News roundup - Tuesday, 28 May

PM says Slovenia to pursue Palestine recognition because of Rafah

LJUBLJANA - The government has decided not to wait for another group of countries to recognise Palestine also because of the situation in Rafah, Prime Minister Robert Golob told TV Slovenija. "We are trying to send a clear message to the whole world that we have to do everything to find a permanent solution for peace in the Middle East," he added. FM Tanja Fajon welcomed the decision and expressed hope that the National Assembly would give the final approval quickly.

Slovenia, Austria, Croatia urge progress in CMU

GRAZ, Austria - The Slovenian, Austrian and Croatian finance ministers met to sign a letter promoting progress in the creation of a Capital Markets Union (CMU), which they will send to European Commissioner for Financial Services and Financial Stability Mairead McGuinness, who is also in charge of the CMU. Slovenia's Klemen Boštjančič, Austria's Magnus Brunner and Croatia's Marko Primorac urge in the letter further progress towards the creation of the CMU.

Zvezdan Martić resigns as general manager of RTV Slovenija

LJUBLJANA - Zvezdan Martić resigned as the chairman of the management board of RTV Slovenija after being faced with a lot of criticism at a session of the public broadcaster's council. Confirming his resignation for the STA, Martić said it had become clear that he no longer enjoyed trust of the majority of council members and that this was becoming an obstacle to the functioning of RTV Slovenija. The resignation comes after the council decided not to vote on the appointment of Alenka Vodončnik to the board, as proposed by Martić, as the candidate had withdrawn her bid.

Most parties support beefing up EU defence capabilities

LJUBLJANA - The parties or lists standing in the European Parliament election in Slovenia mostly agree that stronger EU defence capabilities and less dependence on the US are needed amid a tense global security situation. However, they are divided on whether the EU should get a defence commissioner.

Šarec says Slovenia did not limit Ukraine's use of donated weapons

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia has never imposed any limitations on Ukraine for the use of weapons it supplied it for the fight against Russia's aggression, said Defence Minister Marjan Šarec at a ministerial meeting discussing military support to Ukraine. "Slovenia donated many types of weapons and we never set any conditions. This is the nation's right to self-defence and our first concern was to aid in that defence," Šarec told the press after the meeting.

President Pirc Musar hails govt's plan to recognise Palestine

LJUBLJANA - President Nataša Pirc Musar said it was high time for Slovenia to recognise a Palestinian state as she welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Robert Golob that the government would vote on Thursday on whether to send the relevant resolution to parliament. "I've been talking about the need to recognise Palestine since the very first day of the latest conflict in the Gaza Strip," said Pirc Musar during her visit to Ribnica (SE).

Slovenia overtakes Estonia as German investors' darling

LJUBLJANA - The interest of German investors in Slovenia has increased again after a dip in 2023, with the annual survey by the Slovenian-German Chamber of Commerce ranking first among Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Standing out among challenges are high labour taxation, unpredictable economic policies and skilled staff shortages. Even though the market is relatively small, many German companies draw on the extensive expertise of Slovenian companies, their innovation capacity and highly qualified professionals.

President encourages education of Roma children

RIBNICA - President Nataša Pirc Musar met with representatives of the Roma community and Ribnica Mayor Samo Pogorelec as she visited the Roma settlement of Lepovče near Ribnica (SE). She believes the education of Roma children is crucial and called on their parents to enrol children in schools, while also noting the hosuing issue. The visit is a continuation of activities agreed on at a meeting in March when the president hosted local mayors, said Pirc Musar.

Interest in digital inclusion laptops modest so far

LJUBLJANA - The saga involving the laptops the Digital Transformation Ministry purchased to boost digital inclusion continues, as the demand for them has not been meeting the expectations. The open call for 10,000 of the laptops, which started roughly a month ago, has so far recorded fewer than 1,000 applications. Until Monday, the relevant fund received 923 applications, of which more than 500 have already been resolved.

Minister discusses need for global cooperation at WHO assembly

GENEVA, Switzerland - Health Minister Valentina Prevolnik Rupel highlighted the fragility of healthcare systems and the need for a decisive global response at the Word Health Organisation (WHO) General Assembly meeting in Geneva. Climate change remains an existential crisis for global health, she said, adding that reducing the carbon footprint of Slovenia's healthcare system is among top priorities for her.

Women candidates want maternity leave, abortion to expand across EU

LJUBLJANA - Women standing in the coming EU election in Slovenia discussed gender equality highlighting some of the achievements such as both sexes being represented in EU institutions and free contraception. They urged expanding some of the rights enjoyed by women in Slovenia, including access to abortion and paid maternity leave.

Slovenia's top library celebrates 250 years

LJUBLJANA - The National and University Library (NUK) is celebrating its 250th anniversary and will be honoured with an Order of Merit for Distinguished Service by President Nataša Pirc Musar in the evening. The country's largest library developed from what was established as the Ljubljana Lyceum Library, first mentioned in 1774.

Several persons suspected of tourist voucher fraud

NOVO MESTO/KRŠKO - Police have reported eight persons and one company to the prosecution over fraud involving tourist vouchers, which the government issued to Slovenian residents during the Covid-19 pandemic to help the country's tourism industry. They are suspected of multiple criminal acts related to fake accommodation of tourists to unlawfully gain over EUR 281,000.

Drug use makes car accidents 25 times more likely, cannabis debate hears

LJUBLJANA - Negative effects of cannabis use and legalisation on mental health, road safety and youth was discussed at an event organised by the Slovenian Association for Chronic Non-Infectious Diseases, one of the organisations taking part in the campaign for the 9 June consultative referendum on cannabis use for medical and personal use. Civil society representatives and experts said they believed that legalisation would only further worsen the situation.

Lesbian Quarter festival focuses on recycling

LJUBLJANA - The Lesbian Quarter festival will kick off in the evening, with recycling as the main theme of its 10th iteration. For this reason, the festival collective is also looking back at its own past work exploring its internal dynamics. As the collective member Tanja Matijašević recently announced in the ŠKUC Gallery, the main venue of the festival, they will recycle prejudice about the lesbian community and the desires and challenges they face in public.