Morning news for Slovenia: Friday, July 15, 2022
Check the date at the top of the page and you’ll find all the “Morning Headlines” news. here. You can also follow us at Facebook and get all the news in your feed.
This summary was prepared by STA:
Electricity prices for households and small businesses are limited from September
LJUBLJANA – Electricity prices for households and small and medium-sized companies will be limited from September 1 to August 2023, and households will pay 15 to 60 percent less for electricity than now, said Infrastructure Minister Bojan Kumer. after the government meeting. Low prices will be maintained through a combination of lower duties and measures that will reduce the profits of electricity companies, Kumer believes. The excise duty on electricity will remain at 50 percent of the nominal amount, while the contribution for renewable sources will be halved in September.
Brussels predicts a sharp slowdown for Slovenia in 2023
BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Commission has improved its forecast for Slovenian GDP growth for this year from 3.7% to 5.4%, but expects growth to slow sharply to just 1% in 2023, compared to the previous projection of 3.1%. This year, Slovenia is expected to have the second highest growth rate in the EU after Portugal, based on a strong carryover effect from last year. Next year, the growth rate is expected to be among the third lowest in the EU behind Sweden and Italy, and even below the euro area average of 1.4%.
Prime Minister calls for cross-party unity to tackle cost-of-living crisis
LJUBLJANA – Prime Minister Robert Golob called for political unity when he presented in parliament his government’s plans for ensuring energy and food security and solving rising prices and inflation. The government plans to double strategic food stocks and replenish fuel stocks, as it has declared a Level 1 threat to electricity production. The purpose of the latter decision is to “increase strategic fuel stocks in the power industry, all fuels, from oil derivatives to gas and coal”. The Minister of Infrastructure was tasked to prepare, together with the system operators of the transmission and distribution network, preventive and preparatory measures for the implementation of crisis scenarios of electricity supply.
Law passed to reduce waiting times in healthcare
LJUBLJANA – The National Assembly has adopted an urgent law, which is supposed to reduce the long waiting times for health services by providing more money and prepare the system for the more extensive reform that follows. Eliminates the limit on the value and number of services paid by the public health insurance company in a given year. Minister of Health Danijel Bešič Loredan says that all services provided will be paid for. Currently, the budget is about EUR 200 million, but this figure could increase. The bill has exposed a divide between the left and the rest of the ruling coalition, with the former concerned that the bill could undermine public health.
Parliament ratifies Sweden’s and Finland’s bids to join NATO
LJUBLJANA – The National Assembly approved the bill on the ratification of the protocols on the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. Opposition to the expansion of NATO and support for Slovenia’s exit from the alliance was repeated only by the coalition Left, which voted against. In his speech before the vote, Prime Minister Robert Golob called on the unanimous ratification of the accession protocols, and he called the decision of Finland and Sweden to join NATO “historic”. According to him, the inclusion in NATO of countries that were neutral for decades or centuries is a direct result of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The DZ ratified the agreement between Slovenia and Italy on the supply of gas
LJUBLJANA – The National Assembly unanimously ratified the agreement between Slovenia and Italy on solidarity measures to ensure the reliability of gas supply, according to which Slovenia can request from Italy the supply of gas to protected customers in the event of disruptions in supply and vice versa. The mechanism is activated when the country has implemented all measures to supply gas to protected customers on its territory and when all unprotected customers have been disconnected. Protected customers are households, health and educational institutions, and social service providers, according to the Energy Act.
Deputies adopt a joint act that repeals a dozen laws of the previous government
LJUBLJANA – With the signatures of the voters, the members of Parliament adopted a summary law on the amendment of eleven laws adopted by the previous government, which, according to the non-governmental organization Institute March 8, are harmful to equality, human rights and the rule of law. The law restores the legislation to the state before it was changed by the government of Janez Janša after a hasty procedure or without consultation with experts. The opposition Democrats (SDS) intend to challenge the law, which since its introduction this spring has received the support of the parties that formed the new government after the elections on April 24, in the constitutional court.
Deputies adopted amendments to the law on RTV Slovenia
LJUBLJANA – With 53 votes to 26, the National Assembly adopted amendments to the Law on RTV Slovenia, with which the government wants to reduce, in its opinion, the influence of politics on RTV. The changes come after RTV journalists recently went on strike twice and demanded editorial autonomy. With the changes, the existing program council and supervisory council will be replaced by a single 17-member council, in which civil society and employees would gain more power.
The government adopted the law on the transfer of the GDPR
LJUBLJANA – The government has adopted a draft law on the protection of personal data, with which it aims to transfer the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) into Slovenian legislation. The Ministry of Justice announced after the government meeting that the new legislation is necessary because the GDPR brings significant changes in the field of personal data protection and has replaced a large part of the national provisions in this area. The Information Commissioner welcomed the move and noted that Slovenia remains the only EU member that has not prepared new legislation under the GDPR. Implementation costs are estimated at EUR 100,000 in 2023 and 2024.
Adopted law on alternative investment funds
LJUBLJANA – The National Assembly adopted the law on forms of alternative investment funds, which foresees three forms and two types of funds. The long-awaited legislation, with which the country wants to strengthen the capital market, is one of the milestones for the payment of the first installment from the covid recovery mechanism. Such legislation is one of the measures of this reform and also a condition that the state must fulfill in order to draw the first installment of grants in the amount of 57 million euros. This was also a desire repeatedly expressed by the financial sector.
The government abolishes the office of demography, moves the law on long-term care
LJUBLJANA – The government has decided to abolish the Office for Demography, whose powers will be transferred to the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. The abolition was proposed due to overlapping of the authority of the office with the authority of the ministry, which will employ the office, take over the documentation and funds intended for the office. The government also postponed the implementation of the long-term care law from the beginning of 2023 to April 2024, so that it could be amended.
Vraničar Ermanova re-appointed as high representative for succession
LJUBLJANA – Mateja Vraničar Erman, former Minister of Finance, was reappointed as the High Representative of Slovenia for the succession of the former Yugoslavia, after she was dismissed from this position in March 2021 by the previous government. He replaces international law expert Miha Pogačnik. Vraničar Ermanova held the position between June 18, 2019 and March 18, 2021, while she was finance minister in the government of Mir Cerar between September 2016 and September 2018. The first and longest-serving high representative in the country was Rudi Gabrovec, who is performed the function twice – in 2001. -2005 and 2009-2014.
Viršek once again heads the Agency for Radioactive Waste ARAO
LJUBLJANA – The government has appointed Sandij Viršek as director of the Agency for Radioactive Waste (ARAO) for a four-year term starting on July 15, which is responsible for the construction of a 194 million euro waste storage facility from NE Krško. with the possibility of reappointment. Viršek led the agency before, until March 29 this year, when his mandate expired and the previous government appointed Petra Grajžl as temporary director. The previous government was critical of Viršek for failing to fulfill its obligations regarding the construction of a facility for low and medium radioactive waste in Vrbina pri Krško by 2023.
For the last 20 years, employees of Lek have been paid incorrectly
LJUBLJANA – The pharmaceutical company Lek has confirmed the allegations that it discovered an error in the calculation of salaries, due to which its employees were underpaid in the last 20 years by a total of approximately 100 million euros. The company announced that it will reimburse all current and former employees for the last five years late interest for the last three years, as required by law, despite calls from the unions for more money. The error was discovered when the company changed payroll providers and the new provider performed due diligence with an audit.
Wednesday’s Covid-19 count was up 6% w/w
LJUBLJANA – 1,738 more people tested positive for the coronavirus in Slovenia on Wednesday, which is six percent more than the same day a week ago. The seven-day average for cases is now 1,379, up 17 from the day before and 295 in a week. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population rose by 35, from 216 to 822. Hospitalizations rose by 12 to 66 in one week, with intensive care cases falling by one to seven. While the numbers show that the spread may be slowing down, the deputy head of the Center for Infectious Diseases at NIJZ, Nuška Čakš Jager, said that infections are likely to increase for another four weeks.
Slovenia will send 36,000 euros of demining equipment to Ukraine
LJUBLJANA – In accordance with Ukraine’s request for international aid through the EU civil protection mechanism, the government has approved material aid to Ukraine in the form of demining equipment, which, together with transport, is estimated at 36,140 euros. Slovenia will send ten metal detectors, protective bulletproof vests, protective visors and foldable metal shovels that can be worn on the belt to Ukraine, the Government Communications Office (UKOM) announced.
The government canceled the withdrawal of Slovenia from the Forum of Slavic Cultures
LJUBLJANA – The government has annulled the decision of the previous government of Janez Janša that Slovenia withdraws from the Forum of Slavic Cultures (FSC), which it adopted on April 21, three days before the parliamentary elections. The government claimed that it did not take into account the opinion of the government’s office for legislation against the decision. In addition, the points of the pronouncement of the decision, adopted three days before the elections, are legally and formally inadequate, as they do not comply with material regulations, the government wrote in a press release.