Morning headlines for Slovenia: Friday, May 6, 2022
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This summary provides STA:
Prime Minister Jansa promises an additional million euros in aid to Ukraine
WARSAW, Poland – Prime Minister Janez Jansa promised another million euros in Slovenian aid to Ukraine while participating in an international donors’ conference for Ukraine in Warsaw. This is in addition to the almost one million euros that Slovenia promised last month as part of a global campaign in support of Ukraine. “We responded in accordance with our moral obligation,” Janša said, announcing a bill to shorten procedures so that help could be provided in a timely manner.
The Slovenian Army is more focused on combat readiness
LJUBLJANA – This year, the Slovenian Army presented plans for more than 90 different military exercises at home and abroad, and Commander-in-Chief Major General Miha Škerbinc explained that he is devoting more time to combat training and combat missions. Emphasis has also been placed on tasks related to the defense of the Slovenian national territory and the territory of Europe, as well as tasks related to the operationalization of the concepts of the new military strategy.
New Ukrainian ambassador to Slovenia appointed
Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Andriy Taran, Ukraine’s former defense minister, as his new ambassador to Slovenia. The current Ukrainian ambassador, Mikhail Brodovich, who has served in Slovenia since 2015, has been relieved of his duties. The incoming ambassador was Ukraine’s defense minister from March 2020 until last November, when he resigned.
Government decrees on the Covid Pass were found to be unconstitutional
LJUBLJANA – The Constitutional Court confirmed the position of the Information Commissioner that the collection of personal data to determine whether a person meets the cured-vaccinated-tested rule on the basis of a government decree and not a law is unconstitutional. The impugned decrees remain in force, but will be repealed after one year. Until then, the government must ensure that a legal basis is adopted that clearly states what data can be collected and processed and for what purpose and how to monitor it.
The leader of SocDem has been given a mandate to resume coalition talks
LJUBLJANA – Tanja Fajon received a full mandate from the presidency of her Social Democrats (SD) to continue talks with the Free Movement and the Left to form a new government amid speculation about dissatisfaction among peers over the election result. Fajon said she is aware that we cannot be satisfied with the election result […] we are happy that we have replaced the government of Janez Janša. ”The SD is expected to get four departments in the next government, with Fajon as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Businesses affected by rising energy are receiving aid
LJUBLJANA – The Financial Administration paid a one-off aid to companies and farmers, which this year experienced more than 40% growth in the costs of fuel, heating, electricity and other energy sources. The payments, totaling € 51.56 million to 5,996 beneficiaries, were made on the basis of a law passed in February as part of an energy relief package aimed at mitigating the impact of high energy prices on households and businesses, including agriculture.
Exports increased by almost 24% in March, but import growth is still outpacing
LJUBLJANA – Slovenian merchandise exports increased by 23.7 percent year on year in March, while imports increased by 45.5 percent, which further increased the trade deficit, according to the latest data from the Statistical Office. Exports in the first quarter of the year increased by 21.6% to EUR 10.5 billion compared to the previous year, while imports increased by almost 50% to EUR 13.1 billion. The share of exports and imports was 87.4% and the trade deficit was EUR 1.6 billion.
The number of registered unemployed in April was the lowest since 1990
LJUBLJANA – At the end of April, 58,081 unemployed persons were registered at the Employment Service, which is 4.1% less than in March and 26.7% less than in the same period last year. This is the lowest number of unemployed since 1990, according to the Employment Service. Demand for workers increased by 40.1% compared to the first four months of last year, which shows that the labor market is still narrow, as employers reported 59,617 vacancies.
Slovenes remain worried about the Ukrainian war, polls show
LJUBLJANA – A survey conducted by Mediana shows that the level of concern over the war in Ukraine remains high, but practically unchanged – 60.8 percent of Slovenes were worried about the war in April and 60.2 percent in March. About 90% are also concerned about the negative impact of the war on prices, although the shares are lower than in March. Almost 92% are worried that energy prices will rise, and 90% that basic consumer prices will rise, which is three or four points.
NGOs want an independent environment ministry, oppose merging with infrastructure
LJUBLJANA – Environmental NGOs warned of a possible merger of the Ministries of the Environment and Infrastructure, which the emerging new coalition is expected to consider. They want the Ministry of the Environment to remain independent and call on the new government not to accelerate environmental degradation but to stop it. “This is a political practice that we have been observing for many years and that needs to be stopped because it is harmful,” NGOs say.
Ascent Resources has pledged to defend the investment after the fracking ban
LONDON, UK – As a complete ban on hydraulic fracturing has come into force in Slovenia, British investor Ascent Resources, which is still in dispute with the state over the issuance of a permit for fracking gas in Petišovci (NE), said. it remained committed to defending its € 50 million investment. He said that he had informed the Slovenian government about “further violations of the bilateral investment agreement between the United Kingdom and Slovenia and the Energy Charter Treaty”.
Ceremony on the occasion of the death of a British pilot from World War II in Slovenia
PIVKA – Slovenian and British representatives laid wreaths at the monument to the British pilot who crashed in 1945 in the village of Suhorje in southwestern Slovenia. In June last year, the monument was erected by the Park of Military History in the nearby town of Pivka at the initiative of the locals. The President of the National Council Alojz Kovšca and the British Ambassador to Slovenia Tiffany Sadler paid tribute to the RAF patrol pilot Edmund Ramsbotham.
Union demands the return of the original Studio City
LJUBLJANA – Studio City, the current TV show of Slovenia, hosted by Marcel Štefančič since 1998, continues to raise dust. The show was interrupted two months ago, but RTV Slovenia did not renew its contract with the presenter and announced that it would return in a changed form and with a new presenter. Today, during the protests of employees and journalist organizations of RTV Slovenia, the Trade Union of Journalists (SNS) demanded the return of the weekly show with Štefančič as host.
The new Bosch manufacturing plant will receive an € 829,000 incentive
LJUBLJANA – In accordance with a government decision, the Slovenian subsidiary of the German group Bosch Rexroth will receive up to 829,308 euros in state incentives for its new production plant near Ljubljana Airport. The investment worth 13.2 million euros is expected to create 123 new jobs. In February, the company told STA that it intends to move from the current three locations to a new location in the first quarter of 2023.
Slovenian UniCredit recorded higher profits in the first quarter
LJUBLJANA – UniCredit Bank Slovenia generated EUR 8 million in net profit in the first quarter of the year, which is 22.2 percent more than in the same period last year, although interest and commission income was lower, according to the Group’s business report. The group, which includes UniCredit Bank Slovenia and UniCredit Leasing, recorded EUR 10 million in net interest, which is 6.5% less than in the first quarter of 2021.
The coronavirus condition is stable
LJUBLJANA – 990 new cases of coronavirus were recorded on Wednesday, which is 14 less than a week ago. The National Institute of Public Health estimates that there are about 12,000 active cases in the country, more than 260 less than yesterday. Five patients died. Hospitalization figures remain stable, with 230 people with or due to Covid currently in hospital, 23 of whom are in intensive care.
Photos of Plečnik’s Golden Age on display at SEM
LJUBLJANA – A selection of 70 photographs of masterpieces by architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) designed in Slovenia has been on display at the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum. The photographs were taken by three of Plečnik’s contemporaries and provide an insight into his golden age – the period between the two world wars, when Plečnik left a strong mark in Ljubljana. The Golden Age of Plečnik’s architecture is part of the year dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the architect’s birth, which will end in mid-September.
The film essay received the Đejmi Hadrović OHO Award
LJUBLJANA – A film essay on the position of women in contemporary Bosnia and Herzegovina was awarded to this year’s Đejma Hadrović Award by this year’s OHO Group Award for Aspiring Slovenian Visual Artists. The jury described Neno as “a difficult but magical and local but universal film essay”. The short film essay shows Zahida’s position in a neglected region in modern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The film is directly related to capitalism and the issue of labor and capital structures of society.