News roundup - Thursday, 13 June

Govt adopts bill to help fishermen facing Croatian fines

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a bill designed to help Slovenian fishermen who are being fined by Croatia for fishing in the bordering Bay of Piran in waters that have been awarded to Slovenia by a border arbitration tribunal that Croatia does not recognise. Fishermen will be awarded state aid in lieu of the fines they have received. For procedures that are already final, they will receive legal aid that will cover legal costs and costs of procedure, and entitle fishermen to compensation for fines.

Commission: Slovenia provided necessary explanations about solidarity funds

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Slovenian government provided the necessary explanations regarding the country's application for solidarity funds for flood reconstruction, the European Commission said on Thursday in response to a media report about alleged shortcomings in the application. The commission will soon propose how much money Slovenia should receive from the European Union Solidarity Fund. The Cohesion Ministry has said the amount the country will receive is EUR 428 million.

Police, army unions threaten with strike over pay

LJUBLJANA - Trade unions representing police and the army expressed indignation at the government's decision to offer some public sector employees a pay rise at Monday's talks but not to police officers, soldiers and technical staff. Unless their demands are heard, soldiers will stage a rally and police will go on strike. The Public Administration Ministry dismissed the criticism saying that the government proposal would increase the pay of soldiers and police officers by 25-30%.

Han talks cooperation, inaugurates innovation centre in Serbia

BELGRADE, Serbia - Economy Minister Matjaž Han concluded a two-day working visit to Serbia aimed at strengthening economic cooperation. He told his hosts that Serbia is Slovenia's most important trading partner in Southeast Europe, and he reaffirmed Slovenia's support for Serbia's EU integration. Han also attended the opening of an innovation centre for smart manufacturing and a business conference on regional transport infrastructure challenges in the Western Balkans.

Glavaš, Brieger discuss strengthening defence capabilities

LJUBLJANA - Lt-Gen Robert Glavaš, the chief of the general staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces, met Robert Brieger, chairman of the EU Military Committee, to discuss the EU's ambitions for strengthening security and defence capabilities. "Slovenia's contribution to the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations is highly appreciated," said Brieger, who believes there is a general awareness of challenging times that require trusted coordination more than ever. "The situation in the Western Balkans is calm but fragile," he added.

Slovenia already drafting plan to implement EU migration pact

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has already started drafting its implementation plan for the EU migration pact, Matej Torkar, head of the Interior Ministry migration directorate, told the STA. While expecting it to be ready by the 12 December deadline, he identified three principal challenges: The need to fully overhaul the legislative framework, implementation of Eurodac, a new information system, and designing a mechanism to determine in which way Slovenia will take part in solidarity measures.

Slovenia joins condemnation of human rights violations in N Korea

NEW YORK, US - Ambassador Samuel Žbogar condemned on behalf of Slovenia at a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday the long-standing, systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations in North Korea. Slovenia joined a special statement of condemnation issued by several countries ahead of the meeting. Žbogar said that unfortunately the situation in North Korea has not changed even ten years after the report by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the country, which stated that the violations may constitute crimes against humanity.

Bill adopted to streamline planning of TEN-T projects

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a bill to streamline procedures to construct projects within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The bill features projects which must be treated as a priority, shortens procedures regarding their construction, upgrade, adjustment or change, and covers public procurement. The legislation will fully transpose an EU directive on streamlining measures for advancing TEN-T, which has been in force since 10 August.

Military to start using hard enduro electric motorcycles

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces announced it will soon start using hard enduro military electric motorcycles developed by the Slovenian company STRiX eMotors. They are expected to be used mainly for special reconnaissance missions, while a civilian version will also be available. The ministry has so far purchased six motorcycles and four sleighs for winter conditions, which cost it EUR 175,000.

Slovenia's industrial output growth among highest in EU

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's industrial output increased by 5.9% in April compared to March and by 7.4% year-on-year, Eurostat data shows. In the eurozone, it fell 0.1% in the monthly and 3% in the yearly comparison, while in the EU it was up 0.5% on March and down 2% year-on-year. Slovenia's growth was the fourth and third highest respectively in the EU. Slovenia trailed only Denmark (+17.4%) and Greece (+10.8%) in terms of the April year-on-year industrial output growth.

Construction of apartments up last year

LJUBLJANA - Around 14,100 apartments were under construction in Slovenia last year, of which around 4,900 were finished by the end of the year, or 15% more than the previous year. 6% fewer apartments were completed in single-apartment buildings, while 43% more were completed in multi-apartment buildings, the Statistics Office said. Last year, 8,022 buildings were completed, or 6% fewer than in 2022. The number of completed residential buildings fell by 2% and of non-residential buildings by 8%.

President discusses wars, post-war killings in Kobarid

KOBARID - Touring the region of Posočje in the west, President Nataša Pirc Musar made a stop in Kobarid on Wednesday to also discuss post-war killings, saying that she would strive to bring unity into Slovenian politics about an ossuary for the victims of post-WWII killings. Burial of their remains will be a key task of her term, she said, adding that the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War next year would be a good opportunity to close this issue.

Bauhaus wins 2nd stage of Tour of Slovenia, takes overall lead

ROGAŠKA SLATINA - Germany's Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) won the second stage of the 30th Tour of Slovenia cycling race that took the racers for almost 178 kilometres from Žalec to Rogaška Slatina. Bauhaus has also taken the overall lead, being eight seconds ahead of Dainese and Norway's Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility).

Writers urge Book Agency to fully finance Vilenica festival

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Writers' Association (DSP) addressed an open letter to the country's Book Agency (JAK) and the Culture Ministry urging them to fully fund Vilenica, an established international festival which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year and which can be credited with promotion of Slovenian literature. This year's festival is estimated to cost around EUR 152,000. While JAK provided EUR 75,000 for it last year, it has now approved only EUR 50,000.