News roundup - Tuesday, 14 January

Ljubljana, 14 January - Below is a roundup of major events on Tuesday, 14 January:

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.

Interior Minister only has unconditional support of Freedom Movement

LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar, against whom the opposition filed an ouster motion in November, currently enjoys only the support of the leading Freedom Movement, while the junior coalition partners the Left and Social Democrats (SD) said their decisions would depend on the developments of the coming days. They want Police Commissioner Senad Jušić, whose appointment has been marred by irregularities, to resign. This was also demanded by the opposition New Slovenia.

Slovenian, Turkish companies interested in closer cooperation, FM says

ANKARA, Turkey - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon wrapped up a two-day visit to Turkey, with the Foreign Ministry saying in a press release that great interest in boosting economic cooperation was expressed on both sides. ICT, agriculture, tourism, high-tech products and transport have been identified as the areas where the interest to boost cooperation is highest. More than 60 Slovenian and Turkish companies took part in a business forum, which Fajon said brought opportunities for concrete cooperation arrangements.

Ministry notes territorial integrity in response to Styria anthem plan

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Foreign Ministry underlined the importance of territorial integrity after the new ruling coalition in the Austrian state of Styria included in its list of priorities the enshrinement in the state constitution of the provincial anthem that contains verses about territories that are a part of modern-day Slovenia. Styrian Governor Mario Kunasek meanwhile called on Slovenia to grant official minority status to the German community in the country.

Strategic technologies in focus at industrial forum

LJUBLJANA - The development and production of strategic technologies are an important opportunity for Slovenian economy, heard the Slovenian Industrial Forum held. The attendees also discussed the significance of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), which will be used for a public tender co-fund strategic technology projects.

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.

Patients' 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.

NLB sells EUR 500m worth of bonds

LJUBLJANA - The bank NLB completed the sale of EUR 500 million worth of senior preferred bonds as a way to meet the minimum for own funds and eligible liabilities. The principal on the three-year notes will have an annual interest rate of 3.5%, while the bond sales price will equal 99.695% of their nominal value, the bank said. The bonds will be issued on 21 January.

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.

ELES analysis belies claims grid charge system catastrophic for businesses

LJUBLJANA - Grid operator ELES analysed the effects of the old and new grid charges system for different businesses and rejected claims by business associations that the new methodology was catastrophic for the economy. The analysis showed that even for the largest businesses on the medium voltage network grid charges represented only 11% of all electricity costs.

Pahor argues for joint accession of W Balkan states in Rome address

ROME, Italy - Slovenia's former President Borut Pahor advocated for a faster joint admission of Western Balkan countries into the EU in his address at the Italian Senate Library. He warned of the risks of delaying Serbia's admission for too long in a lecture delivered at the invitation of Senator Tatjana Rojc. He reiterated his position that the EU Commission's enlargement portfolio was created mainly because of Ukraine and not because of the Western Balkans.

Committee okays five-year match ban for hooligans

LJUBLJANA - The Home Policy Committee okayed changes to the Police Powers Act under which officers will be able issue a five-year ban on match attendance to violent spectators. The bill was prompted by an incident in which several players and a coach were inured by a stun grenade at a football match nearly a year ago. Interior Ministry State Secretary Tina Heferle said that police officers will be able to issue the ban for offences related to the use of pyrotechnics and explosives.

Slovenia part of Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory consortium

NOVA GORICA - Slovenia is part of the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) for the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), established by the European Commission last week. The aim of the CTAO ERIC project is to build and operate the world's largest observatory for advanced astronomical research with high-energy cosmic rays.
The project will feature two sections - the northern section is being built on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, and the southern section on the Cerro Paranal mountain in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

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.

Foreign prisoner dies after setting his cell on fire

LJUBLJANA - A 23-year-old foreigner who set his prison cell on fire a week ago died at the UKC Ljubljana hospital on Monday afternoon, the news portal N1 reported, quoting the country's Prison Administration. The man sustained severe injuries in the fire he started. He damaged the cell door and by the the guards managed to break into the cell, he was showing no signs of life. Resuscitation efforts were launched and the man was airlifted to the hospital.

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