Weekly review of events involving Slovenia, 16-22 August

FRIDAY, 16 August

LJUBLJANA - Both trade unions representing police officers called on the Interior Ministry and the police commissioner to help bring about legislative changes that would make law enforcement more effective as well as increase officer safety, an appeal that came after officers were assaulted trying to apprehend a Roma man.

LJUBLJANA - The Infrastructure Ministry issued a new call for air carriers designed to improve Slovenia's air connectivity. A total of EUR 16.8 million is available for the project until 2025.

LJUBLJANA - The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Environment made available additional funds for just transition of former mining towns in three municipalities in Zasavje, raising the funds from EUR 7.76 million to EUR 12.42 million.

SATURDAY, 17 August

BELTINCI/MURSKA SOBOTA - Slovenia observed the Unification of Prekmurje Slovenians with the Mother Nation Day. At a state ceremony commemorating the region's 1919 unification, National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič said that the act itself carried strong cultural and political significance.

MONDAY, 19 August

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian police processed a total of 25,786 illegal migrants in the first seven months of 2024, a 4% decrease year-on-year. Syrians accounted for almost a third of all cases, with their number up more than tenfold.

KIDRIČEVO - Boxmark Leather, a maker of car and air plane seat covers, is set to lay off some 120 of its estimated 470 workers by the end of the year, Radio Slovenija reported. At the start of the year, the firm had full order books and was even hiring.

TUESDAY, 20 August

LJUBLJANA - NLB, Slovenia's largest bank, announced it had not succeeded with its bid to acquire Austria's Addiko Bank. Shareholders owning only 36.4% of Addiko stock accepted its offer, well below the 75% success threshold. The bank will not purchase the stock it was offered.

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia - President Natašar Pirc Musar started Slovenia's first state visit to Mongolia by meeting with her counterpart Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. She said that Slovenia and Mongolia are both committed to democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, and both are also strong supporters of multilateralism and respect for international law.

LJUBLJANA - The opposition New Slovenia (NSi) tabled changes to the criminal code introducing prison sentences for minors found guilty of serious crimes that normally carry prison sentences for those over 18. MP Vida Čadonič Špelič said the move comes in the wake of growing criminal activity among the Roma community.

LJUBLJANA - Fides, the trade union of doctors and dentists, issued a new set of demands to the government amid the ongoing eight-month strike. The demands concern key working conditions, including implementation of Article 10.a from the collective agreement and the European working time directive.

CÁCERES, Spain - Slovenian rider Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) took the lead at La Vuelta a Espana after winning stage four. He led a small breakaway group up the 14.6km, 6.2% climb up the Pico Villuercas and managed to fend off several last-minute attacks.

WEDNESDAY, 21 August

LJUBLJANA - A government task force on Roma issues held an emergency meeting. It decided to set up a special sub-group to focus exclusively on improving security in areas populated by Roma. The task force has so far focused on Roma integration, but the meeting concluded that this needs to change.

NEW YORK, US - Slovenia, Switzerland and Sierra Leone launched a joint initiative in support of the New Agenda for Peace, a policy brief of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, which focuses on the prevention of armed conflicts. They expressed their concern over the rise of armed conflicts and pledged efforts for proactive and comprehensive prevention.
        
THURSDAY, 22 August

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption said it had decided to resume an inquiry against Prime Minister Robert Golob over suspected meddling in police work, which was suspended in January in the interest of a pre-trial investigation. "The grounds for suspension are no longer there," the watchdog said.

LJUBLJANA - The merger of Slovenia's second and third largest banks, NKBM and SKB, was formally completed as SKB ceased to exist as an independent entity and was merged into NKBM. The bank, which will be renamed OTP Banka shortly, will be the second largest player on the banking market, close behind NLB.

LJUBLJANA - Career diplomat Melita Gabrič, so far head of EU mission in Canada, was appointed state secretary at the Foreign Ministry after Sanja Štiglic became ambassador to the UK. Gabrič will take over on 2 September to join Marko Štucin.

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted changes to the flood relief and reconstruction law changing spatial planning processes to speed up recovery after last year's August floods and adjusting the loan guarantee scheme to make it more favourable for homeowners affected by the floods.

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a bill on crypto asset markets with the aim to transpose into national law the EU regulation on markets in crypto assets, which was adopted last year and aims to protect investors by increasing transparency.

KOČEVJE/RIBNICA - Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar promised beefed up police presence in SE Slovenia to improve security amid endemic crime involving members of the Roma community as he met the Kočevje and Ribnica mayors. He also said legislation is being reviwed to see if it could be improved. The opposition SDS tabled a request for an emergency session of parliament to discuss Roma issues, an initiative backed by most of the ruling Freedom MPs.

LJUBLJANA - Zavarovalnica Triglav, Slovenia's largest insurer, reported a 659% increase in net profit in January-June, to EUR 75.4 million. Total business volume was down by 2% to EUR 943 million, whereas gross written premiums dropped by 3% to EUR 868 million.

KOPER - Port operator Luka Koper saw its revenue grow by 3% to EUR 163.3 million in January-June and net profit just as much to EUR 32.8 million. Total transshipment amounted to 11.3 million tonnes of cargo, down 1% from the same period in 2023.

KOPER - Koper police said they had arrested the leader of an Italian crime syndicate in collaboration with Italian authorities and the European judicial agency Eurojust. The 40-year-old Calabria-born head of a ring that trafficked cocaine throughout Italy was hiding in Koper on the run from a 21-year prison sentence.