Weekly review of events involving Slovenia, 13 to 19 September

FRIDAY, 13 September

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 thoroughly vetted by the security services in both countries, she told the STA.

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.

LJUBLJANA - 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. The University of Maribor meanwhile signed a memorandum with the International Institute of Nuclear Energy (I2EN) for the development of new university programmes on nuclear science and technology.

SATURDAY, 14 September

IVREA, Italy - Slovenia's canoeist Benjamin Savšek bagged his sixth World Cup win in Ivrea, Italy, by winning a slalom event, and canoeists Eva Terčelj and Peter Kauzer finished third at respective World Cup events. Slovenia's success was completed with Eva Alina Hočevar and Lan Tominc finishing fourth in their respective events.

SUNDAY, 15 September

MONTREAL, Canada - Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar, the reigning Tour de France champion, won the Montreal Grand Prix, 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 serious time into his rivals all the way to the finish.

MONDAY, 16 September

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - As part of her visit to the Netherlands, President Nataša Pirc Musar met International Criminal Court (ICC) president Tomoko Akane and ICC prosecutor Karim Khan and attended a conference on data protection. She said Slovenia had always advocated for a complete and unconditional respect for international law and human rights and had been an advocate of all international courts and tribunals.

BRUSSELS, France - The national recovery and resilience office announced Slovenia will get EUR 257.7 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility by the end of 2024 after the European Commission approved the country's third claim for the EU facility designed for post-Covid recovery.

LJUBLJANA - The Health Ministry sent into public consultation changes to the Health Services Act that limit dual practice for health professionals, a major move that doctors staunchly oppose. The main goal is to regulate the relations between healthcare services providers within and outside the public network, the ministry said.

LJUBLJANA - The government signed off on a "right to be forgotten" bill that deals with cancer survivors' right to resume a normal lifestyle without encountering financial discrimination based on their past diagnosis. The proposal also applies to people living with hepatitis C or HIV.

TUESDAY, 17 September

STRASBOURG, France - Slovenia's candidate for European commissioner Marta Kos will be in charge of the enlargement portfolio in the new European Commission, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced, a decision the government welcomed as a great recognition of Slovenia's reputation in the bloc.

LJUBLJANA - Borut Sajovic, deputy group leader for the ruling Freedom Movement, was named candidate for defence minister. Sajovic would succeed Marjan Šarec, who has been elected a member of the European Parliament.

LJUBLJANA - Education Minister Darjo Felda tendered his resignation saying that he wanted to return to academia and educate the next generation of science teachers. Vinko Logaj, long-time director of the Education Institute, has been nominated to replace him. He said staffing problems and teacher pay would be his top priorities.

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed in a partisan 46:23 vote legislation that provides stop-gap measures aimed at mitigating staff shortages and overcrowded conditions in prisons. Justice Minister Andreja Katič told MPs that the situation in Slovenian prison is "alarming" with the latest data showing they are at 140% capacity.

LJUBLJANA - Prominent businessmen Igor Akrapovič, Jure Knez and Radko Luzar unveiled an initiative designed to convince the government to let the corporate sector invest in construction of unit two at the Krško nuclear power station, potentially in exchange for fixed energy prices over the long term. The group has conducted a detailed study and thinks Krško 2 is the only logical way to achieve green transition targets and ensure Slovenia remains self-sufficient.

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 up the post.

WEDNESDAY, 18 September

LJUBLJANA - Marta Kos, Slovenia's candidate for EU commissioner, received the green light in parliament as the EU Affairs Committee voted 9:5 in favour in issuing its non-binding opinion. Kos assured the committee that she meets the three key requirements for European commissioner and described herself as a "dedicated European".

NEW YORK, US - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon chaired her first UN Security Council session under Slovenia's one-month presidency of the UN's top body. The session focused on gender discrimination in Afghanistan, with Fajon stressing the importance of speaking up in the face of such oppression.

LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry dispatched the first flood relief aid to the Czech Republic through the EU civil protection mechanism after the government pledged to help Central European countries hit by floods. The shipment contained 260 dehumidifiers, including 250 small ones for rooms up to 20 m2 and ten large ones for rooms up to 100 m2.

LJUBLJANA - Helena Koder was named the winner of this year's Rožanc Prize for the best essay collection. She has been honoured for her work Krošnja z Neznanimi Sadeži (Tree Crown Bearing Unknown Fruit), a collection of Rousseau-like ruminations.

THURSDAY, 19 September

LJUBLJANA - The government unanimously confirmed Marta Kos as Slovenia's candidate for EU commissioner. Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon reiterated the significance of Kos being assigned the enlargement and European neighbourhood portfolio, highlighting Ukraine's reconstruction as well as enlargement as one of the Commission's priorities.

NEW YORK, US - Slovenia condemned settler violence in the West Bank and called for a peace conference to advance the two-state solution as the UN Security Council debated the escalation of tensions in the West Bank in the shadow of the war in Gaza. "We are at a precipice... The potential to engulf the region in a wider conflict remains at an all time high," Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said.

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a new bill on critical infrastructure aimed at enhancing the resilience of vital services and adopting a modern approach to protection in line with the relevant EU directive. The directive obliges member states to take specific measures to ensure the continuity of services that are essential for the preservation of vital societal functions, economic activities, public health and safety and of the environment.

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will build a Cybersecurity Situational Centre under a decision adopted by the government. The facility is estimated at EUR 33.5 million and is due to be largely completed by 2027. The centre is designed to improve cybersecurity at the national level by providing permanent monitoring, detection and mitigation of cyberthreats.

LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry announced it would build a healthcare centre for national emergencies in the Peter Držaj Hospital in Ljubljana. Worth nearly EUR 87 million, the new facility would serve the dual purpose of providing healthcare for the military and the civilian population. Spanning 18,700 m2, it will have 160 hospital beds.