News roundup - Thursday, 20 February

PM's adviser worried about Trump's statements about Zelensky

LJUBLJANA - Vojko Volk, the state secretary at the prime minister's office in charge of international affairs, has expressed concern over the statements by US President Donald Trump that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is a dictator who better moved fast or else he would have no country left. Talking to the late night current affairs show Odmevi on TV Slovenija Wednesday night, Volk said yesterday's meeting of EU leaders, which was hosted by the French President Emmanuel Macron and held mostly online, also featuring Slovenia's Prime Minister Robert Golob, as serious and going in-depth.

NLB group profit down 7% in 2024 to EUR 515m

LJUBLJANA - The banking group NLB posted a net profit of EUR 514.6 million in 2024, a drop of 7% compared to the record year of 2023. The bank described the past financial year as solid, as it released its unaudited financials, adding that the group expects its dividend payout this year to reach 50% of its profit in 2024. Last year was the second consecutive year that the group posted a net profit exceeding half a million euro. Net revenue increased by 14% to EUR 1.24 billion, with net interest revenue increasing by 12% to EUR 934.5 million, while net non-interest revenue grew by 19% to EUR 310.6 million.

Luka Koper's net profit up 7% to EUR 60.3m in 2024

KOPER - The group around the port operator Luka Koper reported a net profit of EUR 60.3 million for 2024, a 7% improvement on the year before coming on the back of a 6% rise in sales revenue to EUR 330.1 million. Total maritime cargo transshipment grew by 3%, and container transshipment hit a record high with a 6% increase. The group's EBITDA increased by 7%, reaching EUR 100.5 million, while operating profit (EBIT) rose by 10% to EUR 67 million. The container terminal saw a new record was with 1.13 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled. The passenger terminal also recorded a historic high.

Government paves way for new ambassador to Serbia

LJUBLJANA - The government proposed to President Nataša Pirc Musar that Damjan Bergant, who assumed office as Slovenia's ambassador to Serbia in June 2020, be relieved of his duties, and that Foreign Ministry official Slobodan Šešum be appointed in his place. Šešum, the head of the Foreign Ministry's directorate for trade and public diplomacy, was endorsed as Bergant's successor almost a year ago but had to wait for the issue of the Serbian ambassador to Slovenia to be resolved first.

MPs demand explanations on planned purchase of Patria carriers

LJUBLJANA - The opposition-controlled Commission for the Oversight of Public Finances urged the Defence Ministry to submit a report on the purchase of Patria troop carriers. Defence Minister Borut Sajovic sought to reassure them that the deal will be transparent as some MPs raised concerns about corruption risks. The commission wants the ministry to set out in its report the reasons for the purchase of the eight-wheeled armoured carriers from Patria, to provide details of the process and the prices, and to present the timeline of further activities.

Business Club calls out against corruption in open letter to PM

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Business Club (SBC) has addressed an open letter to Prime Minister Robert Golob, calling out against what it terms as wide-spread corruption in the country. The government is placing impossible burdens on citizens, while the businesses fight for basic competitiveness, SBC president Joc Pečečnik said. Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon said he was surprised by Pečečnik's "demeaning and condescending" attitude towards the public sector, adding that Pečečnik has a duty to report corruption if he is aware of it.

Slovenia to participate in procedure for ICJ opinion on Israel's humanitarian obligations

LJUBLJANA - The government decided that Slovenia will participate in proceedings where the UN General Assembly is seeking the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) advisory opinion on Israel's obligations in relation to the presence and activities of the UN, other international organisations and third countries in the occupied Palestinian territory. The proceedings are being conducted under the UN General Assembly resolution 79/232, adopted on 19 December last year, of which Slovenia was one of the sponsors, along with more than 25 other UN member states, led by Norway.

Govt to set up centralised HR centre for civil service

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted changes to the Public Employees Act to set up a centralised human resources centre that would vet candidates for civil servants, sending it to parliament. Vetting would apply to the entire civil service, with some exceptions, such as the military and the police. Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arčon noted that that around 100 various state bodies put out around 1,000 calls for applications annually, while the new bill sets down a staffing centre at the Public Administration Ministry as a single entry point for the country's civil service.

OECD delegation says challenges remain in anti-bribery efforts

LJUBLJANA - An OECD delegation looking into the implementation of recommendations under a convention addressing bribery of foreign public officials said after a multi-day visit that Slovenia has taken a significant step to address concerns on the independence of prosecutors, but more action is needed to ensure the independence of bribery investigations. The working group, said that "safeguards against influence in bribery investigations remain lacking, despite a recent decision that allows for constitutional review of parliamentary inquiries into prosecutors' actions".

Two MPs want to form Slovenia-Russia friendship group

LJUBLJANA - Unaffiliated MP Dejan Kaloh said that he and senior coalition Freedom Movement MP Miroslav Gregorič will form a parliamentary Slovenia-Russia friendship group, arguing that this would give Slovenian MPs an opportunity to contribute to peace in Ukraine and diplomatic efforts. Kaloh wrote on X on Wednesday as he announced the idea that the talks between representatives of Russia and the US that took place in Riyadh are an important step towards ending the war in Ukraine. A Slovenia-Russia friendship group was active in the past but was disbanded in 2022 after the start of war in Ukraine.

Spa group Terme Olimia's revenue tops EUR 50m last year

PODČETRTEK - The spa group Terme Olimia last year increased its revenue by 5.4% to EUR 50.3 million, the first time that it exceeded the EUR 50 million threshold. The group's pre-tax profit was up by 5.5% to EUR 7.5 million, director Florjan Vasle told the press. The group, which also features the Terme Tuhelj spa in Croatia, reported more than 565,000 overnight stays for last year. On the occassion, Vasle highlighted a EUR 5 million investment into a new wellness centre, Vodian, which opened last Friday at the Hotel Breza as part of the Terme Olimia complex in Podčetrtek in eastern Slovenia.

Initiative pushes for smart device restrictions in schools

LJUBLJANA - An initiative known as Odklopi.net has joined forces with several experts to call for legal restrictions on the use of mobile phones and other digital devices in educational institutions. Until 30 March they will be collecting signatures under a petition urging the government and the Education Ministry to take action. The ministry responded by announced that it will initiate in March a discussion with experts and general public about the proposals to address this issue, while noting that the ban is already incorporated in the internal rules of most schools in Slovenia.

Consumer confidence drops in February

LJUBLJANA - Consumer confidence in Slovenia dipped by three points in February over January and by two points compared to February 2024 to reach -31 points, the Statistics Office said. The figure was also four points below last year's average and seven points below the average of the past 15 years. On the monthly level, the index was dragged down by poorer expectations about the economic situation in the country (down by seven points) and household financials (a four-point drop).

More people at risk of poverty and social exclusion in 2024

LJUBLJANA - The at-risk-of-poverty rate in Slovenia increased by 0.5 percentage points to 13.2% last year, with the number of people with earnings below the poverty threshold increasing by 12,000 to some 276,000. Meanwhile, the social exclusion rate was at 14.4%, up 0.7 points over 2023, the Statistics Office said. Some 302,000 people were at risk of social exclusion last year, 15,000 more than the year before. The increase was affected by the increase in the at-risk-of-poverty rate, while the remaining two components of this index, the rates of severe material and social deprivation, improved.

Slovenian Catholics asked to pray for pope's health

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian bishops have asked believers to pray for Pope Francis's health as he is being treated for pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. "Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has encouraged us to pray for him, and in these difficult moments he especially needs our closeness," the Slovenian Bishops' Conference said in a press release.

Hamlet ballet premieres in Ljubljana as artistic director Zanella bids farewell

LJUBLJANA - Hamlet, a ballet by choreographer and director Leo Mujić, premiered at the SNG Opera and Ballet in Ljubljana this evening in what is the second premiere at the national opera and ballet company this season. This is also the last production under their ballet artistic director Renato Zanella. A special feature of this production is that the dancers are accompanied by live orchestra music, announced SNG Opera and Ballet director Marko Hribernik.

Annual one-week vacation more accessible to Slovenians in 2024

Ljubljana - A one-week vacation away was accessible to 82% of Slovenian households last year, which was three percentage points more than in 2023, the Statistics Office said on Thursday. Overall satisfaction with life remained unchanged last year. 25% of households were able to make ends meet without difficulty, a point fewer than in 2023.