News roundup - Friday, 13 September

Committee will not be discussing Kos nomination today

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary EU Affairs Committee did not discuss the nomination of Marta Kos for Slovenia's EU commissioner candidate as initially expected, so the government sent to parliament another request for a session to be held as soon a possible and complete the nomination so that the government can send the nomination to Brussels. Committee chair Franc Breznik, an MP of the opposition SDS, told the public broadcaster on Thursday evening that he could not call the session because he had not received the documents from the government he had asked for. He thus wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asking her for a letter in which she allegedly demanded that the government swap out its initial candidate, Tomaž Vesel. The Commission's spokesperson Eric Mamer meanwhile said in Brussels today that von der Leyen still intended to present her new team on Tuesday.

Marta Kos denies criticism of collaboration with Yugoslav secret police

LJUBLJANA - After Slovenian MEP Romana Tomc (EPP) criticised Marta Kos as Slovenia's new candidate for EU commissioner for her lack of experience and alleging she had had ties with the Yugoslav secret police, Kos denied the allegations, saying she had never been an UDBA employee or informant. Before she became ambassador to Germany and Switzerland, she was vetted by the security services in both countries, she told the STA. Had she ever harmed Slovenia's interests, she would not have been able to work in the Slovenian government or be ambassador. She also said the UDBA allegations had first emerged in 2022 to undermine her presidential candidacy.

FM says trust in two-state solution needed

MADRID, Spain - "More diplomacy is needed, the trust in the implementation of the two-state solution has to be rebuilt," Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told the STA after the meeting of ministers on the situation in Gaza and the Middle East held in Madrid. She believes it to be crucial that as many countries as possible recognise Palestine. She also said that the challenges were very complex and a potential escalation would be a threat to European security. The ministers adopted a joint statement committing to work towards the two-state solution, protection of civilians, a ceasefire, providing humanitarian aid and supporting the Palestinian authorities in Ramallah.

Slovenia signs memoranda with France on civilian use of nuclear energy

LJUBLJANA - Representatives of the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) and the French energy company EDF signed a memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation in R&D for the construction of new nuclear reactors, where EDF sees Slovenia at the centre of its strategy. The University of Maribor signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Institute of Nuclear Energy (I2EN) for the development of new university programmes on nuclear science and technology. The signatories also stressed the important role of nuclear energy in meeting the EU goals of climate neutrality by 2050, the French Embassy in Slovenia said.

Go-ahead for temporary measures to mitigate situation in prisons

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Justice Committee green-lit a bill that brings temporary measures aimed at mitigating staff shortages and overcrowded conditions in prisons. Changes to the Enforcement of Criminal Sanctions Act include the possibility of certain Prison Administration staff to step in and perform the duties of prison officers in order to fill the gap, while there is also the option of suspending or postponing the execution of certain prison sentences. The bill, which is being fast-tracked, will be put to a vote in parliament next week.

Social partners on opposite sides on mini tax reform

LJUBLJANA - Employers and trade unions repeated their respective opposition to and support for the government's tax package as they met with government officials on the Economic and Social Council. The employers' proposal to reject the package, which the government adopted two weeks ago, was however voted down. The ESS also discussed the Finance Ministry's proposal to harmonise income tax and relief brackets, which the employers and trade unions opposed, arguing the planned tax relief would not even cover the annual minimum cost of living. The ministry will now set up a task force to review the proposal. The social partners also agreed to form a task force to monitor implementation of long-term care legislation.

Cement plant threatens closure due to stricter co-incineration rules

ANHOVO - Alpacem Cement, the Anhovo-based cement maker, once again underlined that it would be impossible to meet the environmental conditions for co-incineration under an environmental decree the government is set to adopt. Unless the document is amended, Slovenia's only cement plant could be shut down, the Austrian-owned company said. The main issue Alpacem has with the decree and the legislative changes is the requirement that the emission values for co-incineration, to be laid down by the government, must be at least as strict as those set out in the best available technology (BAT) conclusions for incineration.

New post-flood relief package for companies available

LJUBLJANA - The Economy Ministry accepted requests for aid from 146 companies as part of the fifth package of aid to those affected by last last year's floods. 144 companies will receive a total of EUR 17.4 million, and two companies will receive another EUR 16,700. This brings the total aid to companies following the August 2023 floods to EUR 112.11 million. After the latest fifth package, a total of 468 companies will have received aid for damage caused by floods to their machines and equipment, supplies and the loss of revenue, the ministry said.

SD subsequently complies with party financing rules

LJUBLJANA - The junior coalition Social Democrats (SD) donated to charity almost EUR 3,000 they received from foreigners after the were urged to do so in the audit report for 2022 to comply with party financing rules. The Court of Audit found in the audit for 2022 in July that the party received EUR 2,900 from two individuals who are not Slovenian citizens, which runs contrary to the Political Parties Act. The SD otherwise received a positive opinion from the court.

SDS says new network charges system to hurt agriculture

LJUBLJANA - The opposition Democrats (SDS) are concerned that the incoming new system of electricity network charges will negatively affect agriculture and the entire food sector. The party thus called on the government to adopt measures so the change does not bring additional costs to the sector. The sector is highly dependent on daily reoccurring events which have to be performed at set intervals, either for the well-being of the animals, noted the SDS's forum for agriculture and rural areas.

Ljubljana airport records million passengers much earlier this year

BRNIK - Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport welcomed its millionth passenger this year in early September, a month earlier than in 2023, the airport operator Fraport Slovenija said. The number of passengers is expected to reach some 1.4 million by the end of the year, or 92% compared to the time before the coronavirus pandemic. In the first eight months of the year, more than 979,500 passengers were recorded at the airport, which is 18% more than in the same period last year.

Lower prices bring down SIJ's revenue in H1

LJUBLJANA - The steel manufacturing group SIJ posted EUR 582.1 million in sales revenues in the first half of 2024, a year-on-year decrease of 3.2% that was mostly the result of lower selling prices and declining demand. Net profit stood at EUR 1.6 million, down from EUR 12.7 million in the same period last year. A drop in selling prices also affected the manufacturer's adjusted EBITDA, which declined by 21% to EUR 42.2 million, reads the group's unaudited half-year financial report.

Equal opportunities advocate calls for gender-balanced staffing

LJUBLJANA - Advocate of the Principle of Equality Miha Lobnik proposed to parliament to extend the rule on gender-balanced distribution of posts to companies with more than 250 employees and companies owned by the state or by local communities. Lobnik said that this would mean some 500 companies in Slovenia instead of only some 30 as the government envisaged, stressing that the goal of gender-balanced distribution of managerial posts should be pursued more ambitiously.

Vasle says ECB acted based on decline in inflation

LJUBLJANA - Commenting on Thursday's decision of the European Central Bank (ECB) to cut key interest rates for the second time this year in the face of the decline in inflation, Bank of Slovenia governor Boštjan Vasle said that the ECB would continue to strive for a monetary policy leading to 2% inflation, which is a mid-term goal. "Our decisions will continue to ensure an appropriate monetary policy with a view to achieving a timely return of inflation to the 2% medium-term objective," he said.

Road traffic emissions in Slovenia growing

LJUBLJANA - Some 1.2 million cars were registered in Slovenia at the end of 2023, up 15% in the last decade, the Statistics Office said ahead of the European Mobility Week. It noted that greenhouse gas emissions in road traffic increased by 25% from 2008 to 2022, while the total CO2 emissions have decreased by 24%. In 2022 road traffic produced 5.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions or 42% of all annual CO2 emissions. Cars accounted for 52% and lorries and buses for 48% of road traffic emissions.