News roundup - Wednesday, 3 July

OECD recommends measures in public finance, housing market

BRDO PRI KRANJU - In its latest economic review for Slovenia, the OECD recommends the government to carry out further structural reforms, in particular in the pension and healthcare systems, and in the public sector, while it also identifies challenges on the housing market, in decarbonisation of the economy, and gender equality. OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann presented the review at an event hosted by the Finance Ministry. He stressed the Slovenian economy had proved to be resilient to external shocks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but the recovery slowed down after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Opposition asks top court to review Palestine recognition

LJUBLJANA - The centre-right opposition parties, the Democrats (SDS) and New Slovenia (NSi), asked the Constitutional Court to review Slovenia's recognition of a Palestinian state, a move that the National Assembly formalised in a unanimous vote on 4 June. The opposition MPs, who boycotted the vote, now challenges the recognition on the grounds of allegations of abuse of parliamentary rules of procedure regarding the SDS's consultative referendum motion on Palestine recognition.

MPs not to discuss security agreement with Ukraine yet

LJUBLJANA - The deputy group of PM Robert Golob's Freedom Movement proposed that the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee discuss the draft security agreement between Slovenia and Ukraine as it met today to discuss Slovenia's UN Security Council stint. It argued the committee, parliament and citizens have the right to know what the country is about to sign. However, committee chair Predrag Baković from the junior coalition SocDems, turned down the motion on procedural grounds, saying the committee could not discuss the document because it had not received it. Foreign Ministry State Secretary Marko Štucin said the committee would get it as soon as it was ready.

Golob says changes to electoral system feasible

LJUBLJANA - PM Robert Golob hosted a consultation with all parties in parliament about preferential voting in general elections after voters endorsed introducing a preferential vote in the 9 June consultative referendum. He believes changes to the electoral system are feasible, but since a two-thirds majority is needed, opposition NSi votes are to be decisive. It was agreed the NSi will draw up a written proposal of its ideas by 10 September and then talks will show whether parties are honest in their claims that they want changes, said Golob. The other opposition party, the SDS, opposes the proposals tabled today, favouring a two-round majority system, which was backed in a 1996 legislative referendum.

Committee okays bill to help fishermen

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Home Policy Committee endorsed a government-sponsored bill that would allow support for Slovenian fishermen who are struggling because of fines they get from Croatian authorities for fishing in the contested Bay of Piran. Under the changes to the relevant law, the support would cover the costs of the legal aid provider, the costs of the proceedings, the securities and, in the event of enforcement, reimbursement of the fines and related costs. The opposition SDS said the government drafted a bill similar to the one the SDS submitted a while ago but was rejected in parliament.

Experts warn against rash changes to rules on statute-barring

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Justice Committee hosted a discussion on rules governing the statute of limitations in criminal law, with a number of stakeholders warning that any such changes should be made prudently. The initiative for the session came from the committee chair, Lena Grgurevič from the ruling Freedom Movement, after an opposition-sponsored bill aimed at preventing high-profile criminal cases from becoming statute-barred just before the end of trials was voted down in June. State Secretary Andreja Kokalj said the prescriptive period for prosecution of criminal offences in Slovenia is among the longest in the EU, while statistics shows that 2-2.5% of cases in Slovenia fall under the statute of limitations annually.

Defence Ministry presents R&D projects by Slovenian companies

LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry presented 19 defence projects, including weapon systems, protective equipment and simulation systems, that are being developed by nine hi-tech Slovenian companies. Minister Marjan Šarec said the Slovenian Armed Forces are in a phase of necessary modernisation and stressed the importance of investing in R&D, especially in Slovenia's own defence industry. The ministry has been increasing R&D funding since 2022. This year it amounts to EUR 23 million, he said.

Jobless total falls to new all-time low in June

LJUBLJANA - A total of 43,369 people were registered as unemployed at the Employment Service at the end of June, down 1.6% on May and 6.1% on May 2023, and the lowest number on record in independent Slovenia. In June, 3,637 people registered as newly unemployed, 5.8% less than in May and 9.3% less than in June 2023. Meanwhile, 2,716 unemployed people got a job, which is 11.7% less than in May and 13.4% less year-on-year.

National budget deficit drops to EUR 346m in H1

LJUBLJANA - The national budget deficit stood at EUR 346 million in the first half of 2024, down 15% from the same period in 2023. Excluding the direct impact of emergency measures, the figure would be at EUR 60 million, shows preliminary data from the Fiscal Council. Excluding the emergency measures, national budget revenue grew by 7.9% in the first six months of 2024, which is a much brisker pace than in the same period in 2023 when the increase was at 0.5%.

Retailers favour Slovenian products, but buyers decide based on price

LJUBLJANA - Faced with calls to put more Slovenian produce on shelves, retailers claim they put a lot of effort into selling as much Slovenian vegetables as possible. However, the share of buyers to whom price is more important than origin is increasing, which retailers have little influence over. Spar Slovenija told the STA that the share of Slovenian produce was growing and had reached 32%, while Tuš said prices of produce were currently lower with foreign suppliers.

Eviction of Ljubljana day centre for homeless postponed

LJUBLJANA - The pending eviction of the Day Centre for the Homeless from the premises in Congress Square in Ljubljana owned by the Ursuline nuns has been postponed as a settlement has been reached through mediation. The centre run by a Catholic charity will leave the premises in two years at the latest, but its future in the city centre is uncertain.

Sea snot causing problems on Slovenian coast, swimming not advised

PIRAN - Marine mucilage, also known as sea snot or sea saliva, a thick, gelatinous organic matter lately observed in the Mediterranean Sea, has been causing problems to fishermen and tourists on the Slovenian coast in recent weeks. Although the situation improved somewhat over the weekend thanks to the wind, the snot has started reappearing. Sea snot appears relatively rarely and this is the first time in about 20 years that it is so widespread. It is a result of a number of factors that researchers are still struggling to comprehend.