Morning headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, November 20, 2021
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This summary provides STA:
The government is proposing new incentives for businesses, transfers for the most vulnerable
LJUBLJANA – The government approved a bill on additional measures to curb the consequences of the epidemic, which provides for special payments for the most vulnerable, such as pensioners, and new stimulative measures for business. The self-employed and farmers were to receive partial compensation for lost income due to quarantine and force majeure, and companies would be reimbursed for coronavirus tests for their employees. It is also proposed to extend tourist vouchers until the end of June 2022. Associations of small businesses and tourist companies welcomed the new incentive, but said they expected more help in the event that Slovenia enters a new prison.
Proposed compensation scheme for adverse effects of vaccination
LJUBLJANA – The government proposed a compensation scheme for those who suffered serious health damage due to the Covid-19 vaccine, a step which, according to Health Minister Janez Poklukar, was crucial for maintaining confidence in vaccines and ensuring effective national vaccination. program. Compensation of € 60,000 would be paid to those who have a serious and permanent deterioration in vital functions after vaccination. Parents of a child or spouse or civil partner of a person who died after vaccination would receive € 10,000, and minor children of a person who died after vaccination would receive € 20,000.
New issues on the horizon after the government’s decision on the EDP
LJUBLJANA – The State Prosecutor’s Council welcomed the government’s decision to refer a selected pair of candidates for delegated prosecutors to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). Both the council and experts say such an act cannot be temporary because the legislation does not provide for a temporary appointment nor does it authorize the government to replace or interfere in the council’s proposal to appoint an EDP. However, the Government states that it referred to a clause in the relevant regulation stating that if EDP services are no longer needed, the Member State shall inform the European Chief Prosecutor and appoint another prosecutor to be appointed as the new EDP.
The European Commission is monitoring the appointment of delegated prosecutors until the end of the procedure
BRUSSELS, Belgium – The appointment of two Slovenian delegated prosecutors to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is a step in the right direction and the European Commission will continue to monitor developments, said Commission spokesman Christian Wigand. He pointed out that the Commission had been in constant contact with Slovenia at all levels and had repeatedly called on Slovenia to appoint authorized prosecutors without delay. Regarding the temporary nature of the temporary appointment of Tanja Frank Eler and Matej Oštir, this now depends on the EPPO College.
The center-left opposition stands on the charges against Kustac
LJUBLJANA – The center-left opposition claimed in the National Assembly that Education Minister Simona Kustec must leave due to poor management of the coronavirus crisis in education, as distrust of the minister was discussed all day. Kustec, who is strongly advocated by the coalition, framed the critique of her work as “mechanisms to silence women,” listing a number of ways she sought to make schools a safe learning environment during the pandemic. The vote was scheduled after midnight.
The number of coronavirus cases is increasing weekly, 20 deaths
LJUBLJANA – There were 3,517 coronavirus positives in Slovenia on Thursday, which is slightly more than on the same day a week ago. The positivity rate increased by almost three percentage points to 42.5% during the week. Yesterday, 20 patients with Covid-19 died. The current 7-day average of new cases increased by 13 to 3,282 compared to the previous day, while the 14-day cumulative incidence per 100,000 people decreased by 12 to 2,141. This morning, 1127 people were hospitalized, which is 23 more than the previous day, of which 253 patients needed intensive care, which is three more.
The government is giving the green light for capital-intensive investments
LJUBLJANA – On Thursday, the government adopted a bill on the promotion of capital-intensive investments in support of the green transition. The proposal allows investment incentives to be drawn from the EU Recovery and Resilience Fund. Amendments to the Investment Promotion Act would upgrade the country’s incentive regime from efforts to create new jobs to the promotion of capital-intensive investments for the green transition. The proposal is one of the first and key measures from the national plan for recovery and resilience, as 2.5 billion euros are earmarked for Slovenia in the EU instrument for recovery and resilience.
Slovenia welcomes the adoption of resolutions on water diplomacy
BRUSSELS, Belgium – The EU General Affairs Council approved conclusions emphasizing the strategic importance of water, a move welcomed by Slovenia as a milestone in water diplomacy and a major achievement of Slovenia’s EU presidency. The conclusions are a milestone in EU water diplomacy and in making progress under the EU’s 2030 Agenda, said State Secretary Stanislav Raščan. “I am glad that we adopted the decisions during the Slovenian presidency of the EU. Slovenia has made an important contribution to their preparation and strived for their adoption,” he said at the Foreign Ministry.
Minority MPs propose a higher standard of Italian for teachers
LJUBLJANA – Deputies from the Italian and Hungarian minorities proposed legislation that would raise the language obligation for teachers and other staff working in bilingual schools and kindergartens. Teachers teaching Slovene or other foreign languages should pass an examination in Italian, which is equivalent to level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The existing law exempts Slovene language teachers from mastering Italian. The required level of Italian would also be raised for other staff in bilingual schools, including administrative and technical staff.
Petrol Group’s nine-month profit more than doubled to 91 million euros
LJUBLJANA – In the first nine months of this year, the Petrol energy group increased by 34 percent to 3.1 billion euros, while net profit more than doubled and increased by 125 percent to 91.2 million euros. The Group’s gross operating profit increased by 54% to EUR 175.7 million, with sales of petroleum products accounting for 55.9% and sales of merchandise 18.3%. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation (EBITDA) increased by 54 percent to 175.7 million euros.
The Sava Insurance Group increased its nine-month profit by 20 percent to EUR 57.2 million
LJUBLJANA – In the first nine months of the year, the Sava Insurance Group generated EUR 548.8 million in operating revenues, which is 11.1 percent more than in the same period last year, and EUR 57.2 million in net profit or 20.3 percent more than in the same period last year. period. last year, showed unaudited results. Operating revenues and net profit represent 80% and 108% of the full-year target for 2021. In this period, the Group collected EUR 578.1 million in gross premiums, which is 9.1% more than in the same period last year, with growth in the highest measured by the consequence of life insurance in Slovenia (+55.4%).
After the settlement, the Secretary of State deletes the disputed announcement about the judge
LJUBLJANA – Vinko Gorenak, State Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, deleted from his blog a post critical of Prime Minister Janez Janša, which a former Ljubljana judge posted in a private group on Facebook, reports Dnevnik. This happens after the couple has reached a court settlement. On his blog in December last year, Gorenak shared content describing Janša as a “great dictator” and a judge as a left-wing activist. At the pre-trial hearing, he pleaded not guilty and then, in a court settlement, agreed to delete the screenshot of the content and its related statement.
Members of an association of illegal migrations caught in Slovenia
MARIBOR – The Maribor criminal police tracked down an international criminal group involved in illegal migration in a long-term international investigation. Several suspects were arrested and detained in Slovenia, and the leader of the gang was caught in Poland. The investigation, which included police forces from Slovenia, Austria, Poland and Hungary and coordinated by Slovenian investigators, revealed an illegal migration route from Croatia or Hungary to Austria or Italy, where Slovenia is a connecting point.
The number of victims on Slovenian roads in 2021 increased
LJUBLJANA – 105 people died in traffic accidents in Slovenia this year, which has already exceeded the number from previous years. In 2020, there were fewer accidents due to closures during the epidemic, and this year the number of victims is higher than in the previous three years, and by 2021 it is still a month and a half. To date, the police have recorded 14,248 traffic accidents. in mid-November this year, which is 633 more than in the same period last year.
Kozjansko Regional Park receives the UNESCO award
PODSREDA – Kozjansko Regional Park, a protected area of natural and cultural heritage that stretches along the eastern border of Slovenia, is this year the recipient of the UNESCO International Award Melina Mercouri for the protection and management of cultural landscapes. The Kozjansko Regional Park is an exceptional and diverse natural area, the jury assessed. Representatives of the park will receive a prize of $ 30,000 next Monday in Paris.
Berlin-based artist Raether led the Grand Prix at the Ljubljana Biennale
LJUBLJANA – Johannes Paul Raether, an artist from Berlin, received the Grand Prix at the 34th Graphic Biennial in Ljubljana for an installation that explores the relationship between the human body and screens. The installation entitled Protekto.xx 5.5.5.1 Precipitation deals with the materiality, production process and production settings of modern information technologies, the organizers said.
Diaspora writer Zorko Simčič is celebrating his 100th birthday
LJUBLJANA – Writer, playwright and essayist Zorko Simčič, recipient of the Prešeren Lifetime Achievement Award in Literature, is celebrating his 100th birthday today. Simčič emigrated in 1945 and became one of the most prominent Slovenian diaspora authors, and then returned to Slovenia in 1994. Simčič, born in Maribor, first established himself as a writer just before the Second World War. In May 1945 he withdrew to Carinthia, later went to Italy, and then emigrated to Argentina. In 1994 he returned to Slovenia.