News roundup - Tuesday, 2 April

Bill on mandatory Slovenian in digital tech passed

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly unanimously endorsed a bill that will make operating systems in the Slovenian language mandatory for manufacturers selling their electronic consumer devices in the country. The changes to the law governing the use of Slovenian partly come in response to some tech giants, most notably Apple, failing to include Slovenian among the languages it offers on its devices. The same applies to several major auto manufacturers.

Bill on legal recourse for junior bank creditors cleared for further readings

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed a bill providing legal recourse for junior bondholders and shareholders wiped out in the country's 2013 bank bailout, okaying it for further readings. The government adopted the bill last February after the Constitutional Court annulled the 2019 law addressing the same issue in February 2023, because it made Banka Slovenije, the central bank, responsible for all potential damage payments stemming from the EU-instructed bail-in, valued at EUR 960 million.

SDS claims Commissioner Jourova influenced Constitutional Court decision on RTV

LJUBLJANA - The Democrats (SDS) presented EU Commission documents they claim prove that Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova exerted pressure on Slovenia's Constitutional Court over a case involving RTV Slovenija when she paid a visit last year. They base their claim on redacted portions of documents that party president Janez Janša said was a key piece of evidence that she influenced the process. Both the court and the Commission denied that, saying that RTV Slovenija had not been discussed. The Commission said the redacted portions of documents refer to other meetings the commissioner had.

Foreign Ministry condemns attack on aid workers in Gaza

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry condemned yet "another deadly attack on humanitarian workers in Gaza" after seven aid workers from the US-based humanitarian NGO World Central Kitchen were killed in an Israeli air strike in the Palestinian enclave while delivering aid. The ministry made the statement on X, adding that the UN Security Council resolution 2728 on Gaza "must be implemented immediately".

Preparatory hearing held in Adria damages lawsuit against German managers

KRANJ - A settlement and preparatory hearing was held at the Kranj District Court in a EUR 78 million damage claim brought by the receiver of bankrupt airline Adria Airways against the German managers of the former Slovenian flag carrier. No settlement was reached at the hearing, which was not attended by official receiver Janez Pustatičnik nor by Arne Schuster and Holger Kowarsch, who led the company prior to its bankruptcy in 2019. The first hearing was scheduled for 12 July.

Ministry rejects building permit for Pohorje wind farm

LJUBLJANA - The Natural Resources Ministry has rejected an application for a building permit for 35 wind turbines in the Pohorje Massif, while the investor withdrew a separate application for a further 21 wind turbines, Radio Slovenia reported. A civil initiative opposing the wind turbines in Pohorje welcomed the decision, but noted the fight against wind farms was not over yet as the investor could still launch an administrative dispute and resubmit the application.

Final vote on Yugoslav cultural rights bill postponed due to referendum

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly debated in third reading a coalition-sponsored bill on cultural rights of members of former Yugoslav national living in Slovenia, but the final vote, initially scheduled for this evening, was postponed due to a motion for a referendum. The opposition New Slovenia (NSi) filed the referendum motion last month, and the National Assembly is obligated by law to decide on it before voting on the bill.

Vote on expansion of doctors' duties during strike postponed

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly's vote on government-sponsored changes to the Medical Services Act that would expand the scope of services doctors are required to provide during a strike has been pushed back until one of the next sessions at the request of the coalition. Borut Sajovic, head of the Freedom Movement deputy group, said the deferral would give them time to go through all the comments and consider additional amendments.

Impol scales down production due to declining demand

SLOVENSKA BISTRICA - The Impol group, Slovenia's largest producer of finished and intermediate aluminium products, posted EUR 880 million in revenue in 2023, which is a 20% drop year-on-year and slightly below plans. Impol has reduced production due to a persistent decline in demand. The group generated EUR 83 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) last year, which is slightly below plans.

Intesa Sanpaolo profit up more than 300% in 2023

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian subsidiary of the Italian Intesa Sanpaolo bank ended 2023 with a record net profit of EUR 71.5 million, up by 338% from the year before. The bank's total assets grew by 8% to EUR 3.99 billion. Its operating and financial revenue grew by 87% to EUR 154.2 million. Profit before taxes was at EUR 87.9 million.

Jakopič Prize goes to illustrator Ančka Gošnik Godec

LJUBLJANA - The Rihard Jakopič Prize for 2024, the highest national award for lifetime achievements in fine and visual arts in Slovenia, will be conferred to illustrator Ančka Gošnik Godec. The judging panel said that Gošnik Godec belongs to "the first generation of painters who graduated at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design and dedicated her entire oeuvre to illustration." She illustrated some 130 books, among them the iconic Slipper Keeper Kitty.

Two Serbian men found dead in Alps

MOJSTRANA - Police found two dead men, both Serbian citizens, in the area of Mt. Triglav in the Julian Alps in what is believed to be an accident, the Kranj Police Department said. The deceased, believed to have fallen while climbing, had been reported missing abroad. They had set off towards Triglav on Saturday morning and when reaching an altitude of around 1,600 metres fell deep down, dying on the spot.

Rafut Park with exotic plants inaugurated in Nova Gorica

NOVA GORICA - A park with a lot of exotic plants surrounding the Laščak Villa on the outskirts of Nova Gorica was inaugurated following years of neglect and a thorough renovation. Rafut Park will now be open to the public and serve next year as a venue of the European Capital of Culture hosted by Nova Gorica and Italy's Gorizia.