News roundup - Monday, 2 September

Wars in Gaza and Ukraine and EU enlargement in focus as Bled Strategic Forum opens

BLED - The annual Bled Strategic Forum (BSF), Slovenia's main foreign policy event, got under way with discussions centring on EU enlargement, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and the situation in Russia. Opening the event, which brings together more than 180 speakers from 48 countries, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon called for responsibility and empathy in decision-making and President Nataša Pirc Musar advocated for multilateralism and cooperation in finding solutions to global challenges, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to speed up EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, declaring that "Russia's full-fledged war in Ukraine is for Europe a turning point like 1989".

Leaders at BSF upbeat about EU enlargement to W Balkans

BLED - The prime ministers of Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Albania were upbeat about the prospect of Western Balkan countries joining the EU at a Bled Strategic Forum debate that followed a pledge by the EU Commission president that enlargement efforts will be stepped up. Prime Minister Robert Golob described it as "the right response to the times we live in" and labelled Ursula von der Leyen's announcement that there will be a dedicated enlargement portfolio as "the right approach".

BSF hears Israeli, Palestinian representatives support "divorce"

BLED - The situation in Gaza featured prominently at and around the Bled Strategic Forum. The situation was discussed in separate talks with Amal Jadou, senior foreign policy advisor to the Palestinian prime minister, and Tzipi Livni, former foreign minister of Israel. They presented opposing views on the conflict but agreed a "divorce" is the only viable alternative. Before the start of the forum about a dozen people protested against the EU's inaction on Israel's violence against Palestinians and criticised the Slovenian government for inviting Livni.

Bled Strategic Forum honours Navalnaya

BLED - The Bled Strategic Forum honoured Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, with the Distinguished Partner Award. In her speech, Navalnaya called for an EU strategy for Russia. "We cannot close our eyes and make Russia disappear," Navalnaya said, adding that the futures of the EU and Russia will be linked so a a strategy for Russia must be developed. Her call was echoed by Garry Kasparov, Russian chess grandmaster and co-founder of the Free Russia Forum.

Von der Leyen sees hope returned to flood-hit Črna

ČRNA NA KOROŠKEM - Accompanied by PM Robert Golob, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Črna na Koroškem again a good year after the municipality was hit by devastating floods. She described the visit as very emotional for her but said she could see hope had returned to the town. Mayor Romana Lesjak sees the revisit as proof the municipality has not been forgotten. Slovenia must spend EU funds allocated for the post-flood reconstruction within a year and a half of approval.

Golob and von der Leyen discuss new Commission's priorities

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Prime Minister Robert Golob had a bilateral meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum. They discussed the priorities of the new Commission, EU enlargement, and the situation in the Western Balkans, Gaza and Ukraine, the government said on X. Golob and von der Leyen did not speak to the press so it is not clear whether they discussed Slovenian candidate for EU commissioner Tomaž Vesel amid media reports that von der Leyen might try to convince Slovenia to put forward a female candidate.

Fajon stresses importance of youth in politics at Young BSF

POKLJUKA - Young BSF, an event held before the Bled Strategic Forum and dedicated to future policy-makers, wrapped up on Sunday. Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon met the participants of the three-day event to discuss the divides currently present in the world. She stressed the importance of youth involvement in policy-making around the world. Fajon told the participants that "in the divided world we live in it is very important to listen to each other, to hear each other and to work together".

SDS preparing criminal complaint against parliamentary speaker

LJUBLJANA - The opposition Democrats (SDS) are preparing a criminal complaint against National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič over alleged abuse of office, the STA leaned from unofficial sources. The reason is that Klakočar Zupančič failed to put on the parliamentary agenda the SDS's request for a parliamentary inquiry into the energy sector, including for the time when PM Robert Golob was still the boss of the energy company GEN-I. She cited irregularities pinpointed by the parliament's legal service.

Government enters cooperation with biotech accelerator

LJUBLJANA - The government signed a memorandum understanding with the Biotech Hills institute, a newly-established business accelerator in biotechnology, by which they commit to work together to develop a comprehensive ecosystem in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The purpose of the agreement with Biotech Hills is to develop a comprehensive ecosystem in biotechnology, which would position Slovenia as the most attractive development destination in this field.

EIB provides EUR 50m loan for extensive power grid upgrades to Elektro Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's largest power distributor Elektro Ljubljana and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a EUR 50 million loan agreement. The funds will enable grid upgrades and consolidation, with Elektro Ljubljana CEO Urban Likozar saying the investments will play a key role in reliable power supply. The funds will go toward a project worth EUR 164.2 million entailing extensive upgrades and new medium- and low-voltage overhead lines, underground lines and transformers, as well as new EV charging stations, among other things.

EIB honours Slovenia's EU anniversary with open air exhibition

LJUBLJANA - The European Investment Bank Group launched an open-air photo exhibition in Ljubljana city centre to mark the 20th anniversary of Slovenia's EU membership, displaying a number of projects funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF). Running between 29 August and 30 September, the exhibition Slovenia - 20 Years of Progress in the EU features 17 large photographs along the Ljubljanica river bank in Gallusovo Nabrežje, representing projects funded by the EIB.

First human West Nile virus infections in Slovenia since 2018

LJUBLJANA - Three people have been infected with the West Nile virus in Slovenia in what are the first cases of the mosquito-borne disease since 2018, the National Institute of Public Heath (NIJZ) said. All three cases were reported in the northeast of the country. None had travelled abroad and had been apparently infected in Slovenia, and they all needed hospital treatment. Of the two admitted to UKC Maribor, one had milder symptoms and has already been discharged. The other has a slightly more severe disease, but the complications are not life-threatening, the hospital's official said.

2024 summer hottest on record in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - This summer was the hottest on record in Slovenia, the Environment Agency said. Nights and mornings were warm, which means that the average daytime lows were very high. Moreover, this August was the highest on record as well, while the highest September temperature was recorded yesterday. The average summer temperature deviated from the average in the period 1991-2020 by 2.5 degrees Celsius, Renato Bertalanič of the Environment Agency told the STA. The average was pushed up by warm nights and mornings. Meanwhile, the average daytime high average was the second highest on record.

Primary and secondary schools reopen after summer holidays

LJUBLJANA - A new school year started for around 84,000 secondary school and around 192,770 primary school students, of whom 20,173 are first graders. Primary school children will see several changes this year as the national exams are expanded to year three and the first foreign language is introduced in year one. However, many schools have been offering a foreign language course as part of the curriculum to first graders for years. There are also some changes to better integrate primary and secondary school children whose mother tongue is not Slovenian, who will have to take Slovenian classes or courses.

Aircraft designer Boscarol named Living Legend of Aviation

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian aircraft designer and entrepreneur Ivo Boscarol, the founder of the ultralight aircraft producer Pipistrel, has been declared a Living Legend of Aviation by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, joining the likes of astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Holywood stars Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford. The accolade from the Colorado-based non-profit dedicated to introducing, educating and sparking children's interest in aviation comes after Boscarol won its Eren Ozmen Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2018.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month under way

LJUBLJANA - Several initiatives are being organised in Slovenia in September to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Around 80 children in Slovenia are diagnosed with cancer each year and while the cure rate is 80%, the disease is the second most common cause of death in children. According to the Institute of Oncology, the incidence of childhood cancer has been rising steadily over the past decades, while mortality rates have been falling.

Ljubljana Festival attracts 55,000 visitors to 105 events

LJUBLJANA - The 72nd annual Ljubljana Festival, a leading Slovenian festival of classical music and beyond, has attracted around 55,000 visitors from 57 countries in a good two months while featuring 105 events with around 6,300 artists. Artistic director Darko Brlek described this year's edition as one of the best so far. The festival cost EUR 7.5 million to organise. EUR 3.9 million has been provided by the city of Ljubljana, with the rest coming from sponsors and ticket sales.