News roundup - Tuesday, 28 January, until 3pm
Ljubljana, 28 January - Below is a roundup of major events on Tuesday, 28 January, until 3pm local time:
Slovenia wants stable and democratic Serbia, official says
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia wants a stable and democratic Serbia that is a guarantor of peace in the Western Balkans, Foreign Ministry State Secretary Marko Štucin said, referring to anti-government protests in Serbia. Slovenia is following developments in Serbia with a "high degree of concern", he said before Serbia's Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned later in the day.
Slovenia implements nearly all of UN human rights recommendations
GENEVA, Switzerland - With the exception of two, Slovenia has fully or partly implemented all of the 182 recommendations it received during the third universal periodic review of the UN Human Rights Council, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told a fourth review meeting. The council's latest recommendations apply to hate speech and prison overcrowding. The minister stressed the numerous human rights measures Slovenia adopted, such as those fighting hate speech, protecting economic and social rights and safeguarding minority and women's rights. Many member countries lauded Slovenia's progress in efforts to protect human rights and strengthen relevant national authorities.
Retail sales revenue down slightly in 2024
LJUBLJANA - Retail sales revenue in Slovenia decreased by 0.6% in 2024 compared to the year before, show data from the Statistics Office. In December 2024, sales decreased compared to both November and December 2023, while sales in the motor vehicle sector were higher in all comparisons. In December 2024, retail sales revenue dropped by 2.3% compared to November. The food sector saw a decrease of 3.9%, motor fuel sales fell by 2.1%, and non-food sales were down by 1.2%.
NLB Skladi results in 2024 best so far
LJUBLJANA - NLB Skladi, an asset manager owned by the bank NLB, has assessed 2024 as its most successful year so far. Last year, EUR 395.4 million gross was invested in NLB Skladi's main fund and the total value of assets under its management exceeded EUR 3 billion. The market share in terms of assets under management reached 40.7%.
New details emerge about company spotlighted in just transition call
LJUBLJANA - New details have emerged about VonPharma SI, a seller of food supplements, that received EUR 10 million in a financing call for the restructuring of coal regions that led to the resignation of Spirit Slovenia director and triggered an audit. The company had already received EUR 5.6 million in a 2022 call by Spirit Slovenia, but got only the first instalment before the rest of the financing was temporarily suspended, Forbes Slovenija reported. VonPharma SI also appears to be connected with Vital Ql, a company that received EUR 9.7 million in the coal regions restructuring call.
Medical Chamber warns against looser procedural safeguards for foreign staff
LJUBLJANA - The Medical Chamber voiced strong criticism of a government proposal aimed at speeding up the recognition of professional qualifications in healthcare for foreign candidates. The chamber warned that reducing procedural safeguards could undermine professional standards. The government's latest legislative motion designed to shore up the public healthcare system includes the scrapping of the assessment of foreign qualifications by a three-member expert committee.
Govt urged to address systemic gaps in gene treatment for rare diseases
LJUBLJANA - The Viljem Julijan association, a charity involved in the raising of funds for gene therapies for children with rare diseases, issued a call to the government to implement a systemic solution for such cases. It proposes that new gene therapies approved in the US should automatically be given the same status as medicines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and covered by public funds in Slovenia.
EU funds boost funding call for community solar projects
LJUBLJANA - Investors in community solar projects can look forward to a funding call worth EUR 16.1 million after the Slovenian authorities approved EUR 11.9 million in EU funds to be added to the total volume of subsidies. The 2025-2027 open call is expected to be published on Friday.
Two suspects arrested in Slovenia in Europe-wide sting against underground bankers
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Two suspects were arrested in Slovenia as part of a Europe-wide crackdown on 19 November 2024 targeting a criminal network of underground bankers led by two Ukrainian brothers, Europol announced. The operation, which spanned several months, led to the arrest of 23 suspects, the seizure of EUR 35.7 million in cash, bank accounts and cryptocurrencies as well as 36 vehicles, real estate, watches, and jewellery. The bulk of the arrests, 20, were made in Spain, one in France and two in Slovenia.