News roundup - Thursday, 16 May

ECHR throws out fishermen's lawsuits against Croatia

STRASBOURG, France - The European Court of Human Rights decided that the applications brought by Slovenian fishermen against Croatia were inadmissible. Today's decision says that the court does not have the jurisdiction to rule on the validity of the border arbitration and also that the fishermen could have foreseen minor offences convictions. This came as no surprise to the fishermen, who receive assurances from the agriculture minister of continued support. The Foreign Ministry said that the decision did not effect the validity of the border arbitration ruling.

Court throws out applications against asylum centres

LJUBLJANA - The Administrative Court has thrown out applications by the border municipalities of Brežice and Središče ob Dravi against the government's decision to set up asylum centre units there. The court decided against staying the implementation of the government's decision. Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon said that the decision, which the municipalities can appeal, "was expected in a way" and that "we will take all the measures planned".

Post-flood reconstruction mechanism cleared at EUR 2.3 billion

LJUBLJANA - The government endorsed a post-flood reconstruction programme under which it projects EUR 2.3 billion will be needed in the next five years to tackle the impact of the August 2023 floods, of which EUR 360 million is set aside for this year, Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon said after the government session.

Boštjančič elected chair of EBRD Board of Governors

YEREVAN, Armenia - Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič was elected chair of the Board of Governors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development at its annual meeting. He will serve for a year in what is the first such position for a Slovenian official. After the vote, he told the STA that his term would focus on efforts to adopt the Bank's strategic and capital framework at its meeting next year. He plans to advocate a more active role of EU countries.

NLB announces takeover intention for Addiko Bank shares

LJUBLJANA - The NLB bank announced on Wednesday its intention to launch a voluntary public takeover offer aimed to acquire control over Addiko Bank for all issued and outstanding Addiko shares. The bank will offer EUR 20 per share on a cum dividend basis.

Krka reports record-high sales revenue and profit

LJUBLJANA - The pharmaceutical group Krka generated EUR 486.1 million in sales revenue in the first three months of the year, an increase of 6% over the same period last year, while its net profit increased by 11% to EUR 98.8 million, the core company said, adding that the figures are record-high.

Cinkarna Celje revenue, profit down, but above plans

CELJE - The chemical company Cinkarna Celje saw its revenue drop by 5% to EUR 47.5 million in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2023 due to lower sales prices of titanium dioxide pigment. Its net profit was down by 66% to EUR 1.3 million, the company said, adding the results were still above plans.

Govt notes Slovenia safe after Fico assassination attempt

LJUBLJANA - Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon said regarding the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico that Slovenia is a safe country and safe society. "We trust our experts and security bodies, and we will respond accordingly," said Arčon, calling on public office holders to avoid hate speech and show restraint on social media.

Pirc Musar meets minority reps, secondary school students in Catinthia

KLAGENFURT, Austria - President Nataša Pirc Musar met representatives of the Slovenian ethnic minority in the Austrian state of Carinthia and visited two secondary schools, one bilingual and one Slovenian, while stressing the importance of safeguarding minority rights and bilingual education, her office said. Pirc Musar told the minority representatives that Slovenia would continue dialogue with Austrian officials at all levels.

Illegal migration numbers continue to rise

LJUBLJANA - In the first four months of the year the police intercepted a total of 13,571 illegal migrants, up 15% from the same period last year. There was again a pronounced increase in the number of Syrian citizens, who accounted for more than a third of all cases, followed by nationals of Afghanistan and Morocco, shows police data. The number of Syrians intercepted by the police stood at 4,979, which is quite a spike from 305 in the same period last year.

Wind farm, one of the largest Slovenian investments in Serbia, inaugurated

BELGRADE, Serbia - A Slovenian fund and a Serbian group have inaugurated Krivača, a joint wind power plant in Serbia, each contributing half of the EUR 165 million needed to build it, in what is one of the largest Slovenian investments in Serbia.

MPs urge stepping up efforts to build Mokrice hydropower plant

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Infrastructure Committee called on the government on Wednesday to accelerate procedures for the construction of the Mokrice hydropower plant, a project that has been stalled due to environmental concerns. The Left was the only party to agree with NGOs and oppose any additional hydropower projects.

Intereuropa to delist from Ljubljana Stock Exchange

KOPER - The general assembly of Intereuropa, which is in majority ownership of the national portal operator Pošta Slovenije, decided that the Koper-based logistics company will be delisted. Intereuropa has been listed on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange since 1998 but the volumes have been modest for a while. Small shareholders will get EUR 1.57 per share, which they believe is too low a price and intend to challenge the decision in court.

First Westlink Campus building under construction in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - The first building of the sustainability-oriented business complex Westlink Campus is under construction in the Šiška borough in Ljubljana. The project, which will mostly feature offices, is estimated at EUR 45 million, and brings together RP Investicije and Protim RP of the Ržišnik Perc group, which manages two industrial zones in northwestern Slovenia, and Austria's ATL.

Internautica boat show back to its glory days

PORTOROŽ - More than 150 vessels ranging from 2.5 to 30 metres in length are on display in Portorož Marina at the 26th Internautica fair, which runs until Sunday. Slovenia's biggest boat show is thus back to its glory days after returning last year following a four-year hiatus due to Covid-19. More than 250 exhibitors are featured at the show at the fully packed venue, with 20 vessels presented in Slovenia for the first time, and one for the first time in the world.

Ex-justice minister acquitted of tax evasion charges

MURSKA SOBOTA/LJUBLJANA - Marjan Dikaučič has been fully acquitted of tax evasion and forgery of business documents, but the former justice minister's assets remain frozen as the Financial Administration (FURS) continues an investigation into his dealings, the news portal Necenzurirano reported. All alleged wrongdoings are from before he became minister, from the 2013-2016 period, when Dikaučič was the director of the family business Prevozi Žižek.

Report: Jewish symbol in Piran damaged

PIRAN - A stone relief with the Star of David in Piran's Jewish Square has been damaged by carving, Primorske Novice reported. Police told the paper they were investigating damage to property. It is not clear yet whether this was an expression of Antisemitism or vandalism.