Last week in Slovenia: 24
The following is a weekly overview of events in Slovenia, prepared by STA.
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FRIDAY, June 24
BRUSSELS, Belgium – While Slovenia failed at the EU summit with its proposal that BiH, together with Ukraine and Moldova, be given candidate status for EU membership, Prime Minister Robert Golob said that an “important step” had been taken, as the country was ranked. again on the agenda of the EU.
LJUBLJANA – Prime Minister Robert Golob told Dela that his first official bilateral visit to Germany will be in the first half of July. He also indicated that Slovenia is in no hurry to reach an arbitration agreement on the border with Croatia. He said that many European countries have open issues with their neighbors.
LJUBLJANA – In an interview with TV Slovenija, the President of the Republic, Borut Pahor, spoke about international circumstances and warned that the government has to think about how to remain an ally in helping Ukraine, and at the same time wisely “arrange sanctions so that we can help ourselves”.
BRUSSELS, Belgium – The Legal Network for the Protection of Democracy, a Slovenian network of non-governmental organizations that played an important role in challenging controversial government restrictions during the Covid pandemic, was among the recipients of this year’s European Citizen Award, presented by the European Parliament.
LJUBLJANA – The Ukrainian war was discussed at the first meeting of the MFA strategic council. After an almost three-hour discussion, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said that despite some differences in views, all members agree that the war must be ended as soon as possible.
LJUBLJANA – Political activist Vili Kovačič launched a petition to call for a referendum on a bill that would allow the prime minister to form a government as he sees fit. According to him, the changes that increase the number of ministries by three are a shame for democracy.
SATURDAY, June 25
LJUBLJANA – In an interview with STA, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon expressed her hope that the war in Ukraine will end as soon as possible, and announced her visit to Berlin as a sign of a return to the EU’s core countries. It will also strive for good relations with Croatia, which will probably not enter the Schengen area anytime soon.
LJUBLJANA – On National Day, Slovenia received congratulations from world leaders, President Borut Pahor received messages from, among others, Queen Elizabeth II, US President Joe Biden, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and French President Emmanuel Macron.
LJUBLJANA – President Borut Pahor awarded the former rector of the University of Maribor Ludvik Toplak and the former deputy of the Italian minority Robert Battelli with the Golden Order of Merit at a ceremony on the occasion of the National Day.
SUNDAY, June 26
COLOGNE, Austria – Ana Marwan, a Slovenian author who lives and works in Austria, has received the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize, a prestigious award for works in German given by the city of Cologne. She was awarded for Wechselkröte, a work about a woman who lives alone in the countryside and learns that she is pregnant.
MONDAY, June 27
LJUBLJANA – At the online congress, the high coalition of the Freedom Movement approved the merger with the non-parliamentary parties Lista Marjana Šarca (LMŠ) and the Party of Alenka Bratušek (SAB) with more than 90 percent of the votes. This is after the MPs of LMŠ and SAB have already given the green light for the merger.
LJUBLJANA – Nina Krajnik, philosopher and psychoanalyst, has announced that she is entering the presidential race. She will run as an independent candidate, but will accept support from like-minded political parties. Krajnik says that her policy is different, as it creates space for “everyone’s truth and desire”.
LJUBLJANA – The non-executive directors of the Bank Claims Management Company (BAMC) dismissed Andrej Lazar and Kristina Šteblaj from the position of executive directors of the BAMC and appointed Mitja Križaj and Žiga Pfeifer as acting directors.
LJUBLJANA – Politics must never again defeat the police or abuse them for their own particular goals, Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar said on Slovenian Police Day. She intends to restore public confidence in the force and has also apologized for what she considers unacceptable actions of the previous government.
RIJEKA, Croatia – The Minister for Slovenians Abroad and the World, Matej Archon, visited Rijeka on his first official visit to the Slovenian community in Croatia. Archon said that the Office of the Government for Slovenes Abroad and around the world wants to proactively set clear goals for the next four years together with members of the community.
BRUSSELS, Belgium – European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson responded to the public letter of five Slovenian MEPs about Austria’s decision to extend border controls with Slovenia. It agreed with the EU court that such checks can only be a measure of last resort and should be introduced for a limited period of time.
LJUBLJANA – The Constitutional Court added to the list of unconstitutional measures related to the epidemic the mask mandate introduced in 2020 by the previous government in closed public spaces, and again emphasized that such interventions require legislative changes and not just decrees.
TUESDAY, June 28
LJUBLJANA – Marta Kos, vice-president of the Svoboda movement, officially announced her candidacy for president of the republic. Kos, the first of the candidates to run with the support of the parliamentary party, said that he was “proud to be a representative of the progressive forces that returned dignity and hope for the future to the people after two difficult years of decline”.
LJUBLJANA – A new advisory group for covid-19 was formed at the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), which, according to Minister of Health Danijelo Bešič Loredan, meant that experts took over the management of the pandemic. The group will be led by Mario Fafangel, director of the NIJZ Center for Infectious Diseases.
LJUBLJANA – The government approved Slovenia’s proposal to sign protocols on the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO. The agreement was reached at a correspondence session just before the start of the three-day NATO summit.
LJUBLJANA – The Supervisory Board of the Slovenian State Holding (SDH) and the President of the Management Board Janez Žlak have reached an agreement on the early termination of the position, SSH announced. Žlak’s term ends on August 31, which allows him to function and make decisions without interruption.
LJUBLJANA – Minister for Slovenians abroad and around the world Matej Archon held online meetings with representatives of Slovenian societies in Germany and the USA. He invited everyone to actively participate in the European Capital of Culture 2025 project and announced regular monthly meetings.
LJUBLJANA – The Constitutional Court rejected former Prime Minister Janez Janša’s appeal against the statute of limitations in the Patria bribery case. While Janša felt denied to prove his innocence, the court said that he had no standing, as the statute of limitations is completely equivalent to an acquittal.
WEDNESDAY, June 29
MADRID, Spain – Prime Minister Robert Golob has announced that Slovenia will accelerate defense spending in order to reach the target of 2% of GDP before the current deadline of 2030. According to him, this is necessary due to changed international circumstances.
LJUBLJANA – The Foreign Policy Committee supported Slovenia’s initiatives to sign protocols on the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO. Both countries decided to apply for NATO membership because of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, and each country has the right to autonomously decide which alliance to join, committee members noted.
LJUBLJANA – The National Assembly adopted amendments to the Act on Infectious Diseases, which introduce parliamentary control over pandemic restrictions. While the coalition parties supported the bill because it amends those parts of the law that were found to be unconstitutional, the opposition Democrats (SDS) voted against, and Nova Slovenia (NSi) abstained.
LJUBLJANA – With the initiative to call a referendum on the law on the composition of the government, the opposition SDS wanted to prevent the new government’s plans to increase the number of ministries. The collection of the necessary 40,000 signatures will probably start in September.
LJUBLJANA – Deputies rejected a series of laws submitted by the opposition, including a proposal to abolish the mandatory subscription for RTV Slovenia and an amendment to the Act on STA, which would have appointed the government and not the National Assembly. supervisors.
LJUBLJANA – It was announced that the post of director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be taken over from Petra Grah Lazar by Boštjan Mlačnik, who until now held the position of head of investigations.
LJUBLJANA – The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology has decided to distribute almost 1.83 million euros to ten air carriers in a public tender for subsidies to improve Slovenia’s air connectivity with the world. As part of the deal, the selected carriers will operate more than 700 flights between Ljubljana and other countries.
LJUBLJANA – After her predecessor initiated procedures for the eviction of several non-governmental organizations that rent out the premises of the Ministry of Culture on Metelkova Street in Ljubljana, the new Minister of Culture Asta Vrečko announced the suspension of the procedures.
THURSDAY, June 30
LJUBLJANA – Slovenia will receive EUR 1.49 billion in grants from the EU’s post-covid recovery mechanism, which is almost EUR 286 million less than the original funds, according to calculations by the European Commission. The lower amount is the result of more favorable economic trends in 2020 and 2021 than the original estimates.
LJUBLJANA – The annual inflation rate in Slovenia accelerated to 10.4 percent in June, which is 2.3 percentage points more than in May, which is the result of rising prices of petroleum products, food and electricity, the statistical office announced. The monthly rate was 2.7%, driven by 0.7 percentage points higher prices for electricity, holiday packages and food.
MADRID – Prime Minister Robert Golob has warned NATO not to overlook the Western Balkans as it builds up its presence on its eastern flank as part of a new deterrence and defense posture. Within the framework of NATO’s new deterrence and defense posture, Slovenia is ready to “operate primarily where it can contribute the most” – in the Western Balkans, he said.
MADRID, Spain – Slovenia wants Croatia to join the Schengen area as soon as possible, but many dilemmas need to be resolved, as the Schengen area is currently not working, Prime Minister Robert Golob said.
LJUBLJANA – The National Assembly has launched a parliamentary investigation due to suspicions of illegal financing of “party political propaganda in the media with funds from state companies, state institutions or foreign institutions or entities” of media owned or affiliated with SDS.
LJUBLJANA – Director of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) Milan Krek submitted his resignation due to “unbearable political pressure” from the new government. The Council of NIJZ appointed Branko Gabrovec, who has been employed at NIJZ since 2014, as acting director.