News roundup - Tuesday, 23 May

Presidential forum hears about future financial challenges in healthcare

BRDO PRI KRANJU - At the first presidential forum, which focussed on healthcare, experts, politicians and civil society representatives discussed the challenges and solution proposals to help tackle the flaws of the country's health system. They also warned about the challenges of financing healthcare in the future in light of population ageing. President Hosted by President Nataša Pirc Musar, the event was the first in a series of planned debates on major issues to help find strategic guidelines and consolidate policies, so that the necessary health reform process will be as efficient, unified and smooth as possible.

Foreign Minister wraps up visit to Vietnam

HANOI, Vietnam - Slovenian Foreign Minster Tanja Fajon met with her counterpart Bui Thanh Nhon and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as she wrapped up her three-day visit to Vietnam. The foreign ministers discussed strengthening the relationship between the two countries both in politics and economy. They signed a memorandum of cooperation, which is a new step on the way to closer cooperation in different areas, from business to culture, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry said.

Parliament declares Holodomor a genocide

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed a declaration whereby Slovenia recognizes the Holodomor, a famine with which the Soviet authorities starved millions of Ukrainians to death in 1932 and 1933, as genocide. The declaration in remembrance of the Holodomor was backed by all deputy groups except for the Left. With it, Slovenia joins more than 20 countries that have already recognised the man-made famine in Ukraine as genocide. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the move on his Twitter account: "I am grateful to Slovenian parliamentarians for adopting the declaration honouring the memory of millions of Ukrainian victims of the Holodomor-Genocide in Ukraine in 1932-1933."

Parliament okays automatic extension of mining rights

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed legislative changes under which mining rights will be extended automatically for 30 months. The reason is the backlog in administrative procedures for extension and adoption of relevant municipal spatial plans. The changes were passed with 52 votes in favour and 20 against, with the Democrats (SDS) voting against and New Slovenian (NSi) abstaining.

Eight Slovenians leave Sudan, ministry says

KHARTOUM, Sudan/LJUBLJANA - Eight members of an extended Slovenian family have safely arrived in Slovenia from Sudan, where an ongoing armed conflict between two military forces has been taking place since mid-April, the Foreign Ministry told the STA. One family is from the conflict-stricken capital of Khartoum, the newspaper Večer said. The other Slovenians are in Port Sudan on the Red Sea in the northeast of the country, from where it is much easier to leave the country, head of the ministry's consular service Andrej Šter said.

IT, construction and pharma companies with highest salaries in 2022

LJUBLJANA - The business newspaper Finance published a list of 100 companies in Slovenia whose employees received the highest average monthly gross salaries last year. Topping the list is the Slovenian Microsoft office, while some other IT, as well as construction and pharmaceutical companies are in the top ten. Following the Slovenian Microsoft with the average monthly gross payout of EUR 10,286, is the IT company SAP with EUR 10,110, which compares to the national average in 2022 of EUR 2,024. Kontrola Zračnega Prometa Slovenije, which provides air traffic control services, ranked the highest among state-owned companies, taking 8th spot (EUR 7,411).

Banks boost profit growth y/y in Q1 despite continuing loan contraction

LJUBLJANA - Banks in Slovenia generated a pre-tax profit of EUR 152.3 million in the first quarter of this year, a 57% increase year-on-year. Net profit amounted to EUR 128 million, a 47% rise. According to a report by the Bank of Slovenia, the volume of loans continues to decrease, particularly in loans to companies and other financial institutions. Loans to the non-banking sector decreased by EUR 799.7 million to about EUR 26.74 billion in the first quarter compared to the end of 2022.

Minister announces EUR 1.2 million support for minority in Hungary

SZENTGOTTHARD, Hungary - Economy Minister Matjaž Han visited the Slovenian minority in Hungary, pledging support for businesses in the area populated by the community. Within a month the ministry will publish two calls for applications, worth a combined EUR 1.168 million and Slovenia will also provide EUR 300,000 for the renovation of the minority's centre, Slovenian Hall.

Consumer confidence in May up year-on-year

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's consumer confidence remained stable in May compared to April and rose by two percentage points in yearly comparison. The consumer confidence index was eight percentage points below the long-term average, data from the Statistics Office shows. Most sub-indicators improved, with expectations about major purchases rising by two percentage points and expectations about household finances and state of the economy by one percentage point.

Trade unions find violations in 30% of pay slips reviewed

LJUBLJANA - The ZSSS trade union confederation reviewed about 200 pay slips in 14 towns as part of its campaign during which employees were invited to turn to the union with their questions. 90% of the workers sought assistance in analysing their pay slip, and errors and violations were found in 30% of the slips, the union said. Mostly, the violations referred to the commuting costs, payment of length-of-service allowances, payment of the difference to the minimum wage, and paying out of overtime work.

Change at the helm of Moderna Galerija museum

LJUBLJANA - Martina Vovk was appointed acting director of Moderna Galerija, the national museum of modern and contemporary art, after Aleš Vaupotič resigned following a couple of years of schisms and two-way accusations of lack of dialogue at the museum. The art historian and comparative literature expert, who is the museum's curator and adviser, will assume office on 1 June, the Culture Ministry said, adding that Vovk would prioritise the normalisation of work processes and the drafting and implementation of the exhibition programme. "The key is to restore social and expert dialogue that has been undermined in recent years," the ministry said.

North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley efforts discussed at conference

DOBROVO - Participants of a conference held in the framework of the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley project stressed the crucial role hydrogen will play in the decarbonisation of society, in particular when it comes to transport and industry. "We are working together to seize a historic chance to support the whole region, to position ourselves as one of the leading European areas making use of the historic opportunity of the energy transition," said Aleksander Gerbec, the CEO of Ecubes, one of the industrial partners in the project.

Papič discusses knowledge security in Brussels

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Igor Papič stressed the importance of an appropriate balance between the principle of openness in the EU research ecosystem and the protection of the interests of the bloc and its institutions, as he took part in a session of EU ministers in charge of research.

European Youth Olympic Festival good to go

MARIBOR - The government has stepped in, providing an additional EUR 2.8 million, after the organisation of the 2023 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), which Slovenia will host in Maribor in late July, faced some financial difficulties. Now the competition is all but ready to start. In the presence of Prime Minister Robert Golob, Minister of the Economy, Tourism and Sport Matjaž Han and Maribor Mayor Saša Arsenovič signed a contract on Tuesday under which the government will co-finance the upgrade of the track-and-field stadium Poljane.

German Telekom's art pieces on display in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - An exhibition showcasing works of art from the collection of the German Telekom opened at the Museum of Modern Art (MG+). The art pieces collected since 2010 mostly represent contemporary art from Eastern and Southeastern Europe and deal with social and political changes after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The collection contributes to the broader understanding of the European cultural diversity through visual and fine arts, MG+ said.

Higher court upholds Janković's aquittal in tax evasion case

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Higher Court has rejected the prosecution's appeal to the Ljubljana District Court's decision to acquit Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković and his two sons of tax evasion concerning the sale of shares of the retailer Mercator in 2006. The ruling is now final, Janković told the press on Tuesday. CEO of Mercator until 2007, Janković was charged with tax evasion in the sale of 47,000 Mercator shares to the family company, and his sons, Jure and Damjan, were charged with abetting.

Slovenia's new basketball prodigy Vide leaving Madrid for UCLA

LJUBLJANA - Jan Vide, the new Slovenian basketball mega talent who has been delivering stellar performances for the junior team of Real Madrid, will reportedly be joining superstar Luka Dončić in the US. His first chapter in the land of opportunity will be with UCLA in the NCAA student league. Referring to the American media outlet ESPN as a source, the Spanish paper Marca has reported that the 18-year-old, will leave Spain at the end of the season for UCLA, the university that holds a record 11 NCAA champion titles.