Slovenia got a new government last week, the eighth in a row since the country's independence, as parliament appointed a 15-member cabinet of Prime Minister Janez Jansa in a vote 51:37. Announcing the foreign policy of the new government, Dimitrij Rupel, who has once again become foreign minister, said Slovenia will be focusing on its presidency of the OSCE. Slovenian officials also promised Slovenia's support to Turkey's EU bid, as the Turkish foreign minister paid a two-day visit to Ljubljana.
The European Commission Representative Office in Slovenia held a public debate entitled ‘The Slovene Voice in the European Union’. It was attended by European Parliament Deputies Mojca Drčar Murko (ALDE/LDS), Miha Brejc (EPP/SDS) and Borut Pahor (PES/ZLSD), who confirmed that they speak Slovene whenever possible in the framework of their parliamentary duties, and also agreed that they represent the interests of the people who elected them to the European Parliament. More »
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel called for a balanced approach to all three dimensions of the OSCE - the security, economic and humanitarian fields - as he delivered a speech at the OSCE ministerial meeting in Sofia on Monday. More »
Slovenia has earmarked EUR 20,000 for the reintegration of demobilised soldiers from Bosnia-Herzegovina, a joint programme of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the International Organisation for Migration. More »
Exactly two months after the general election, parliament appointed a 15-member cabinet of Prime Minister Janez Jansa by 51 votes against 37 on Friday. The centre-right coalition government of the Slovenian Democrats (SDS), New Slovenia (NSi), People's Party (SLS) and Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) controls 49 seats in the 90-seat parliament. More »
Holding its maiden session on Friday, the centre-right government of Janez Jansa appointed 13 state secretaries tasked to assist the ministers and 3 state secretaries to work in the cabinet. More »
Alojz Uran has officially taken over as the new Ljubljana archbishop and Slovenian metropolitan. Uran was invested by Apostolic Nuncio Santos Abril y Castello at a solemn mass at the Ljubljana Cathedral on Sunday. More »
Slovene officials assured Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Guel, who paid a two-day visit to Slovenia, that the country supports Turkey's EU bid. More »
Last year Slovenia's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 77 percent of the average of the enlarged EU, according to audited data released by Eurostat on Friday. Slovenia thus places 16th among the 25 member states in terms of GDP per capita, expressed in terms of purchasing power standards. More »
The leading Slovenian grocer opened a Mercator shopping mall in the Croatian city of Osijek in an investment worth nearly EUR 24m. Addressing the opening ceremony, Mercator CEO Zoran Jankovic said the company would like to increase its market share in Croatia from 3 to 10% over the next few years, thus becoming the country's top retailer. More »
Slovenian MEP Alojz Peterle has been conferred an award by the Luxembourg-based foundation Merite Europeen for his merits in the process of European integration. More »
The magic one-billion-euro revenue mark was crossed by 54 companies from eight of the new EU member states last year, and among the 1,000 major companies from the new EU members, one tenth are Slovenian, according to the latest issue of a Slovenian business weekly published on Monday. More »
The National Council for Culture will propose to the government to establish an agency for the international promotion of Slovenian culture. All preparations for the project are to be made within six months. More »
The 2004 Preseren Awards - the highest national awards for artistic achievements - will go to painter Bogdan Borcic and flautist Irena Grafenauer, the Preseren Fund said Friday. More »
The number of tourists visiting Slovenia keeps rising, accompanied by an increasing inflow of foreign currency. The Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) is adjusting its programme to the latest figures, its key projects being included in the coalition agreement of the new government. More »
Ljubljana became illuminated on Friday evening to conjure up the December holiday magic. This year, the holiday spirit will capture the capital city for even longer, with the events dubbed the "Festive December" taking place until 8 January. More »