News roundup - Tuesday, 17 September, until 3pm

Slovenia gets enlargement portfolio in new European Commission

STRASBOURG, France - The Slovenian candidate for European commissioner Marta Kos will be in charge of the enlargement portfolio in the new European Commission line-up, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in Strasbourg. Kos will be in charge of EU enlargement and of the Eastern neighbourhood, including further support for Ukraine, also in terms of the country's post-war reconstruction. PM Robert Golob said "the portfolio is proof that Slovenia is valued and respected in the international community". Von der Leyen noted that the procedure to confirm Kos's candidacy in Slovenia is still under way. She also confirmed that she sent to Golob a letter in which she expressed her reservations regarding Slovenia's initial candidate Tomaž Vesel. She has now sent it to the relevant parliamentary committee in response to the opposition's request to do so.

Parliamentary commissioner hearing scheduled for Wednesday

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary EU Affairs Committee will interview Marta Kos, Slovenia's candidate for EU commissioner, tomorrow, after its chair Franc Breznik refused to call a session for a week demanding more documents. Speaking to the press, hours after Kos was assigned the enlargement portfolio, Breznik said he had finally received a letter EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent to PM Robert Golob on 5 September. The letter, made public today, states that Tomaž Vesel, Slovenia's original candidate, does not have the appropriate competences for the post and should be replaced.

Golob rejects allegations of pressure from Brussels

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob rejected the allegations of political pressure from Brussels to replace Slovenia's initial candidate for EU commissioner as he gave an interview for the public broadcaster RTV Slovenija late on Monday evening. "Every boss has the right to set the criteria for who should be in their team so that it will work," Golob said in reference to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He also hinted that Slovenia was eyeing the enlargement portfolio in the new European Commission in a statement that preceded the official announcement of portfolio distribution, during which it was confirmed Slovenia was indeed entrusted enlargement.

Analyst sees enlargement as important brief

LJUBLJANA - International relations expert Marko Lovec finds the enlargement portfolio assigned to Slovenia on the next European Commission is important and the country could hardly aim for more. With the war in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical changes, enlargement is back on the agenda, he says, noting moderation as Slovenia's asset. Enlargement is back on the EU's agenda, with Lovec hoping the new impetus and commitment to enlargement are not just symbolic and temporary shifts but there will be genuine will in the EU to bring about change. He also finds it very important geopolitically that Slovenia has been given this portfolio where Ukraine has a special position.

Freedom Movement MP Sajovic named defence minister candidate

LJUBLJANA - Borut Sajovic, deputy group leader for the ruling Freedom Movement, was named candidate for defence minister, Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon announced. Sajovic would succeed Marjan Šarec, who has been elected a member of the European Parliament. An experienced politician with a long track record, Sajovic served two terms as Liberal Democrat MP prior to the current term, between 2004 and 2011.

Healthcare draft bill by civil initiative tabled

LJUBLJANA - Changes to the Health Services Act drafted by the civil initiative Voice of the People were tabled in the National Assembly by the Left MP Miha Kordiš and independent MP Mojca Šetinc Pašek. The initiative believes the bill clearly demarcates public and private healthcare unlike the draft bill by the Health Ministry. The Voice of the People thinks the ministry's draft bill, which entered into public consultation on Monday, deviated from the clear separation of public and private healthcare that was originally announced.

Apple devices now speak Slovenian

LJUBLJANA - All Apple devices that are compatible with the new iOS 18 mobile operating system make Slovenian available as a language option since Monday night, five months after the Slovenian parliament expanded provisions on the public use of the Slovenian language to modern digital gadgets. The Culture Ministry noted that Apple was the first major corporation that has complied with the amended Public Use of the Slovenian Language Act, expressing the expectation that other manufacturers will follow suit and that all devices will finally be made available in Slovenian.

Strong demand for govt laptops after eligibility expanded

LJUBLJANA - The Digital Transformation Ministry has received 11,000 applications for laptops that it plans to lease to students after eligibility was expanded, more than it currently has in stock. Now that applications are open to all families in the bottom six out of nine income brackets, demand is outstripping supply and more than 150 applications are coming in daily, the ministry told the STA. The call is open until 30 September.

Jure Novak appointed Cankarjev Dom director

LJUBLJANA - Culture Minister Asta Vrečko appointed Jure Novak, director of the Kranj theatre, as director general of the Cankarjev Dom arts centre to replace Uršula Cetinski in the wake of allegations against her. Vrečko found Novak to be the most competent candidate to take the post based on the tender documentation, the Culture Ministry wrote in a press release. Novak said he was grateful and was looking forward to the work with the exceptional team of Cankarjev Dom.

Major film award goes to costume designer Zvonka Makuc

PORTOROŽ - Costume designer Zvonka Makuc will receive the Milka and Metod Badjura Award for lifetime achievement in film, announced the Festival of Slovenian Film. She has created costumes for many award-winning Slovenian and international feature films. "She created something beautiful, modest, and subtle, yet deeply memorable for many generations," the jury noted. Her costumes were praised as complex, refined, and meticulously thought out. The award will be presented on 22 October, at the opening of the festival, which will run until 27 October.