Economy Ministry

Ljubljana – Travel agencies, which have not been able to provide services to consumers or organise trips for the majority of the past year due to the Covid-19 measures, are not doing well, but the situation is not yet “tragic”. They have been eligible for state aid and the state is also expected to help them restart their activity in full.

Ljubljana – The three coalition deputy groups filed in parliament on Monday a proposal to dismiss Speaker of the National Assembly Igor Zorčič after he and another two Modern Centre Party (SMC) MPs left the SMC deputy group and the coalition on Friday over different views on the SMC’s role in the government coalition.

Ljubljana – Four members of parliament, including Speaker Igor Zorčič, will form a new deputy group in parliament on Friday after three of them parted ways with the coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC) and one left the opposition Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS) deputy group. This is expected to lead to the appointment of a new parliamentary speaker.

Ljubljana – The environment and economy ministries have withdrawn a planned provision allowing construction of manufacturing facilities which use hazardous materials in water protected areas. The decision was welcomed by the Greens Slovenia party, and by environmentalists, who however also want the other contentious provision removed.

Ljubljana – The Court of Audit has found in a report on the efficiency of procurement of protective and medical equipment for containing the spread of the new coronavirus that, although the circumstances were extraordinary, the government, ministries and the Commodity Reserves Agency had been inefficient in the PPE procurement.

Slovenj Gradec – The US multinational Adient today explained its decision to close down its Slovenj Gradec affiliate by saying that “internal assessments and discussions with key clients have shown that Slovenia is no longer considered a best cost country”.

Brussels – A resilient and competitive internal market will be a major priority of Slovenia’s EU presidency, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek told EU ministers in charge of consumer protection at an informal videoconference yesterday.

Ormož – Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek visited on Friday the Ormož eyewear production plant of Italian group Safilo, which is slated for shut-down at the expense of almost 560 jobs, to talk with the management about solutions for the employees. He said the government would do everything in its power to resolve the situation.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Economy Committee called on the government Wednesday to put in place additional measures to help the hospitality industry, one of the sectors hit hardest by Covid-19 restrictions.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary environment committee has passed amendments to the water act changes, under which hazardous substances could be used under certain condition by production facilities located in water protection areas. While the government says adequate safety mechanisms are envisaged, the opposition warns of harmful effects for water sources.