News roundup - Tuesday, 29 October

Slovenian officials say Israel's ban of UNRWA massive blow to international law

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry, along with President Nataša Pirc Musar, Prime Minister Robert Golob and EU Commissioner Janez Lenarčič, expressed deep concern over the Israeli parliament's vote to ban the UN relief and works agency UNRWA from Israel. This is a massive blow to international law and the UN Charter, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said, while Pirc Musar said she was "appalled by the Israeli Parliament vote to ban the operation of UNRWA in the occupied Palestinian territory".

Migration, minority and nuclear in focus of high-level Italy-Slovenia meeting

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Slovenia hosted the 8th session of the Coordinating Committee of Ministers of Slovenia and Italy, co-chaired by foreign ministers Tanja Fajon and Antonio Tajani. The event discussed a number of topics, including migration, national minorities, economic cooperation and nuclear energy. Tajani and Fajon told the press after the meeting that their countries continued to strengthen what are already good relations, as well cooperation in a number of fields. Fajon said the potential of joint projects in many fields, such as water management, fisheries, energy and climate action, was discussed.

Rapid response unit launched at Labour Inspectorate

LJUBLJANA - The Labour Inspectorate, which has faced criticism in recent years for inefficiency and slow response times, has launched a dedicated rapid response unit to tackle urgent labour issues, especially those highlighted by the media or flagged by civil society. The new unit, comprising nine specialised inspectors as of 1 October, aims to provide the inspectorate with greater agility in addressing immediate and severe cases of worker rights violations, officials told the press.

Energy Ministry defends Šoštanj plant bill amid criticism

LJUBLJANA - The Environment, Climate, and Energy Ministry dismissed criticisms of the emergency bill on the loss-making Šoštanj coal-fired power plant (TEŠ) raised by businesses, trade unions and the local community. It argued that the bill, limiting TEŠ's operations, is in fact a measure safeguarding business and social interests. The ministry, which is wrapping up the public consultation stage of the bill, said the critical arguments raised by the unions, the Velenje municipality and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) are diametrically opposed to those coming from other government departments.

June triple referendum mostly a show-down between Freedom Movement and SDS

LJUBLJANA - While the Democrats (SDS) were the biggest spender in the campaign for the June EU election, the largest opposition party came second to the ruling Freedom Movement party when it comes to the total campaign expenses for the three referendums that were held alongside the election. Ahead of the referendums on the liberalisation of cannabis use, on legislating assisted dying, and introducing the preferential vote in general elections, all of which were backed, the Freedom Movement spent EUR 64,601 in total, while the SDS spent EUR 34,950.

SDS critical of RTV management, demands committee session

LJUBLJANA - Critical of the public broadcaster's management, and believing that a political takeover of RTV Slovenija has taken place and censorship has taken roots in the media outlet, the Democrats (SDS) requested an emergency session of the parliamentary Culture Committee, which is in charge of media policy, to discuss the situation. In the request, the largest opposition party says that the Robert Golob government has done its best to interfere in the broadcaster's editorial policy under the pretext of depoliticisation, i.e. cleansing RTV Slovenija of staff allegedly loyal to SDS leader Janez Janša.

Motorisation rate, average age of cars hit new record in 2023

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded the highest ever motorisation rate in 2023, but the average age of vehicles also hit a new high, the Statistics Office said. The motorisation rate stood at 579 cars per 1,000 people, up 63 compared to 2013. In the past 20 years, the number has gone up by 123. The average vehicle age, which has been constantly rising in recent years, was at 11.1 years in 2023, up 0.7 years compared to 2022. This is an increase of two years from 2013 and 3.8 years from 2003.

This year's pumpkin harvest good despite challenges

GORJA RADGONA - This year's pumpkin harvest has been good and better by miles than last year's despite the challenges farmers had to face, organic farming specialist Boštjan Ferenčak told the STA. Some growers have produced up to a thousand kilos more dry pumpkin seeds per hectare this year. Ferenčak from the Murska Sobota Institute of Agriculture and Forestry said that for most Slovenian pumpkin growers the latest season was much better than last year's, as the average harvest volume totalled 600-700 kilos of dried pumpkin seeds per hectare, which compares to 200-400 kilos in 2023.

Koper the first Slovenian municipality to join Città del Vino

KOPER - The municipality of Koper will be the first in Slovenia to join the Italian association Città del Vino, a network of local communities dedicated to winemaking. The membership agreement will be signed on 16 November, which is why one of the local St Martin's Day celebrations will be held a week later. Koper hopes that being a part of Città del Vino the municipality's winemakers will find it easier to penetrate new markets.