News roundup - Tuesday, 3 September, until 3pm

Emergency bill in works to prevent TEŠ receivership

ŠOŠTANJ - As the financial situation of the Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant (TEŠ) has worsened to the extent that the plant would have to file for receivership in 2025 without an intervention by the state, Environment, Climate and Energy Minister Bojan Kumer announced that an emergency bill is being drafted to address the issue. A temporary solution proposed by the ministry would limit the operations of the thermal division of the state-owned power utility HSE, which includes TEŠ and the Velenje coal mine, only to heating. The ministry would also set up a public service for heating supply which would be directly linked to the thermal division of HSE. TEŠ and the Velenje coal mine would be managed directly by Slovenian Sovereign Holding.

Gregor Makuc new CEO of Lek

LJUBLJANA - Gregor Makuc took over as Lek's chief executive officer as the Slovenian pharmaceuticals company that is part of the group Sandoz adopted one-tier management. Robert Ljoljo, Lek's CEO until now and Sandoz Slovenia president until the end of September, is meanwhile leaving the company at the end of the month. A decision on a one-tier system was made by the shareholders at the end of August, and kicked in on 2 September. Lek said the change was necessary to optimise and streamline corporate governance and adjust it to other companies in the group.

Beverage industry protesting VAT increase for drinks with added sugar

LJUBLJANA - The Beverage Industry Association reiterated its protest against a bill raising VAT on sugary drinks with added sugar or sweeteners and energy drinks from 9.5% to 22%. "The proposal is unacceptable and harmful to the economy and consumers," they wrote, calling for its withdrawal. The association wrote that the proposal, adopted by the government last Friday as part of a planned series of tax changes, "is expected to increase the retail price of sugary drinks by 10-20 cents".

BSF panel cautious about success of UN Summit of the Future

BLED - Key issues and possible solutions for the upcoming UN Summit of the Future were discussed at a panel at the Bled Strategic Forum, with the participants highlighting inequality, impunity and population ageing as some of the main things to address, but also pointed out that a breakthrough might not actually be possible at the moment. The debate covered a broad spectrum of issues, from demographic change, justice and the perspective of the Global South, to how successful a global summit can actually be.

EU faces plethora of challenges post-election, BSF panel hears

BLED - The EU faces even bigger challenges than in the Commission's and Parliament's previous term, heard a Bled Strategic Forum panel. Competitiveness, the technological dominance of the US and China, and inadequate defence spending were highlighted as some of the key concerns along with incomplete integration and political gridlock. Several challenges in the near term were listed, including the fact that crises are accelerating and that the US and China are investing heavily in science and technology at a pace that Europe cannot match.

Over 50,000 Slovenians studied abroad via Erasmus+ in past decade

LJUBLJANA - The Erasmus+ student exchange scheme remains one of the most popular EU programmes in Slovenia. In the past decade, nearly 51,000 Slovenian students, adults in education, teachers and other staff spent a period abroad with the help of the programme, according to data provided by the Centre for Mobility and European Education and Training Programmes. Spain has been the most popular destination for Slovenians, followed by Portugal and Germany.

Vilenica Literary Festival opening in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - The 39th International Vilenica Literary Festival is opening in Ljubljana, bringing together writers from Central Europe. The central theme this year is technological change and the question how human literature (still) is. The festival, which is being held in the Slovenian capital and the southwestern region of Kras, will open with the presentation of the Central European Initiative award for up-and-coming writers to Croatian poet, playwright and editor Monika Herceg.

New hope for glioblastoma treatment emerging in research in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - Researchers at the National Institute of Biology are exploring new avenues for more effective treatment of glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Having discovered different biomarkers that could be used as drug targets, the team will present their groundbreaking findings at an international conference held from 4 to 6 September.