News roundup - Tuesday, 23 July

Number of Syrian migrants surges in first half of 2024, total figure up slightly

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian police processed a total of 21,243 irregular migrants in the first half of 2024, up 3% year-on-year. The latest police data show the number of Syrians caught entering illegally rising from 688 to 7,124, the number of intercepted Afghanis was down by about 300 to 3,004, while the figure for Turkish citizens increased by over 1,000 to 1,854. Notable decreases were recorded when it comes to illegal entries by Moroccan, Bangladeshi and Pakistani citizens.

Slovenia supports political solution for Syria under UN aegis

NEW YORK, US - Slovenia endorsed a political solution for Syria under UN aegis as the only long-term solution for ending the conflict in Syria at a UN Security Council session. Addressing the Security Council on Monday evening, Slovenian deputy ambassador Ondina Blokar Drobnič said the escalation of violence in Syria underlined the need for a political solution led by the Syrians under the sponsorship of the UN.

Slovenia condemns Houthi attack on Tel Aviv, regrets Israel's retaliation

NEW YORK, US - Slovenia condemned a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv and expressed regret at Israel's retaliatory measures, as Slovenia's deputy ambassador to the UN Ondina Blokar Drobnič urged all sides at a UN Security Council session to respect international law. Blokar Drobniš said tensions must be reduced. She called on all countries involved to leverage their influence to promote restraint on all sides.

Slovenia condemns vandalism of bilingual signs in Austria

LJUBLJANA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned in the strongest of terms vandalism targetting bilingual placename signs in Carinthia, the Austrian province that is home to most of the Slovenian minority in Austria. It also condemned any acts of intolerance that undermine harmony, trust and cooperation in nationally mixed areas.

President going to Paris ahead of Olympics opening

LJUBLJANA - President Nataša Pirc Musar will embark on a four-day visit to Paris on Thursday, a day before the official opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics in the French capital. IN addition to attending the opening ceremony, she will meet her Portuguese and Slovakian counterparts, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Peter Pellegrini, and attend several events.
Mesec says reform will bring decent pensions

LJUBLJANA - Labour Minister Luka Mesec expects pension reform, the blueprint for which was adopted in April, to be passed before summer next year. He told the STA that the aim is pensions allowing for a decent living. The plan is to keep 40 years of service as a basic condition, while starting a gradual two-year retirement age increase to 67 in 2028. The talks will begin in September at the Economic and Social Council and are scheduled until February.

Consumer confidence down in June

LJUBLJANA - Consumer confidence dropped by a percentage point in June over the month before, but it was still eight points higher than a year ago, show the latest Statistics Office data. The monthly decrease is the result of more pessimistic consumer expectations about the country's economy, which declined by 4 points, and opinions on current households' finances, which were down by 3 points.

First replacement home, a private donation, provided after 2023 floods

SLOVENJ GRADEC - While valuation and other red tape is still being tackled as part of government efforts to provide state-supported replacement housing for those hit worst by the August 2023 floods, the keys to the first new home, a private donation, were handed to a family in Slovenj Gradec. The event, which also featured Prime Minister Robert Golob, comes after about 350 buildings have been slated for demolition due to the floods and landslides, two of which in Slovenj Gradec.