News roundup - Tuesday, 26 March, until 3pm

Metsola urges Slovenians to vote in EU elections

LJUBLJANA - European Parliament President Roberta Metsola urged Slovenians to turn out in the June EU elections as she visited Ljubljana as part of her tour of EU countries ahead of the elections. She addressed the National Assembly, met President Nataša Pirc Musar and Prime Minister Robert Golob, as well as National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič.

German Business Award goes to Hidria

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian-German Chamber of Commerce conferred the German Business Award to industrial conglomerate Hidria, a leading Slovenian supplier of the global car industry. The award is conferred in cooperation with the German Embassy and the IEDC Bled School of Management for important technological and economic innovation with long-term effects.

Regulated petrol prices going up

LJUBLJANA - Prices of petrol sold outside the motorways increased, as the government decided not to change excise duties on Monday. Regular petrol went up by 2.8 cents to EUR 1.519 per litre, the price of diesel increased by 0.4 cents to EUR 1.527 per litre and heating oil became 0.2 cents more expensive at EUR 1.172 per litre.

Strike looming at Pošta Slovenije despite wage increases

Ljubljana - Worker discontent at Pošta Slovenije continues unabated despite the national postal operator having increased basic wages twice this year. The Postal Workers' Trade Union (SPD) does not exclude a strike and said that the departures of long-standing staff are continuing amid the absence of commitments for improved work conditions.

In week 11 of doctors' strike, mediation agreement confirmed

LJUBLJANA - Two weeks after accepting mediation and eleven weeks into the longest strike in Slovenian history, the government and the Fides trade union of doctors and dentists have finalised and confirmed an agreement on mediation under the auspices of the Bar Association. Preparations for mediation are in full swing and the first session is expected to take place this week, the Bar Association said.

Slovenia inching closer to EU average in GDP per capita expressed in PPS

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - In 2023, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita expressed in purchasing power standards stood at 91% of the EU average in Slovenia, a percentage point up on the year before, show preliminary data by Eurostat. Slovenia was on par with Czechia last year, ranking behind Cyprus and ahead of Lithuania and Spain.