News roundup - Thursday, 4 July

Golob not to sign Ukraine security agreement next week

LJUBLJANA - PM Robert Golob will not sign a security agreement with Ukraine at the NATO summit in Washington, DC next week as the wording is still being finalised by the Foreign Ministry. The agreement is being finalised at the ministry level and the government has not yet been informed about any requirements, Deputy PM Matej Arčon said. Ukraine has signed similar bilateral security agreements with 18 countries so far.

Foreign Minister Fajon visiting Brazil

BRASILIA, Brazil - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon is starting a three-day official visit to Brazil aiming to strengthen bilateral relations. She will meet her counterpart Mauro Viera to discuss cooperation and global issues, and representatives of the Slovenian-Brazilian and Slovenian-Argentinian chambers of commerce.

Administrative clerks to suspend strike on Monday

LJUBLJANA - Administrative clerks are expected to suspend their months' long strike on Monday after 40 of the country's 58 administrative units agreed to sign a strike-ending agreement with the government. The agreement, which entails a bonus for increased workload, will be signed on Friday and will be in force for all units, Frančišek Verk, the head of the union representing the staff, told the STA.

Govt adopts bill to help lighten administrative unit workload

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted legislation aimed at lightening the workload of the busiest administrative units. The emergency bill will suspend territorial jurisdiction in issuing residence and work permits to foreign citizens, while workers from abroad will be able to start working as soon as they file their work permit form. The measures will be in effect until the end of September.

Govt proposes bill for additional Koper-Divača track

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted amendments to the legislation governing the construction of a new railway line from the port of Koper to the Divača hub to allow for another, parallel track to be added to what is currently a single-track project. Currently under construction, the new single-track railway is due to open to traffic in 2026 when building of the additional track is slated to start, the cost of which is estimated at just over EUR 354 million. After the second track is built, the single-track railway currently in use is set to be converted to a bicycle path.

Slovenia considering procuring French weapon systems

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's Defence Ministry is planning to sign a letter of intent with its French counterpart for potential procurement of Caesar artillery and Mistral air defence systems. The signing of the letter of intent will also meet the condition for submitting an application for EU funding to build joint military capabilities, the Government Communication Office said after the government session.

Govt takes note of STA development strategy, planned costs

LJUBLJANA - The government took note of the development strategy of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) for the 2024-2027 period and the proposal for state co-financing of the public service the agency provides in informing the media and the public. The cost of that service is estimated at EUR 2.48 million for 2025 and EUR 2.53 million for 2026. The Government Communication Office (UKOM) noted that the government is obliged to ensure the agency's institutional autonomy and editorial independence, as well as adequate funding.

Commission welcomes president's initiative for decent burial

LJUBLJANA - The government commission for concealed graves welcomed the initiative by President Nataša Pirc Musar for a decent burial of victims of the war and post-war violence who have not been buried. The commission will begin public discussion on the matter in the autumn and expects to cooperate with the government and the president's office.

Govt confirms new bill on work of private detectives

LJUBLJANA - The government confirmed a new bill on the work of private detectives that introduce comprehensive regulation of permissible forms of detective work and disciplinary responsibility of detectives, and upgrade the regulation of professional supervision over the work of detectives and detective companies. The government said there had been complex and extensive changes in the field since the valid law was passed in 2011.

Supreme Court annuls admonition of Mesec for defamation

LJUBLJANA - The Supreme Court has annulled the admonition of Labour Minister Luka Mesec for defaming economist Bernard Brščič, the former president of the non-parliamentary far-right party Homeland League, the newspaper Dnevnik reported. The court "agreed with my statement that the things Brščič is saying can be called fascism," Mesec said.

Dismissal suit of former RTV Slovenija boss back to square one

LJUBLJANA - An appeals court has overturned a lower-court decision that Andrej Grah Whatmough, the former director of public broadcaster of RTV Slovenija, had been wrongfully dismissed in August 2023. It ordered a retrial, the newspaper Delo reported. The suit hinges on procedural issues, specifically how Grah Whatmough had been informed of the dismissal via a detective while he claims he was on vacation.

Court of Audit finds irregularities in six parties concerning EUR 250,000

LJUBLJANA - Audits for 2022 of six political parties, including all five parliamentary parties, have found irregularities in connection to the use of over EUR 253,000 and tasked the parties to donate EUR 20,000 for charity, the Court of Audit said.

Chambers give comments and proposals on draft tax changes

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) and AmCham expressed their reservations about the government proposal for fiscal changes, for which public consultation period ended on Wednesday. The GZS said the changes were not systemic, would not contribute to the stability of the fiscal environment or address key economic challenges, while AmCham Slovenia urged expanding the group of employees benefiting from a reduction of tax on wages and start-ups getting more favourable treatment.

Police file criminal complaint against two minors in school violence case

LJUBLJANA - Police have filed criminal complaints against two minors in relation to the recent attack on another student in a primary school in the Brežice municipality. Based on a recording of the attack on TikTok, the police found the attacker was not acting alone, TV Slovenija reported on Wednesday. Unofficially, the attacker also planned the attack with another student.

Former traffic safety boss found guilty of bribery

LJUBLJANA - The former director of the Traffic Safety Agency Igor Velov was found guilty of bribery at the Ljubljana District Court. He was sentenced to a year in prison with a probation period of three years and a EUR 2,000 fine. Velov was reported by a businessman whom he allegedly demanded to pay EUR 4,600 sponsorship for a boxing club in exchange for a EUR 23,000-worth contract. Velov's lawyer announced an appeal.

Experts warn anti-violence campaign might have reverse effect

LJUBLJANA - Experts expressed criticism of a campaign against peer violence and hate speech launched by the Digital Transformation Ministry in March. They believe the campaign's slogans and posters might actually encourage violence and hate speech, so they call for their removal, the web portal N1 reported on Wednesday. Today, the experts and the ministry said they were engaging in dialogue to provide children and youth with safe space for consideration and discussion on peer violence and hate speech.

Professional associations not happy about psychotherapy bill

LJUBLJANA - Several associations of psychologists and clinical psychiatrists have taken issue with the draft bill regulating psychotherapy that the Health Ministry recently released for public comment. They are particularly irked by what they perceive as lowering of the criteria for licensing persons who could perform psychotherapy in healthcare without having sufficient qualifications.

Number of newly registered cars up in H1, EVs down by half

LJUBLJANA - The number of registered new cars and light commercial vehicles increased by over 5% to over 32,800 in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2023, data from the Chamber of Commerce show. On the other hand, the number of new electric vehicles (EV) nearly halved to some 4,600.

Art Stays contemporary art festival delves into space

PTUJ - The 22nd Art Stays festival of contemporary art, entitled The Space, will once again fuse Ptuj's cultural heritage with contemporary art production from around the world. Staring today, about 50 artists from over 20 countries will participate at the festival running until 8 September.

Rolling Stone Italia puts Grounded among 15 best summer festivals

LJUBLJANA - Rolling Stone Italia has ranked Slovenia's Grounded among 15 best summertime music festivals. The Ljubljana festival, which is dedicated to electronic music, critical thinking and activism, joined the likes of Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Sziget and Flow Festival. The 8th Grounded will take place in the Slovenian capital between 22 and 24 August.

Slovenia stay alive in chase of Olympic basketball tournament

PIRAEUS, Greece - The Slovenian men's basketball team remains in play for the Summer Olympics in Paris as it made it out of the group play in a qualifying tournament in Piraeus, Greece by defeating New Zealand 104:78. It was a display of total dominance by Slovenia following yesterday's worrying 16-point defeat at the hands of Croatia. Slovenia now face the favoured hosts Greece in Saturday's semi-finals. Only the winner of the tournament will book a ticket to Paris.