WEBVTT 00:00:00.586 --> 00:00:03.852 Hello and welcome to our statement for the media 00:00:03.979 --> 00:00:07.052 in the wake of the meeting of Slovenia's mayors 00:00:07.173 --> 00:00:08.926 with the government. 00:00:09.046 --> 00:00:14.832 There are more of us today, so I ask you to limit 00:00:14.953 --> 00:00:17.138 your questions at the end. 00:00:17.266 --> 00:00:20.192 I'd like to first give the floor 00:00:20.332 --> 00:00:24.172 to Mr. Vladimir Prebelič, the President of the Association 00:00:24.293 --> 00:00:26.765 of Slovenian Municipalities. Go ahead. 00:00:26.886 --> 00:00:30.678 Thank you. I would first like to thank the Prime Minister 00:00:30.819 --> 00:00:34.952 and the government as a whole for inviting us to these talks, 00:00:35.099 --> 00:00:38.919 which I believe were constructive. We tackled three issues 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:42.625 that we consider important. The first was the funding 00:00:42.746 --> 00:00:46.085 of municipalities, where we sensed an opportunity 00:00:46.232 --> 00:00:50.038 to address some issues this year, albeit not the lump sum. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:54.463 Today is the right time to discuss the future lump sum for 2024. 00:00:54.584 --> 00:00:57.891 We know that the budget debate is coming up, 00:00:58.052 --> 00:01:01.098 and we've been reassured that we'll take part. 00:01:01.232 --> 00:01:05.237 The second important issue is our agreement that no decisions 00:01:05.358 --> 00:01:09.904 about municipalities should take place without them. We'll intensify 00:01:10.025 --> 00:01:16.392 talks to ensure that we participate in the decision-making process. 00:01:16.512 --> 00:01:19.732 I feel we've made major progress in this regard, 00:01:19.899 --> 00:01:24.065 and I'm looking forward to better and faster communication. 00:01:24.186 --> 00:01:29.712 We also got some specific answers to questions from mayors. 00:01:29.832 --> 00:01:33.939 I'd like to thank the ministers for providing the information. 00:01:34.086 --> 00:01:37.152 Of course, there's always room for improvement, 00:01:37.272 --> 00:01:40.058 but we made a step in the right direction, 00:01:40.179 --> 00:01:43.638 and I'm grateful for this cooperation. -Thank you. 00:01:43.779 --> 00:01:48.232 I now ask Mr. Peter Dermol to take the stage, 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:52.612 the President of the Association of Urban Municipalities. 00:01:52.732 --> 00:01:56.872 Hello and a friendly welcome to representatives of the media. 00:01:56.992 --> 00:02:00.505 On behalf of the Association of Urban Municipalities, 00:02:00.659 --> 00:02:05.832 I'd like to express my gratitude for our meeting. 00:02:05.986 --> 00:02:09.885 Over the past years, it sometimes seemed that we weren't 00:02:10.012 --> 00:02:14.659 on the same page, but I feel that today's meeting 00:02:14.826 --> 00:02:19.152 proves that the desire of all of us, whether we're active locally 00:02:19.299 --> 00:02:24.445 of nationally, is to create a development-oriented 00:02:24.579 --> 00:02:30.286 Slovenia, and I'm convinced that the connections 00:02:30.406 --> 00:02:37.259 we saw today, regardless of how satisfied we were with the answers, 00:02:37.379 --> 00:02:40.485 show that we should carry on and that we tackle 00:02:40.606 --> 00:02:43.798 all the challenges together. As a representative 00:02:43.972 --> 00:02:47.926 of urban municipalities, which include 900,000 residents, 00:02:48.046 --> 00:02:53.252 I feel we need to address urban development 00:02:53.379 --> 00:02:57.625 within public administration and that we need to take advantage 00:02:57.766 --> 00:03:01.052 of our experience from previous financial periods 00:03:01.179 --> 00:03:05.199 for improvements. These are all matters we pointed out today, 00:03:05.346 --> 00:03:08.585 in addition to the lump sum for municipalities 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:12.185 and everything that we have already brought up, 00:03:12.332 --> 00:03:15.065 so I'd like to thank the Prime Minister 00:03:15.186 --> 00:03:18.878 for this meeting, regardless of whether we're satisfied 00:03:18.999 --> 00:03:23.238 with all the replies. I believe this is the right path, 00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:27.358 and that we'll continue this type of cooperation. Thank you. 00:03:27.526 --> 00:03:31.197 Thanks to Mr. Dermol. And finally, Mr. Robert Smrdelj, 00:03:31.318 --> 00:03:34.772 on behalf of the Association of Municipalities, 00:03:34.893 --> 00:03:38.318 the final representative of municipalities. -Hello 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:41.878 on our behalf. I'd like to thank the Prime Minister 00:03:42.052 --> 00:03:45.359 and the government as a whole for today's meeting. 00:03:45.532 --> 00:03:48.498 Our side is communicating very specifically 00:03:48.652 --> 00:03:53.465 about concrete issues with ministries and with people 00:03:53.612 --> 00:03:58.965 who are working on operations, but it made sense 00:03:59.086 --> 00:04:04.719 to open up channels of communication with the entire team 00:04:04.859 --> 00:04:08.932 and the Prime Minister, so the Prime Minister can get 00:04:09.085 --> 00:04:14.032 a sense of the issues we're facing on the local level. 00:04:14.152 --> 00:04:17.612 As we've mentioned, the Association 00:04:17.732 --> 00:04:22.598 is trying to maintain specific and appropriate 00:04:22.785 --> 00:04:26.785 communication primarily about funding, 00:04:27.972 --> 00:04:32.758 local government, lump sums, refunds of expenses, and so on. 00:04:32.919 --> 00:04:37.365 The Prime Minister has promised that we'll move on 00:04:37.486 --> 00:04:39.332 to specifics. 00:04:41.186 --> 00:04:46.272 To specific cases. We're glad that expenses 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:50.672 will be covered when they occur and that we'll try to find 00:04:50.792 --> 00:04:53.158 constructive solutions. 00:04:53.299 --> 00:04:57.982 Of course, we need to work with the current system 00:04:58.103 --> 00:05:01.385 because systemic change happens in the long term, 00:05:01.532 --> 00:05:07.082 so we're appealing for a constructive debate, 00:05:07.203 --> 00:05:10.139 and I'm optimistic. Thank you. -Thank you. 00:05:10.259 --> 00:05:13.532 I now invite Mr. Aleksander Jevšek, the Minister 00:05:13.665 --> 00:05:18.679 of Cohesion and Regional Development, to take the stage. 00:05:18.912 --> 00:05:22.905 I informed the mayors that the government 00:05:23.065 --> 00:05:26.051 has been very successful with preparations 00:05:26.172 --> 00:05:30.085 for the new financial period of 2021-2027. 00:05:30.206 --> 00:05:34.739 We eliminated all obstacles preventing us from immediately 00:05:34.859 --> 00:05:38.652 using €3.26 billion of funds. 00:05:38.799 --> 00:05:43.358 The directive that the government approved in February 00:05:43.479 --> 00:05:47.057 was improved with numerous simplifications, 00:05:47.178 --> 00:05:50.745 so these funds will be returned 00:05:50.866 --> 00:05:53.126 to municipal budgets quicker. 00:05:53.252 --> 00:05:57.379 All the Interreg tenders 00:05:57.546 --> 00:06:00.992 and mechanism from Swiss and Norwegian funds 00:06:01.126 --> 00:06:04.872 are now open. At the same time, 00:06:05.025 --> 00:06:10.165 we're working on tenders in the area of regional development, 00:06:10.306 --> 00:06:12.932 where we're working with municipalities, 00:06:13.053 --> 00:06:16.611 development agencies, and cohesion regions, 00:06:16.732 --> 00:06:21.178 along with ministries, an overhaul the Regional Development Act, 00:06:21.332 --> 00:06:24.698 so the act can, considering the available funds, 00:06:24.846 --> 00:06:30.925 ensure equal access to a quality life for all Slovenians. 00:06:31.072 --> 00:06:33.765 Thank you, Minister. I now give the floor 00:06:33.886 --> 00:06:37.778 to Public Administration Minister Sanja Ajanović Hovnik. 00:06:37.899 --> 00:06:42.058 Thank you. I'd also like to express my satisfaction 00:06:42.179 --> 00:06:44.852 with today's meeting. 00:06:44.972 --> 00:06:49.192 It became apparent that we're working hard 00:06:49.326 --> 00:06:52.972 on both the government side and the municipality side. 00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:56.798 Quite a few working groups with specific tasks 00:06:56.939 --> 00:06:59.391 meet on a regular basis and perhaps 00:06:59.512 --> 00:07:02.852 there are opportunities for us to praise our work. 00:07:02.999 --> 00:07:06.905 Dialog is a key part 00:07:07.092 --> 00:07:09.998 of solving challenges. 00:07:10.125 --> 00:07:13.738 The national level is the systemic level, 00:07:13.859 --> 00:07:18.672 while the municipal level is the one closest to the people. 00:07:18.792 --> 00:07:22.318 Only by working together can we ensure solutions 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:25.979 that will benefit people. This became apparent today. 00:07:26.099 --> 00:07:29.152 Today, we talked extensively about reforming 00:07:29.273 --> 00:07:32.338 the wage system, where we once again concluded 00:07:32.492 --> 00:07:36.192 that the wages of officials, including mayoral salaries, 00:07:36.313 --> 00:07:41.032 are far too low. We also talked about the funding system, 00:07:41.153 --> 00:07:44.406 and determined that it's not particularly fair 00:07:44.526 --> 00:07:48.092 and needs to be upgraded. 00:07:48.219 --> 00:07:52.858 We're actively working on both of those issues 00:07:52.999 --> 00:07:57.538 through groups between the state and the municipalities, 00:07:57.692 --> 00:08:00.345 and within both sides separately. 00:08:00.619 --> 00:08:03.412 Thank you. -Thank you to the Minister. 00:08:03.572 --> 00:08:06.865 For some concluding thoughts, I give the floor 00:08:06.999 --> 00:08:10.885 to Prime Minister Robert Golob. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:13.838 First of all, hello. 00:08:13.979 --> 00:08:17.058 If there's anything beyond doubt it's the fact 00:08:17.179 --> 00:08:21.571 that only the cooperation of local communities with the government 00:08:21.692 --> 00:08:25.685 can give results that will benefit people the most. 00:08:25.806 --> 00:08:30.852 That was the main theme of a meeting marked by constructive dialog. 00:08:30.972 --> 00:08:35.765 I would like to emphasize one issue that has long been on the table, 00:08:35.886 --> 00:08:38.352 namely the funding of municipalities. 00:08:38.492 --> 00:08:42.432 They have two sources of funding, the lump sum and others 00:08:42.553 --> 00:08:46.512 on one side, and development or cohesion funds on the other. 00:08:46.632 --> 00:08:49.832 Changes are coming to both of these areas. 00:08:49.999 --> 00:08:54.212 This government was the first to prepare, over a single year, 00:08:54.359 --> 00:08:58.052 everything needed to obtain cohesion funds. 00:08:58.173 --> 00:09:00.493 Minister Jevšek talked about that. 00:09:00.614 --> 00:09:03.259 At the same time, we're holding talks, 00:09:03.413 --> 00:09:06.194 via the Public Administration Ministry, 00:09:06.354 --> 00:09:10.112 which will be concluded his month, about how to calculate 00:09:10.246 --> 00:09:15.712 specific price increases that need to be compensated this year, 00:09:15.846 --> 00:09:19.798 and then provide funds for them. 00:09:20.026 --> 00:09:22.885 The lump sum won't increase this year, 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:26.418 but individual municipalities will be compensated 00:09:26.539 --> 00:09:29.619 for specific projects, similar to what happened 00:09:29.786 --> 00:09:32.092 with interventions after mudslides. 00:09:32.259 --> 00:09:35.872 A similar mechanism will be used to fund other projects 00:09:35.993 --> 00:09:37.593 this year. 00:09:38.485 --> 00:09:41.665 We've also made it clear that preparations 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:45.198 for negotiations are underway for the 2024 budget. 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:50.198 During these negotiations, we have enough time and maneuvering space 00:09:50.359 --> 00:09:54.105 for local representatives and government representatives 00:09:54.232 --> 00:09:58.338 to sit down and address the issue of lump sums for next year. 00:09:58.492 --> 00:10:01.672 There's plenty of time. We can't make promises, 00:10:01.792 --> 00:10:04.938 but we have a genuine intention to discuss this 00:10:05.059 --> 00:10:09.018 respectfully and find solutions that will satisfy all of us, 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:12.865 most of all the people, who'll have the most to benefit. 00:10:12.986 --> 00:10:16.859 We're running out of time, so we'll hear three questions. 00:10:17.006 --> 00:10:21.292 Please introduce yourselves and state what medium you work for. 00:10:21.446 --> 00:10:23.145 Urška Mlinarič, Večer. 00:10:23.292 --> 00:10:29.025 Are you planning intervention funds for certain municipalities 00:10:29.186 --> 00:10:32.785 that have additional expenses 00:10:32.972 --> 00:10:37.646 and which areas are we talking about? 00:10:37.766 --> 00:10:41.285 The mayors probably told you very specifically 00:10:41.406 --> 00:10:43.852 where they've seen hikes in expenses. 00:10:43.972 --> 00:10:47.932 And a question for you, Mr. Prime Minister. 00:10:48.052 --> 00:10:54.439 As the Prime Minister, do you support mayoral term limits? 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:57.139 The same question for you, Minister, 00:10:57.266 --> 00:11:01.626 but in your role of an SD member and a former mayor. Thank you. 00:11:01.746 --> 00:11:03.346 Thank you, Urška. 00:11:04.232 --> 00:11:08.679 I'll begin with the second question. I was challenged on this topic 00:11:08.800 --> 00:11:12.838 today and gave a clear response. Term limits don't make sense 00:11:12.959 --> 00:11:16.798 on the municipal level, because more than two terms 00:11:16.939 --> 00:11:20.218 are usually needed for projects to be realized. 00:11:20.339 --> 00:11:24.712 I am, and I believe I can speak on behalf of the Freedom Movement, 00:11:24.886 --> 00:11:29.405 against term limits, so we won't support the proposal. 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:33.218 As for specific funds, that working group 00:11:33.346 --> 00:11:37.245 is active under the leadership of the Public Administration 00:11:37.392 --> 00:11:40.485 Ministry, so the Minister will tell you how far 00:11:40.606 --> 00:11:44.351 they've gotten and which projects are included. 00:11:45.405 --> 00:11:49.885 Thank you. As you know, the lump sum represents 00:11:50.026 --> 00:11:54.752 the payment for tasks defined by law. 00:11:54.872 --> 00:11:58.425 At this time, the lump sum is set at the same level 00:11:58.546 --> 00:12:00.892 for all municipalities. 00:12:01.013 --> 00:12:03.465 The amount is the same per resident. 00:12:03.612 --> 00:12:07.492 We've discovered that we have municipalities that probably 00:12:07.646 --> 00:12:11.358 receive too much money and municipalities that, 00:12:11.479 --> 00:12:15.265 based on the tasks they're carrying out, get too little, 00:12:15.412 --> 00:12:19.857 so we started our talks, which have proven to be very constructive. 00:12:19.978 --> 00:12:23.918 We've looked at employment rates in various municipalities, 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:29.858 and we're waiting for specific information 00:12:29.991 --> 00:12:34.485 about what pay hikes for, say, assistant kindergarten teachers 00:12:34.606 --> 00:12:38.512 mean for municipal budgets. When we will have gathered 00:12:38.652 --> 00:12:43.098 data about the costs of labor, 00:12:43.232 --> 00:12:47.618 as well as other services carried out by some municipalities 00:12:47.739 --> 00:12:49.425 but not by others, 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:52.465 we'll also propose a method 00:12:52.586 --> 00:12:55.582 of compensating this. Going forward, 00:12:55.703 --> 00:13:00.532 I expect we'll find a consensus for overhauling the formula, 00:13:00.692 --> 00:13:04.218 where we'll effectively address these differences. 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:09.912 We now have municipalities with no employees in institutions, 00:13:10.046 --> 00:13:15.352 and others with large numbers of public servants in institutions. 00:13:15.546 --> 00:13:19.212 There are many more such tasks. Today, we heard 00:13:19.372 --> 00:13:23.232 that these differences among municipalities can also exist 00:13:23.353 --> 00:13:26.445 in the services provided, such as snow removal 00:13:26.572 --> 00:13:30.485 and street sweeping because we have municipalities 00:13:30.606 --> 00:13:33.398 with few inhabitants and large areas. 00:13:33.532 --> 00:13:36.005 We need to balance this somehow 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:39.392 and come up with a formula 00:13:39.512 --> 00:13:43.072 that will address these expenses fairly. 00:13:43.199 --> 00:13:46.205 Thank you. Two more questions. 00:13:46.892 --> 00:13:49.132 I apologize. Minister. 00:13:50.432 --> 00:13:54.985 As a former mayor and a member of this government, 00:13:55.132 --> 00:13:59.245 I oppose term limits, 00:13:59.366 --> 00:14:02.545 but I'm in favor of having, as is the case now, 00:14:02.672 --> 00:14:06.345 mayoral terms limited by elections. 00:14:06.479 --> 00:14:09.092 Let the voters limit the terms. 00:14:09.579 --> 00:14:11.179 Thank you. Go ahead. 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:13.032 Sara Dvorjak, TV Slovenia. 00:14:13.166 --> 00:14:15.872 Mr. Prime Minister, what is your response 00:14:15.993 --> 00:14:19.226 to reports of violence at the Psychiatric Clinic? 00:14:19.347 --> 00:14:23.032 Will you introduce supervision or demand the resignation 00:14:23.153 --> 00:14:25.847 of the leadership or the Health Minister, 00:14:25.968 --> 00:14:28.593 as suggested by the March 8 Association? 00:14:28.714 --> 00:14:31.914 And how do you see new allegations of corruption 00:14:32.035 --> 00:14:35.644 at the University Medical Center, where another tender 00:14:35.765 --> 00:14:38.845 was apparently written for a single contractor? 00:14:38.966 --> 00:14:42.985 Please make sure your questions are related to today's topic. 00:14:43.106 --> 00:14:47.351 This wasn't the topic. The Health Ministry will respond. 00:14:47.557 --> 00:14:50.830 Any other questions? -Do you expect that Slovenia 00:14:50.951 --> 00:14:54.165 will succeed in its bid to become a non-permanent 00:14:54.286 --> 00:14:58.151 UN Security Council member? Will there be any consequences 00:14:58.272 --> 00:15:00.272 in terms of domestic politics? 00:15:00.393 --> 00:15:04.124 It is a topical issue. If you could answer. 00:15:04.470 --> 00:15:07.647 Janez Janša says 00:15:07.767 --> 00:15:11.849 that it is obvious Slovenia will be elected. Is it really? 00:15:12.523 --> 00:15:15.249 I want to finish. -I will be short. 00:15:16.501 --> 00:15:19.982 We cannot take anything for granted. 00:15:20.258 --> 00:15:24.249 I don't want to predict anything, but I know the government, 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:31.077 the president and the diplomacy worked hard the whole year 00:15:31.298 --> 00:15:37.549 to succeed tomorrow. Hard work always brings results. 00:15:38.075 --> 00:15:42.215 I don't comment on the ministries, this is the ministers' job. 00:15:42.390 --> 00:15:46.049 I know they work at the Ministry 00:15:46.169 --> 00:15:48.668 and the minister has a press conference tomorrow 00:15:48.788 --> 00:15:53.382 where he will present the measures, not promises. 00:15:53.611 --> 00:15:58.526 Today, we will present the measures, and tomorrow the response. 00:15:58.646 --> 00:16:03.682 You will get all the information. We will be decisive. 00:16:04.192 --> 00:16:08.286 Thank you. We have to finish. -Something about today's topic. 00:16:08.437 --> 00:16:14.671 No one has asked it yet. Tadeja Magdič, Planet TV. 00:16:14.791 --> 00:16:20.389 You said there will be changes in financing the municipalities. 00:16:20.509 --> 00:16:23.301 Can you be more specific? 00:16:23.422 --> 00:16:28.615 Will the state really help with higher kindergarten costs? 00:16:29.375 --> 00:16:32.365 Go ahead. -After this, we will finish. 00:16:32.486 --> 00:16:38.064 About financing the kindergartens. 00:16:38.184 --> 00:16:43.912 Last year, when we said how much money we allocated for wages, 00:16:44.032 --> 00:16:48.870 we said what this money will be for. 00:16:48.990 --> 00:16:54.375 When we talked about how much money we spent 00:16:54.495 --> 00:16:57.906 for wages, we included 00:16:58.026 --> 00:17:02.724 everything we agreed on 00:17:02.844 --> 00:17:07.114 last and this year. We asked the municipalities 00:17:07.234 --> 00:17:12.174 to tell us how much higher their costs are 00:17:12.294 --> 00:17:17.025 because we raised wages. When we get the data, 00:17:17.145 --> 00:17:23.272 we will see how we can help. The money that was meant 00:17:23.392 --> 00:17:26.649 for public sector wages 00:17:26.769 --> 00:17:32.882 also included these groups of workers. 00:17:33.072 --> 00:17:35.885 We are also looking at other things. 00:17:36.005 --> 00:17:39.911 The municipalities do their work differently, 00:17:40.031 --> 00:17:44.443 some have public institutions, others don't. 00:17:44.563 --> 00:17:48.803 They need a different amount of money 00:17:48.923 --> 00:17:52.316 and we want to address this systemically. 00:17:52.436 --> 00:17:56.892 We will look at what has happened this year 00:17:57.012 --> 00:18:03.766 and then, we will find a solution to help the municipalities 00:18:03.886 --> 00:18:09.817 in a fair way and give the money to those 00:18:09.937 --> 00:18:16.282 who need it the most. -Thank you. Have a nice day. -Thank you.