News roundup - Thursday, 7 November, until 3pm

Slovenia's commissioner-designate Marta Kos passes hearing in EU Parliament

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia's candidate for EU commissioner for enlargement Marta Kos received the green light from the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs following today's hearing, sources in Renew, the political group she belongs to, told the STA. In her first response, given before the news of the committee's go-ahead, Kos described the hearing as productive. During the presentation she said a bigger and reformed EU was a strategic imperative and deemed support for Ukraine as an absolute priority. Many questions from MEPs that followed pertained to Ukraine and Russia. She also faced accusations of having been a collaborator of the Yugoslav secret police, which she denied several times.

EIB sees great potential for further investments in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The European Investment Bank (EIB) sees great potential for further investments in Slovenia, EIB president Nadia Calvino said after meeting Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič. The range of Slovenian projects under consideration is vast and includes areas such as transport, energy infrastructure and support to business. "We are willing to support the government with financial means and the technical know-how needed for the construction of 20,000 affordable and non-profit flats, which the government plans in the upcoming years," Calvino said.

NLB group's net profit up 10% to EUR 427.5m in Jan-Sep

LJUBLJANA - The group around Slovenia's largest bank NLB posted a net profit of EUR 427.5 million in the first nine months of the year, up 10% from the same period last year, mainly as a result of favourable economic conditions and high interest rates, NLB said in a statement. Its income before impairments and provisions reached EUR 500.3 million, up 14% from the same nine months in 2023. Net revenue from interest increased by 15% from the same period last year, driven by a strong combination of volume and margin growth.

Committee approves bill to ensure healthcare quality

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Health Committee approved late on Wednesday a bill on ensuring quality in healthcare. MPs were largely in favour of the bill but proposed some amendments, which were also approved. The bill would create a public agency for quality in healthcare to ensure the development of the quality management system in healthcare and to monitor the progress in meeting the principles of quality healthcare, Health Minister Valentina Prevolnik Rupel told the committee.

Emonika commercial hub to come to life in 2027

LJUBLJANA - The Emonika commercial hub in the future Ljubljana Passenger Centre is expected to come to life in 2027, investor Mendota Invest said at the presentation of the project. The commercial hub will include retail space, two hotels, business premises and apartments and is currently the largest private real estate project in the country. Mendota Invest is part of the OTP group, whose real estate funds manage more than 550,000 m2 of commercial property in Slovenia worth more than EUR 1.5 billion, said Mendota Invest director Dora Kenez.

Šoštanj councillors not opposed to TEŠ emergency bill

ŠOŠTANJ - Šoštanj municipal councillors discussed a draft bill turning loss-making TEŠ from a full-fledged coal-fired power station to a provider of district heating for the Šalek Valley at a meeting. The councillors are not opposed to the new legislation if the government includes in it their proposals. They want the government to respect the commitments to just transition as set down in the national strategy for a coal phase-out and the restructuring of coal regions.

Second trade union at Pošta Slovenije joining announced strike

LJUBLJANA - The Trade Union of Transport Workers (SDPZ) announced it will join the strike called by the Postal Workers' Trade Union (SPD) at the national postal company Pošta Slovenije for 22 November. The SDPZ's demands closely align with those of the SPD, including a request for state co-funding of the company's non-profitable public service. The SDPZ considers the situation at Pošta Slovenije to be critical, with time running out to address escalating issues, the SDPZ's Majda Stubelj told the STA.

Festival to explore speculation, decay as artistic processes

LJUBLJANA - Pixxelpoint, an international festival of contemporary arts involving new media, will get under way in the border city of Nova Gorica this evening, with the latest edition of the festival held under the title Speculation and Decay. The main art exhibition of the festival features ten artists and collectives from five European countries, said the exhibition curator Maja Burja.