News roundup - Friday, 15 September

Kumer says radical shift in use of renewables needed to decarbonise

LJUBLJANA - Environment, Climate and Energy Minister Bojan Kumer 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 said 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.

Preliminary flood damage to businesses assessed at EUR 318m

LJUBLJANA - Damage to businesses following the early August floods are estimated at EUR 318 million, according to a preliminary programme for post-flood reconstruction the government adopted today. The affected companies will receive advance payments up to a maximum of 10% of the damage estimate for damage to machines and equipment, damage to inventories and loss of revenue. Eligible are companies, sole traders, self-employed individuals, institutions and cooperatives that have suffered damage in the affected municipalities and are unable to operate or have difficulty doing business as a result of the natural disaster.

Cucumber shipment from Serbia stopped over fungicide metalaxyl

LJUBLJANA - A shipment of 18 tonnes of fresh cucumbers from Serbia was recently 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 promote democratic values and active citizenship, the weekly Mladina reported. Their very status as NGO is questionable since the law says that an NGO must be independent and the number of corporate representatives must be below 25%. Publisher Beletrina is also among the biggest beneficiaries. However, it changed its articles of association only days before the deadline to include protection and development of democracy as one of its missions.

PM Golob and Qatari minister discuss bilateral relations

LJUBLJANA - PM Robert Golob met Qatari Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanim in Ljubljana on Friday. The pair urged strengthening bilateral relation, especially in investment and healthcare, and Golob also called for introducing a direct air route between Doha and Ljubljana. Their meeting was attended by Mufti Nevzet Porić, leader of the Islamic Community in Slovenia.

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.

Calls for new media law as parliamentary body discusses rule of law situation

LJUBLJANA - Culture Ministry State Secretary Marko Rusjan told the parliamentary Culture Committee that the overall assessment of media pluralism and media freedom for 2023 was positive compared to the situation under the previous government, but that some challenges remain unresolved, including media legislation. He announced that solutions for a new media law would enter public debate by the end of the year. While he argued that depoliticisation had been carried out with the changes to the RTV Slovenija law, which entered into force in December, former members of RTV Slovenija management said the public broadcaster was not better off after the recent legislative changes.

Slovenia aims to become leading hub for advanced technologies in Europe

CELJE - The Strategic Economy Council discussed an action plan to increase Slovenia's competitiveness in a bid to turn the country into a leading hub for the development of advanced technologies in Europe. "We want to mobilise business, politics and society to bring about change. Without a stable, modern and high value-added economy, we will not be able to maintain all the social benefits for our citizens," said Economy Minister Matjaž Han at the council meeting, held on the sidelines of the International Trade Fair (MOS). The action plan will be amended based on today's discussion and sent to the government and parliament for approval.

Slovenia celebrates Primorska reunification day

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia observed 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. PM Robert Golob, a Primorska native, said that today the region is 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 opened focusing 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.

Football celebrities raising funds for flood-stricken Slovenians

LJUBLJANA - Former football stars joined forces under the umbrella of UEFA to play a charity match at Stožice Stadium to raise funds for Slovenians who were severely affected by floods in early August at 8:30pm. The captain of the blue team is the Italian Paolo Maldini, while the Portuguese Luis Figo heads the red team. More than 16,000 visitors were expected at Stožice, with UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, a Slovenian, saying before the match he was surprised how fast the match sold out, but declined to reveal how much funds has been raised, saying this would be made known after the match.