News roundup - Wednesday, 27 March

HSE pays back another EUR 75m in state aid

LJUBLJANA - The state-owned power utility HSE announced it has paid back another EUR 75 million of the EUR 492 million it received in capital injection from the state in 2022. The company started paying back the money in June last year and this is the fourth instalment it has returned. So far it has paid back EUR 417 million with the remaining EUR 75 million to be returned by the end of the year.

Fajon praises Montenegro's efforts on path to EU

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia sees a lot of potential in Montenegro and will continue to support it in development cooperation and on its path to the EU, said Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon as she met her Montenegrin counterpart Filip Ivanović. Montenegro is a country that is capable of very fast progress on its path towards EU membership, said Fajon.

President's website down, media report of hacker attack

LJUBLJANA - The official website of President Nataša Pirc Musar is temporarily unavailable due to disruptions, with the competent authorities determining the reason. There is no official information for the time being that this is a hacker attack, although some media report differently. The 24ur web portal reported that a Russian hacker group has announced a cyber war against Slovenia for joining the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine.

Freedom Movement confirms seven of nine EU election candidates

LJUBLJANA - The council of the ruling Freedom Movement met to endorse its list of candidates for EU elections, but confirmed only seven candidates, including the current MEPs Irena Joveva and Klemen Grošelj, with two spots remaining open. Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič was meanwhile appointed a vice-president of the party.

Construction in focus of Slovenian-Croatian business forum

OPATIJA - Construction was in focus of a Slovenian-Croatian business forum, hosted by the newspapers Delo and Jutarnji List. Infrastructure ministers Alenka Bratušek and Oleg Butković underlined the importance of the construction sector for their countries' development, with Bratušek saying that Slovenia was shifting focus to rail infrastructure. It plans to spend EUR 300 million a year on rail modernisation.

New technologies seen as key for the future of logistics

PORTOROŽ - The challenges faced by the logistics industry amid the global uncertainties and disruptions to global supply chains, and solutions in the application of new technologies such as AI were discussed as an international logistics congress opened. The logistics industry is an important part of the Slovenian economy, generating about 8% of the country's GDP, and efficient logistic processes make the whole economy more competitive, Economy Minister Matjaž Han told the three-day congress, which is being attended by 600 participants from 25 countries.

New agency to bring over 1,000 Filipino workers to Slovenia annually

LJUBLJANA - Struggling with a lack of staff, Slovenia expects to get over 1,000 workers from the Philippines through a new human resources agency. The Slovenian subsidiary of Pinoy 385 plans to bring 1,000 to 1,500 Filipino workers to Slovenia every year. Slovenia has decided a while ago to open a consulate in the Philippines to make it easier for the country's citizens to get the required permits in Slovenia.

Youth movement proposes measures for more transparent Krško 2 project

LJUBLJANA - The Youth for Climate Justice movement has drafted more than 20 proposals for a more transparent management of the Krško 2 project of constructing a second nuclear reactor. The movement proposes expanding the project coordination task force and conducting more studies. The task force should inform the public of the progress of the project monthly.

Exhibition, panel mark 20 years of Slovenia's NATO membership

PIVKA - An exhibition on 75 years of NATO was opened and a panel on the past, present and future of the alliance held in the Park of Military History in Pivka to mark the 20th anniversary of Slovenia's NATO accession, British Ambassador Tiffany Sadler said that the recent global events had shown that NATO was as important and united as ever, adding that it was as important in 2024 as it was in 2004 or in 1949.

Work on first tunnel on Third Development Axis starts

VELENJE - Excavation work for the first tunnel on the route of the Third Development Axis expressway started near Velenje with a ceremony attended by Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek. She said that the section from Velenje to Slovenj Gradec should be completed by June 2028. Bratušek said that that the Konovo Tunnel would be built in a year and a half.

Illustration in focus of Slovenia's appearance at Bologna book fair

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will appear as the guest of honour at the Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy between 8 and 11 April, featuring nearly 60 established and upcoming illustrators. Forty-four will be presented at a pavilion, of whom 12 will be highlighted, and another 15 have been selected to be featured in an accompanying catalogue. The fair's director Elena Pasoli said Slovenia's appearance is a "big deal" and expectations are great.

Ljubljana Festival to bring around 100 events this year

LJUBLJANA - Some 100 music events are planned in the capital between 20 June and 3 September as the 72nd Ljubljana Festival, one of the highest-profile international festivals in the country, will bring concerts of classical music, opera and ballet performances as well as musicals and pop concerts. The opening gala Summer Night concert will be a tribute to three pop singers born in Maribor - Ditka Haberl, Alenka Pinterič and Neca Falk.

Slovenian Drama Week opens with awards ceremony, premiere

KRANJ - The 54th Slovenian Drama Week, a festival dedicated to Slovenian plays and playwrights, opens tonight at the Prešeren Theatre with an awards ceremony and the premiere of a production based on a 1930s social realist short story, Boj na Požiralniku (Struggle with the Sinkhole), a Slovenian classic about hard life and social injustice. Twelve productions selected by Alja Predan from last year's season will be performed until 9 April.

30th Tour of Slovenia bringing more challenging route

LJUBLJANA - The 30th Tour of Slovenia, the most prestigious road cycling race in the county, will be held from 12 to 16 June to feature five stages. The more challenging route this year includes a climb to the Krvavec ski resort and the opening stage in the northeast, which will pass through three neighbouring countries. The race will actually visit all four countries neighbouring Slovenia and will set a new record in terms of the number of cyclists (154).