Morning headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, January 15, 2022
Income tax bill, energy vouchers in the focus of the coalition until the end of the term
BRDO PRI KRANJU – Amendments to the Personal Income Tax and Energy Vouchers Act and measures to curb the coronavirus epidemic will be the coalition’s main priorities until the end of its term, coalition leaders said after the session. Regarding personal income tax, Prime Minister Janez Janša said that the coalition might even accept the opposition’s referendum challenge after seeing whether voting can take place on election day. However, the bill on the establishment of a demographic fund, which was once an important government priority, is no longer feasible, said Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek.
Janša inquiry quizzes about quick tests, bonuses
LJUBLJANA – Prime Minister Janez Janša once again appeared before a parliamentary inquiry led by the opposition into the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. He spoke about the verification of rapid antigen tests, the payment of bonuses and the legal basis for measures against coronavirus, and the low vaccination rate, which he said is similar in all post-communist countries. He said the government had not made a decision on hazard allowances. He questioned the veracity of the allegations regarding the verification of tests.
Nearly 7,000 new cases of Covid
LJUBLJANA – Slovenia recorded 6,918 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, bringing the 7-day average of cases above 5,000 to 5,202, as the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population rose to 2,625. Six more Covid-19 patients died, while hospital numbers remained stable. According to the government, 524 covid patients were treated in hospitals this morning, 155 of them in intensive care. Almost 51% of PCR tests were positive.
Priorities of the French EU Presidency presented in Parliament
LJUBLJANA – The priorities of the French EU presidency were presented to the parliamentary committees for EU affairs and foreign policy. Florence Ferrari, French Ambassador to Slovenia, thanked Slovenia for its work in the last six months and praised the cooperation between the two countries during Slovenia’s EU presidency. Together with its troika partners, the Czech Republic and Sweden, France intends to upgrade the program set by the troika of the previous presidency, including Slovenia.
Ministers in the Alpine region talk about working towards carbon neutrality
LJUBLJANA – Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak and his colleagues from the Alpine Convention discussed a modal transition to railway and climate policy on the basis of the starting points prepared by the Swiss presidency of the convention. They agreed that cooperation between the Alpine countries was essential. “Slovenia expresses its support for strengthening cooperation at the pan-Alpine level in the field of environment and transport to support the vision of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 at the latest,” said Vizjak.
The Coal Region welcomes the strategy of phasing out coal
ŠOŠTANJ / VELENJE / LJUBLJANA – Šaleška dolina, the only active coal-mining region in the country, home to the TEŠ coal-fired power plant and coal mine, welcomed the government’s strategy to phase out coal for electricity production by 2033. The Šoštanj municipality said the region was now faces the challenge of phasing out coal in a fair way that will not harm people. The strategy was also welcomed by HSE, the owner of TEŠ and Rudnik Velenje, and they committed themselves to a comprehensive approach to restructuring.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls for immediate assistance to companies due to high energy prices
LJUBLJANA – The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) once again called on the government to immediately help companies cope with high energy prices. She said companies are still waiting for a state aid scheme and a regulation that will introduce compensation for the indirect costs of greenhouse gas emissions. The Chamber expects that a regulation governing the reimbursement of indirect costs of greenhouse gas emissions will be adopted as soon as possible.
The freight arm of the railway operator has completed a joint venture with a Czech partner
LJUBLJANA – The freight department of the Slovenian railway operator Slovenske Železnice, SŽ-Tovorni Promet, and the Czech EP Logistics International (EPLI) have concluded an agreement on a strategic partnership for expansion into foreign markets within the SŽ EP Logistika joint venture. transport and logistics in the region. Slovenske Železnice has a 51% ownership share in the new company, while the Czech partner has a 49% share.
The national railway operator is launching new double-decker trains
LJUBLJANA – The state railway operator Slovenske Železnice welcomed ten new double-decker trains to its rolling stock, as the company’s director Dušan Mes and infrastructure minister Jernej Vrtovec symbolically took one to Litija and announced several train purchases. “If we want to make rail passenger traffic more attractive, we need to modernize the railway infrastructure and buy new trains that will make it easier for passengers to ride,” Vrtovec said on the occasion.
Jože Bele appointed new President of the Management Board of Revoz
NOVO MESTO – On 1 January, Jože Bele replaced Kaan Ozkan as the President of the Management Board of Revoz, a Slovenian subsidiary of the French car manufacturer Renault. He has worked for the company for more than 30 years, and since 2017 he has been the director of production. It assumes a position in difficult times of supply disruptions and sales declines. However, he is confident in the future, as Revoz is always recognized as one of the best subsidiaries in the Renault Group.