in titanium dioxide production, reported a net profit of EUR 3.8 million for the first quarter, down 76% year-on-year, as sales declined by 25% to EUR 50 million. The company said inflation had dented demand across all sales segments. "The European pigment market will remain weakened at least until the end of this year, partially due to cheaper Chinese imports and partially due to high inventories," Cinkarna said in an earnings release.

Ex-President Pahor to make a debut as writer in autumn

LJUBLJANA - Former President Borut Pahor will have his debut book published this autumn, expectedly during the Slovenian Book Fair, the publisher Beletrina announced. In his handbook for politicians, businessmen and others, the veteran politician will speak about challenges from his political career and consequently private life.

Slovenia to seek environmental solutions at Venice architecture biennial

Ljubljana - The Slovenian pavilion at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition, running from 20 May to 26 November, will focus on the pursuit of solutions to the energy and environmental crisis, the project's commissioner Maja Vardjan told the press. The project is termed +/- 1 °C: In Search of Well-Tempered Architecture. The curators based it on the belief that the potential of architecture lies in changing the way people see the world, rather than in buildings or materials.

Joker Out are in

LIVERPOOL, UK - Slovenian entrants Joker Out made the cut in Thursday's second semi final of the Eurovision alongside Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. This will be the first time since 2019 that Slovenia will be in the final. The quintet are a hugely successful act in Slovenia and played down their chances before the semi-final arguing that for them the publicity offered by Eurovision is more important that the actual result.

Non-violence discussed at schools, police receive number of threat reports

LJUBLJANA - In light of the recent tragic events in Serbia, Slovenian schools organised a day of the culture of non-violence and tolerance while police said they had been receiving an increased number of reports and information that could be connected to peer and other types of violence. Different threats, photos, lists and school plans have been emerging among students thought to be meant as a joke. However, police said they were responding to every report and taking measures to protect the victims and investigate the circumstances.