News roundup - Tuesday, 19 March, until 3pm

Croatia interested in Krško 2 project

ZAGREB, Croatia - HEP, Croatia's national energy group, which co-owns the Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) in Krško, Slovenia, is considering taking part in the construction of a second nuclear reactor in Krško - Krško 2. This was revealed by HEP chairman Vice Orlušić at a Croatian business conference on Monday. Slovenia has not yet made the final decision on the project, and a referendum is planned.

EU states close to agreement on opening accession talks with Bosnia, official says

BRUSSELS, Belgium - EU member states are very close to agreement to endorse the start of EU membership talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenian Foreign Ministry State Secretary Marko Štucin said before a session of ministers in charge of EU affairs. Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon expressed hope the EU summit starting on Thursday will give the green light.

Large cocaine shipment seized in Koper

KOPER - Police seized 260 kilos of cocaine in the port of Koper a few days ago, after two divers were spotted trying to retrieve the drugs from the ballast tanks of a ship transporting soy from South America, public broadcaster TV Slovenija reported. Police confirmed that drugs had been seized and said that a Brazilian and Albanian citizen were in custody.

Some Turkish workers building rail track to Koper on strike

LJUBLJANA - A group of Turkish workers building the Koper-Divača rail track have gone on strike despite a strike deal reached in mid-February. The strike has been confirmed by 2TDK, the state-owned company which oversees the project. It expressed regret and of hope that the February agreement is not in jeopardy. The trade union that helped broker the agreement says that the strike, which it is not involved in, is illegal.

Ljubljana Airport operator's revenue and earnings up substantially in 2023

BRNIK/FRANKFURT, Germany - Fraport Slovenija, the German-owned operator of Ljubljana airport, saw revenue rise by 28% to EUR 43.4 million in 2023, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) were up 68% to EUR 12.8 million, according to the Fraport Group results.

Labour cost in Slovenia among fastest-growing in EU in Q4

LJUBLJANA - Labour costs per hour in Slovenia increased by 11.8% in the last quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, which is a significantly above the EU average, which was at 4%, and the Eurozone average of 3.4%, according to Eurostat.

Major exhibition brings Klavdij Sluban's dark but poetic photos

LJUBLJANA - The largest retrospective to date of Klavdij Sluban, one of the world's most celebrated photographers of Slovenian descent, will open at the Jakopič Gallery in Ljubljana on Tuesday. The exhibition Elsewhere Here brings 153 photos from Sluban's various series in what the gallery said are the highlights of his career spanning over 30 years.