News roundup - Tuesday, 23 April, until 3pm

Slovenia for security partnership with Arab Gulf countries

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Slovenia will strive that a step forward is made in the building of a strategic security partnership between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said after she and other EU foreign ministers met their counterparts from the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf in Luxembourg on Monday evening.

Left wants reciprocal measure as Israel summons ambassador

LJUBLJANA - Responding to the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoning the Slovenian ambassador over the country's vote in favour of a draft resolution that recommended that Palestine be admitted to full UN membership, the coalition Left said that Slovenia should take a reciprocal measure, and not hesitate to summon the Israeli ambassador over the attack on Gaza.

Police searching DARS premises, investigating corruption

LJUBLJANA - Police conducted 23 house searches at several locations of the national motorway company DARS, at the homes of its former chairman Valentin Hajdinjak and of tax adviser Rok Snežič. Six persons are suspected of abuse of office or giving or accepting bribes. The sting comes six months after commercial broadcaster POP TV reported about alleged corruption in the awarding of contracts.

Constitutional Court wants legislation amended after sole proprietor doubts

LJUBLJANA - After it transpired that Constitutional Court judge Klemen Jaklič had held sole proprietor status for the majority of his term, Constitutional Court judges discussed the issue on Monday, calling on the legislature to amend the legislation, but saying they would not be issuing an opinion on the matter.

Health Committee throws out referendum on drug tests for officials

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Health Committee voted down late on Monday a motion by the opposition Democrats (SDS) that Slovenia hold a consultative referendum about whether public office holders should undergo mandatory drug tests. The motion was rejected with nine votes against and four in favour with Lena Grgurevič of the Freedom Movement saying that if the SDS really wanted to address this, it would have done it while it was in power.

Social dialogue resuming, ESS could convene in May

LJUBLJANA - Social dialogue is being revived, Labour Minister Luka Mesec said after a meeting of social partners that Prime Minister Robert Golob convened ahead of the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Economic and Social Council (ESS). Mesec hopes Slovenia's main industrial relations forum could hold a session as early as in May.

Consumer confidence highest since February 2022

LJUBLJANA - Consumer confidence reached the highest level since February 2022 in April, climbing 3 points over March and 5 points compared to April 2023, the Statistics Office said. The index was also 7 points higher than last year's average, but it was nevertheless 3 points below the long-term average, a period between 2005 and 2023.

Slovenia to establish national circular economy centre

LJUBLJANA - The government has approved EU funds for a call for applications under which a national circular economy centre would be created. A total of EUR 3.5 million will be available for the project, with the European Regional Development Fund chipping in EUR 2.22 million. The Slovenian Circular Economy Centre - for Green, Creative and Smart Development would serve as a supportive environment for the systemic transition to a circular economy and society.

Slovenian minority party in Italy running in EU election

TRIESTE, Italy - The Slovenian Community (SSk), a political party of the Slovenian minority in Italy, will be taking part in the European Parliament elections in June, with its sole candidate running on the list of the South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP). The SSk chose on Monday night Franka Padovan, the mayor of San Floriano del Collio, as its candidate. The SVP list will also feature candidates of the Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (PATT) and the movement Autonomous Belluno Dolomiti Region (BARD).

Story on suffering of elderly earns Markovič European Press Prize nomination

LJUBLJANA - Nataša Markovič, a journalist and editor of the investigative news portal Preiskovalno.si, has been nominated for the European Press Prize for her We Have Betrayed a Generation feature story, which explores the social exclusion of the elderly and the neglect or abuse they suffer in some care homes.

Noč appointed president of European Beekeeping Association

LJUBLJANA - Boštjan Noč, the long-serving head of the Slovenian Beekeeping Association, was appointed president of the European Beekeeping Association on Monday. Founded in February, the Slovenia-based organisation has so far brought together 18 organisations from 15 European countries, representing nearly 235,000 beekeepers.

New train service to link Villa Opicina and Rijeka via Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Railways is launching on Wednesday a new passenger service running from Villa Opicina above Trieste in Italy to Rijeka in Croatia and back via Slovenia. The new service, a result of cooperation with Croatian and Italian partners, will run daily until 30 September.

Center Rog honoured by European Heritage Hub initiative

LJUBLJANA - Center Rog, the October 2023-launched arts and culture hub located in the revamped central building of Ljubljana's former bicycle factory Rog, has been selected as one of ten European examples of Local Good Practice in the field of cultural heritage provision contributing to the green, digital and social transformation of society.