News roundup - Thursday, 6 June

Systemic financing of public rental housing in the works

KRŠKO - The government endorsed a draft bill on the systemic financing of the construction of public rental apartments. Up to EUR 100 million will be available from the budget annually in the next ten years. A systemic source of funding would be found within the budget as of 2025. "We are working on the 2025 and 2026 budgets today and we have already set aside funds for this purpose," Prime Minister Robert Golob announced, in what would be the biggest reform of the public housing market in decades.

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.

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".

MEP implies Serbian president influenced his position on EU election ballot

LJUBLJANA - MEP Klemen Grošelj implied that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has been involved in the decision of the Freedom Movement, the Slovenian ruling party, to place him on the penultimate spot on the list of candidates for the EU election, where he would be practically unelectable. He suggested in a TV debate on Monday that Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković, a friend of Vučić's, was behind the party's decision. The party dismissed the claim as a fabrication.

Nova24TV poll: SDS to win most votes, followed by Freedom Movement, Vesna

LJUBLJANA - The latest public opinion poll conducted by Parsifal ahead of the EU election and published by Nova24TV shows that the Democrats (SDS) polling at 33.9% among decided voters. The Freedom Movement follows with 19.7% and Vesna with 10.6% of the vote. Out of the 610 decided voters among the 1,016 respondents in the telephone poll conducted on 4 June, 7.8% would vote for New Slovenia (NSi), which is down from 9.9% in January. The Social Democrats (SD) in fifth place saw a notable drop in support, going from 16.7% to 7%.

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".

Vote for SocDems is vote for change, Schmit says

LJUBLJANA - If Slovenians want change, they should vote for the Social Democrats in the EU elections, Nicolas Schmit, lead candidate of the Party of European Socialists (PES), said as he campaigned for the Social Democrats (SD). He said he is running for European Commission president because he believes in a social and democratic Europe that respects fundamental rights. Such a Europe is under threat, particularly from the rise of the far right, he said.

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.

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.

Drinks industry opposes planned tax hikes

LJUBLJANA - Drinks industry representatives voiced indignation over a government-proposed value added tax increase on sugary and energy drinks and a 7% increase in excise on beer and spirits. They argued the government is trying to fill its coffers at their expense, playing the health card although experience suggests consumption will not drop. The Association of Beverage Companies and the Association of Slovenian Brewers called on the government to withdraw the draft proposal, which is presently in the public debate stage.

Electric sheet production in Sij Acroni now more sustainable

JESENICE - Steel maker Sij Acroni has inaugurated an upgraded production line for heat treatment of non-oriented electrical steel sheets, which will improve energy efficiency and increase capacity. The EUR 18 million investment will allow the company to produce the most complex electrical sheets for electric vehicle engines. The production line is an important strategic investment for Sij Acroni, said general manager Branko Žerdoner.

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 plans to set up air ambulance service

KRŠKO - Slovenia will create an air ambulance service and the first step will be to purchase two special rescue helicopters. The project is worth EUR 50 million over three years, Prime Minister Robert Golob announced. Air ambulance services are currently provided by the army with its general use helicopters. The new service will be jointly operated by the police and the Health Ministry.

Martina Batič new principal conductor of Gulbenkian Choir

LISBON, Portugal - Slovenian conductor Martina Batič has been chosen as the new principal conductor of the Gulbenkian Choir from Portugal. The international foundation Calouste Gulbenkian described her as a versatile conductor with a vast repertoire. She will conduct the choir for three seasons, starting in September. Batič, 45, is considered one of the most promising choir conductors of her generation.

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.

Air in Slovenia of poor quality, EEA report shows

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is among the countries with the highest concentrations of harmful particles PM 2.5, along with Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Poland and Kosovo, shows a report on the quality of air in Europe for 2022 and 2023. In Slovenia, the lowest concentration was measured in Iskrba near Kočevje, south, (9 microgrammes per cubic metre) and the highest in Murska Sobota, north-east (21).

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.