News roundup - Monday, 22 April, until 3pm

PM: Govt wants to increase value added

LJUBLJANA - The strong investment cycle Slovenia is seeing at the moment is the best indication that investors are confident in the stability of the country and its government, Prime Minister Robert Golob said as he took questions from MPs. He said a number of domestic and foreign businesses, from SMEs to multinationals, have launched "extraordinary investment cycles", which is in line with the government's vision to increase value added per employee to EUR 100,000 from EUR 56,000 in 2022.

SDS proposal on designated referendum day rejected

LJUBLJANA - A proposal by the opposition Democrats (SDS) to designate the second Sunday in May as the annual day for voting in all potential referendums was rejected by the Home Affairs Committee. The government as well as the parliament's legal service said that the option of merging referendums was already provided for and argued that waiting for a single day a year to hold a referendum could result in the infringement of voter rights.

Green party registers candidates for EU elections

LJUBLJANA - Vesna, a non-parliamentary green party, submitted its list of candidates for the June EU elections having collected more than 1,680 voter signatures. Kočevje Mayor Vladimir Prebilič, the party's top candidate, said Vesna collected the required 1,000 signatures, which non-parliamentary parties are required to submit, in less than three days.

Petrol up 1.8 cents, diesel 1.5 cents cheaper

LJUBLJANA - The price of regular petrol sold outside the motorway network will go up 1.8 cents to EUR 1.56 per litre on Tuesday, while diesel will be 1.5 cents cheaper at EUR 1.527. The last time diesel was cheaper than petrol was before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Economy Ministry said. Heating oil will be one cent cheaper, at EUR 1.170 per litre.

Funds approved for digital transformation of public administration

LJUBLJANA - The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funds to accelerate the digital transformation of society, with a focus on the public administration. The project is worth EUR 26.8 million, with the European Regional Development Fund chipping in EUR 15.5 million. The project will introduce new business models and cutting-edge technologies.

Sanctorius of Padua honoured in his native Koper

KOPER - An exhibition opened in Koper on the heritage of Sanctorius of Padua, a doctor and inventor born in Koper in the 16th century who set the foundations of quantitative medicine and physiology. One of the key inventions Sanctorius has worked on was the thermometer. Running until 10 May, the exhibition features his printed works and models of his instruments.

Jože Plečnik kiosk reopens to promote entrepreneurs

LJUBLJANA - A kiosk designed by Slovenia's greatest architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) officially reopened in Prešeren Square in Ljubljana to give up-and-coming entrepreneurs a boost. It used to sell newspapers and cigarettes, but now it will foster innovative ideas and aim to promote products by entrepreneurs who trained under a Regional Development Agency programme dedicated to meet local challenges.