Slovenia News 2 August 2005

The Government is already preparing for the EU Presidency in the first half of 2008. The Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2008 is a big challenge for Slovenia, which will become the first of the new Member States to assume this duty. Assuming the Presidency of the EU is an extremely demanding national project in terms of content, organisational structure and the allocation of financial resources, and one that requires the collaboration of a large number of state officials. For this reason, the Government began its preparations immediately after the Council of Ministers took its decision on the Slovenian Presidency. Erwan Fouere, the head of the European Commission Representation to Slovenia whose term in office ended on Monday after more than three years of service, believes that Slovenia will face tough challenges as an EU member in the future. Fouere, who officially assumed office in Slovenia in March 2002, had made it one of his priorities to inform the public about the EU. More than three years later the official says that a person can never do enough to keep the public informed. More » The process that led to the creation of the modern day OSCE was crucial in ending the Cold War and making Europe safer and more united, Slovenia's Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman Dimitrij Rupel has said. More » Igor Sencar assumed the post of Slovenia's ambassador to the European Union in Brussels on Tuesday. Sencar is taking over from Ciril Stokelj, who was recalled from his post last week. More » Serbia-Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic has conferred a top state decoration on Slovenia's Ambassador Borut Suklje for his personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations between this country and Slovenia. More » Eleven environmental projects have been selected for funding under the Phare programme of cross-border cooperation with Austria. "The projects will improve environmental protection and management, and the sustainable use of natural resources," Environment Minister Janez Podobnik said on Tuesday. More » The government on Thursday adopted amendments to the act on passports, making it mandatory for passports to contain biometric features. More » The main focuses of the Programme for the Stimulation of Foreign Direct Investment for the period 2005-2009, adopted by the Government at the session, are: equal treatment of domestic and foreign companies, the reduction and elimination of administrative obstacles to employment, lowering entry costs for initial investments and the aggressive marketing of Slovenia as a location for foreign direct investment. More » The cabinet has adopted the budget framework for the next two years, envisaging a spending cut as a result of a fall in tax revenues. The budget deficit is forecast at 1.3% and 1.2% of GDP for 2006 and 2007 respectively, Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk said. More » The Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2008 is a big challenge for Slovenia, which will become the first of the new Member States to assume this duty. Assuming the Presidency of the EU is an extremely demanding national project in terms of content, organisational structure and the allocation of financial resources, and one that requires the collaboration of a large number of state officials. For this reason, the Government began its preparations immediately after the Council of Ministers took its decision on the Slovenian Presidency. More » The construction of the first pumped-storage hydro plant in Slovenia, the Avce plant, has entered the second phase, as equipment and building contracts worth EUR 86.6m were signed on Monday, representing about 70% of the total investment. More » Alpina has set up a subsidiary in Ukraine, aimed at increasing its exports in this country, the Ziri-based footwear manufacturer said in a press release on Thursday. More » The European Commission has lifted a temporary blockade of farm subsidies to Slovenia, an EU spokesperson told the press in Brussels on Tuesday. More » Slovenia has urged the British EU presidency to put forward its proposal for the EU budget talks for the 2007-2013 period as soon as possible. The time dimension is very important for the country, State Secretary for European Affairs Marcel Koprol said after talks in London on Wednesday. More » The New Swing Quartet, Slovenian vocal quartet famous for recreating the tradition of black and white spiritual and gospel music, has added another award to their extensive collection by winning two prestigious prizes at the "a cappella" competition in Graz. More » Polish street theatre company Teatr Porywacze Cial opened what has become one of the most popular summer festivals in Ljubljana last Wednesday. While the show "Funny Faces" will take place in Preseren Square, all other Trnfest events will be held at KUD France Preseren, an independent cultural centre at Trnovo. More » The capital of Slovenia will get its first golf course on the nearby Barje marshlands. The five hectares training course and the eleven hectares nine-hole course will open for public at the beginning of 2007. More » The number of tourists visiting Slovenia stood at just over 1 million in the first half of 2005, a rise of 3% on last year. More » The Slovenian minority in Italy and the Italian minority in Slovenia presented at Monday's news conference two joint EU-sponsored projects, aimed at developing tourism and promoting farming products of the two minorities. More »

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