News roundup - Wednesday, 25 September, until 3pm

Ukraine assured continued Slovenian support

NEW YORK, US - Prime Minister Robert Golob assured Ukraine that Slovenia will stand by its side until peace is achieved as Slovenia chaired a torrid UN Security Council session on Tuesday marked by protests by Russia. Golob said European countries are united in condemnation of the aggression, whereas the Security Council "has failed the people of Ukraine." He said only a just peace will give Ukrainians a brighter future and only a lasting peace will allow them to grow and flourish. Such peace cannot come at the expense of fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter.

Digit ministry tried to avoid fine for traffic offence in Austria

LJUBLJANA - Digital Transformation Minister Emilija Stojmenova Duh was caught speeding and using blue emergency lights in a government car on a motorway in Austria in May, and the ministry tried to avoid paying the fine, the N1 news portal reported. Instead of paying, the ministry contacted the Slovenian embassy in Vienna asking it to request from the Austrian authorities to drop prosecution, which the embassy denied.

Slovenia reports August tourist record

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded 1.18 million tourist arrivals in August, 18.2% percent more than in the same month last year, while the number of tourist nights increased by 13.9% to a record 3.27 million, the Statistics Office said. In the first eight months of the year, tourist arrivals were up 6.2% to 4.79 million, and the number of nights increased by 4.3% to 12.54 million. Foreign tourists accounted for three-quarters of all nights.

Last year's deficit higher than initially reported

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's general government deficit in 2023 has been revised to EUR 1.64 billion, which is EUR 88 million or 5.6% more than the initial estimate of the Statistics Office from April. As a share of gross domestic product (GDP), it increased by 0.1 percentage points to 2.6%, which is 0.4 points below the 2022 level. Gross debt was also revised, to EUR 43.739 billion or 68.4% of GDP. This is EUR 69 million more in nominal terms and 0.8 percentage points less as a share of GDP.

Farm machinery maker named Exporter of the Year

LJUBLJANA - Tehnos, a family firm that specialises in farm machinery, has been named Exporter of the Year by the business portal Finance after having become a top ten European producer of mulchers. The company developed an innovative electric mulcher where the electric engine is build into the mulcher's rotor, Finance said.

EUR 25m flood protection project launched in Dravograd

DRAVOGRAD - A EUR 25.5 million project has been launched to better protect the municipality of Dravograd from swelling waters of the Drava and Meža. Work, to be carried out at eight locations, including building reinforced concrete support walls, flood defences and stone revetments, started on 17 September. The region of Koroška was hit hard by last year's August floods, although the project, slated for completion at the end of 2025, had been planned even before that.

New research centre to boost resilience of forests

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will get a new lab and research hub, the Forest Seed, Plant and Protection Centre, to improve the resilience of forests to climate change in a EUR 8.65 million investment on which ground was broken on Wednesday. Slated for completion by the end of 2025, the centre will promote sustainable forest management, explore opportunities for biodiversity conservation and focus on developing tree species more resilient to climate change.