WEBVTT 00:00:01.042 --> 00:00:04.041 Dear journalists, media representatives, 00:00:04.162 --> 00:00:08.102 and all who are watching us. Welcome to our press conference 00:00:08.223 --> 00:00:12.075 in the wake of the 45th regular meeting of the government. 00:00:12.269 --> 00:00:16.755 On the agenda were two proposed decrees that would prevent insurers 00:00:16.876 --> 00:00:21.162 from further hiking their premiums. Health Minister Danijel Bešič 00:00:21.283 --> 00:00:25.354 Loredan will tell you more. At today's meeting, the government 00:00:25.475 --> 00:00:29.435 decided to extend the cap on the retail price of electricity 00:00:29.622 --> 00:00:34.635 and natural gas for households, as well as small and medium-sized 00:00:34.815 --> 00:00:39.415 businesses, to the end of this year. Environment, Climate, and Energy 00:00:39.536 --> 00:00:43.661 Minister Bojan Kumer will speak on this subject. And finally, 00:00:43.801 --> 00:00:47.948 the government adopted a position today regarding the National 00:00:48.069 --> 00:00:52.241 Council's request that the Assembly once again consider changes 00:00:52.362 --> 00:00:56.794 to the Foreigners' Act, which eliminates administrative obstacles 00:00:56.915 --> 00:01:00.141 and reduces the burden on administrative offices. 00:01:00.289 --> 00:01:04.368 This amendment make is easier for foreigners to be employed, 00:01:04.475 --> 00:01:08.228 and enables free lessons of Slovenian. We'll hear 00:01:08.349 --> 00:01:13.392 hear from the State Secretary at the Interior Ministry, Tina Heferle. 00:01:13.862 --> 00:01:18.675 Hello, everyone. Today, the government issued 00:01:18.835 --> 00:01:22.815 the first decree, which serves as the basis 00:01:22.936 --> 00:01:26.369 for tomorrow's correspondence meeting, where we plan 00:01:26.490 --> 00:01:30.221 to enact a decree limiting the premium for supplementary 00:01:30.362 --> 00:01:36.620 health insurance to a maximum of €35.67. That's the highest amount 00:01:36.741 --> 00:01:39.935 now being paid by citizens 00:01:40.088 --> 00:01:43.095 for supplementary health insurance. 00:01:43.255 --> 00:01:49.155 After Tuesday's filing of the MP's bill, 00:01:49.282 --> 00:01:52.515 the government reacted immediately. 00:01:52.622 --> 00:01:58.475 Mr. Han's ministry and our ministry 00:01:58.615 --> 00:02:03.935 exchanged opinions and teams. We determined how to obtain 00:02:04.085 --> 00:02:08.448 a legal basis for this. After all, supplementary health insurance 00:02:08.595 --> 00:02:12.355 is in the national interest and has a direct effect 00:02:12.475 --> 00:02:16.915 on the funding of the healthcare system. Based on the announcement 00:02:17.036 --> 00:02:21.028 by one of the insurers about a big rate hike, the government 00:02:21.188 --> 00:02:25.941 reacted right away. Effective from May 1, the upper limit 00:02:26.062 --> 00:02:31.042 for supplementary insurance is set at €35.67. That's the cap. 00:02:31.189 --> 00:02:35.675 This will be in effect until a law is passed that will abolish 00:02:35.808 --> 00:02:39.142 supplementary health insurance in this form. 00:02:39.309 --> 00:02:42.535 With this, we're taking the side of the people. 00:02:42.695 --> 00:02:47.541 The government thereby takes on the responsibility for everything 00:02:47.662 --> 00:02:50.801 that will happen within the healthcare system, 00:02:50.922 --> 00:02:54.342 such as an increase in costs. Healthcare is getting 00:02:54.489 --> 00:02:58.381 more expensive, but the government finds any premium hikes 00:02:58.502 --> 00:03:03.782 unacceptable until the bill put forth on Tuesday 00:03:03.922 --> 00:03:07.681 isn't withdrawn. The prices may not change. 00:03:07.829 --> 00:03:10.821 That's why we issued our first decree today. 00:03:10.975 --> 00:03:14.035 After it's published in the Official Gazette, 00:03:14.209 --> 00:03:18.895 we'll issue the second one tomorrow, and we'll have completed our task 00:03:19.029 --> 00:03:22.682 for the benefit of the people in the form of a cap 00:03:22.802 --> 00:03:28.841 set at €35.67 until supplementary insurance is abolished. 00:03:28.962 --> 00:03:33.568 Thank you, Minister. I trust there are many questions from the press. 00:03:33.769 --> 00:03:37.721 We have a question here from Metka Majer, Pop TV. 00:03:39.495 --> 00:03:43.288 If we understand this correctly, this thwarts the plans 00:03:43.409 --> 00:03:47.128 of the insurance company that has already announced 00:03:47.249 --> 00:03:50.428 the hike. So they won't be able to ignore this? 00:03:50.542 --> 00:03:54.421 That's right. When the decree is issued tomorrow, the hike 00:03:54.542 --> 00:03:58.728 won't happen. We, the government, intervened with all our legal 00:03:58.849 --> 00:04:02.148 resources, so the increase is no longer possible. 00:04:02.302 --> 00:04:07.488 Beginning on May 1, the upper limit is set at €35.67. 00:04:07.629 --> 00:04:11.541 That's the maximum price of supplementary health insurance 00:04:11.662 --> 00:04:14.721 for as long as it exists in its present form. 00:04:14.842 --> 00:04:20.309 After your meeting on Friday and the announcement of 00:04:20.495 --> 00:04:24.815 further talks, did you get in touch with the insurance companies? 00:04:24.936 --> 00:04:28.949 What are their plans and how will you communicate with them? 00:04:29.123 --> 00:04:34.752 If we receive a formal proposal for cooperation with the ministry 00:04:34.922 --> 00:04:39.408 regarding long-term financing, we'll meet with the insurers. 00:04:39.569 --> 00:04:42.801 We always like to meet with all three insurers, 00:04:43.009 --> 00:04:46.801 but the situation has flipped. They need to come up 00:04:46.922 --> 00:04:50.988 with the initiative, given these changes. 00:04:51.162 --> 00:04:58.218 Just so there's no misunderstanding, the CEO of the insurer 00:04:58.362 --> 00:05:02.668 that panned a premium hike on May 1 tried to reach me, in my role 00:05:02.835 --> 00:05:05.928 as minister, both formally and informally. 00:05:06.049 --> 00:05:09.895 But that's a lobbying contact, so meeting with her 00:05:10.042 --> 00:05:14.715 would have been unacceptable. Of course, if the insurers 00:05:14.836 --> 00:05:18.915 had realized that supplementary health insurance 00:05:19.055 --> 00:05:24.142 is one of foundations for financing public healthcare 00:05:24.242 --> 00:05:26.595 and not just an insurance product, 00:05:26.749 --> 00:05:29.688 the story could have turned out differently. 00:05:29.815 --> 00:05:32.968 But the announcement was crystal clear, 00:05:33.089 --> 00:05:37.221 and it was said they had no option because they are operating 00:05:37.409 --> 00:05:41.408 at a loss and the increases should be borne by the people, 00:05:41.555 --> 00:05:44.281 we had to react and we did. 00:05:44.402 --> 00:05:47.069 Minister, we have several questions here. 00:05:47.190 --> 00:05:50.155 To make things clear, there are two decrees. 00:05:50.342 --> 00:05:53.382 One was issued, while the other will be issued 00:05:53.503 --> 00:05:57.088 after a correspondence meeting for procedural reasons. 00:05:57.209 --> 00:06:01.501 So did the government issue a decree today capping the premium? 00:06:01.622 --> 00:06:04.261 The government issued the legal basis, 00:06:04.382 --> 00:06:07.261 which is under the auspices of Minister Han. 00:06:07.382 --> 00:06:11.368 We'll issue a decree at our correspondence meeting tomorrow. 00:06:11.555 --> 00:06:15.861 There's a procedure, which involves the publication of the decree 00:06:15.995 --> 00:06:19.475 in the Official Gazette today. Only then will we have 00:06:19.622 --> 00:06:23.068 the legal basis to cap the premium. 00:06:23.195 --> 00:06:26.182 Thank you. -A follow-up question 00:06:26.362 --> 00:06:30.648 about what you mentioned. About the insurers, 00:06:30.749 --> 00:06:34.541 is there a chance for at least a part of their activity 00:06:34.662 --> 00:06:38.788 or their employees to be transferred 00:06:39.002 --> 00:06:41.408 to the health insurance corporation? 00:06:41.562 --> 00:06:45.428 We're at a point where we're eliminating the current form 00:06:45.582 --> 00:06:48.615 of supplementary health insurance. 00:06:48.722 --> 00:06:52.168 We introduced a compulsory healthcare contribution 00:06:52.315 --> 00:06:56.648 in the amount of €35 until the end of 2024. 00:06:56.782 --> 00:07:01.581 But we're now facing the fact that well have to use 00:07:01.715 --> 00:07:07.088 all the calculations to ensure, by the spring of next year, 00:07:07.235 --> 00:07:12.001 stable financing of our public healthcare system. 00:07:12.142 --> 00:07:16.428 Anyone who wants to take part in this process is welcome 00:07:16.595 --> 00:07:19.635 to submit proposals. This is something 00:07:19.775 --> 00:07:24.988 that has been up in the air for 20 years. We've always transferred 00:07:25.175 --> 00:07:30.015 this burden to the people. Let's not forget that seven or eight 00:07:30.175 --> 00:07:34.968 years ago, we had substantial increases in premiums. 00:07:35.109 --> 00:07:40.228 The people accepted it back then, but in the post-Covid era, 00:07:40.349 --> 00:07:44.022 when everything is unsettled in the healthcare system, 00:07:44.162 --> 00:07:47.342 and we can see that healthcare costs will rise, 00:07:47.482 --> 00:07:51.161 we must react to this as the government. 00:07:51.375 --> 00:07:56.085 Let's go online now. Kaja Kobetič, 24 Ur/Svet. 00:07:56.942 --> 00:08:03.715 Hello. Minister, you're saying that supplementary health 00:08:03.869 --> 00:08:06.648 insurance will now cost €35 at the most, 00:08:06.809 --> 00:08:10.568 but the insurers say they don't have any more money. 00:08:10.702 --> 00:08:15.248 Is there a risk for the scope of healthcare services 00:08:15.355 --> 00:08:18.555 to be limited as a result? 00:08:18.769 --> 00:08:23.182 Absolutely not. We need to be clear. The government has taken on 00:08:23.369 --> 00:08:29.148 the responsibility that the healthcare bundle, 00:08:29.262 --> 00:08:34.761 which consists of compulsory and supplementary insurance, 00:08:34.915 --> 00:08:40.869 will remain unchanged. The people will not see 00:08:40.989 --> 00:08:45.788 any reduction in the benefits. Everything else remains the same. 00:08:45.955 --> 00:08:50.941 We merely capped the supplementary insurance premium, 00:08:51.089 --> 00:08:55.115 and when the bill that was submitted on Tuesday becomes law, 00:08:55.269 --> 00:09:01.085 supplementary insurance in this form will be abolished 00:09:01.206 --> 00:09:05.321 and a compulsory healthcare contribution will be introduced. 00:09:05.469 --> 00:09:10.268 The resulting difference will be covered within 00:09:10.449 --> 00:09:15.448 the healthcare system, but if the money runs out, 00:09:15.569 --> 00:09:18.641 we'll finance it from the budget. 00:09:18.815 --> 00:09:21.808 The bill is subject to the regular procedure, 00:09:21.929 --> 00:09:26.175 so good proposals can still be considered. -Right. We would like 00:09:26.342 --> 00:09:29.948 to see a lively debate and a consensus. 00:09:30.135 --> 00:09:34.968 After 15 years of trying, we never reached this point. 00:09:35.149 --> 00:09:39.808 We're now united and have a historic opportunity 00:09:39.975 --> 00:09:43.961 to find consensus about abolishing supplementary insurance, 00:09:44.082 --> 00:09:48.341 which must go through parliament, and a solution for long-term, 00:09:48.509 --> 00:09:51.988 sustainable funding of the public healthcare system. 00:09:52.109 --> 00:09:54.448 Another question from Kaja Kobetič? 00:09:54.615 --> 00:09:59.000 Just a follow-up. What happens in the period after the premiums 00:09:59.121 --> 00:10:02.101 are capped but before the law is passed? 00:10:02.269 --> 00:10:07.662 Everything remains the same. Until the law is passed, 00:10:07.795 --> 00:10:11.008 we'll have supplementary health insurance, 00:10:11.129 --> 00:10:14.275 which is being marketed by all three insurers. 00:10:14.415 --> 00:10:19.395 The only difference is the limit on premiums 00:10:19.515 --> 00:10:24.848 for supplementary insurance, which is set at €35.67. 00:10:25.195 --> 00:10:27.475 Another question, from STA. 00:10:27.615 --> 00:10:34.561 There are still some uncertainties about supplementary health insurance 00:10:34.755 --> 00:10:40.381 for retirees, which is funded by ZPIS, and for the unemployed, 00:10:40.529 --> 00:10:44.488 which is funded by municipalities. Who will cover these €35 00:10:44.622 --> 00:10:47.495 under the new law? -Supplementary health 00:10:47.649 --> 00:10:51.655 insurance is being paid by the retirees from the net amount. 00:10:51.829 --> 00:10:56.162 That won't change, only the net amount will probably be paid out 00:10:56.283 --> 00:10:58.868 by ZPIS... We'll come to an agreement. 00:10:59.062 --> 00:11:02.555 Right now, retirees receive a net pension. 00:11:02.662 --> 00:11:07.181 From this amount, they give a certain amount to the insurer. 00:11:07.315 --> 00:11:10.975 We'll now find a way to pay a part of this net amount 00:11:11.122 --> 00:11:14.768 directly to the ZZZS. For them, nothing will change. 00:11:14.849 --> 00:11:22.585 What about the unemployed? -We have a poverty threshold. 00:11:22.755 --> 00:11:27.908 We'll determine how this will work as we take up the bill, 00:11:28.015 --> 00:11:31.941 but if someone can't afford the premium, 00:11:32.095 --> 00:11:34.868 we'll fund it from the budget. 00:11:34.982 --> 00:11:37.921 Go ahead please. -Any other questions? 00:11:38.029 --> 00:11:40.475 If not, thank you to the minister. 00:11:40.596 --> 00:11:44.068 We'll continue with measures to address rising costs, 00:11:44.189 --> 00:11:47.055 which will be introduced by Minister Kumer. 00:11:47.208 --> 00:11:50.261 Go ahead, Minister. 00:11:50.648 --> 00:11:53.908 Thank you, Petra. Today, the government extended 00:11:54.042 --> 00:11:58.581 the regulation, in the form of caps, of electricity and natural 00:11:58.749 --> 00:12:02.641 gas prices for households, for small business users, 00:12:02.755 --> 00:12:07.155 and for small and medium-sized companies until the end of 2023. 00:12:07.382 --> 00:12:12.341 This means that households, small business users, 00:12:12.482 --> 00:12:17.275 and small and medium-sized companies will continue to pay reduced rates 00:12:17.435 --> 00:12:21.408 for electricity and natural gas compared to what they would 00:12:21.529 --> 00:12:23.448 have paid without this cap. 00:12:23.595 --> 00:12:26.541 With this measure, the government is helping 00:12:26.709 --> 00:12:31.008 households and all people to weather 00:12:31.142 --> 00:12:33.715 rising energy costs. 00:12:33.829 --> 00:12:38.975 For small business users, as well as small and medium-sized companies, 00:12:39.102 --> 00:12:42.388 which are the driving forces of economic growth, 00:12:42.535 --> 00:12:47.588 it provides what these users need most, 00:12:47.722 --> 00:12:51.615 which is a stable, competitive, and predictable environment 00:12:51.736 --> 00:12:55.941 in which they can conduct their business until the end of 2023. 00:12:56.115 --> 00:13:00.068 Our analysis has shown that the situation on the market 00:13:00.249 --> 00:13:07.761 remains sufficiently uncertain to justify price caps 00:13:07.915 --> 00:13:11.781 and the setting of maximum retail process 00:13:11.902 --> 00:13:15.668 for the entire period concluding at the end of this year. 00:13:15.789 --> 00:13:22.828 We're also justified in continuing this measure for all the groups 00:13:23.015 --> 00:13:27.595 benefiting from the retail price cap we introduced last year. 00:13:27.835 --> 00:13:31.741 The extension of these measures until the end of the year 00:13:31.869 --> 00:13:35.268 means that we're staying within the framework 00:13:35.455 --> 00:13:39.901 of budgetary consequences that we had foreseen last year 00:13:40.042 --> 00:13:47.201 for 2023. This means that the impact will be smaller than planned. 00:13:47.322 --> 00:13:52.301 At the time, we planned a maximum of €350 million 00:13:52.422 --> 00:13:57.421 as annual compensation paid out to suppliers. 00:13:57.542 --> 00:14:01.987 Thank you. -Thank you. Do we have any questions here? 00:14:02.108 --> 00:14:05.655 We do have one on 24 Ur/Svet. 00:14:07.175 --> 00:14:08.775 We're online now. 00:14:09.682 --> 00:14:15.482 Hello. Sandra Boršič. The Chamber of Craft and Small Business 00:14:15.649 --> 00:14:19.409 said that they expected the regulated prices 00:14:19.562 --> 00:14:23.975 to be even lower and that Slovenia is not competitive 00:14:24.096 --> 00:14:28.773 with other countries. How do you comment this, and have you thought 00:14:28.894 --> 00:14:33.088 of further lowering the prices, or is this out of the question? 00:14:33.235 --> 00:14:39.495 Our dialog is ongoing. We set it up in the first quarter 00:14:39.628 --> 00:14:44.841 of 2024. We've identified three open issues. 00:14:44.988 --> 00:14:49.608 The most pressing issue was the previously undefined nature 00:14:49.755 --> 00:14:54.095 of the price cap extension. 00:14:55.095 --> 00:15:00.055 The government reacted very quickly during the summer months 00:15:00.228 --> 00:15:06.861 and managed to cap retail prices for the fall and the winter. 00:15:07.002 --> 00:15:11.115 Even back then, the suppliers were offering annual products. 00:15:11.249 --> 00:15:14.428 We had suppliers with annual contracts 00:15:14.549 --> 00:15:17.148 covering electricity and natural gas, 00:15:17.255 --> 00:15:20.254 but we also had a situation in the winter, 00:15:20.375 --> 00:15:23.775 because these measures worked both on the European 00:15:23.909 --> 00:15:27.395 and the national levels, that retail prices dropped. 00:15:27.595 --> 00:15:33.821 The price indices from before regulation and now 00:15:33.949 --> 00:15:37.915 are simply incomparable. For the most part, the prices 00:15:38.055 --> 00:15:42.341 were set on an annual basis, so this discrepancy 00:15:42.488 --> 00:15:47.981 also emerged on an annual basis. We're now creating a predictable, 00:15:48.115 --> 00:15:52.141 competitive environment for all users, including businesses. 00:15:52.315 --> 00:15:58.655 But we're not lowering prices because we had annual prices 00:15:58.789 --> 00:16:01.388 that were the basis for our caps. 00:16:01.521 --> 00:16:05.481 Any follow-up questions? Go ahead. 00:16:07.075 --> 00:16:13.215 Would you consider extending this measure to 2024? 00:16:13.342 --> 00:16:18.455 Energy companies have stated that long-term regulation 00:16:18.589 --> 00:16:23.495 doesn't make sense and that current retail energy prices 00:16:23.616 --> 00:16:27.422 than the regulated ones, in the case of small businesses, 00:16:27.575 --> 00:16:31.648 for instance. What do you think? Is regulation sustainable 00:16:31.808 --> 00:16:36.528 for the year ahead? -Our primary focus 00:16:36.649 --> 00:16:41.141 has been to ensure low prices for the people 00:16:41.275 --> 00:16:44.009 and competitive conditions for businesses, 00:16:44.182 --> 00:16:50.985 ones that are comparable to those in nearby countries. 00:16:51.262 --> 00:16:55.648 Before the winter, we focused on reliable supplies. 00:16:55.829 --> 00:17:00.301 We also needed to adopt many measures that got us through 00:17:00.422 --> 00:17:04.255 the winter. We had promised to conduct a thorough analysis 00:17:04.389 --> 00:17:08.202 after the winter, and if that analysis showed 00:17:08.323 --> 00:17:13.186 that extending the cap made sense, and that's what happened, 00:17:13.369 --> 00:17:15.321 we would opt for the cap. 00:17:15.449 --> 00:17:19.855 You're asking about 2024. We're lucky that the price 00:17:19.975 --> 00:17:27.761 for 2024, as you mentioned, is currently lower 00:17:27.902 --> 00:17:31.468 than the regulated price for medium-sized companies. 00:17:31.642 --> 00:17:36.362 We encourage companies to pre-purchase at least some 00:17:36.529 --> 00:17:40.082 of their electricity needs for this year in line 00:17:40.215 --> 00:17:45.481 with their plans for 2024. We'd like to see the end 00:17:45.642 --> 00:17:51.742 or regulation for mid-sized and large companies next year. 00:17:51.862 --> 00:17:56.595 We're also working on analyses about how we should proceed 00:17:56.762 --> 00:17:59.902 over the next few months regarding households 00:18:00.102 --> 00:18:04.195 and small businesses. In this case, the market price 00:18:04.316 --> 00:18:07.482 doesn't yet allow the level ensured by the cap, 00:18:07.636 --> 00:18:11.127 so we'll see what to do with this segment for 2024. 00:18:11.248 --> 00:18:14.560 I hope that within a month or two, we'll also find 00:18:14.681 --> 00:18:17.395 solutions for this segment. 00:18:17.515 --> 00:18:19.115 Anything else? 00:18:21.269 --> 00:18:23.648 Just a moment, so I can... 00:18:23.742 --> 00:18:25.422 Do we hear each other? 00:18:26.049 --> 00:18:29.708 If I understand you correctly, you wish you won't need 00:18:29.875 --> 00:18:34.088 to regulate prices for companies next year, but I didn't quite 00:18:34.209 --> 00:18:37.168 understand what will happen with households. 00:18:37.355 --> 00:18:41.741 Also, the price in Germany is still €130. Companies say 00:18:41.942 --> 00:18:45.641 that we aren't competitive with other countries. 00:18:45.809 --> 00:18:51.915 You have two pieces of information that aren't connected. 00:18:52.082 --> 00:18:57.882 The amount of €130 can be attained by companies in Germany 00:18:58.002 --> 00:19:01.882 under specific circumstances. According to my information, 00:19:02.042 --> 00:19:06.648 this measure isn't in force yet, but it has been announced 00:19:06.755 --> 00:19:11.549 for specific types of companies. It also hasn't been approved 00:19:11.702 --> 00:19:15.855 by the European Commission yet. It's still under consideration. 00:19:16.095 --> 00:19:21.762 Second, some of our companies can have higher or lower prices 00:19:21.909 --> 00:19:26.752 based on the legislation regarding reimbursements. 00:19:26.895 --> 00:19:30.035 This depends on their purchase strategy. 00:19:30.156 --> 00:19:34.234 I know you'll ask me about the many companies that can't reach 00:19:34.355 --> 00:19:37.048 these prices even with reimbursements. 00:19:37.175 --> 00:19:41.561 We'll address this specifically. The second part of the question 00:19:41.755 --> 00:19:45.588 was about households. We'll draft an exit strategy. 00:19:45.775 --> 00:19:51.175 When we're done and when the crisis groups, which I still lead, 00:19:51.335 --> 00:19:54.348 get to discuss it with the various actors, 00:19:54.515 --> 00:20:01.322 we'll communicate the details of the strategy with you. 00:20:01.592 --> 00:20:06.485 And to answer the additional question from the first part. 00:20:06.605 --> 00:20:12.375 The prices at the wholesale markets for 2024 00:20:12.495 --> 00:20:16.976 could be lower for the companies than they are now 00:20:17.096 --> 00:20:20.185 when they are limited. 00:20:20.305 --> 00:20:24.076 This is why we encourage them to lower the costs. 00:20:24.196 --> 00:20:29.067 Companies have plans 00:20:29.187 --> 00:20:34.585 for buying energy which they manage. 00:20:34.705 --> 00:20:40.180 If there were a crisis in autumn or winter 00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:44.952 and the prices would skyrocket again, 00:20:45.142 --> 00:20:49.507 we want them to be ready, 00:20:49.627 --> 00:20:53.421 so that the prices won’t go up 00:20:53.541 --> 00:20:59.498 and be higher than the regulated prices and they will want our help 00:20:59.618 --> 00:21:04.285 and the money from the budget. We want to avoid this scenario 00:21:04.405 --> 00:21:10.085 because now, we have prices that are lower than our limited prices. 00:21:10.947 --> 00:21:14.411 Thank you. There are no more questions. Have a nice day. 00:21:14.531 --> 00:21:17.778 Thank you. -The state secretary at the Ministry of the Interior 00:21:17.898 --> 00:21:21.926 will tell us why the law about foreigners needs to be changed. 00:21:22.046 --> 00:21:26.722 There are not enough workers and we need foreign citizens. 00:21:26.842 --> 00:21:31.085 Go ahead. -Thank you and hello. 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:38.311 Today, the government reviewed the Parliament's request 00:21:38.431 --> 00:21:43.930 to decide again on the law about foreigners. We are suggesting 00:21:44.050 --> 00:21:48.452 that the Parliament supports the amendment to the law this time. 00:21:49.204 --> 00:21:51.150 There are many reasons for it. 00:21:51.698 --> 00:21:58.018 The amendment brings many good solutions 00:21:58.232 --> 00:22:02.571 that haven't been stressed enough until now 00:22:02.691 --> 00:22:07.685 and have been overlooked. I will explain them. 00:22:08.391 --> 00:22:12.952 One of the biggest technical changes 00:22:13.173 --> 00:22:17.198 are many solutions in the amendment 00:22:17.318 --> 00:22:21.590 that will relieve administrative units, 00:22:21.710 --> 00:22:26.850 so that they will easier and faster 00:22:26.970 --> 00:22:30.485 decide on the matters involving foreigners. 00:22:32.027 --> 00:22:36.671 I will give you a concrete example. 00:22:36.791 --> 00:22:39.236 One of the changes is 00:22:39.356 --> 00:22:44.452 that the cards for the renewal of residence permits 00:22:44.751 --> 00:22:49.403 will be sent via the post office. It looks like a technical solution, 00:22:49.523 --> 00:22:53.652 but it will contribute to faster processes 00:22:53.919 --> 00:22:58.618 and protect the rights of foreign citizens. 00:22:59.022 --> 00:23:04.662 One of the novelties is that fingerprints from the process 00:23:04.775 --> 00:23:11.348 for the first residence permit can be saved and used 00:23:11.562 --> 00:23:16.615 for renewing the permit. They shall be stored for five years. 00:23:16.882 --> 00:23:22.795 This shall certainly make work easier for administrative units. 00:23:23.162 --> 00:23:27.542 The obligation to periodically check 00:23:27.695 --> 00:23:31.469 means of subsistence shall also be abolished. 00:23:31.635 --> 00:23:36.255 In practice, this means that administrative units shall check 00:23:36.402 --> 00:23:43.562 means of subsistence of a foreigner when he or she shall apply 00:23:43.995 --> 00:23:46.975 for residence permit for the first time 00:23:47.275 --> 00:23:50.195 and when it shall be renewed. 00:23:50.409 --> 00:23:53.502 It does also mean that in the mean time 00:23:53.715 --> 00:23:59.989 the unit is still required to determine, 00:24:00.209 --> 00:24:05.908 if the mandatory means according to the law 00:24:06.068 --> 00:24:13.255 are still provided. If the unit within this period finds out 00:24:13.382 --> 00:24:18.935 that these means are gone, it shall act according to the law. 00:24:19.442 --> 00:24:24.922 One of the more important reasons for adoption 00:24:25.249 --> 00:24:29.575 and revalidation of the amendment in the National Assembly 00:24:31.062 --> 00:24:34.833 is also one that we are introducing a possibility 00:24:34.953 --> 00:24:38.115 of faster recruitment of foreigners. 00:24:38.422 --> 00:24:42.269 We shall impose a priority processing of foreigners 00:24:42.395 --> 00:24:46.562 with issuing a single permit for occupations in the fields 00:24:46.729 --> 00:24:50.835 of health care, social welfare, education 00:24:50.975 --> 00:24:54.015 and in other areas that are a part of public interest. 00:24:54.175 --> 00:24:59.595 We shall provide for the interests of our state. 00:24:59.849 --> 00:25:04.115 The other such measure is, 00:25:04.382 --> 00:25:08.129 how to facilitate the procedure to change the employer. 00:25:09.569 --> 00:25:13.349 When a foreign worker 00:25:13.589 --> 00:25:18.689 wants to change an employer or to be engaged by two or more employers 00:25:18.835 --> 00:25:21.822 within the single permit for residence, 00:25:22.115 --> 00:25:26.009 the change shall be with the amendment possible 00:25:26.142 --> 00:25:29.622 on the basis of the consent of the employment office. 00:25:29.775 --> 00:25:33.322 Thus, we shall take the load off the administrative units, 00:25:33.569 --> 00:25:38.902 because in intermediate phase it won't be necessary to issue 00:25:39.135 --> 00:25:41.902 a written decree of consent. 00:25:42.155 --> 00:25:45.029 The administrative units shall issue a written decree 00:25:45.242 --> 00:25:50.375 only when the Department of Social Services gives a negative consent. 00:25:51.295 --> 00:25:58.002 Of course, there are changes that were effectively 00:25:58.435 --> 00:26:02.915 given the most attention. 00:26:03.055 --> 00:26:09.549 One is continuation of the free Slovenian language courses, 00:26:09.809 --> 00:26:14.455 the most important is an upgrade of existent integration policies 00:26:14.615 --> 00:26:17.849 with the government commitment to prepare a new strategy 00:26:18.049 --> 00:26:21.649 on integration of foreigners that are not EU members. 00:26:23.455 --> 00:26:28.289 Thus, we want to commit and ensure 00:26:28.429 --> 00:26:32.275 that these amendments 00:26:34.509 --> 00:26:36.495 shall be feasible. 00:26:36.662 --> 00:26:41.435 At the Ministry of the Interior we have in this phase, 00:26:41.655 --> 00:26:45.429 although the amendment has not been in force yet, 00:26:45.655 --> 00:26:48.742 done initial activity 00:26:49.815 --> 00:26:54.409 and we are ready to start working immediately. 00:26:54.681 --> 00:27:00.914 A working group is being formed 00:27:01.035 --> 00:27:06.296 which will prepare a strategy for the integration of foreigners. 00:27:07.403 --> 00:27:13.808 One of the key proposed changes brought by the amendment 00:27:13.929 --> 00:27:17.770 is that the condition of knowledge of the Slovenian language, 00:27:17.891 --> 00:27:22.450 the enforcement of this condition, will be postponed by eighteen months, 00:27:22.571 --> 00:27:27.708 because during this time we will prepare everything necessary 00:27:27.829 --> 00:27:33.762 that this kind of condition can also come to life in practice. 00:27:33.883 --> 00:27:37.485 We know that now the lessons and exams 00:27:37.606 --> 00:27:40.441 are conducted by the Centre for Slovenian Language, 00:27:40.562 --> 00:27:44.188 for which we found during the procedures or during this time 00:27:44.309 --> 00:27:46.902 that it does not have sufficient capacities 00:27:47.023 --> 00:27:52.988 to be able to process such a large number of candidates, 00:27:53.109 --> 00:27:57.577 i.e. foreigners. 00:27:57.950 --> 00:28:03.801 That is why it will take the Government eighteen months 00:28:03.922 --> 00:28:07.398 to really implement this provision. 00:28:07.775 --> 00:28:11.828 In six months, the amendment to the law also foresees 00:28:11.949 --> 00:28:14.082 some kind of a transitional period, 00:28:14.203 --> 00:28:17.928 the condition regarding the extension and temporary permit 00:28:18.324 --> 00:28:24.796 for family members is being introduced for this time. 00:28:24.917 --> 00:28:28.399 During this time, 00:28:28.520 --> 00:28:33.120 after six months of the entry into force of the amendment 00:28:33.245 --> 00:28:36.286 and up to eighteen months when the new article regarding 00:28:36.407 --> 00:28:39.588 the knowledge of the Slovenian language will enter into force. 00:28:39.709 --> 00:28:43.673 During this time foreigners will participate 00:28:43.794 --> 00:28:46.703 in the programs of learning the Slovenian language 00:28:46.824 --> 00:28:50.703 and getting to know the Slovenian society at the entry level. 00:28:50.824 --> 00:28:55.608 This will be sufficient for the extension of the permit. 00:28:57.728 --> 00:29:01.711 The amendment to the Aliens Act, 00:29:01.836 --> 00:29:05.391 which will be discussed tomorrow at the Committee for Internal Affairs 00:29:05.512 --> 00:29:11.305 in the National Assembly within the framework of reapproval... 00:29:11.713 --> 00:29:15.527 It is the Government's opinion 00:29:15.648 --> 00:29:20.889 that it is necessary for the amendment to be reapproved 00:29:21.010 --> 00:29:23.355 for all the reasons I have just stated, 00:29:23.476 --> 00:29:27.611 because the amendment really brings concrete good solutions 00:29:27.732 --> 00:29:30.009 both for foreigners and for administrative units 00:29:30.130 --> 00:29:32.130 that manage procedures related to foreigners, 00:29:32.251 --> 00:29:34.748 as well as for employers. I mentioned 00:29:34.869 --> 00:29:39.204 a priority consideration of requests from foreigners of certain categories, 00:29:39.325 --> 00:29:44.711 and at the same time, by enforcing this amendment, 00:29:44.832 --> 00:29:49.337 we will avoid many negative consequences 00:29:49.458 --> 00:29:53.213 which would be brought about by the non-enforcement of this amendment. 00:29:53.334 --> 00:29:56.884 If the amendment is not reapproved in the National Assembly, 00:29:57.005 --> 00:30:04.927 the regulation adopted on April 27 2021 will come into force, 00:30:05.048 --> 00:30:10.486 in which the previous government practically legislated 00:30:10.607 --> 00:30:16.485 the mandatory passing of an exam of the Slovenian language 00:30:16.606 --> 00:30:18.843 at a higher level, 00:30:18.964 --> 00:30:23.215 and eliminated the subsidisation of Slovenian language courses. 00:30:23.336 --> 00:30:27.304 As I mentioned earlier, given that there is currently no capacity, 00:30:27.425 --> 00:30:30.410 because during these two years, the previous government 00:30:30.531 --> 00:30:35.758 did nothing to prepare the country for the quality implementation 00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:39.349 of such provisions as they have adopted, 00:30:39.470 --> 00:30:45.085 the 18-month delay of implementation is more than necessary. 00:30:45.206 --> 00:30:47.699 We will arrange all of this, 00:30:47.820 --> 00:30:49.911 first with the preparation 00:30:50.032 --> 00:30:52.711 of a strategy for the integration of foreigners, 00:30:52.832 --> 00:30:57.464 and then with the implementation of these provisions in practice. 00:30:57.585 --> 00:31:01.706 Thank you very much. Any questions? Metka Majer. 00:31:02.006 --> 00:31:06.207 Did you discuss this with your coalition partners? 00:31:06.328 --> 00:31:12.101 Yes, of course, we are in constant contact with the coalition partners, 00:31:12.222 --> 00:31:17.320 we also have a short meeting tomorrow before the committee. 00:31:17.708 --> 00:31:20.987 The matters are more or less coordinated, 00:31:21.108 --> 00:31:26.498 we are all aware that this amendment needs to be approved 00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:29.295 and brought to life, so to speak. 00:31:32.611 --> 00:31:36.192 Thank you. -There are no more questions. Thank you. 00:31:36.313 --> 00:31:40.329 This concludes today's press conference. Goodbye.