News Archive - May 2012

Europe awaits Irish vote outcome on EU Fiscal Treaty

31. 05. 2012
Europe awaits Irish vote outcome on EU Fiscal Treaty
Ireland votes in a referendum on the European Fiscal Treaty today and the signs are it will be approved.

PM Holds Talks With Gazprom Chairman

31. 05. 2012
PM Holds Talks With Gazprom Chairman
Prime Minister Janez Janša held talks late on Wednesday with Alexei Miller, the boss of Russian gas company Gazprom, according to the PM's office. The pair discussed the incorporation of a joint venture to manage the Slovenian section of the South Stream pipeline which is expected to be signed on Thursday.

Frightened Italians refuse to return home after second quake

30. 05. 2012
Frightened Italians refuse to return home after second quake
Residents in the Italian town of Medolla spent an anxious night in the open after yesterday’s earthquake left many buildings unsafe to sleep in.

All Bathing Sites in Slovenia Meet Water Quality Standards

30. 05. 2012
All Bathing Sites in Slovenia Meet Water Quality Standards
All 48 bathing sites in Slovenia met the mandatory water quality levels in 2011, making the country one of four EU members with this immaculate record, shows the annual report by the European Commission presented in Ljubljana on Tuesday.

Ex-Mubarak PM’s office is set ablaze

29. 05. 2012
Ex-Mubarak PM’s office is set ablaze
The campaign head quarters of Ahmed Shafiq were set ablaze last night. Demonstrators were furious that the man who had served as Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister had made it through to the run-off in Egypt’s presidential election.

Agreement on Pay Cuts at Rail Operator Reached

29. 05. 2012
Agreement on Pay Cuts at Rail Operator Reached
The unions and the management of Slovenia's national rail operator Slovenske železnice have reached an agreement on a 3-5% pay cut coming into effect in May, TV Slovenija reported on Monday.

UN condemns Syrian government for Houla shelling

28. 05. 2012
UN condemns Syrian government for Houla shelling
Protests have erupted across Syria after Friday’s massacre of at least 100 people, many of them children, in the town of Houla.

Party Heads to Discuss Changes to Referendum Rules

28. 05. 2012
Party Heads to Discuss Changes to Referendum Rules
Prime Minister Janez Janša will meet party leaders on Monday evening to debate the changes to referendum rules tightening conditions for calling referenda.

Euro Crisis: Draghi calls for closer integration

25. 05. 2012
Euro Crisis: Draghi calls for closer integration
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi has renewed his call for greater economic integration within the eurozone.

Macedonian FM Expected in Slovenia

25. 05. 2012
Macedonian FM Expected in Slovenia
Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki will pay a visit to Slovenia on Friday, with bilateral relations, Macedonia's accession to the EU and NATO, regional initiatives and the situation in the Western Balkans topping the agenda.

EU leaders back Greece while planning for its euro exit

24. 05. 2012
EU leaders back Greece while planning for its euro exit
European leaders ended their informal summit in Brussels with a message of support for Greece and a collective wish the country should remain within the eurozone.

Deal Reached to Avert Austerity Referendum

24. 05. 2012
Deal Reached to Avert Austerity Referendum
Government and police trade union officials have reached a deal that could avert a referendum on the omnibus act on the balancing of public finances if it is endorsed by the cabinet and the relevant bodies of both police trade unions later on Thursday.

Egypt in first truly democratic presidential poll

23. 05. 2012
Egypt in first truly democratic presidential poll
Egypt holds its first truly democratic presidential election on Wednesday and Thursday.

Port of Koper looking for strategic partners

23. 05. 2012
Port of Koper looking for strategic partners
The future of the Koper Port was in focus at a maritime panel held on Tuesday. Luka Koper CEO Gregor Veselko stressed the importance of a strategic partner for the long-term development of the port, while economist Jože Damijan sees the future in creating a port authority with at least two concessionaires.

Nato plans Afghan pullout but Pakistan problem remains

22. 05. 2012
Nato plans Afghan pullout but Pakistan problem remains
A two-day Nato summit in Chicago has concluded with a landmark agreement on handing control of Afghan security to the country’s own forces by the middle of next year.

Slovenia Celebrates 20 Years of UN Membership

22. 05. 2012
Slovenia Celebrates 20 Years of UN Membership
Twenty years are passing on Tuesday since Slovenia became a member of the United Nations (UN). The anniversary will be marked at a number of events, including a special session of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee.

Aftershocks cause fresh panic in northern Italy

21. 05. 2012
Aftershocks cause fresh panic in northern Italy
Strong aftershocks have continued to cause damage and frighten residents in northern Italy after Sunday morning’s earthquake which killed at least seven people.

Mercator Supervisors to Present New Chairman

21. 05. 2012
Mercator Supervisors to Present New Chairman
Supervisors of Mercator are to decide Friday on who will succeed Žiga Debeljak as the new chairman at Slovenia's biggest retailer, after taking ten days to consider the presentations of two invited candidates.

Moody’s cuts ratings on 16 Spanish banks

18. 05. 2012
Moody’s cuts ratings on 16 Spanish banks
Ratings agency Moody’s has downgraded the credit ratings of 16 Spanish banks amid continued concern over bad debts in the country’s banking sector.

Golden Fiscal Rule Put on Hold

18. 05. 2012
Golden Fiscal Rule Put on Hold
Government plans to amend the Constitution with a fiscal rule requiring that the budget be balanced or in surplus will be put on hold after the latest meeting of party leaders on Thursday evening failed to bring the opposition on board, leaving the government short of a two-thirds majority.

Greece swears in a caretaker prime minister

17. 05. 2012
Greece swears in a caretaker prime minister
A senior judge will head up the emergency government before Greeks go back to the polls on June 17 for new elections.

Economic Diplomacy to Stay in FM's Focus

17. 05. 2012
Economic Diplomacy to Stay in FM's Focus
Economic diplomacy will remain one of the main priorities in the coming term, Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec said at a press conference marking the 20th anniversary of Slovenia's membership of the UN. Erjavec also pointed to relations with neighbouring countries as a centrepiece of future policy.

Hollande and Merkel put growth on the agenda

16. 05. 2012
Hollande and Merkel put growth on the agenda
France’s new president Francois Hollande has held his first meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, hours after his inauguration on Tuesday.

Janša: Change in Mindset Biggest Success in 100 Days of Govt

16. 05. 2012
Janša: Change in Mindset Biggest Success in 100 Days of Govt
Prime Minister Janez Janša told the STA on Tuesday that the greatest success of the cabinet in the first 100 days since its formation had been a change in Slovenia's mindset and the "understanding that something has to be done".

France: Hollande prepares himself for leadership

15. 05. 2012
France: Hollande prepares himself for leadership
François Hollande tied up loose ends on Monday with his Socialist party colleagues ahead of today’s transition from presidential election winner to France’s Head of State.

Dalai Lama Starting Second Visit to Maribor

15. 05. 2012
Dalai Lama Starting Second Visit to Maribor
Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, the Tibetan spiritual leader, is arriving in Slovenia on Tuesday for his second visit to Maribor. A number of events are scheduled during his three-day visit as part of Maribor's stint as the European Capital of Culture, including a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize laureates on Thursday.

Merkel’s CDU suffer worst regional defeat in decades

14. 05. 2012
Merkel’s CDU suffer worst regional defeat in decades
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats appeared despondent and shocked after suffering their worst defeat in decades in an election in Germany’s most populous state.

Departure of Greece from Eurozone realistic option

14. 05. 2012
Departure of Greece from Eurozone realistic option
The finance ministers of the eurozone are in for another intense debate on Monday, as the political developments in Greece have increased the chances of Greece leaving the common currency area. There are also growing about the situation in Spain.

17th International Boat Show, Internautica 2012

11. 05. 2012
17th International Boat Show, Internautica 2012
17th International Boat Show, Internautica 2012. Program for Friday, 11 May 2012 / INTERNAUTICA 2012 DAY

Socialist leader tries to form Greece government

11. 05. 2012
Socialist leader tries to form Greece government
Following Sunday’s election, Socialist Party head Evangelos Venizelos is holding meetings with different party leaders as he tries to form a government in Greece.

The Government and public sector unions sign agreement on austerity measures

11. 05. 2012
The Government and public sector unions sign agreement on austerity measures
The Government and public sector unions have signed a strike agreement, which regulates the issues between the Government and unions on strike, while providing the basis for alleviating some austerity measures in the Public Finance Balance Act.

Dozens reported dead in bomb blasts

10. 05. 2012
Dozens reported dead in bomb blasts
Two large explosions in the Syrian capital of Damascus have killed 40 people injuring more 170.

National Assembly Starts Debate on Austerity Bills

10. 05. 2012
National Assembly Starts Debate on Austerity Bills
The National Assembly will start an extraordinary session on Thursday at which the supplementary budget for 2012 and other bills aimed at balancing the budget will be voted on. The government-sponsored motions seek to save almost EUR 800m. The deal with the unions is expected to be signed this morning.

Greek crisis deepens as hopes of forming a government fade

09. 05. 2012
Greek crisis deepens as hopes of forming a government fade
Greece’s political drama is sinking deeper into crisis with the Leftist candidate for prime minister effectively ruling out forming a coalition with the two dominant parties.

Janša to Meet Merkel on First Official Trip Abroad

09. 05. 2012
Janša to Meet Merkel on First Official Trip Abroad
Prime Minister Janez Janša will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday for talks dominated by the euro debt crisis and efforts to boost cooperation with Slovenia's top trade partner.

CIA foils an al Qaeda-linked bomb plot

08. 05. 2012
CIA foils an al Qaeda-linked bomb plot
US officials claim to have foiled a plot to blow up an airliner using an upgraded version of the failed 2009 “underwear bomb”.

Ljubljana to Move to World Tunes as Druga Godba Opens

08. 05. 2012
Ljubljana to Move to World Tunes as Druga Godba Opens
US-French group Moriarty will raise the curtain on Slovenia's top festival of world music, Druga Godba, on Tuesday. The annual show, running until 26 May, will also feature performances by Portugal's Madredeus and the Quantic-Alice Russell project as well as a traditional African evening

France celebrates an historic night

07. 05. 2012
France celebrates an historic night
In over thirty years in politics he has never served as a minister, now Francois Hollande holds the highest office in the land.

Austerity Measures to Take Final Shape

07. 05. 2012
Austerity Measures to Take Final Shape
The parliamentary Finance and Monetary Policy Committee will open a two-day sitting on Monday afternoon to take its position on the highly controversial omnibus bill on the balancing of public finances and austerity budget for 2012. But before that the government and public sector trade unions will make a last-ditch attempt at a compromise.

Blind Chinese dissident in US phone appeal

04. 05. 2012
Blind Chinese dissident in US phone appeal
The fate of blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is causing concern after he telephoned a US congressional hearing and asked for help to leave China with his family.

Constitution Commission to Discuss Abolishing National Council

04. 05. 2012
Constitution Commission to Discuss Abolishing National Council
The parliamentary Constitution Commission will discuss on Thursday a motion by the coalition Democrats (SDS), Citizens' List, Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) and New Slovenia (NSi) to abolish the upper chamber of parliament, the National Council.

Austria to boycott Euro 2012

03. 05. 2012
Austria to boycott Euro 2012
Austrian government officials won’t be going to the European football championships in Ukraine in June.

Two-Day Labour Day Holiday Probably Lost to Cost Cutting

03. 05. 2012
Two-Day Labour Day Holiday Probably Lost to Cost Cutting
Today may well be the last time that 2 May is a public holiday in Slovenia. As part of its austerity measures, the government has proposed the abolishment of two-day public holidays for Labour Day and New Year's. No other EU country has a public holiday on 2 May, and in only two others workers are free on 2 January.