News roundup - Monday, 28 October, until 3pm

POP TV poll: Govt support lowest yet

LJUBLJANA - The government approval rating in the most recent public opinion poll of the commercial broadcaster POP TV dropped to the lowest level so far. More than 26% of the respondents said they supported the cabinet's work, while 58% answered in the negative. The approval rating is lower than at the end of the previous government's term. The opposition Democrats (SDS) remain firmly at the top of the party rankings with a 22.2% support, while the senior coalition Freedom Movement is second with 11.7%. The survey was conducted by Mediana on 21- 24 October on a sample of 725 respondents.

GRECO unhappy with Slovenia's implementation of 2018 recommendations

LJUBLJANA - The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) issued its most recent report for Slovenia, finding that the country had made insufficient progress in implementing anti-corruption recommendations since 2018. "While there has been progress in the implementation of recommendations regarding those in top executive functions, "tangible actions are required on an integrity plan for the government, managing conflicts of interests and carrying out substantive checks of asset declarations," the report underlines, adding that action is also needed to strengthen integrity in government and police.

Belgian C-bank governor calls for honest communication about green transition

LJUBLJANA - Belgian central bank governor Pierre Wunsch underlined the importance of not ignoring the negative sides of the green transition as he delivered a talk about the green agenda's effect on macroeconomic policy. "Green transition is not a free lunch but the cost is manageable," he said, adding that communication is the biggest challenge of the green transition in the EU, as excessive focusing on the positive effects has led to an aversion in the public.

Koper port ready to launch series of infrastructure projects

KOPER - Several major construction projects are in the pipeline at the port of Koper, headlined by a new container terminal expansion reportedly valued at EUR 150-200 million. The expansion, which will increase the port's annual container capacity by over half a million units to 1.75 million containers, and with which Koper wants to maintain its position as the largest container port in the Adriatic Sea, is expected to take until late 2027, which would align with the completion of the new Divača-Koper railway line. A new passenger terminal building is planned as well, due for completion by April 2025.

TEŠ 6 bill also torn apart by Mining and Energy Workers' Trade Union

VELENJE - The Mining and Energy Workers' Trade Union rejected in the strongest terms a bill governing the winding down of the country's biggest coal-fired power station, TEŠ. It urged sustainable, long-term solutions and social security for the Šalek Valley that is home to TEŠ and the adjacent coal mine. Echoing the protest already voiced by the Velenje city councillors and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the union wrote that the bill, involving an initial reduction of TEŠ's role to a heating source for the region, is inconsistent with the legal and social principles that underpin a just transition.

NGOs urge abolition of nuclear programme state secretary post

LJUBLJANA - Representatives of NGOs Greenpeace Slovenia, Umanotera, and the Legal Centre for Human Rights and Environmental Protection (PIC) have called for the abolition of the post of the state secretary for the national nuclear programme and urged a democratic and inclusive debate about Slovenia's energy future. They believe this is the key prerequisite for a broader discussion on Slovenia's energy future.

Ski lift operators optimistic ahead of new season

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's ski resorts are approaching the 2024-25 winter season with optimism, despite last year's challenging conditions marked by unusually warm weather. According to the Association of Ski Lift Operators, ski pass prices will see a moderate increase of up to 5% due to rising operational costs. The association's head Boštjan Paradiž has explained that following strong investments in infrastructure prior to last winter, ski resort operators have had more time this year to prepare programmes and organise, completing extensive maintenance work and all investment phases.