News roundup - Monday, 16 September, until 3pm

President paying working visit to Netherlands

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands - President Nataša Pirc Musar arrived in the Netherlands for a working visit during which she will attend a conference of the Europol Data Protection Experts Network and meet King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Dick Schoof. She started her visit at the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation - Eurojust, meeting the agency's head Ladislav Hamran and deputy head Boštjan Škrlec from Slovenia.

Commission okays Slovenia's request for EUR 257m in recovery & resilience funds

BRUSSELS, France - Slovenia is to get EUR 257.7 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility by the end of 2024, said the national recovery and resilience office as the European Commission approved the country's third claim for the EU facility designed for post-Covid recovery. Slovenia filed the third claim on 28 June, asking for a net total of EUR 257.7 million, including the advance payments it received in 2021.

Croatian retailer Studenac to keep Kea's name, employees

LJUBLJANA - The Croatian retailer Studenac presented its plans after it acquired the Slovenian supermarket chain Kea, saying that this will be an excellent starting point for further expansion in Slovenia. The value of the deal was not revealed, but Andrija Topić from Studenac said Kea shops will keep their name, employees and suppliers. Kea is a family business with just over 250 employees and 31 shops, mostly in the Celje and Savinjska region but also in Maribor, Prekmurje and Kras and the Primorsko-Notranjska region. Last year it posted almost EUR 50 million in revenue.

Tadej Pogačar wins Montreal Grand Prix

MONTREAL, Canada - Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar, the reigning Tour de France champion, won the Montreal Grand Prix on Sunday, his last race before the World Championships in Zurich. The UAE Team Emirates rider left his rivals in the dust on the climb on the penultimate lap of the 18-lap race in and around Montreal, putting in time all the way to the finish. He crossed the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) to bag his 22nd victory of the year and his first since taking the Tour de France in July.

Researcher Jerala wins ERC funds for a second project

LJUBLJANA - Roman Jerala, a researcher at the National Chemistry Institute, has won his second European Research Council (ERC) advanced grant for established researchers in the life sciences earlier this month. His EUR 2.5 million, five-year project aims to develop new ways of regulating proteins that might be used for therapeutic purposes, including in cancer immunotherapy.

Slovenia to promote sustainable tourism to US

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has joined forces with Croatia and Austria for a tourism promotional campaign in the US. The campaign launching in the next few days is geared at American travellers with higher purchasing power looking for sustainable travel experiences with a touch of modern luxury, the Slovenian Tourism Board (STO) said. Dubbed The Alps. Adriatic. Amazing., the campaign includes digital advertising on the Conde Nast Traveller online portal, which is expected to reach 12 million views, and promotion on the social media channels of Conde Nast Traveller's publishing house.

European Mobility Week to paint transport green

LJUBLJANA - Many Slovenian cities and towns will be hosting events promoting sustainable transport options to mark European Mobility Week under this year's slogan Shared Public Spaces. The aim is to make urban life safer and more liveable. The events will focus on efforts to provide valuable public spaces, including pedestrian areas, bike lanes and green areas, and reduce car traffic, pollution and noise. Excessive use of cars remains one of the key development challenges, the Environment, Climate and Energy Ministry said ahead of European Mobility Week.