News roundup - Friday, 15 September, until 3pm

Kumer says radical shift in use of renewables needed to decarbonise

LJUBLJANA - Environment, Climate and Energy Minister Bojan Kumer has assessed that a radical shift in the use of renewables must be made in order to decarbonise Slovenia, while the country must not forget about nuclear, which he says is a safe and stable energy source. "We have to decarbonise by 2050, which means we have to open a debate and say goodbye to heating with fossil fuels," Kumer told the STA in an interview. A potential second reactor at the Krško Nuclear Power Plant will be the largest investment in Slovenia's history, as it could cost around EUR 15 billion depending on power and selected technology, he noted.

Cucumber shipment from Serbia stopped over fungicide metalaxyl

LJUBLJANA/BELGRADE, Serbia - A shipment of 18 tonnes of fresh cucumbers from Serbia has recently been stopped at the border, as an excessively high content of the fungicide metalaxyl was detected. The Slovenian authorities ordered the shipment destroyed and the cucumbers never entered the Slovenian market. The Agriculture Ministry said the analysis showed that the upper limit for metalaxyl was exceeded, while the risk assessment showed that the foodstuff was safe.

Questions raised about NGO funding call

LJUBLJANA - An organisation founded by several companies is the single largest beneficiary of a government-sponsored call for applications designed to strengthen NGOs that advocate for democratic values and active citizenship, Mladina reported. Their very status as NGO is questionable since the law dictates that an NGO must be independent and the number of corporate representatives must be below 25%. Beletrina, a publishing house, is also among the biggest beneficiaries of the call. However, it changed its articles of association only days before the deadline to include protection and development of democracy as one of its missions.

National Assembly cuts budget in favour of post-flood reconstruction

LJUBLJANA - The college of deputy group leaders approved changes to the National Assembly's financial plans for 2024 and 2025. It cut funds by around EUR 800,000 each year after the government called on budget users to allocate a portion of their funds for post-flood relief and reconstruction. The cuts will not affect wages as the original plan accounted for a projected increase which will not happen now.

Slovenia celebrates Primorska reunification day

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia observes the Return of Primorska to the Motherland, a public holiday in memory of the day in 1947 when the western region of Primorska was reunited with Slovenia after being under Italian rule since the end of WWI. Marking the holiday, President Nataša Pirc Musar said that memory of key historical events must be preserved and nurtured, condemning attempts to revise history for political purposes, and PM Robert Golob, a Primorska native, said that today the region was a model of harmony and solidarity.

Lay-offs planned at Steklarna Rogaška

ROGAŠKA SLATINA - The Steklarna Rogaška glassworks, part of the Finnish group Fiskars since 2015, is planning to lay off up to 140 out of its 830 workers, the company told the STA, adding that this was part of a streamlining plan of the entire group. Workers were made aware of the plan on Wednesday but are not too concerned, as they will be able to find new employment, the newspaper Dnevnik reported, adding that a decrease in orders was cause for more concern.

Events and permanent measures for European Mobility Week

LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR - Almost two dozen Slovenian towns and cities will participate in this year's European Mobility Week from 16 and 22 September, including Ljubljana and Maribor, where a number of one-day events as well as lasting measures have been announced. In line with the Save Energy theme, the focus will be on promoting sustainable travelling. Ljubljana, a regular participant in the initiative, has more than 80 daily events planned, along with ten permanent measures.

Ljubljana graphic arts biennial gets under way

LJUBLJANA - The 35th Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts is opening to focus on the history of what were strong ties between the former Yugoslavia and post-independence Ghana and the existing potential at the heart of this past relationship. The main exhibition features works of some 50 artists drawing connections between contemporary art and graphics in the fields of architecture, design, agriculture and botany. The biennial will run until 14 January 2024.