News roundup - Wednesday, 9 October

Pirc Musar assures continued support for Ukraine at summit in Croatia

DUBROVNIK, Croatia - Slovenia strongly supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, President Nataša Pirc Musar said after she attended Ukraine-South East Europe Summit in Dubrovnik, Croatia. She strongly condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine and assured continued support for the latter. She also stressed the importance of the EU future of Western Balkan countries, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.

SDS MP Logar leaves party

LJUBLJANA - MP Anže Logar, a former foreign minister, has left the opposition Democratic Party (SDS) after media and politicians were speculating about this for some time. It is not yet clear whether he will also leave the SDS deputy group. While the party cannot expel him from the deputy group, SDS leader Janez Janša expects him to step down as MP. Logar, a long-time member of the SDS, had been seen by some as a potential successor to Janša. However, in May last year he founded his own platform, which triggered speculation that he would eventually turn it into a party.

Committee okays expansion of new Koper-Divača rail to two tracks

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Infrastructure Committee unanimously endorsed changes to the legislation on a new railway track between the port of Koper and the inland hub Divača, allowing the project to go from single to double track. Construction is to start in 2026 and will increase the investment value by EUR 400 million to some EUR 1.5 billion.

IAEA boss says Slovenia should use nuclear experience in new reactor decision

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia can be proud of its nuclear programme and should use its experience in deciding about future use of nuclear power, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi said as he visited Ljubljana. Offering support, he underlined the importance of a broad discussion about a possible new reactor. In an interview with the STA he said that the IAEA alone is not the solution to every problem, so he urged world leaders to help the agency do its job.

Banking system remains stable, cybersecurity risks enhanced

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's banking system and the entire financial system remain stable with the level of systemic risks to financial stability further decreasing and being assessed as low to moderate, according to the central bank's latest financial stability report. Risks to cybersecurity are meanwhile intensifying due to geopolitical tensions.

Committee confirms stricter rules for pesticides

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Agriculture Committee endorsed amendments to the Act on Plant Protection Products that introduce tougher rules on the handling of pesticides amidst warnings by farmers and the opposition that the requirements are too strict. The amendments are in line with a March 2023 decision by the Constitutional Court requiring that buffer zones around water intake zones must be defined to prevent from contamination with pesticides.

Measures promised to help underdeveloped border areas

LJUBLJANA - The economy and EU affairs committees held a joint session on Tuesday to debate a motion of the opposition Democrats (SDS) on helping the least developed border areas, with the relevant ministry announcing legislative changes that would address the issues related to unbalanced regional development.

Measures to support car industry agreed at meeting with economy minister

LJUBLJANA - The Economy Ministry organised a meeting with automotive suppliers, employer organisations and trade unions to agree on a set of priorities to adapt the industry to changes in the global car industry. The stakeholders stressed that car industry suppliers are of strategic importance to the Slovenian economy. There are around 40,000 workers in nearly 400 companies in the Slovenian automotive industry, which generates nearly 10% of the country's GDP.

Sarajevo gives Fajon the key to the city

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina - Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon will receive the key to Sarajevo in recognition of her friendship and staunch support for Bosnia-Herzegovina's EU membership bid. The news was reported by Dnevni Avaz, a Sarajevo news outlet, and confirmed by Mayor Benjamina Karić, who said on Facebook that the decision by the Sarajevo city council was unanimous.

Petrol signs five-year power supply agreement with Axpo

LJUBLJANA - The energy group Petrol has signed an agreement to purchase renewable electricity from the Swiss electricity producer and trader Axpo, which will be used for supporting the group's core activities and the long-term supply to business customers in Slovenia, Petrol announced.

Pharma maker Krka opens new facilities

NOVO MESTO - The Novo Mesto-based pharmaceutical company Krka opened a new building called Pavilion 3, which spans 9,600 m2 and offers a microbiology lab, informatics centre, training facilities and supply chain offices. The EUR 20 million investment was completed in a year and a half.

Slovenia sending post-flood aid to Poland

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will send aid to Poland after the country faced catastrophic floods in September, the government said, adding that Slovenia will send 500 pairs of protective polyurethane boots, worth EUR 17,000, as part of the EU civil protection mechanism.

Study shows worrying levels of pollution in Kanal ob Soči

LJUBLJANA - The levels of oxidative potential of airborne particulate matter (PM) in the western municipality of Kanal ob Soči are among the highest in Europe, largely due to the cement plant there, a study has shown. A new parameter, oxidative potential is an important indicator to asses the impact of PM pollution on health. These particles cause oxidative stress, which typically leads to inflammation and chronic diseases.

Refusal to issue birth control puts spotlight on women's rights

LJUBLJANA/LENDAVA - Women's rights are back on the agenda in Slovenia after the case of a pharmacist who refused to issue birth control pills triggered debate about conscientious objection in medicine, including demands that this right be curtailed when it clashes with a patient's right to receive treatment. The Pharmacy Chamber stressed the importance of patients' uninterrupted access to healthcare, while pointing out that few pharmacists invoke conscientious objection.

Normalising mental health discussions in focus of exhibition, round table

LJUBLJANA - On the eve of World Mental Health Day, Slovenian organisations stressed the importance of preventive measures and normalising discussions on mental health among youth with an exhibition and a round table discussion. UNICEF Slovenia set up an installation of 90 school lockers with anonymous stories of Slovenian children and youth, which will be on show in Republic Square until Friday.

Karpo Godina retrospective on show in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - The Kriterion cinema in Amsterdam will host a retrospective on Friday and Saturday to honour Slovenian director, cinematographer, editor and screenwriter Karpo Godina. Several feature-length films and shorts directed by Godina and a documentary on his life will be screened. Godina will attend all screenings and host Q&As afterwards.

Media: Man gets prison sentence for threatening to blow up a building

PTUJ - The Ptuj District Court has sentenced a 48-year-old to 22 months in prison for threatening to blow up a residential building with a butane cylinder in Ptuj in May. He confessed to the crime and expressed remorse, the newspapers Večer and Slovenske Novice reported.

One in five Slovenians use generative AI tools

LJUBLJANA - One in five Slovenians used generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot in the first quarter of 2024, shows data published by the Statistics Office. Personal use of internet is increasing and only 7% of Slovenians have never used the internet before.