News roundup - Friday, 12 July

Foreign Policy Committee takes note of security agreement with Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Policy Committee discussed behind closed doors the draft security agreement between Slovenia and Ukraine, but details are scarce due to confidentiality. Radio Slovenia reported that PM Robert Golob could sign the agreement next week in the UK at a meeting of the European Political Community.

Slovenia to double presence in peacekeeping mission in Kosovo

WASHINGTON, US - PM Robert Golob announced at the end of the NATO summit in Washington on Thursday that Slovenia will double its presence in the NATO mission in Kosovo next year. He explained that the presence of NATO in the Western Balkans is being boosted at the initiative of US President Joe Biden, who knows the region well.

Slovenia pledges another EUR 1m for UNRWA

NEW YORK, US - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon announced EUR 1 million in additional aid by Slovenia for UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at a donor conference held at UN headquarters. She also presented joint pledges a number of UN countries made at the initiative of Slovenia, Jordan and Kuwait, and met UNRWA head Philipp Lazzarini.

Fajon wraps up NATO summit with a forum on hybrid threats

WASHINGTON, US - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon concluded her participation in the NATO summit by taking part in a public forum on hybrid threats at which she noted the need to strengthen the resilience of societies to the growing hybrid threats. "No country is immune to the growing hybrid threats, so strengthening the resilience of societies is key to overcoming this security challenge," she said.

Contractor chosen to build new passenger terminal at Koper port

KOPER - The operator of Slovenia's only sea port, Luka Koper, picked the construction company Makro 5 to build a new passenger terminal. One of five bidders, Makro 5 offered to build the passenger terminal for EUR 2.99 million excluding VAT and EUR 3.65 million with VAT. Luka Koper hopes it will be built by the start of the season next year.

Report: Doctors bill more services to ZZZS than are performed

LJUBLJANA - Patients have reported doctors who billed the public health insurer ZZZS for services they did not perform, online portal 24ur reported. ZZZS reduced its contractual obligations by EUR 2.3 million last year due to incorrectly billed services, said the portal, which reported of a case of a mother who took a child with developmental issues to four therapy sessions but noticed that 30 sessions were recorded in the online portal.

Roglič withdraws from Tour de France after crash in 12th stage

PAU, France - Slovenian cycling star Primož Roglič announced he was out of the Tour de France after suffering a nasty crash during the 12th stage of the race from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot on Thursday. Roglič has dropped almost five minutes behind the overall leader, his compatriot Tadej Pogačar, losing more than two minutes in yesterday's stage alone.

ESS establishes body to negotiate foreigner employment policy

LJUBLJANA - The Economic and Social Council (ESS), Slovenia's industrial relations forum, decided to establish a committee to tackle possible solutions in issues pertaining to employment of foreign workers. The committee will try to find consensus on foreign workforce policy, said Labour Minister Luka Mesec. While employers are concerned about a shortage of some professions, the employees are warning against violations and potential dumping, he said. The ESS also established a task force to draft a pension reform proposal.

EUR 52m available for intl business promotion, decarbonisation

LJUBLJANA - SPIRIT Slovenia, a business promotion agency, published two open calls to co-fund efficient energy use and decarbonisation in industry, and promotion of companies at international fairs, offering a total of nearly EUR 52 million. Just over EUR 42 million is available in the first open call, and just over EUR 9.5 million in the other one. The Economy Ministry meanwhile wants to set up a domestic furniture industry showroom, offering EUR 900,000 in a period of three years.

Dance and the Child International Ljubljana Declaration signed

LJUBLJANA - Ljubljana hosted the Dance and the Child International Conference this week, where the latest practices and guidelines in the dance pedagogy were discussed. The culture and education ministers and several officials from the Dance and the Child International Organisation (daCi) signed the Dance and the Child International Ljubljana Declaration.

Youth crime drama series Stinkbomb to hit TVs next spring

LJUBLJANA - The public broadcaster RTV Slovenija has launched the production of a youth crime drama series based on the novel Smrdljivc (Stinkbomb) by Rok Bohinc. The six-part series, financially supported by the Slovenian Film Centre, is expected to hit TV screens next spring. The story revolves around a student who throws a stinkbomb in the toilet just before the start of the class, causing the school to be evacuated.

Ljubljana Zoo ibexes released in wild in conservation project

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Zoo has released, for the first time ever, five of its animals in the wild as part of an international conservation project aiming to help the Alpine ibex population. A total of eleven Alpine ibexes from three zoos were released in the Hohen Tauern in Austria in early July.