News roundup - Tuesday, 26 March

Katarina Bergant appointed state prosecutor general

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly has appointed Katarina Bergant the state prosecutor general for a six-year term, to succeed Drago Šketa, who stepped down in early October 2023 over drink driving. Bergant received the support of 49 coalition MPs, while the MPs of the opposition voted against her appointment. Bergant has been working at the state prosecution service for 27 years, finds the report by the Privileges and Credentials Commission. She has served as head of the Ljubljana District Prosecutor's Office for six years and was named a supreme state prosecutor last year.

Golob and Scholz discuss bilateral cooperation and W Balkans

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Prime Minister Robert Golob and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a meeting to note that the cooperation between Slovenia and Germany is exemplary. The pair also discussed the Western Balkans, with Scholz saying that the progress of countries on the path to the EU depends on their meeting the criteria. Golob thanked Scholz, saying he played an important role in convincing the sceptical European leaders regarding the European perspective of the Western Balkans. They also noted the excellent cooperation between Slovenia and Germany in various areas.

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.

Tonin to head NSi EU election ticket, Novak to tail it

LJUBLJANA - The opposition party New Slovenia (NSi) will be fielding its leader Matej Tonin as its lead candidate in the elections to the European Parliament on 9 June. The party's current MEP Ljudmila Novak will bid for re-election from the bottom end of the party ticket. Tonin said the party was aiming for two seats in the European Parliament. "Of course, it would be a failure if we didn't attain the result of the last European elections," he said.

Slovenian consortium picked to build radwaste repository

KRŠKO - A Slovenian consortium led by engineering company Riko has been picked to build the main facilities of the repository for nuclear waste produced by the Krško nuclear power plant. Riko has partnered with Slovenian builders Kolektor, CGP and Kostak and will build the repository for EUR 93 million. The only other bid, by the South Korean companies Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. and Daewoo E&C, was more expensive and incomplete. The same companies have already built the basic infrastructure.

Act providing for removal of illegal online content passed

LJUBLJANA - Parliament passed a bill implementing the EU Digital Services Act, a piece of legislation that Digital Transformation Minister Emilija Stojmenova Duh says is key to a safe, predictable and trustworthy online environment. The bill for instance provides for "trusted flaggers" tasked with flagging supposed illegal content on platforms. The act holds providers of intermediary services, online platforms and online marketplaces legally accountable for the content posted on them. Online media do not fall under the purview of this legislation.

Amendments on laptop distribution confirmed

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed changes to the Promotion of Digital Inclusion Act laying down criteria for the use of 13,000 state-bought laptops, a EUR 6.5 million project that has led to an ouster motion against Digital Transformation Minister Emilija Stojmenova Duh. Under the amendments, families with at least one child in primary school and a family income under EUR 221 per family member will be eligible to lease a computer. The criteria was tightened as otherwise there would be a huge inflow of applications that would be impossible to process.

NSi's referendum initiative on reform energy bill fails

LJUBLJANA - The MPs rejected New Slovenia's (NSi) request for a consultative referendum on the reform energy bill. Only the fellow opposition Democrats (SDS) backed the initiative, while the coalition accused the proponents of politicking and manipulation. The NSi proposed that voters be asked if they support the passage of the energy bill "that would ban biomass and gas boilers in dense urban areas and restrict these sources of heating in existing buildings". At the end of January, PM Robert Golob announced this provision would be removed from the reform bill.

Minister says no alternative locations for asylum centres

LJUBLJANA - There are no alternative locations for temporary asylum centres, said Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar after he met with mayors of Brežice and Središče ob Dravi, the municipalities in which the centres are to be built. "We have no other alternatives so we don't have any other decisions by the government either," said Poklukar. The mayors said municipalities will oppose the construction, while Poklukar believes a compromise can be reached.

C5 ministers welcome UN Security Council resolution on Gaza

LJUBLJANA - As they held a meeting, the foreign ministers of the Central 5 initiative hailed the resolution by the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with Slovenia's Tanja Fajon expressing the hope that it would pave the way for peace in Gaza. The ministers also discussed EU enlargement and aid to Ukraine, reaffirming their commitment to the enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.

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.

Unaccompanied minors finally getting new accommodation in Postojna

LJUBLJANA - The unaccompanied underage refugees in Slovenia who have so far been staying in a student dormitory in Postojna will get new accommodation there as the first reception and accommodation centre for this category of refugees is to be opened in the premises of the former construction company Primorje. Up to 70 unaccompanied underage refugees can be accommodated at the new location, said the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants, which has leased the facility for five years. The children will be moved there on Friday.

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.