News roundup - Thursday, 6 June, until 3pm

Foundation stone laid for radwaste facility

KRŠKO - PM Robert Golob and Sandi Viršek, director of the Agency for Radioactive Waste Management, laid a foundation stone for a long-planned repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste in Vrbina, just next to the Krško Nuclear Power Plant. Construction work on the EUR 93 million project is to start this autumn. By building the repository Slovenia is addressing the issue of nuclear waste storage, one of the prerequisites for green transition, Golob said. The plan is for the facility to enter trial operations in 2027, Viršek said.

Hidria in full ownership of Spanish Gonvarri

IDRIJA - The Spanish automotive multinational Gonvarri has become a nearly 100% owner of the Slovenian car components developer and maker Hidria nearly two years after becoming a strategic partner. Gonvarri went from 42% ownership to 94.51%, meaning 100% voting rights, after all of the major shareholders decided to sell. Announcing the takeover on Wednesday, Hidria said Gonvarri had bought shares of H&R, Hidria's 89% owner, from several physical persons. The rest of the shares are in Hidria's own possession.

Minister Katič announces quick action to implement salaries raise for judges

LJUBLJANA - Justice Minister Andreja Katič announced prompt action to honour the Constitutional Court order for pay increase for judges in an amount corresponding to the total rise in consumer prices in the past decade. While noting this was a matter for the government as a whole, she is confident that the new order would be studied in detail together with the Public Administration Ministry and that the ministries would "propose to the government as soon as possible what is needed to implement it".

Early EU election and referendum turnout reaches 2.5%

LJUBLJANA - Turnout in the early voting ahead of the EU election and one of the three referendums coming up on Sunday reached 2.5% by the end of day two of the three-day early voting, the National Electoral Commission (DVK) said. The figure was at 1.3% for Wednesday alone. The two-day figure is already higher than the total turnout recorded in the early voting for the European Parliament in 2019, when less than 31,400 people, 1.84% of voters, voted early.

Janša says EU election also decisive for democracy in Slovenia

CELJE - The head of the largest of the two opposition parties, the Democrats' (SDS) Janez Janša, called on voters on Wednesday to turn out for the European Parliament election on Sunday, underlining that the vote would not only be about the country's representation in the EU but also about the future of democracy in Slovenia. He was critical of the campaign, saying "it was not really possible to discuss what Europe is about at this moment".

SLS feels in great shape ahead of EU elections

LJUBLJANA - The People's Party (SLS) has entered the last stage of the EU election campaign in the best possible shape, party leader Marko Balažic said. He is pleased with the campaign and believes the party has successfully presented its platform. Balažic and SLS top candidate Peter Gregorčič are optimistic that results will reflect that on Sunday.

Viadukt to launch enforcement of debt in Bosnia-Herzegovina

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia - Construction company Viadukt plans to launch enforced recovery of EUR 46 million plus interest that Bosnia and Herzegovina has been ordered to pay by two arbitration tribunals for unilaterally terminating a contract for the construction of hydroelectric power plants, the Banjaluka news portal Capital.ba reported. Viadukt decided to pursue enforced recovery after the Bosnian federal government failed to show any intention to pay the debt after the most recent ruling was announced in early May.

Slovenia hosts conference of European Network of Science Centres and Museums

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is hosting for the first time the annual meeting of the European Network of Science Centres and Museums (ECSITE), one of the most important meetings of world experts who are engaged in popularisation of science and culture in relation to sustainable development, research and technology. The three-day conference, expected to attract some 1,000 participants, opened today at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Slovenian Book Days festival begins in 13 cities

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Book Days, an annual series of literary events, is taking place in 13 Slovenian cities and in Trieste, Italy. The heart of this year's festival is the book fair, held at the Lili Novy Garden in Ljubljana. The festival will run until Sunday.

Hiša Franko once again among World's 50 Best Restaurants

LAS VEGAS, US - Slovenia's only three-Michelin starred restaurant, Hiša Franko, has once again made the World's 50 Best Restaurants list this year, albeit sliding from 32nd place to 48th. Chef Ana Roš expressed delight in a statement, saying that making the list for the eighth consecutive year was a veritable feat. The judging panel said that Roš had put Slovenia on the culinary map.