Government Communication Office

Ljubljana – The Slovenian government is overseeing an increasingly systematic effort to undermine critical media, a coalition of press freedom organisations and journalism groups warned in a report released on Wednesday after conducting a virtual fact-finding mission to Slovenia in late May and early June.

Ljubljana – The government has asked its communication office to transfer a EUR 845,000 advance to the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) for the expected expenses related to the performance of public service once the STA provides UKOM with access into business documentation for the last ten years and if a contract on public service is signed.

Ljubljana – The government made some changes to Covid-19 rules on Thursday, including regarding entry to the country from abroad, and gatherings. From now on, persons vaccinated with two shots of different vaccines will also be allowed to enter Slovenia without the quarantine requirement.

Ljubljana – The keynote speaker at the main ceremony marking Statehood Day and the 30th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence will be President Borut Pahor, while PM Janez Janša and President of the European Council Charles Michel will deliver addresses as well. The event will be open to everyone, the Government Communication Office (UKOM) said.

Ljubljana – The celebrations of the 30 years of Slovenia’s sovereignty and independence will culminate with the main national ceremony on Statehood Day on Friday, 25 June, in memory of the day in 1991 when the Slovenian parliament passed several key documents for the country to leave the former Yugoslavia and become fully independent.

Brussels – Commenting on the new government regulation on the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), the European Commission has said that it expects swift solutions to unblock the agency’s funding, noting such solutions should completely preserve the STA’s autonomy. It should be checked whether the regulation is in line with existing acts governing the STA, it added.

Ljubljana – As the Ljubljana District Court has rejected a temporary injunction proposal with which the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) sought immediate payout of EUR 845,000 due from the Government Communication Office (UKOM), the STA announced it would appeal the decision, while noting that the court’s explanation indirectly supports STA’s case.

Ljubljana – The government has introduced a new restriction for public rallies and events featuring more than 100 participants. In line with the decision adopted on Thursday, participants of such events will need to be vaccinated, tested or reconvalescent as of next Monday.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Culture Committee got acquainted on Monday with the Slovenian Press Agency’s (STA) annual report for 2020. The debate mainly revolved around ongoing suspension of STA funding and the new government regulation that details how the STA should perform its public service.

Ljubljana – The government has changed the list of countries and territories placed in the red zone in terms of the Covid-19 epidemic to exclude, among others, the Croatian Adriatic area, Germany and the Czech Republic. The relevant decree adopted on Thursday will enter into force on Saturday and be valid until 20 June