WEBVTT

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Welcome, everyone. Our
shortened term is coming to an end.

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Our government
took over the executive power

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the day after the epidemic
was declared.

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Although the epidemic

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was our main opponent
during this time,

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our development
has not stopped.

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Soon, the campaign will start

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for the next parliamentary election,
so the government summed up

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the projects that have been
carried out in this time,

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those that are ongoing
and those that have been approved.

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This means they are included
in national development programs

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and financing
has been provided for them.

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Slovenia consists
of 212 municipalities

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and the projects have been dispersed
throughout the country.

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The government
has also visited all regions

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or, to be exact,
11.5 out of 12.

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We will visit the southern half
of the Central region

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at the beginning of April.

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The list of projects,

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their values and timelines
are available on our website.

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These are some
of the biggest investments

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since our independence.

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On this virtual map,
you can find hundreds of projects.

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If we add the ones
that have not been listed yet

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and combine investments

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from the budget,
different European funds

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and municipal budgets, than we
can talk about thousands of projects

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that are being
or will be carried out

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since the money was provided.

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Slovenia is building
and will be building

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kindergartens, schools,
sports halls, nursing homes,

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hospitals, health centres,

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roads, bypass roads, bike paths,
plumbing and sewage networks,

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energy facilities. Energy renovation
of public buildings

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is going on, flood prevention
facilities are being built.

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We are preparing
everything to build

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the second reactor at the nuclear
power plant. Last year,

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we granted additional money

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for agriculture and forest industry.
Apart from the European funds

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from the first and second pillars
of the rural development policy,

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we granted additional €300 million
over the next five years

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for agriculture and rural areas.
The war in Ukraine

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brings danger

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because the food supply

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has already been disturbed.

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We had granted funds
already before that and Slovenia

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will become self-sufficient
over the next couple of years.

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We will also have our own
energy sources when we build

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power plants
that are planned.

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Before the deputy PMs
will speak,

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I would like to explain
this map.

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You name a municipality.

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Grosuplje.

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I see you are moving there.
Let' check Grosuplje.

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First, there are projects
financed from the budget.

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In the second part, there are
projects financed from the EU funds.

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Sometimes,
projects are also included

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where more
municipalities participate,

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like the modernisation
of railways

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or renovation and building

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of regional roads.

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The numbers written there

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are the numbers
for the whole project,

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but this is taken into consideration
in the total sum,

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so that the numbers
are not being doubled.

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This is the total value of projects
on the map, but not everything

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has been listed yet because
some projects are still being placed

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in the national
development programs.

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The tenders
for the primary healthcare system

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have been published

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and that has not been listed yet.
What has been listed

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is together worth
almost €8 billion.

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Almost €1.5 billion
has come from the EU funds.

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This is by far the biggest
investment boost

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that Slovenia
has been capable of providing.

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In a couple of years,
this next step in our development

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will be the basis
for our welfare.

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We will have
higher wages and pensions,

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better jobs, more investments,
a better business environment.

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The four priorities
we will talk about

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at the economy summit
are based

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on the realisation
of these projects. Some things

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need to be done.
If you go to Koroška or Bela Krajina

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and you talk about the information
highway, they will say

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they need it,
but they need the usual highway too,

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so they will not drive
two hours to the centre

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if they could come
there in one.

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We have taken these priorities
into account

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and you can check them.

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All the information
is publicly available

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and you can check every
municipality. But I want to stress

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that the map is not final
because some projects

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are still being verified.

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The number will grow for €100
million or more in the next month.

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Now,
I give the floor to Mr. Tonin.

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Thank you. Hello, everyone.
I have learnt

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that elections
are not Thanksgiving

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and voters do not need to thank us
for the things we have done.

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It was our duty to do it.
We have done a lot

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and those are the things
that will define our development

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and put a new foundation
for the next 10, 20 years.

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We have made the best out of
the pandemic, which was a challenge

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for everyone, not only for us,
but also for other countries.

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We are using all of the EU funds
that are available

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and we have also used
our own money well.

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With the investments,
we contributed to

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the increase of domestic consumption
and this means

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a record high employment rate
and a record low unemployment.

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But what is most important
is that the projects

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will change Slovenia
for the better.

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The infrastructure
will be better

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and the economy
will develop more easily.

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Our work is best described

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with a story from
the Ministry of Labour and Family,

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where three
left-wing governments spent

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€70 million
for different studies,

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but they have not built
a single nursing home.

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We have been building them
with high speed

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throughout Slovenia.
This example

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clearly shows the difference
between our government

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that has been very efficient,
and the previous governments.

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We have been fighting way less.
You have not heard from us

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that after a government meeting,
the coalition partners

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would be talking about
what we had agreed on

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and where we disagree.
We understood

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that we are a football team.
We can score goals

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if we cooperate
and pass the ball to each other.

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We have managed that
and you can see the results.

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You can see them on the map.

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There is something going on
in every municipality

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and I am happy about it.
I am satisfied

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that although
at the beginning of our term,

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everybody thought
we would not last long,

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after two years, we can say

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that we have done a lot for
Slovenia, but the important projects

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are still waiting for us
in the future

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and at the beginning
of the campaign, we wish

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for the people to see what we
have done and judge us by that.

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We have started
a lot of good projects

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that we need to finish
and we are ready to do that

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and do some good
for Slovenia.

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Thank you.
Now, I give the floor

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to the Minister of Economy
Zdravko Počivalšek.

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Dear journalists.

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In terms of economy,
we have been very successful.

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We have proven that it is right
to invest in people and businesses.

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Although the pandemic sent
shockwaves through the economy,

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we have come out of it as winners.
We are ready

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for the challenges
of digital and green transformation

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and we have the opportunity
to continue our work

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on rising the added value
of our economy.

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I want to stress that our goal
during the crisis has been

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to protect
the health and lives of people

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and to make sure
the economy and people

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could function and live
as normally as possible.

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With development incentives,

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we supported
economic recovery and growth

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and an equal development
of all regions.

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We passed ten anti-corona packages
to alleviate its consequences.

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We gave the economy
€2.3 billion,

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a billion to tourism.
With different measures,

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we kept jobs

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and provided liquidity
for the economy.

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According to the IMAD,

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we prevented the decrease
of economic activity for 4%

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and everyone was able
to use tourist vouchers.

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I hope you have as well.

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Over the past two years,

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3.7 million vouchers
have been cashed

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in the total sum
of €391 million

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out of the €549 million available.

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Despite a difficult situation,

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we have secured between 10 and
12 thousand jobs in this industry.

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We also took development measures
and published tenders for funds

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to help businesses adapt
to new challenges.

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In this term, the ministry

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gave €1 billion
and 14 million

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of development refundable
and non-refundable funds

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and supported 24,500 projects
throughout the country.

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I am talking about modernisation
and increase of production,

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building industrial parks
and tourist facilities

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and other infrastructure.
You can find these projects

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on the interactive map of projects
in different municipalities.

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Within the scope of the law
to support regional development

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and the law to support investments,
we have supported 33 investments

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worth €73 million.
These investments

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will have an impact
on our economy

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through creating new jobs
and a higher added value.

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I will mention
three best known examples,

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but there are 33 projects.

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Co-financing of the new production
facilities at BSH in Nazarje

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in the Savinja region, expansion of
the production facilities at ELAPHE

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and the investment
in a smart company at TPV Brezina.

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In the scope of the Agreement
for the Development of Regions,

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we supported projects
worth €502 million,

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64 projects
worth €151 million

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in the Western cohesion
region and 154 projects

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worth €326 million
in the Eastern cohesion region.

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We also helped
with higher energy prices.

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We gave €70 million
to businesses

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and 30 million to farmers.

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We helped businesses
with lower energy prices

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and farmers
with mineral fertilizers.

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We also limited
motor fuel prices

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which benefits people and the
economy, which was happy about it.

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Hard government work
and cooperation with the economy

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are bringing good results.
The economy is in good shape

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and last year,
the GDP growth was 8.1%,

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the second highest in Europe.

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We also had
a record employment rate

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and the lowest unemployment rate.
Foreign investors

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see us as a stable
and trustworthy country

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and therefore, we can borrow
money at low interest rates.

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They recognize
our success abroad too.

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Today, our economy
is stronger than before the crisis.

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We want to use this moment

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and boost business growth.

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This year, the ministry

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will give €935 million
to the economy

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from the Recovery
and Resilience Facility,

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European cohesion funds
and national funds

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and funds
from operating organizations.

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We will boost investments for the
green and digital transformation.

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We want to increase productivity
and added value

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and support equal development
of all regions.

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We have published the first
11 tenders, worth €262 million.

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At the end, I want
to mention two laws

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we passed recently.

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The first is the Income Tax Act.

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With this law,
the best employees will stay here

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and have higher wages without
businesses having higher expenses.

00:18:03.757 --> 00:18:07.679
The second law
is the De-Bureaucratisation Act

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which will reduce
administrative obstacles

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and strengthen
a stronger competitive environment.

00:18:16.193 --> 00:18:19.459
Thank you for your attention.
-Thank you.

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:25.686
I want to say that financial sources
for the projects are real.

00:18:26.055 --> 00:18:29.786
We have not
just imagined them

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without having the money first.
The money is guaranteed

00:18:35.708 --> 00:18:42.253
in the budget
or in the EU funds

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where we negotiated for it.

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Yesterday,
the EU Commission Vice President

00:18:49.971 --> 00:18:54.691
in charge of
macroeconomic stability

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congratulated
our Finance Minister.

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Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis congratulated
our Finance Minister

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because Slovenia
is among the countries

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that lowered their debt
the most in the last year

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and we had record
macroeconomic results.

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Yesterday,
the last rating agency

00:19:31.091 --> 00:19:33.920
rated Slovenia with an A

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and as stable in the future.

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All four agencies
have rated Slovenia with an A

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and as stable,

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which means that this map

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is not just wishful thinking,
but we will do it.

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During the last government's visit
in the Central Slovenia region,

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we heard that Ljubljana is
neglected, so let's look at projects

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that are being in progress

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or are planned there.
You will see that also in Ljubljana,

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there have never been
as many investments as now.

00:20:27.092 --> 00:20:31.086
It has the most projects because it
is the biggest municipality.

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The list is extremely long.

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When we were in the next room
with all Slovenian mayors,

00:20:40.742 --> 00:20:45.599
after negotiating
significant European funds,

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discussing how to allocate
the negotiated billions,

00:20:54.562 --> 00:20:59.004
Ljubljana's deputy mayor
praised our co-operation.

00:20:59.125 --> 00:21:02.103
If you want, we can listen to him.

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I don’t know if we have sound.

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Otherwise, you can click on it
and you will hear his statement.

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There are statements
by many other mayors

00:21:14.812 --> 00:21:17.581
who talked about these projects.

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Of course, you can also
call each one individually

00:21:21.301 --> 00:21:25.952
and ask them if they have ever
seen so many investments

00:21:26.935 --> 00:21:33.300
in the history of Slovenia.
All over Slovenia, without exception.

00:21:34.800 --> 00:21:37.550
Now we have time
for a few questions,

00:21:37.671 --> 00:21:42.276
before we start the Slovenian
Economy Summit. Please.

00:21:43.902 --> 00:21:46.307
Anže Božič, Pop TV.
I have a question for you,

00:21:46.428 --> 00:21:49.699
Mr. Prime Minister,
and for you, Mr. Tonin.

00:21:49.820 --> 00:21:55.384
The most topical issue is probably
the one you announced on Twitter.

00:21:55.505 --> 00:21:58.806
The diplomatic mission in Kyiv.

00:21:59.007 --> 00:22:05.469
To begin with, what will it look like,
when will the government decide on it,

00:22:05.590 --> 00:22:08.914
what is the procedure?
Is this a special mission?

00:22:09.035 --> 00:22:13.319
Is it true that the mission
will be led by Mr. Bojan Pograjc,

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:15.383
your state secretary?

00:22:15.504 --> 00:22:20.730
Will people from the Ministry of
Defence join the mission, Mr. Tonin?

00:22:20.851 --> 00:22:25.947
If so, will this be an armed mission,
what exactly will it look like?

00:22:26.068 --> 00:22:32.988
How does this coincide with the
Slovenian representative body,

00:22:33.109 --> 00:22:35.905
which is not physically
in Ukraine, but it exists?

00:22:36.026 --> 00:22:40.322
Isn't that some kind of duality?
Maybe for a start.

00:22:40.443 --> 00:22:42.884
We will answer this question,

00:22:43.005 --> 00:22:46.500
but by far the most important
topic for the future of Slovenia

00:22:46.621 --> 00:22:49.989
is what you see on the map. I suggest
that we speak on this topic first,

00:22:50.110 --> 00:22:53.773
other things can wait until the end.
Please.

00:22:58.501 --> 00:23:03.591
Jernej Šmajdek, STA. From
what you said and from the map,

00:23:03.712 --> 00:23:06.950
it's clear that in this
and in the coming years

00:23:07.071 --> 00:23:09.547
public investments
will be in the forefront.

00:23:09.668 --> 00:23:14.104
However, warnings are coming
from the construction sector

00:23:14.225 --> 00:23:18.885
that price pressures are enormous,
the prices of energy, raw materials,

00:23:19.006 --> 00:23:21.809
problems with the supply
of certain materials.

00:23:22.114 --> 00:23:28.570
And that annexes are inevitable if
we want to finish ongoing projects.

00:23:28.691 --> 00:23:31.593
For the new ones, of course,
there are price increases.

00:23:31.714 --> 00:23:37.077
Have you, at the ministerial level,
already talked about

00:23:37.197 --> 00:23:40.739
how to address the issue of increasing
prices for these projects,

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:43.412
possible annexes
for ongoing projects

00:23:43.533 --> 00:23:49.273
and repeating public procurements
if price differences are too high?

00:23:49.394 --> 00:23:51.708
In general, have you addressed
the price aspect?

00:23:51.829 --> 00:23:54.216
What does this mean for

00:23:54.337 --> 00:23:59.958
the difference between the possible
contract value and the estimated value?

00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:04.204
This problem partly exists,
there is a real problem.

00:24:04.325 --> 00:24:07.891
In Slovenia, we had problems
with annexes even in times

00:24:08.012 --> 00:24:10.276
when there was no price pressure

00:24:10.397 --> 00:24:12.802
for various other reasons.

00:24:14.312 --> 00:24:18.832
We are aware that a gap
can arise in some places

00:24:18.953 --> 00:24:25.190
between the estimated value of the
investment and the actual final costs.

00:24:25.760 --> 00:24:28.870
Partial reserves are already
in the projects themselves.

00:24:28.991 --> 00:24:32.981
We will look for partial reserves
on a case-by-case basis,

00:24:33.102 --> 00:24:37.800
this is impossible to predict
in advance and across the board.

00:24:37.921 --> 00:24:41.585
On the domestic and foreign scene,
we are working

00:24:41.706 --> 00:24:47.084
on keeping the precarious
situation to a minimum,

00:24:47.205 --> 00:24:49.205
on stabilizing things.

00:24:50.607 --> 00:24:55.812
After the Slovenian Economy Summit,
Deputy PM Tonin and I

00:24:55.933 --> 00:25:01.152
are leaving for Brussels for the
NATO and European Union summits.

00:25:01.273 --> 00:25:03.731
In addition to Ukraine,
one of the important topics

00:25:03.852 --> 00:25:07.540
will be the stabilization
of energy prices.

00:25:07.724 --> 00:25:12.776
The European Commission
has drawn up plans

00:25:12.897 --> 00:25:18.723
which will have a significant impact on
price moderation in the coming months.

00:25:18.844 --> 00:25:24.599
Given that the price pressure when
it comes to certain raw materials

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:28.007
is partly due to
broken logistics links

00:25:28.128 --> 00:25:31.714
and speculation
in this uncertain climate,

00:25:31.835 --> 00:25:36.254
we expect that some of these
risks will disappear over time,

00:25:36.375 --> 00:25:38.693
that other paths will be established

00:25:38.814 --> 00:25:41.741
and that this will
reduce the price pressure.

00:25:41.862 --> 00:25:43.928
Of course, it is very important

00:25:44.049 --> 00:25:47.876
that peace is established
in our eastern neighborhood.

00:25:47.997 --> 00:25:51.393
Currently, this is by far
the biggest risk factor

00:25:51.514 --> 00:25:53.776
when it comes
to the price pressure.

00:25:53.897 --> 00:25:57.977
If the Minister of Economy
wants to add anything.

00:25:59.463 --> 00:26:04.693
The price pressure
is definitely the result

00:26:04.814 --> 00:26:08.488
of the war in Eastern Europe,

00:26:08.609 --> 00:26:12.591
which has three direct impacts
on the Slovenian economy.

00:26:12.712 --> 00:26:18.538
A direct impact through
our trade with both countries.

00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:21.536
With one we have
a 1.35 billion turnover,

00:26:21.657 --> 00:26:24.533
with the other almost 300 million.

00:26:24.654 --> 00:26:27.306
An indirect impact through
the European economy,

00:26:27.427 --> 00:26:32.072
which also trades with both countries,
is even greater than direct.

00:26:32.193 --> 00:26:38.835
The last one is the pressure
of the impact of energy prices,

00:26:38.956 --> 00:26:44.281
especially of gas
and of petroleum products.

00:26:44.402 --> 00:26:49.721
As you know,
this is fortunately calming down.

00:26:49.842 --> 00:26:54.739
It is therefore essential that these
matters be solved as soon as possible.

00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:59.959
If we want the great platform
on which our economy stands today,

00:27:00.080 --> 00:27:03.880
also in connection with
the European economy,

00:27:04.001 --> 00:27:08.207
to move forward
in the direction of growth.

00:27:08.328 --> 00:27:14.088
Otherwise, we will also have
a chaotic economic situation.

00:27:15.391 --> 00:27:17.649
Thank you very much. Next.

00:27:18.083 --> 00:27:21.116
Go ahead. First on this topic.

00:27:21.237 --> 00:27:24.111
Gregor Drnovšek, TV Slovenia.
As you mentioned,

00:27:24.232 --> 00:27:26.297
the official election campaign
starts tomorrow,

00:27:26.418 --> 00:27:28.339
today is the presentation
of the results.

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:34.501
Will these be the main topics
of your election campaign?

00:27:35.498 --> 00:27:39.028
How important a role
could the situation in Ukraine

00:27:39.149 --> 00:27:41.708
play in the election campaign?

00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:47.377
I would not speculate
on the second part of the question.

00:27:47.498 --> 00:27:52.407
War in the immediate neighborhood
affects everyone.

00:27:53.895 --> 00:27:58.603
As far as we are concerned,
speaking on behalf of our party,

00:27:58.724 --> 00:28:01.882
we had the election
campaign ready,

00:28:02.003 --> 00:28:08.166
it was built on the results so far,
views and plans

00:28:08.287 --> 00:28:13.091
on how Slovenia will develop
in the next seven years,

00:28:13.212 --> 00:28:14.900
up to 2030.

00:28:15.534 --> 00:28:18.189
Now, of course,
this is less relevant

00:28:18.310 --> 00:28:22.246
given that we must also deal
with the direct influence

00:28:22.367 --> 00:28:25.180
of the Russian aggression
on Ukraine.

00:28:25.301 --> 00:28:30.595
There is very little time
for a classic campaign,

00:28:30.716 --> 00:28:34.280
I'm afraid the coming weeks
won't be any different.

00:28:34.401 --> 00:28:39.277
As for the plan

00:28:39.648 --> 00:28:44.479
or the map of the ongoing projects,
those already implemented

00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:50.197
and those that have a realistic
financial basis for the future...

00:28:50.737 --> 00:28:55.487
This is not pre-election
material, this is a fact.

00:28:55.863 --> 00:29:01.053
This was done
in the two years of our mandate.

00:29:01.174 --> 00:29:03.992
At the end of this period,
we are making a balance sheet.

00:29:04.113 --> 00:29:06.302
Everyone can form their own opinion

00:29:06.423 --> 00:29:09.338
and compare what has been
done in the last two years,

00:29:09.459 --> 00:29:14.620
what has been put
into realistic plans,

00:29:14.741 --> 00:29:17.658
with what was happening before.

00:29:18.713 --> 00:29:21.763
I said at the beginning that...

00:29:21.884 --> 00:29:24.125
Elections
have never been Thanksgiving,

00:29:24.246 --> 00:29:27.280
so I don’t expect the voters
to be thankful.

00:29:27.401 --> 00:29:30.654
It was our duty to do these things.

00:29:30.774 --> 00:29:35.254
But this is a testament to how
effective a government can be.

00:29:35.375 --> 00:29:37.413
I believe that all the results,

00:29:37.534 --> 00:29:40.376
all the achievements
gathered in one place,

00:29:40.497 --> 00:29:45.440
can above all show voters
what you can do if you want to.

00:29:45.711 --> 00:29:48.193
That is the key message.

00:29:48.542 --> 00:29:50.511
Regarding the preparation
for the election campaign,

00:29:50.632 --> 00:29:53.294
I can say
that New Slovenia envisioned

00:29:53.415 --> 00:29:56.716
that the main electoral content
would be the Income Tax Act

00:29:56.837 --> 00:30:00.369
and the future taxation
of Slovenian wages.

00:30:00.495 --> 00:30:02.396
We also shortlisted

00:30:02.517 --> 00:30:06.106
the future strengthening of the
Slovenian public healthcare system

00:30:06.227 --> 00:30:10.283
which will have to
be accessible to all,

00:30:10.404 --> 00:30:14.595
further strengthening of the economy
and more joy in life,

00:30:14.716 --> 00:30:16.848
so we can face
the demographic winter.

00:30:16.969 --> 00:30:20.693
This was the plan
before the war in Ukraine.

00:30:20.814 --> 00:30:24.577
Because of the war,
we are facing a new reality,

00:30:24.698 --> 00:30:29.487
which our party adapted to.
This brings new challenges.

00:30:29.608 --> 00:30:35.341
In the future, it will be necessary
to deal with the energy crisis

00:30:35.462 --> 00:30:38.989
and increase
food self-sufficiency.

00:30:39.110 --> 00:30:43.503
In short, this crisis
has changed the priorities

00:30:43.624 --> 00:30:46.082
and content
of the election campaign.

00:30:46.203 --> 00:30:49.344
I don't see anything
wrong with that,

00:30:49.465 --> 00:30:54.917
merely the ability of our party
to adapt to the current situation.

00:30:57.151 --> 00:31:04.685
Some say voters are looking
at promises of what we will do.

00:31:04.806 --> 00:31:10.727
Today, we have summarized
our two years of work.

00:31:10.942 --> 00:31:15.942
I can say that I am proud of the
work of the entire government.

00:31:16.063 --> 00:31:21.976
I presented the results
in the economic field.

00:31:22.097 --> 00:31:28.669
The Connect Slovenia movement
is betting on six points.

00:31:28.790 --> 00:31:36.664
First of all, everything is based
on what is good for the economy,

00:31:36.785 --> 00:31:41.738
what is good for people
and what is good for nature.

00:31:42.017 --> 00:31:47.285
This is why our election campaign
will be focused

00:31:47.406 --> 00:31:50.747
on the operating conditions
of the economy,

00:31:50.868 --> 00:31:57.613
on enabling the welfare state
through the economy,

00:31:58.215 --> 00:32:01.991
on a green, digital transition
to a circular economy.

00:32:02.112 --> 00:32:06.389
You see this is the end of the period
when we exported garbage

00:32:06.510 --> 00:32:09.000
and imported cheap energy.

00:32:09.121 --> 00:32:12.412
De-bureaucratisation
is an important point.

00:32:12.533 --> 00:32:17.810
I think all members of the coalition
agree on this.

00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:24.205
And, of course, harmonious
and balanced regional development.

00:32:24.369 --> 00:32:29.034
With the addition of chapter six,
demography,

00:32:29.308 --> 00:32:36.192
which is the point on which
we will need a broader consensus

00:32:36.313 --> 00:32:38.221
if we want to ensure

00:32:38.342 --> 00:32:42.525
a good and progressive
development of our country.

00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:47.375
Thank you. Next, please.
-Can you answer my question?

00:32:47.496 --> 00:32:50.403
We will, at the end.

00:32:50.611 --> 00:32:54.904
Vitomir Petrović, Planet TV.
For the Minister of Economy.

00:32:55.025 --> 00:32:58.522
I will touch two points
that you mentioned yourself.

00:32:58.643 --> 00:33:02.613
Tourism workers are reiterating

00:33:02.734 --> 00:33:04.911
that there is
another crisis in tourism,

00:33:05.032 --> 00:33:10.308
this time due to the Ukrainian war,
and that they expect state aid.

00:33:10.429 --> 00:33:15.944
How do you assess these facts? Did
the tourist vouchers spoil them a bit?

00:33:16.065 --> 00:33:20.488
The second area is
the regulation of motor fuel prices.

00:33:20.609 --> 00:33:26.187
Recently, we have witnessed the
closure of smaller petrol stations

00:33:26.328 --> 00:33:30.729
due to difficulties
in the supply of motor fuels.

00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:37.262
A comment on this and what will
you do to help? Thank you.

00:33:37.455 --> 00:33:41.877
Thank you for the question.
First, regarding tourism.

00:33:41.998 --> 00:33:47.801
I have said loud and clear
that during the pandemic, we allocated

00:33:47.922 --> 00:33:54.818
to the economy 2.3 billion euros,
almost half of it to tourism.

00:33:55.495 --> 00:33:59.287
Tourism was affected
even before the pandemic

00:33:59.408 --> 00:34:05.399
and was the most closed industry
in the last two years.

00:34:05.652 --> 00:34:08.847
So I believe we did the right thing

00:34:08.968 --> 00:34:11.709
when we took
additional measures for tourism,

00:34:11.830 --> 00:34:15.693
with which we enabled it
to survive.

00:34:16.188 --> 00:34:23.327
In deciding whether
to give money to all companies

00:34:23.476 --> 00:34:26.746
that weren't working,
we decided to give

00:34:26.867 --> 00:34:31.612
this amount
to all residents of Slovenia

00:34:31.733 --> 00:34:37.300
and keep
the tourism industry active.

00:34:37.829 --> 00:34:39.810
Of course, it must be said

00:34:39.931 --> 00:34:45.012
that even without the war
between Russia and Ukraine,

00:34:45.133 --> 00:34:50.061
we would have problems
rebuilding markets

00:34:50.182 --> 00:34:53.420
tied to air connections.

00:34:53.541 --> 00:34:58.208
This is making matters
in the field of tourism worse.

00:34:58.658 --> 00:35:02.780
But tourism needs to be aware,
and we will help them do that,

00:35:02.901 --> 00:35:07.780
that they need to intensify
promotion in the markets

00:35:07.901 --> 00:35:09.811
which are available to us.

00:35:09.932 --> 00:35:13.932
We have everything we need
for the survival

00:35:14.053 --> 00:35:18.276
and a moderate development
of Slovenian tourism

00:35:18.397 --> 00:35:21.471
in an area of 500 km
around Slovenia,

00:35:21.592 --> 00:35:27.341
which means we can be reached
in four, five hours by car.

00:35:27.462 --> 00:35:29.973
This is a circle
between Milan, Munich,

00:35:30.094 --> 00:35:35.003
Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade.
This is the area

00:35:35.124 --> 00:35:40.084
in which our country will be
active in terms of promotion

00:35:40.637 --> 00:35:45.794
to provide our tourism
with enough guests.

00:35:45.915 --> 00:35:52.910
The fact is that Slovenian
tourism cannot survive and live

00:35:53.031 --> 00:35:57.464
only with domestic tourists.
You know that before the pandemic,

00:35:57.585 --> 00:36:03.831
over 70% of all guests
came from abroad.

00:36:03.952 --> 00:36:09.291
Recovery will be slow,
so the state

00:36:09.412 --> 00:36:12.795
will definitely continue
to help this industry.

00:36:12.916 --> 00:36:20.120
Of course, I expect
the tourism industry

00:36:21.102 --> 00:36:25.576
to focus on the safety
and health of our guests,

00:36:25.701 --> 00:36:28.093
which can be our advantage.

00:36:28.214 --> 00:36:32.006
As for the second question,
I can repeat

00:36:32.127 --> 00:36:36.114
that the government set
a temporary maximum price

00:36:36.235 --> 00:36:40.883
of diesel
and 95-octane unleaded petrol,

00:36:41.262 --> 00:36:46.303
because we needed
to calm the motor fuels market

00:36:46.424 --> 00:36:49.305
for the benefit of the people
and the economy.

00:36:49.426 --> 00:36:55.306
The economy and the people
welcomed the government's move.

00:36:55.427 --> 00:37:00.276
This measure is temporary,
it will only last 30 days.

00:37:00.397 --> 00:37:06.404
I can say that the ministry
is monitoring the market situation.

00:37:06.525 --> 00:37:13.554
We noted that in the last period
after the limitation of sales prices

00:37:13.675 --> 00:37:17.813
the market price first fell,

00:37:17.934 --> 00:37:21.117
it has grown a little now,
but still not above that.

00:37:21.238 --> 00:37:26.091
Based on the movement
of all 30 days,

00:37:27.457 --> 00:37:33.264
we will respond
and, if necessary, help traders.

00:37:33.385 --> 00:37:39.696
We told them this directly.

00:37:39.817 --> 00:37:45.686
Now, barely the first week
of those 30 days is behind us.

00:37:45.883 --> 00:37:49.886
Of course, it must be said
that the reason for the problems

00:37:50.007 --> 00:37:52.821
some smaller traders are having

00:37:52.942 --> 00:37:55.585
isn't a shortage of petroleum
products on the market,

00:37:55.706 --> 00:37:58.893
but the business relationships

00:37:59.014 --> 00:38:03.398
between major suppliers
and smaller traders.

00:38:04.317 --> 00:38:07.460
Each trader arranges
their own sources of supply.

00:38:07.581 --> 00:38:10.317
Terms, method of payment, prices

00:38:10.438 --> 00:38:16.805
are set out in their mutual
short-term and long-term contracts.

00:38:16.926 --> 00:38:19.372
The ministry is not familiar
with these contracts

00:38:19.493 --> 00:38:21.489
and their business relationships,

00:38:21.610 --> 00:38:24.845
nor is it competent
to interfere in these relations.

00:38:24.966 --> 00:38:27.208
Of course,
we are monitoring the market,

00:38:27.329 --> 00:38:33.264
we know that deviations
are happening in this area.

00:38:33.385 --> 00:38:37.393
I believe the big traders

00:38:38.494 --> 00:38:44.937
will take their obligations
to those they supply seriously,

00:38:45.058 --> 00:38:49.599
because they have
assurances from the state

00:38:49.720 --> 00:38:54.897
that we will
take into account both sides,

00:38:55.018 --> 00:38:58.031
sales and purchases.

00:38:58.152 --> 00:39:01.554
But on a basis of one week

00:39:01.675 --> 00:39:09.332
we can't intervene in the market
with additional measures.

00:39:09.707 --> 00:39:11.489
But I want to say something else.

00:39:11.610 --> 00:39:16.448
Since there is no shortage of fuel,

00:39:16.569 --> 00:39:20.894
we will not and cannot take action

00:39:21.015 --> 00:39:23.796
by tapping into commodity reserves,

00:39:23.917 --> 00:39:29.506
because they are only there
for physical fuel shortages.

00:39:29.627 --> 00:39:35.701
I believe
that things will be settled

00:39:35.822 --> 00:39:41.788
also in terms of supply
among the three big traders

00:39:41.909 --> 00:39:44.286
and a few small ones,

00:39:44.407 --> 00:39:48.989
as you mentioned,
in the west and east of the country.

00:39:50.137 --> 00:39:55.877
Let me add that the state
has not tapped into reserves,

00:39:55.998 --> 00:40:02.004
they are still intact,
there is no reason to panic.

00:40:02.125 --> 00:40:06.976
To answer the question not related
to the topic of the press conference.

00:40:07.097 --> 00:40:09.807
I’m glad that as soon as
the public call was made

00:40:09.928 --> 00:40:12.506
we received applications
from volunteers

00:40:12.627 --> 00:40:16.510
for a diplomatic mission
returning to Ukraine.

00:40:16.813 --> 00:40:20.393
These are people
from different departments.

00:40:20.514 --> 00:40:24.765
They have experience because
they have worked there in the past,

00:40:24.886 --> 00:40:28.342
also within various
international organizations.

00:40:28.463 --> 00:40:33.081
We also have candidates for
the European Union mission.

00:40:33.202 --> 00:40:37.406
If the European Union finally
decides to take this step,

00:40:37.527 --> 00:40:43.020
because the matter
is still under discussion.

00:40:43.608 --> 00:40:50.624
They will have full powers
during the time of emergency.

00:40:51.212 --> 00:40:55.939
At the level of charge d'affaires.
Thank you very much.