News roundup - Tuesday, 14 January, until 3pm
Ljubljana, 14 January - Below is a roundup of major events on Tuesday, 14 January, until 3pm local time:
Pirc Musar wants EU to be firm in relations with US
LJUBLJANA - President Nataša Pirc Musar called for a firm EU stance in relations with the United States, telling TV Slovenija that "it is necessary to talk, but we also have to tell the US loud and clear things that we do not agree with." The US has the strongest army in the world and is the strongest member of NATO, but US President-elect Donald Trump "will have as much direct influence on European politics as the EU lets him."
Slovenia supports inclusive transition in Syria, territorial integrity
ANKARA, Turkey - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon reiterated Slovenia's support for a peaceful and inclusive transition in Syria and its territorial integrity as she held talks with her Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Monday. "Syria has a historic opportunity that can have positive knock-on effects on the entire region," she said on the outset of her two-day visit to Turkey.
Church worried about assisted dying, media and property tax legislation
LJUBLJANA/NOVO MESTO - Slovenian Catholic bishops are concerned about a bill introducing assisted dying, a reform media bill which they fear would affect freedom of speech, and about plans for a new property tax. The standing council of the Slovenian Bishops Conference said in a statement that the planned legislation had upset the public, especially believers.
Significant decline in illegal border crossings in Slovenia in 2024
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian police reported handling 46,192 illegal border crossings in 2024, a decrease of nearly 14,500 compared to 2023. Syrian nationals accounted for the largest share, with their numbers quadrupling year-on-year, making up a quarter of all cases. Afghans ranked second, but their numbers halved compared to 2023.
Judicial Council calls for reducing workload for family law judges
LJUBLJANA - The Judicial Council adopted last week a statement, stressing that district and higher courts are handling a large number of family law cases, leading to an increase in workload for the judges. The council also proposed guidelines for courts, social work centres and other stakeholders. It found that the manner and content of family law trials changed significantly because of the 2019 changes to the family code, which transferred the decision-making in family law cases from social work centres to courts, which led to an increased workload for judges.
Patient ombudsman calls for immediate action on heliport closure
LJUBLJANA - Marjan Sušelj, patients' rights ombudsman, responded to the longest suspension of medical air service in Ljubljana in the last five years due to repair work on the UKC Ljubljana hospital's heliport. Sušelj told the STA the Health Ministry should demand immediate action from the hospital. Sušelj said he had been shocked by the news of the heliport closure last Friday. He finds it unacceptable that the transport of patients to hospital takes 40 minutes longer as a result.
Vzajemna privatisation entering distribution of equity stage
LJUBLJANA - Vzajemna, the only mutual health insurer in Slovenia, will on Wednesday start notifying its policyholders of how much equity they are entitled to as part of privatisation. They will receive cash or shares, which they will be able to sell once the company is listed on the stock market, expectedly in spring 2026. The public health insurance fund ZSSS as Vzajemna's founder and those entitled to a refund of up to EUR 120 for their top-up health insurance premiums will get cash, unless they request shares 15 days after they receive the notification. Those entitled to over EUR 120 will automatically get shares.
Survey shows deterioration in foreign investors' sentiment
LJUBLJANA - Foreign investors' perceptions of Slovenia's business environment are deteriorating, suggests a study conducted by the Centre for International Relations at the Ljubljana Faculty of Social Sciences. For the first time since 2010, the share of companies planning to expand their operations in Slovenia has dropped below 20%. Investors cite bureaucratic inefficiency, an unfavourable tax system, political instability, and overly complex legislation as major barriers to business.
Slovenia to highlight skills of masters in construction at Venice Biennale of Architecture
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will showcase at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice this year a project exploring knowledge of masters in the construction process. The project was designed by Ana Kosi and Ognen Arsov from the KIP architectural bureau. Slovenia's pavilion will highlight master techniques and construction skills as a crucial and irreplaceable part of architecture production even in a time when AI, 3D printing and automation are becoming more prevalent in construction.
Giro's 14th stage to cross into Slovenia
ROME, Italy - The 108th Giro d'Italia, one of the three Grand Tours in cycling, will take riders through Slovenia in stage 14 on 24 May, the organisers have announced. The 186-kilometre stage will start in Treviso, Italy and at about kilometre 140 the riders will enter Slovenia in the hilly Brda region.
Cerkno commemorating historic WWII skiing competition
CERKNO - The 80th anniversary of an extraordinary wartime event, a skiing competition held amid the final battles in the heart of occupied Europe during WWII by members of the Partisan resistance movement, is celebrated by the town of Cerkno with a series of cultural, sporting, and commemorative events this year.