News roundup - Thursday, 14 November

National Assembly passes package of tax laws

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed a package of changes to six tax-related laws aimed to increase the competitiveness of the economy, attract foreign skilled workers and promote innovation and investment. The changes also include provisions raising VAT on sugary drinks, and reduce the ceiling for sole proprietors to be included in the flat rate income tax scheme will from EUR 100,000 to EUR 60,000 of annual income. Businesses have been critical of the package.

Slovenia's GDP growth in Q3 accelerates to 1.4%

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's GDP growth accelerated to 1.4% in real terms in the third quarter of the year compared to the same quarter last year, after the economy grew at 0.7% in the previous quarter, the Statistics Office reported. Annual growth in January-September also reached 1.4%. While domestic expenditure dropped 0.4% year-on-year in Q3, mainly due to a major 13.6% drop in capital gross formation, foreign trade added 1.9 percentage points to the growth. The Bank of Slovenia said growth continues to be constrained by cyclical cooling in construction and weak investment. The think tank IMAD said that export data were slightly above expectations.

Govt extends electricity price caps for the next four months

LJUBLJANA - The government extended the electricity price caps for households for the next four months, extending them from 90% to 100% of the energy consumed. Prime Minister Robert Golob said this was to prevent electricity bills from rising in the winter following the introduction of a new system of electricity network charges in October. An emergency bill is planned for companies. The coalition also propose for the parliamentary committee call on the Energy Agency to suspend the new charging system.

Commission turns down president's C-bank governor nominee

LJUBLJANA - The Privileges and Credentials Commission did not approve Anton Rop, the president's nominee for central bank governor. The final decision will be made by the National Assembly in a secret vote at a plenary that starts on Monday. The result comes as no surprise, after it became clear that the coalition had decided to stick with Saša Jazbec, a Finance Ministry state secretary, for governor.

Slovenia hands over EUSALP presidency to Austria and Liechtenstein

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Slovenia wrapped up its second presidency of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) by hosting the 9th EUSALP Annual Forum in Brdo pri Kranju, handing over to Austria and Liechtenstein. Representatives of the three countries noted similar key challenges of the region and options for tackling them. Addressing the press after the handover, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon assessed the Slovenian one-year presidency as a success.

Minister Arčon meets Friuli Venezia Giulia president

TRIESTE, Italy Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon met Friuli Venezia Giulia President Massimiliano Fedriga in Trieste with the pair praising cooperation on the 2025 European Capital of Culture project of the Slovenian city of Nova Gorica and Italy's Gorizia and the efforts for the Slovenian minority to be guaranteed a representative on the Regional Council. They did not discuss the controversy over the Gorizia municipal council's failure to strip fascist leader Benito Mussolini of the freeman title.

Slovenia allocates EUR 20,000 for UN fund for children in armed conflict

LJUBLJANA - The government decided for Slovenia to contribute EUR 20,000 to the fund managed by the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict this year. Just today, Slovenia also dispatched the third package of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, valued at around half a million euros.

Judicial Council calls threats against judges very dangerous

LJUBLJANA - The Judicial Council called recent threats against judges on X and an arson attack on the house of a judge in Brežice extremely dangerous, adding that such actions undermine the foundations of the rule of law. The council expects all other institutions to treat this with all seriousness and as a priority, it wrote in a statement it adopted at a session on Wednesday. The Slovenian Bar Association, the State Attorney's Office and Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina also condemned the incidents.

Golob says inquiry found ex-interior minister's testimony false

LJUBLJANA - A day after a parliamentary inquiry commission decided against summoning Prime Minister Robert Golob over police meddling claims against him, Golob told the press the commission had established that the accusations levelled against him by former Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar were false. He said the interim report found "not the slightest evidence or indication" of his involvement in the case of the arrest of Russian spies in 2022 as alleged by Bobnar.

SDS not leaving EPP, Janša says in face of speculation

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's largest opposition party, the Democratic Party (SDS), will not be leaving the European People's Party (EPP), the SDS leader Janez Janša told Radio Ognjišče on Wednesday in the wake of speculation that started after EPP MEPs endorsed Slovenia's commissioner candidate despite adamant opposition from the SDS last week.

Slovenia included in network of competence centres for chips, semiconductors

LJUBLJANA - The European Commission has selected 27 chip competence centres in 24 member states, including Slovenia, which will provide essential resources for the development of semiconductor and chip solutions, in particular for SMEs and start-ups. The centres will provide support, training and access to large infrastructure facilities such as pilot lines and design platforms.

Krka reports revenue and profit growth for Jan-Sep

NOVO MESTO - The pharmaceutical group Krka generated EUR 1.43 billion in revenue in the first nine months of the year, an increase of 7% over the same period in 2023, the group's unaudited interim report shows. Profit was up 19% to EUR 281 million and capital expenditure rose by 13% to EUR 91.70 million. The group increased sales in five of its six sales regions, in most of its key markets, and in all product and service groups. East Europe remains Krka's largest regional market.

Dnevnik: Alleged member of Islamic State enters not-guilty plea

LJUBLJANA - The Specialised State Prosecutor's Office has charged Rashid Aziz, who was arrested in Slovenia, of terrorism due to his alleged participation in the terrorist organisation Islamic State in Iraq in 2016, the newspaper Dnevnik reported. Aziz entered a not-guilty plea at a pre-trial hearing at the Ljubljana District Court. The hearing was held in mid-October. Participation in a terrorist criminal organisation or group carries a sentence of up to eight years in prison.

Report: Chief defendant in major prostitution case gets 1 year 10 months in prison

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana District Court sentenced Mladen Bilić, the chief defendant in a major prostitution case, to one year and ten months in prison, the newspaper Delo reported. Bilić entered into a plea deal with the prosecution and will stay in house arrest until the judgement becomes final. He will also have to pay a fine of EUR 6,000.

Survey shows most Slovenians support investment in climate adaptation

LJUBLJANA - While Slovenians rank climate change as the fourth most pressing issue facing the country, 89% agree that investing in climate adaptation today is essential to avoid higher long-term costs, survey by the European Investment Bank (EIB) has shown. Among Slovenians surveyed, 91% recognise the need to adapt to climate change, which is three percentage points below the EU average. However, only 43%, seven percentage points lower than the EU average, said climate adaptation needs to be prioritised, the EIB reported.

First safe room for drug consumption in Slovenia opens in Nova Gorica

NOVA GORICA - The first supervised drug consumption room in Slovenia was opened in Nova Gorica as part of the Goriška Safe Room programme, aiming to reduce risky behaviours and the harm associated with drug use. The facility is integrated with other addiction prevention and treatment programmes and will serve as an initial point of contact for drug users.