Morning headlines for Slovenia: Friday, January 14, 2020
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This summary provides STA:
The government has adopted a strategy to phase out coal for electricity generation by 2033
LJUBLJANA – The government has adopted a national strategy for the phasing out of coal and the restructuring of coal regions in accordance with the principles of a fair transition. The document envisages that coal used for electricity production will be completely abolished by 2033 at the latest, the Government Communication Office announced after the government session. TEŠ and Premogovnik Velenje responded to the news that the green transformation is a demanding and responsible task and that they will be actively involved in the process. Environmental NGOs believe that Slovenia should abandon coal by 2030.
Tonin says the EU should not forget Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it focuses on Ukraine and Mali
BRUSSELS, Belgium / BREST, France – Defense Minister Matej Tonin attended an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Brest, France, noting that the EU must not forget the Western Balkans, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina, because it has certain interests in the region, which could worsen the situation there.
Pension indexation confirmed
LJUBLJANA – The National Assembly unanimously approved amendments to the Pension and Disability Insurance Act, which provide for the gradual indexation of pensions as a means of bridging the gap between pensions and wages caused by austerity measures during the economic and financial crisis. Pensions for those who retired before the end of 2010 will increase by 3.5%, for those who retired in 2011 by 1.7% and for all others by 1%.
Accepted changes in the purchase of medical devices
LJUBLJANA – The National Assembly adopted amendments to the legislation on public procurement, which regulates the purchase of medical devices by introducing a system of reference prices. The coalition claims this will lead to lower prices, while the opposition warns that more taxpayer money will be channeled into private pockets. Under the new legislation, the reference price will be set in the public procurement procedure and set by the newly established government service responsible for central records.
MEPs support a higher language standard for bilingual schools
LJUBLJANA – The National Assembly adopted amendments to legislation that sets a higher standard of the Italian language for employees of Slovene-Italian bilingual kindergartens and schools. Amendments to the law on the special rights of the Italian and Hungarian minorities in the field of education were supported by 44:33 votes. The changes were tabled by minority MPs Ferenc Horvath in Felice Žiža and received the support of the coalition.
SSH, the state administrator of assets, is planning a 5% return this year
LJUBLJANA – The Slovenian State Holding (SDH) plans a 5% return on assets in the portfolio it manages for this year, which is slightly less than the estimated return for 2021, according to the annual capital asset management plan for 2022. confirmed by the government today. In 2023, a slight increase in yield is expected.
The omicron wave continues to rotate
LJUBLJANA – A total of 6,855 new cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in Slovenia on Wednesday, a day after they confirmed a record of more than 7,400. The number of hospitalizations continued to decline, killing an additional seven people with Covid, new government figures show. According to the National Institute of Public Health, the number of active cases exceeded 50,000. The PCR test positivity rate was 51%.
Digital Minister satisfied with the achievements of the EU Presidency
LJUBLJANA – Minister for Digitization Transformation Mark Boris Andrijanič believes that Slovenia has achieved many successes during its term at the helm of the EU. He highlighted in particular the Digital Services Act, the Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles and the First Three Seas Ministerial Conference on Digital Transformation. “Our presidency of the EU Council has shown that even a small country can be an effective and efficient mediator between all Member States,” he said.
Maximum salary increase for doctors at the Constitutional Court
LJUBLJANA – The presidents of five Slovenian trade unions have asked the Constitutional Court to rule on the provision of the latest Covid relief law, which raises the wage ceiling in the single public sector wage system only for the benefit of doctors and dentists. They disagree with the government that raising the maximum wage for only one group of civil servants is linked to emergency measures to deal with the Covid-19 emergency.
The Minister of Culture called for his resignation, as several cultural organizations were left without funds
LJUBLJANA – Opposition Social Democrats (SD) have called on Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti to resign immediately after it became clear that several prominent independent cultural producers or artists were involved in a tender worth 3.8 million euros for the period 2022-2025. left without funds. SD MP Marko Koprivc said that “some of the most important and prominent cultural workers in Slovenia were left without funds for a four-year period”. The media report that these are the Carmina Slovenica choir, the Laibach alternative music group, the City of Women festival, the Glej theater company, the producers of performing arts Zavod Maska, Zavod Emanat and Center Delak and Nomad Dance Academy Slovenia.
Protesters on RTV present a petition against political interference
LJUBLJANA – After the latest edition of the Tarča show on RTV Slovenia provoked controversy and criticism, a petition was launched in support of the show, host Erika Žnidaršič and media freedom on RTV Slovenia. RTV programming council. Critical reactions also triggered an emergency session of the RTV Slovenia programming council, at which they demanded that the RTV management provide additional material for further discussion.
The Basovizza Heroes monument has been given the status of cultural significance
TRIESTE, Italy – A memorial site in Basovica, Italy, dedicated to four Slovenian victims of fascism executed in September 1930, known as the Heroes of Basovica, has been granted cultural significance by Italian regional authorities, Trieste-based Primorski Dnevnik reports. . With this, the Friuli Venezia Giulia region laid the foundations for the monument to become a monument of national importance in Italy in the future. The granting of the status was welcomed by President Borut Pahor and the umbrella organizations of the Slovenian minority in Italy.
The bill on the rehabilitation of the Celje basin was passed
LJUBLJANA – The parliamentary committee for infrastructure on Wednesday rejected a bill supported by unaffiliated MP Janja Sluga, a former member of the ruling coalition, according to which the chemical company Cinkarna Celje would pay 16 million euros and the state 7 million euros for rehabilitation. heavily polluted Celje basin. The bill was supported by all center-left parliamentary factions, and the coalition and the government believed that a systemic bill was needed to solve the problem not only in Celje but also elsewhere.
The government is proposing key social protection goals for the period 2022-2030
LJUBLJANA – The government has adopted a proposal for a decision on the national social protection program 2022-2030, and the key goals include the development of the social system, reducing the risk of poverty and greater social inclusion, the government announced after Thursday’s session. Other key objectives are to improve the availability and accessibility of services and programs and to create the conditions for the proper functioning of social welfare organizations.
The government adopted a decision on a national program for higher education
LJUBLJANA – The government has adopted a decision on the national higher education program for 2030 and will send it to the parliamentary procedure. According to the Government Communication Office, this is a key strategic document for the formulation of goals, standards, measures and quality policies in Slovenian higher education. The resolution, based on the guidelines adopted by the Government Council for Higher Education in April 2021, aims to raise the quality of higher education, make it more flexible and attractive to the needs of the economy and society as a whole.
Steklarna Hrastnik honored the German economy
LJUBLJANA – The Slovenian-German Chamber of Commerce announced Slovenian glass manufacturer Steklarna Hrastnik as the winner of the 2021 Innovation Award at an online event that included speeches by German and Slovenian representatives in politics and the economy and a round table on sustainable development. The award is presented by the Chamber together with the German Embassy in Slovenia and the WISE Institute.
Toyota Yaris Cross was chosen as the Slovenian car in 2022
LJUBLJANA – Toyota Yaris Cross was chosen as the Slovenian car of 2022, which is the first time in the 30-year history of the competition that the title went to a Japanese car manufacturer. A total of 15 cars competed for the title, and five finalists were chosen by readers, listeners and viewers of nine car media and shows. The final selection was made by journalists and editors of the media involved.