News roundup - Wednesday, 5 July

EU Commission sees progress in Slovenian justice system, media

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission noted progress in the quality of the Slovenian justice system as well as media freedom but also pointed to challenges in its latest Rule of Law Report. It urged the country to take additional measures, including to protect journalists. Pointing to persisting challenges to the independence of the public broadcaster, the report finds changes to the RTV Slovenija law reduce the "possibility for any government, through its parliamentary majority, to exert political influence on RTV Slovenija". The government hailed the report and noted the progress detected, pledging to act on the Commission's recommendations, while the Journalists' Association urged reform of media legislation to tackle the challenges, including media concentration.

Novartis to build new biotherapeutics development centre in Mengeš

MENGEŠ - Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis is to build a EUR 111 million centre for technical development of biotherapeutics in Mengeš. The centre is to become operational in 2026 and create 100 jobs. Addressing a ceremony to mark the investment, Prime Minister Robert Golob stressed the importance of investment in know-how. The construction of the Centre for Technical Development of Biotherapeutics will further strengthen the importance of Mengeš as the largest industrial centre for modern innovative biotechnology in Slovenia.

Exports up 4% y/y in May, imports down 0.3%

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's exports rose by 4% year-on-year to EUR 4.9 billion in May after they were down 5.8% year-on-year in April. Imports decreased by 0.3% to EUR 5.2 billion following a 12.6% drop in April. The ratio between imports and exports stood at 94.2%, the Statistics Office said. Both exports to and imports from non-EU countries increased, by 18.6% to just over EUR 1 billion and by 10.7% to EUR 823.6 million, respectively.

State budget deficit more than triples to EUR 413m in H1

LJUBLJANA - State budget revenue totalled EUR 6.3 billion in the first six months of the year, 1.3% less than in the same period in 2022. At around EUR 6.7 billion, expenditure was 3.1% higher, putting the budget deficit at EUR 413 million or more than three times higher than in the first half of last year. The Finance Ministry said the budget revenue in the first half of the year was almost in line with the plans at the time of the passage of the supplementary budget, while expenditure was slightly lower.

Registered jobless at 46,178 in June, new low since 1990

LJUBLJANA - A total of 46,178 people were registered as unemployed at the Employment Service at the end of June, which is 2.1% fewer than at the end of May and 14.3% less year-on-year. This is the new lowest jobless total in Slovenia since 1990. The demand for workers remains very high, with the Employment Service registering almost 5,000 vacancies on a daily basis.

Slovenia can still count on Balkans for labour

LJUBLJANA - The Employment Service poured cold water on the myth promulgated by business that there is not enough labour available in Balkan countries to meet Slovenia's growing labour needs, but its director Metka Barbo Škerbinc suggested companies needed to be more proactive and offer better pay. Over 22,000 work permits for foreigners were issued in the first half of this year, with the majority of the workers coming from Kosovo (7,000), Bosnia-Herzegovina (6,000) and Serbia (1,700).

Corruption watchdog finds many risks in healthcare procurement

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption reviewed procurement processes of over two dozen healthcare institutions involving the ten biggest medical suppliers in the country, finding a number of corruption risks. Recommendations include steps for a centralised procurement system. The analysis also found risks of personal integrity violations.

PM dismisses motion to oust health minister as a new manoeuvre by SDS

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Prime Minister Robert Golob and Health Minister Bešič Loredan met for a tete-a-tete on the sidelines of the ruling party's meeting to discuss the motion of no confidence in the minister filed by the opposition Democrats (SDS). They dismissed the move as yet another in a series of the opposition party's manoeuvres aimed at politicking. The party argued that the health reform progressed apace, noting that the National Assembly is to to pass a bill transforming top-up health insurance on Thursday.

Info Commissioner questions healthcare digitalisation bill

LJUBLJANA - The Information Commissioner has warned that a bill on healthcare digitalisation,which MPs approved at second reading at the end of last month, is not in line with the constitution. News portal N1 reported that the commissioner believes the bill brings too much risks for individuals and is not in line with the personal data protection law. The Health Ministry told the STA her remarks would be considered, but noted that only the Constitutional Court can make such rulings.

Business sector urges action on congestions

LJUBLJANA - Business representatives called on the government to start addressing traffic infrastructure challenges immediately. The congestions Slovenia is seeing at the moment are causing damage, they said, and immediate action is needed because infrastructure projects take a very long time. A country that does not have a developed traffic infrastructure cannot count of economic development, Vesna Nahtigal, the general director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS), told the press.

Energy sector welcomes planned new grid fee system

LJUBLJANA - Energy sector representatives welcomed the new method for calculating network charge, which the Energy Agency plans to introduce on 1 March 2024. The calculated power and energy tariff rates, which together with some other costs represent around one-third of the electricity bill, will vary according to a time category. They will be highest when the network is at its busiest. Speaking at a panel debate, Energy Minister Bojan Kumer said it was a major step in the green transition.

Two fmr execs found guilty in Zvon Ena case

MARIBOR - The Maribor District Court has found two former managers of the defunct Church-owned holding Zvon Ena guilty of abuse of office in complicity for moving around shares of two troubled Argentinian companies the holding had bought. They each got a suspended sentence of a year and a half with a four year trial period. The ruling is not yet final and both sides intend to appeal.

Review launched at Social Services after toddler death

PREBOLD - Following the death of a toddler in an overheated car two weeks ago, the local Social Services have reportedly launched an internal review. Earlier this year, the police were tipped of alleged neglect, of which the Social Services were notified, but failed to make a home call, news portal N1 reported. The anonymous tip said that in March the mother forgot the child, dressed only in a onesie, in the car for an hour.

Rail transport resumes after rockfall

LITIJA - Rail transport between Litija and Trbovlje resumed after being interrupted due to a rockfall caused by heavy rain and storms that hit central Slovenia on Monday. The derailed train is to be removed from the track by 4pm today after which trains will run normally in both directions between Litija and Trbovlje.

Ljubljana drama theatre renovation begins

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian National Drama Theatre, Ljubljana's main theatre house, will undergo a thorough renovation starting this month with preliminary archaeological works on the site. Both the main early 20th century building and the two 1960s extensions will be renovated. The project, worth nearly EUR 60 million, involves a complete rebuilding of both the large and the small stage, construction of two rehearsal stages, replacement of all fixtures and fittings, and new lighting and stage technology.

Ljubljana Jazz Festival lineup for music fans of all ages

LJUBLJANA - The 64th Ljubljana Jazz Festival opened with a concert by Alfa Mist, a major figure in London's current music scene, and Benjamin Clementine, one of the most strikingly original avant-garde pop artists. Until Saturday, the festival will feature 27 concerts by musicians from 18 countries, one of the highlights being Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra. The programme is marked by diversity from all over the world that caters to different generations of audiences.

Two Slovenian films receive EUR 400,000 in EU funds

LJUBLJANA - A couple of Slovenian feature films in the making will receive Eurimages financial support. The Council of Europe's cultural support fund will chip in EUR 400,000 in total, the Slovenian Film Centre (SFC) said on Tuesday. The two films are Little Trouble Girls, a feature debut by Urška Djukić whose animated documentary Granny's Sexual Life won the French film award César for best animated short this year, and children's feature film Blok 5 (Block 5) by Klemen Dvornik.