News roundup - Monday, 17 February

Slovenia sees Paris Ukraine meeting as preparation for EU summit

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia sees today's meeting of the PMs of Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Great Britain and EU top officials in Paris to discuss Ukraine as a meeting of influential European NATO members which should be followed up by an EU summit to find common ground on how to come to a prompt ceasefire and a lasting and just peace, Prime Minister Robert Golob said. President Nataša Pirc Musar expressed regret that not all EU member states had been invited to participate, but her stance had allegedly not been coordinated with the prime minister's office.

Slovenian, Macedonian ministers discuss boosting defence cooperation

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian and Macedonian defence ministers, Borut Sajovic and Vlado Misajlovski, urged stronger bilateral defence cooperation as Misajlovski paid an official visit to Ljubljana on Monday. Sajovic expressed Slovenia's support for North Macedonia's EU integration, saying it would be a major step towards better security in the region.

Mandatory health insurance contribution up to EUR 37

LJUBLJANA - The mandatory monthly health insurance contribution paid by practically all individuals will increase from EUR 35 to EUR 37.17, with the Health Ministry planning to publish a relevant regulation in the Official Gazette by the end of February. What used to be a voluntary health insurance, but is in fact required for most of the public health services, was transformed into a mandatory contribution as of 2024.

Janković refuses to apologise, reiterates his position

LJUBLJANA - Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković published a letter in which he responded to the protestors who demanded his apology for backing Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, reiterating that everyone has the right to their own opinion and that he condemns violence. In the letter, in which he responded to some 1,000 protesters who gathered in front of the Town Hall on 8 February, Janković said that protests are a legitimate right of every individual in a democratic society.

Vox Populi: SDS in lead, govt and party approval ratings down

LJUBLJANA - The opposition Democratic Party (SDS) is in the lead in the February Vox Populi poll, as was in January. The SDS polled at 24%, followed by the ruling Freedom Movement at 16.3%, both 0.1 percentage points down. The public opinion poll also shows that nearly 64% of those polled consider the government's performance as unsuccessful.

Average gross pay up 4.1% in real terms in 2024

LJUBLJANA - Average monthly pay in Slovenia in 2024 stood at EUR 2,394.92 gross and EUR 1,526.02 net. Gross pay was 6.2% higher year-on-year in nominal terms and 4.1% higher in real terms. Average net pay was 3.8% higher in nominal terms and 1.8% in real terms compared to 2023. In the private sector, average monthly gross pay increased by 7.0%, climbing to EUR 2,280.99. Average net pay in the private sector grew by 4.4% to EUR 1,456.34, the Statistics Office said.

Survey: Almost two-thirds oppose property tax blueprint

LJUBLJANA - Almost two-thirds of the respondents in a Vox Populi poll commissioned by the newspaper Dnevnik believe that the government's blueprint for a property tax is unacceptable. The shares of respondents who believe that taxation of property is necessary and of those who think it is unnecessary are meanwhile almost equal.

Judge in spotlight over Swiss franc rulings

LJUBLJANA - A judge at the Ljubljana Higher Court is in the spotlight after an investigative news portal revealed that she has pressed charges against a bank over a loan she took out in Swiss francs, after having been involved in at least nine cases related to Swiss franc loans that were resolved in favour of plaintiffs. Dozens of cases are ongoing at courts as people who took out loans in Swiss francs saw their outstanding liabilities to banks surge when the Swiss central bank allowed the franc to appreciate in 2015.

Belektron remains biggest firm owned by entrepreneur

LJUBLJANA - The largest company in Slovenia owned by an entrepreneur by sales revenue is the emission coupons trader Belektron, which generated just under EUR 3.2 billion in 2023, showed a ranking by the business magazine Podjetna Slovenija. The company owned by Boštjan Bandelj has retained this status from the first ever such list, published last year. Belektron is followed in terms of sales revenue by Orbico, an agent for multiple international brands which generated EUR 344.8 million in 2023. Placed third is Jagros, the operator of the retail shops owned by the Jager family with EUR 229.8 million.

Liquidation of RTH mine completed

TRBOVLJE/HRASTNIK - The Trbovlje-Hrastnik coal mine (RTH) has been fully shut down after several years of delays. The mine's remaining assets will be transferred to the state. Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) approved last Tuesday the final liquidation report. The remaining assets will be transferred to the state, SSH said. Liquidator Stane Sotlar will file a proposal to remove RTH from the register of companies, completing the liquidation process that started six years ago.

Consensus reached on Slovenian-Italian toponym signs in Koper

KOPER - The local authorities in Koper have ordered new Slovenian-Italian signs with historical names of streets and squares in the coastal town, the design of which has been approved by all parties involved. The signs that have been turned around in protest are expected to be removed and new signs set up in the coming weeks.

Mountain Film Festival to feature 32 films

LJUBLJANA - The 19th Mountain Film Festival will open with the screening of Last Expedition, a film portrait of Wanda Rutkiewicz, the greatest woman Himalayan climber of all time by Polish director Eliza Kubarska. The festival will show a selection of the world's latest releases in the genre at screenings in Ljubljana, Domžale and Radovljica until Saturday. It will see a total of 32 climbing, mountaineering and adventure films and films about mountain nature and culture.