WEBVTT 00:00:02.390 --> 00:00:08.470 Good day! The Government adopted a draft bill on intervention measures 00:00:08.590 --> 00:00:12.730 to deal with the consequences of the August 2023 floods and 00:00:12.850 --> 00:00:16.400 landslides. The Bill will be presented in more detail by three 00:00:16.520 --> 00:00:20.380 Ministers, so I now invite Minister Sanja Ajanović Hovnik to the podium 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:21.590 first. Good afternoon. 00:00:23.782 --> 00:00:25.580 Good day! Welcome! 00:00:25.700 --> 00:00:31.270 First of all, it must be said that we are facing a situation that is 00:00:31.390 --> 00:00:33.170 unknown in Slovenia. 00:00:33.290 --> 00:00:35.810 We have never had one before. 00:00:35.930 --> 00:00:40.313 And that is why it is time for intervention. 00:00:40.460 --> 00:00:45.240 Because the government needs and wants to help the people affected by 00:00:45.360 --> 00:00:49.130 the floods to get back to normal as quickly as possible. 00:00:49.250 --> 00:00:53.760 In preparing its measures, the Government has had the people, the 00:00:53.880 --> 00:00:58.310 people of Slovenia, in its sights, who need help and need it now. 00:00:58.430 --> 00:01:02.030 That is why we have been collecting, shaking up and preparing 00:01:02.150 --> 00:01:06.250 these measures in all ministries, in a coordinated way, practically 00:01:06.370 --> 00:01:10.440 day and night. For that, I would like to thank all the staff who have 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:11.480 been involved. 00:01:11.600 --> 00:01:17.100 The measures we are proposing cut across all areas of our lives, 00:01:17.220 --> 00:01:22.730 as the devastating floods have also cut into every pore of our lives. 00:01:22.850 --> 00:01:26.710 The measures taken by this intervention bill are therefore the 00:01:26.830 --> 00:01:31.070 first, most urgent, but by no means the last, and I want to stress this 00:01:31.190 --> 00:01:35.030 seriously, help for people, municipalities, businesses and 00:01:35.150 --> 00:01:38.920 agriculture. We have therefore structured the actions into four 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:42.750 strands. The first strand is about helping people, i.e. 00:01:42.870 --> 00:01:47.540 households. The second set consists of measures for business, i.e. 00:01:47.660 --> 00:01:51.020 the economy. The third set of measures are those designed 00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:53.090 specifically for municipalities. 00:01:53.210 --> 00:01:57.000 And it is the municipalities that are the first to have contact with 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:00.900 the population and, last but not least, the fourth set of measures, 00:02:01.020 --> 00:02:04.650 which are remediation measures, on public infrastructure, 00:02:04.770 --> 00:02:06.770 watercourses and flood protection. 00:02:06.890 --> 00:02:14.260 So, to pause a bit on the first set of measures for people 00:02:14.380 --> 00:02:16.520 for households. 00:02:16.640 --> 00:02:20.970 We will help people in the affected areas in a variety of ways, from 00:02:21.090 --> 00:02:25.750 exempting parents from paying for kindergarten if their children are 00:02:25.870 --> 00:02:29.560 unable to attend at the time, to providing free meals for 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:34.010 schoolchildren. Exemption of students from paying the student 00:02:34.130 --> 00:02:38.450 accommodation fee, extension of the beneficiary groups for solidarity aid, 00:02:38.570 --> 00:02:43.320 temporary provision of housing also for the elderly and those who 00:02:43.440 --> 00:02:45.650 cannot take care of themselves. 00:02:46.040 --> 00:02:52.270 Exemptions from electricity, natural gas, deferred payment on consumer 00:02:52.390 --> 00:02:56.150 credit, tax relief, exemption from legal fees. 00:02:56.929 --> 00:03:00.109 The second strand is the economic strand. 00:03:00.230 --> 00:03:04.670 Here, too, it must be said that the State is offering a helping hand in 00:03:04.790 --> 00:03:06.980 the financial and fiscal spheres. 00:03:07.100 --> 00:03:11.640 Businesses that work to provide a living for their employees and their 00:03:11.760 --> 00:03:16.150 families. Measures for the economy are aimed at preserving incomes, 00:03:16.270 --> 00:03:19.790 jobs and getting things working as quickly as possible. 00:03:19.910 --> 00:03:23.820 We have therefore simplified the procedures for recruiting foreigners 00:03:23.940 --> 00:03:25.280 to help with the recovery. 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:29.650 We have also paid special attention to farmers, including in terms of 00:03:29.770 --> 00:03:33.270 tax relief and tailored declarations of force majeure or 00:03:33.390 --> 00:03:35.000 exceptional occurrences. 00:03:36.227 --> 00:03:38.377 The third set of measures for municipalities. 00:03:39.037 --> 00:03:43.605 Much has been said in the past days. 00:03:43.820 --> 00:03:47.810 A technical office is being set up, which will be organised within a 00:03:47.930 --> 00:03:49.370 government department. 00:03:49.490 --> 00:03:53.800 The technical offices will provide assistance and advice for 00:03:53.920 --> 00:03:55.280 project preparation. 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:59.920 Municipalities will be allowed to borrow more liquidity and to spend 00:04:00.040 --> 00:04:03.650 the donations they receive in their accounts smoothly. 00:04:03.770 --> 00:04:07.190 There will be no limit on the use of the budget reserve. 00:04:07.310 --> 00:04:11.390 Simplification is also foreseen in the area of public procurement. 00:04:11.510 --> 00:04:15.100 Once the recovery programme is adopted, municipalities will receive 00:04:15.220 --> 00:04:18.050 additional funds in their budgets for reconstruction. 00:04:18.170 --> 00:04:24.050 The costs of waste management are borne by the State. 00:04:24.170 --> 00:04:28.350 The measures that the State must implement as quickly and efficiently 00:04:28.470 --> 00:04:32.140 as possible have been grouped together in a fourth strand, and 00:04:32.260 --> 00:04:35.940 here we are mainly talking about the remediation of public 00:04:36.060 --> 00:04:39.590 infrastructure and preventive measures on watercourses. 00:04:39.710 --> 00:04:43.360 Simplifying and speeding up bureaucratic procedures, including 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:45.440 in the area of public procurement. 00:04:45.860 --> 00:04:50.360 And here I must say that we have prepared and have already started 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:55.150 training for all those individuals and bodies who will be managing 00:04:55.270 --> 00:04:58.389 these public procurement procedures. 00:04:58.529 --> 00:05:02.480 The proposal also facilitates the transfer of civil servants to posts 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:06.980 where there is a greater need for work, including between authorities 00:05:07.100 --> 00:05:08.210 and institutions. 00:05:08.330 --> 00:05:14.650 Changes are also foreseen to speed up land purchases for the 00:05:14.770 --> 00:05:17.720 construction of buildings. 00:05:17.840 --> 00:05:20.800 The bill also envisages the creation of the Slovenian 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:24.630 Reconstruction Fund, which will co-finance the implementation of 00:05:24.750 --> 00:05:28.730 comprehensive measures and projects related to floods and landslides. 00:05:28.850 --> 00:05:33.910 It will collect funds from the national budget, European and other 00:05:34.030 --> 00:05:38.140 sources. Within two months of the entry into force of the Intervention 00:05:38.260 --> 00:05:41.780 bill, the Government will make a proposal on the establishment, 00:05:41.900 --> 00:05:45.640 management and operation of the Reconstruction Fund, as well as on 00:05:45.760 --> 00:05:48.230 the collection, management and use of funds. 00:05:48.350 --> 00:05:52.510 We will include the unemployed in the remediation, and the bill also 00:05:52.630 --> 00:05:56.480 contains solutions to mobilise international aid, as we already 00:05:56.600 --> 00:06:00.090 have examples of many Slovenians working abroad who want to 00:06:00.210 --> 00:06:02.270 contribute to the reconstruction. 00:06:02.390 --> 00:06:07.550 Most of the measures covered by this intervention bill have a 00:06:07.670 --> 00:06:13.400 duration of up to December 31 2023. 00:06:13.520 --> 00:06:18.620 Measures on the employment of foreigners run through August 31 2024. 00:06:18.740 --> 00:06:22.520 And here is where we need to say how to move forward. 00:06:22.640 --> 00:06:28.050 Although the destructive power of torrents and landslides has caused 00:06:28.170 --> 00:06:30.710 damage estimated at billions of euros. 00:06:31.280 --> 00:06:36.090 In the case of reconstruction, we are starting from scratch, but in a 00:06:36.210 --> 00:06:39.410 different way, in an interdisciplinary way. 00:06:39.530 --> 00:06:44.500 We will entrust the reconstruction of the country to a consultative 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:48.590 group that will help, that will assist the government. 00:06:48.710 --> 00:06:52.960 Under the expert guidance of Slovenian experts, who will take 00:06:53.080 --> 00:06:57.320 into account modern planning practices in spatial planning. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:01.320 We are all aware that it is not possible to rebuild this scale of 00:07:01.440 --> 00:07:04.830 damaged infrastructure and facilities overnight, so these 00:07:04.950 --> 00:07:08.610 first, most urgent solutions will be followed by additional, but 00:07:08.730 --> 00:07:10.580 development-oriented measures. 00:07:10.700 --> 00:07:14.060 A bill will be drafted and adopted very soon, setting out, among other 00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:17.160 things, measures for the remediation of real estate, the 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:19.369 population or alternative construction. 00:07:19.490 --> 00:07:24.650 Our way forward is focused on smart urban regeneration that takes into 00:07:24.770 --> 00:07:27.739 account the realities of climate change. 00:07:28.313 --> 00:07:32.440 We need modern watercourses and riverbanks, twenty-first century 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:35.810 infrastructure, modernisation of these areas. 00:07:35.930 --> 00:07:39.540 On the other hand, we must not neglect development measures for the 00:07:39.660 --> 00:07:41.960 affected areas and Slovenia as a whole. 00:07:42.080 --> 00:07:46.440 Only in this way, and by working together, will we be able to carry 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:51.070 out a smart remediation that can last for years, and build a much 00:07:51.190 --> 00:07:54.860 better adapted and resilient to new storms. 00:07:54.980 --> 00:07:58.860 Finally, I would like to reiterate the importance of the protection and 00:07:58.980 --> 00:08:02.120 rescue forces and the volunteers. Without their selfless 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:05.910 contribution immediately after the water level had receded and the 00:08:06.030 --> 00:08:09.380 creeping slopes were no longer a threat, we would not have had a 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:13.120 successful intervention. We will reinforce these teams, to whom I 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:16.250 would like to reiterate my gratitude, with appropriate 00:08:16.370 --> 00:08:20.330 equipment, more stable funding and additional training, thus building 00:08:20.450 --> 00:08:23.990 on the success of the current operation. I would also like to thank 00:08:24.110 --> 00:08:25.280 them for their efforts. 00:08:25.400 --> 00:08:29.580 The covid epidemic was a test of our togetherness and our 00:08:29.700 --> 00:08:32.510 humanity, where our heart was on display. 00:08:32.630 --> 00:08:38.410 The test that nature has set before us is a renewed opportunity to bring 00:08:38.530 --> 00:08:43.810 solidarity and humanity back together, this time to help people 00:08:43.930 --> 00:08:46.310 and to tackle climate change. 00:08:46.430 --> 00:08:47.509 Thank you. 00:08:47.630 --> 00:08:50.870 Thank you very much, Minister. I would like to ask you to clarify the 00:08:50.990 --> 00:08:55.430 Solidarity Saturday, and then we will invite Luka Mesec on stage. 00:08:55.880 --> 00:08:58.310 Yes, thank you very much for reminding me. 00:08:59.180 --> 00:09:02.920 So a measure that I have not specifically highlighted, but which 00:09:03.040 --> 00:09:05.050 has also been talked about quite a bit. 00:09:05.330 --> 00:09:09.810 Solidarity Saturday. I would like to remind us that we have already 00:09:09.930 --> 00:09:14.180 known something similar in the reconstruction of post-earthquake 00:09:14.300 --> 00:09:20.378 Posočje. The mandatory contribution, which was ... 00:09:23.510 --> 00:09:28.753 A compulsory contribution covering labour, 00:09:29.030 --> 00:09:31.880 i.e. employees. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:35.960 This time we are doing something similar for Solidarity Saturday. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:40.250 It is a compulsory contribution, where we have extended the base to 00:09:40.370 --> 00:09:43.760 all social groups: to the economy, to businesses, 00:09:43.880 --> 00:09:48.080 to individuals, to legal persons, to farmers, to the self-employed. 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:52.520 And an alternative to this compulsory contribution, which is 00:09:52.640 --> 00:09:57.640 Solidarity Saturday, where it will be possible to agree together, i.e. 00:09:57.760 --> 00:10:02.590 employees and companies, to allow the contribution to be replaced by 00:10:02.710 --> 00:10:07.040 work and essentially the income of that day to be donated to the 00:10:07.160 --> 00:10:09.470 Slovenian Reconstruction Fund. 00:10:09.770 --> 00:10:12.920 Thank you. I would also like to invite Mr Mesec to the podium. 00:10:13.041 --> 00:10:15.894 And if there are any press questions for the minister, please make sure 00:10:16.015 --> 00:10:18.050 to stay nearby. 00:10:18.537 --> 00:10:20.577 Minister Mesec. 00:10:20.698 --> 00:10:22.580 Thank you very much and greetings. 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:24.890 As Sanja said before me: 00:10:25.010 --> 00:10:30.710 Today, we have finalised and adopted the Floods Relief Act in the 00:10:30.830 --> 00:10:36.050 Government. This bill also contains a number of provisions that will 00:10:36.170 --> 00:10:41.130 either help on the social side people whose property has been wiped 00:10:41.250 --> 00:10:46.290 out by the floods, or will help to preserve jobs and, of course, to get 00:10:46.410 --> 00:10:51.350 the economy back on track as soon as possible, and to get life back to 00:10:51.470 --> 00:10:54.284 normal in the affected municipalities. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:59.040 I will present some of these measures, which are most relevant to 00:10:59.160 --> 00:11:03.470 the areas that I cover, in particular social and labour issues. 00:11:03.590 --> 00:11:08.090 Now, the first thing I would like to remind all citizens. 00:11:08.210 --> 00:11:13.360 It should be noted that we are introducing solidarity support for 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:14.990 affected citizens. 00:11:15.110 --> 00:11:22.320 Solidarity aid is provided at 7 times the amount of 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:29.110 the emergency cash grant and there are no entry 00:11:29.230 --> 00:11:35.360 criteria. If your house is flooded, contact the social work centre. 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:42.960 Tell us what happened and you could receive a lump sum 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:50.750 of up to 7 times your minimum short-term living costs. 00:11:51.477 --> 00:12:01.278 This means €3,257 for a single person if unemployed, €3,513 if 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:08.237 employed, €8,957 for a family of four if parents are unemployed 00:12:08.358 --> 00:12:12.619 and €11,466 if parents are employed. 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:16.860 These are the maximum amounts of this 00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:20.990 one-off solidarity aid that all those affected by the floods 00:12:21.110 --> 00:12:23.190 can receive through the social work centres. 00:12:23.750 --> 00:12:28.220 But we will not take your income or assets into account at the social 00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:32.670 work centres. The only serious entry criterion is that you have 00:12:32.790 --> 00:12:34.880 suffered severe flood damage. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:38.300 Solidarity aid is the first point. 00:12:38.420 --> 00:12:42.760 Anyone who has been affected should go to a social work centre, make an 00:12:42.880 --> 00:12:46.910 application and you will receive help as soon as possible, but of 00:12:47.030 --> 00:12:51.607 course not more than the amount of the damage you have suffered. 00:12:52.370 --> 00:12:56.670 The second thing I would like to point out is that we have adopted a 00:12:56.790 --> 00:13:01.350 new measure, and that is that those employees who work in the flooded 00:13:01.470 --> 00:13:05.780 companies and who have helped to clean up these companies during 00:13:05.900 --> 00:13:10.290 their working hours in the past month, they will not receive 80% of 00:13:10.410 --> 00:13:14.800 their salary, as is the case when they are on standby, but they will 00:13:14.920 --> 00:13:17.990 receive 100%, their full salary. 00:13:18.110 --> 00:13:22.580 That means that all of you who helped clean up businesses in August 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:26.650 will be entitled to your full salary for August, 00:13:26.770 --> 00:13:28.700 even if the businesses were not working. 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:32.660 The third measure is temporal layoff and force majeure, that is, 00:13:32.780 --> 00:13:36.620 either if you cannot go to work because the company is not working 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:40.290 because it has been flooded, or because you cannot go to work 00:13:40.410 --> 00:13:44.210 because the infrastructure is damaged or something like that. 00:13:44.330 --> 00:13:52.010 You are entitled to be placed on standby or force majeure until 00:13:52.130 --> 00:13:58.610 the end of the year and can receive 80% of your salary. 00:13:58.730 --> 00:14:02.810 Of this, 80% will be contributed by the State. 00:14:02.930 --> 00:14:07.580 The fourth important measure in this area is support for the 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:13.920 self-employed. All self-employed people can apply for assistance 00:14:14.040 --> 00:14:17.340 if they were naturally affected by the floods. 00:14:18.140 --> 00:14:23.290 Those who, as we said last time, have experienced a 50% drop in 00:14:23.410 --> 00:14:29.190 traffic in the current month due to flooding will not be eligible for 00:14:29.310 --> 00:14:34.340 aid. We have changed the criteria so that those who will see 00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:38.870 their turnover drop by 25% in a whole year are eligible. 00:14:38.990 --> 00:14:43.020 This is now the entry criterion, not a halving of 00:14:43.140 --> 00:14:47.500 turnover in a single month, but a 25% drop in turnover over the whole 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:54.200 year. Then public works for all unemployed - an 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:59.750 invitation to public works to help 00:14:59.870 --> 00:15:06.860 in the floods, from cleaning up to helping in care homes, and so on. 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:12.900 They raise the wages of those who enroll in the public works programme, 00:15:13.020 --> 00:15:18.430 i.e. someone with up to Level 5 education is entitled to the full 00:15:18.550 --> 00:15:20.090 100% minimum wage. 00:15:20.210 --> 00:15:24.430 If you have a sixth level education, you get 110% of the 00:15:24.550 --> 00:15:25.580 minimum wage. 00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:31.120 If you have a seventh level education or more, 120% of the 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.530 minimum wage. 00:15:32.650 --> 00:15:38.770 This bill, which we have adopted today, introduces a subsidy 00:15:38.890 --> 00:15:40.270 for renting a home. 00:15:40.390 --> 00:15:44.190 For all of you who have been flooded and can no longer live in 00:15:44.310 --> 00:15:45.980 your houses or apartments. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:50.650 If you go into renting, you are entitled to a housing subsidy 00:15:50.770 --> 00:15:52.400 for the rent. 00:15:52.520 --> 00:15:56.990 If you are over 65 and if the flood has flooded your house, you 00:15:57.110 --> 00:16:00.990 are entitled to crisis accommodation, free of charge, in 00:16:01.110 --> 00:16:05.910 homes for the elderly, and the last measure I would mention is the rapid 00:16:06.030 --> 00:16:08.250 recruitment of foreign workers. 00:16:08.370 --> 00:16:12.940 In order to clear up the consequences of the floods as 00:16:13.060 --> 00:16:16.853 quickly as possible, we are enabling rapid recruitment of 00:16:16.974 --> 00:16:18.349 foreign workers. 00:16:18.470 --> 00:16:22.640 Within 10 days of arriving in Slovenia, the employment service 00:16:22.760 --> 00:16:27.330 will be obliged to give or withhold consent for them to start working, 00:16:27.450 --> 00:16:31.550 and within three months, the administrative unit must decide 00:16:31.670 --> 00:16:35.630 whether or not to grant them a single permit to stay and work. 00:16:35.750 --> 00:16:39.550 But while they are waiting for this single permit, they can already 00:16:39.670 --> 00:16:43.390 start working if they have the approval of the authorities, which 00:16:43.510 --> 00:16:45.020 must be given within 10 days. 00:16:45.140 --> 00:16:49.060 As a further point of clarification, we are talking about 00:16:49.180 --> 00:16:51.210 foreign workers from non-EU countries. 00:16:52.070 --> 00:16:57.410 That's all the countries of the Balkans, except Kosovo, and this 00:16:57.530 --> 00:17:03.390 quota of non-visa countries does not include the Philippines, Nepal, 00:17:03.510 --> 00:17:05.560 Bangladesh and the like. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:09.040 In short, we are talking about non-visa countries, i.e. 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:10.940 countries from the Balkans. 00:17:11.274 --> 00:17:12.530 Thank you very much. -Thank you. 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:15.750 Minister, please stay around. I'm inviting Klemen Boštjančič 00:17:15.870 --> 00:17:18.920 to the podium to present the measures in his area of 00:17:19.040 --> 00:17:23.280 expertise. And I would ask Minister Mesec to be around to answer any 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:26.784 questions. Minister for Finance, please! 00:17:35.590 --> 00:17:37.540 Good day. 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:43.030 Let me tell you about the measures taken in the area of the Ministry of 00:17:43.150 --> 00:17:48.000 Finance. Recognising that the circumstances have led to temporary 00:17:48.120 --> 00:17:52.450 liquidity constraints for borrowers, we have also included a 00:17:52.570 --> 00:17:57.160 temporary measure in the area of bank lending in the Intervention 00:17:57.280 --> 00:18:02.210 bill. The measure obliges banks and savings banks, including branches 00:18:02.330 --> 00:18:07.010 established in the Republic of Slovenia, to grant a loan deferment 00:18:07.130 --> 00:18:11.640 of up to 12 months to a borrower who has suffered damage as a result 00:18:11.760 --> 00:18:13.450 of floods or landslides. 00:18:13.570 --> 00:18:17.150 Both legal and natural persons are eligible for a deferral, subject to 00:18:17.270 --> 00:18:20.770 certain criteria regarding the amount of damage they have suffered. 00:18:20.890 --> 00:18:23.740 Beneficiaries must submit their application to the Bank no later 00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:25.278 than December 31. 00:18:25.399 --> 00:18:29.070 During the grace period, interest may accrue on 00:18:29.190 --> 00:18:34.030 the deferred part of the principal, up to a maximum of 12-month EURIBOR 00:18:34.150 --> 00:18:38.560 + 0 per cent or, if more favourable to the borrower, at the regular 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:43.000 interest rate agreed at the time of conclusion of the contract. 00:18:43.120 --> 00:18:46.330 A number of measures concern municipalities, which are, of 00:18:46.450 --> 00:18:50.000 course, an important partner in dealing with the consequences of 00:18:50.120 --> 00:18:54.730 floods. For municipalities affected by floods and landslides, we have 00:18:54.850 --> 00:18:57.399 raised the liquidity borrowing limit. 00:18:57.520 --> 00:19:02.660 We have allowed them to borrow up to a maximum of 10% of the total 00:19:02.780 --> 00:19:08.440 expenditure of the last adopted budget in financial years 2023 and 2024. 00:19:08.560 --> 00:19:11.140 The current limit is 5%. 00:19:11.260 --> 00:19:15.590 This has given them more flexibility in paying their costs. 00:19:15.710 --> 00:19:20.400 For municipalities affected by natural disasters, we have also 00:19:20.520 --> 00:19:25.270 increased the borrowing limit for investments in years 2023 and 2024. 00:19:25.390 --> 00:19:29.440 In addition, this year, once the Disaster Recovery Programme has been 00:19:29.560 --> 00:19:33.480 adopted, additional budgetary resources will be made available to 00:19:33.600 --> 00:19:37.640 the affected municipalities to deal with the consequences of natural 00:19:37.760 --> 00:19:42.150 disasters. The amount, conditions, purpose and procedure for allocating 00:19:42.270 --> 00:19:45.130 the additional funds will be decided by the Government. 00:19:45.250 --> 00:19:49.380 We have also enabled them to make smooth use of the funds they receive 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:53.310 through donations, which are collected in a special donations 00:19:53.430 --> 00:19:57.680 account. They will therefore not have to prepare a rebalancing of this 00:19:57.800 --> 00:19:59.490 year's municipal budgets. 00:19:59.610 --> 00:20:03.590 In years 2023 and 2024, there is no limit to the amount of money that a 00:20:03.710 --> 00:20:06.850 municipality can set aside in its budget reserve. 00:20:06.970 --> 00:20:10.780 However, municipalities will also be able to use their budget reserve 00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:14.380 to finance the costs of dealing with the consequences in another 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:18.070 municipality. I am also pleased that this bill has established the 00:20:18.190 --> 00:20:22.140 Reconstruction Fund for Slovenia, which is intended to co-finance the 00:20:22.260 --> 00:20:26.010 implementation of comprehensive measures and projects related to 00:20:26.130 --> 00:20:27.400 floods and landslides. 00:20:27.520 --> 00:20:33.640 It will collect funds from the national budget, European funds 00:20:33.760 --> 00:20:35.980 and a range of other sources. 00:20:36.100 --> 00:20:40.780 The Fund's operation will be regulated by a constitutive act. 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:46.450 Let me say that we are taking a cue from other countries that already 00:20:46.570 --> 00:20:50.830 have these funds or have set them up in recent years. 00:20:50.950 --> 00:20:55.570 We have also taken some measures in the area of taxation. 00:20:55.690 --> 00:21:00.210 One of the most important things is that we have reduced the VAT rate on the 00:21:00.330 --> 00:21:04.670 purchase of firefighting equipment, which is commonly used in 00:21:04.790 --> 00:21:06.250 interventions, to 5%. 00:21:06.370 --> 00:21:10.910 We have also provided more favourable tax treatment for people 00:21:11.030 --> 00:21:15.300 who have had to find new or temporary accommodation, and for 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:20.380 legal persons and sole traders who provide accommodation for them. 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:24.870 I should also mention that municipalities will be able to waive 00:21:24.990 --> 00:21:29.600 the building land use allowance revenue in favour of taxpayers for 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:32.270 properties that have been severely damaged. 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:35.500 That's all from my side for now. 00:21:36.010 --> 00:21:39.120 Thank you very much, Minister. I am sure there will be a 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:41.320 question about the banks, so stay around. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.950 And the last minister who will present measures in his area is 00:21:45.070 --> 00:21:47.361 Minister Uroš Brežan. 00:21:49.663 --> 00:21:52.092 Greetings to you all. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:57.660 Let me start by saying that the government reacted very quickly 00:21:57.780 --> 00:22:01.469 after the storm that hit us on August 4. 00:22:01.590 --> 00:22:07.550 First, with the adoption of the Disaster Relief Act, which was also 00:22:07.670 --> 00:22:10.140 the first intervention bill. 00:22:10.260 --> 00:22:15.570 Today, the government adopted a second intervention bill and, of 00:22:15.690 --> 00:22:20.220 course, the government's plan includes a renewal bill. 00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:24.530 From the point of view of the Ministry, which is responsible for 00:22:24.650 --> 00:22:29.010 water and the environment, I would like to highlight at this point 00:22:29.130 --> 00:22:33.560 three areas or three actions that are addressed by the bill approved 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:35.310 today by the Government. 00:22:35.430 --> 00:22:41.950 First of all, the Article ensures that we can send enough people and 00:22:42.070 --> 00:22:48.950 machinery into the watercourses to ensure that they are flowing in the 00:22:49.077 --> 00:22:50.691 first place. 00:22:50.812 --> 00:22:56.700 This is one of the key tasks that is emerging at the moment, and one 00:22:56.820 --> 00:23:01.770 that is generating a lot of comments on the ground. 00:23:01.890 --> 00:23:07.240 The bill adopted today by the Government will go some way towards 00:23:07.360 --> 00:23:13.640 restricting the existing concession relationships on watercourses and 00:23:13.760 --> 00:23:19.540 will allow additional capacity to be committed to ensure the flow of 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:25.080 watercourses and to provide emergency intervention measures. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:30.540 Secondly, I would like to highlight the municipal detailed plan for 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:32.578 disaster recovery. 00:23:32.699 --> 00:23:36.950 Here, we will work with the municipalities, which are the 00:23:37.070 --> 00:23:42.490 spatial planning authorities at municipal level, to provide a new 00:23:42.610 --> 00:23:48.060 mechanism that will speed up the possibility of acquiring new land 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:53.720 for the affected areas and thus enable new replacement buildings 00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:55.930 to be built for the affected population. 00:23:56.051 --> 00:24:00.269 And thirdly, also in this area. 00:24:00.390 --> 00:24:02.430 Emergency reconstruction measure. 00:24:02.550 --> 00:24:07.868 This is a measure already allowed under current building legislation, 00:24:07.989 --> 00:24:12.870 but the Intervention bill extends this possibility. 00:24:12.990 --> 00:24:18.600 Existing legislation limits this measure to existing building 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.190 dimensions only. 00:24:20.310 --> 00:24:24.630 However, in this measure, which we are adopting by means of an 00:24:24.750 --> 00:24:29.150 intervention bill, we are extending the possibility of urgent 00:24:29.270 --> 00:24:34.370 reconstruction to buildings where we will be changing the dimensions, 00:24:34.490 --> 00:24:36.390 without a building permit. 00:24:36.510 --> 00:24:41.720 These are, in brief, the three most important actions in the field of 00:24:41.840 --> 00:24:42.930 our Ministry. 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:46.590 Thank you very much. Mr Mesec expressed his wish to be the first 00:24:46.710 --> 00:24:48.000 to answer questions. 00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:51.310 So if anyone has a question for Mr Mesec. 00:24:51.430 --> 00:24:55.860 Metka Majer. Minister Mesec, please come to the podium. 00:25:47.110 --> 00:25:49.946 I'm rushing you and then I'm late myself. 00:25:50.144 --> 00:25:52.688 I can now list you all the non-visa countries. 00:25:56.696 --> 00:26:00.227 Thank you, we'll google them. 00:26:00.348 --> 00:26:04.260 Let's begin. 00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:08.360 You said that there are no entry criteria for solidarity aid. 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:12.160 However, CSD workers will probably have to make some kind of judgement 00:26:12.280 --> 00:26:16.280 as to whether people who have been affected by the floods have come for help. 00:26:16.430 --> 00:26:17.630 Yes, to be more precise: 00:26:17.750 --> 00:26:22.830 The absence of criteria means that the criteria you need to pay 00:26:22.950 --> 00:26:27.540 social assistance, social transfers and so on, do not apply. 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:31.130 In short, assets are not taken into account, income is not taken into 00:26:31.250 --> 00:26:36.360 account. You must have suffered serious damage in the floods, to the 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:38.210 property you lived in. 00:26:38.330 --> 00:26:43.640 The social work centres will then assess whether and to what extent 00:26:43.760 --> 00:26:46.670 you are entitled to this solidarity support. 00:26:46.861 --> 00:26:49.291 Because that is the payout limit. 00:26:49.521 --> 00:26:52.491 The amount of solidarity aid, if rounded. 00:26:53.205 --> 00:26:58.235 For a single person, this is around €3,500 max, and for a family of 00:26:58.356 --> 00:27:01.639 four it is just over €11,000 max. 00:27:01.760 --> 00:27:06.690 This amount cannot exceed the damage to the property in which the 00:27:06.810 --> 00:27:09.050 individual or family lives. 00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:14.750 Right, you mentioned the subsidy for those who decide to look for a 00:27:14.870 --> 00:27:16.310 rental on the market. 00:27:16.430 --> 00:27:18.409 What would it be? 00:27:18.651 --> 00:27:22.300 The same as the subsidy for market rent . 00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:27.450 Let us revisit Solidarity Saturday, because it was 00:27:27.570 --> 00:27:31.690 only mentioned briefly. So a compulsory contribution 00:27:31.810 --> 00:27:33.050 or Solidarity Saturday. 00:27:33.170 --> 00:27:35.090 Could you please explain. 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:39.540 Yes, basically the concept is this, as Sanja said: just like after the 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:43.790 earthquake in Posočje, we will introduce a solidarity contribution 00:27:43.910 --> 00:27:47.370 that will flow into the reconstruction fund for Slovenia, 00:27:47.490 --> 00:27:50.270 that is to say, into a fund with the acronym SOS. 00:27:50.390 --> 00:27:55.610 This contribution will be paid by all people and the economy. 00:27:55.730 --> 00:27:57.230 We, the people will pay. 00:27:57.350 --> 00:28:00.230 That is to say, employees, a share of income tax. 00:28:00.350 --> 00:28:04.010 We will know exactly what it will be by the end of the day. 00:28:04.130 --> 00:28:08.240 The economy will contribute the same amount as the people, but the 00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:11.720 people will contribute with their own contribution. 00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:14.809 What will the amount be? We'll let you know tonight. 00:28:14.930 --> 00:28:21.110 Of course, you do not have to pay this contribution 00:28:21.231 --> 00:28:26.094 if you help on Solidarity Saturday. 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:29.450 One Solidarity Saturday or four by the end of the year? 00:28:29.570 --> 00:28:34.280 One this year and one next year. It will be paid in 2023 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:37.220 and 2024. It will be calculated by FURS at the time of income tax. 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:39.944 What is the amount we are talking about? 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:43.910 What I'm talking about? We are talking about 0.3% of income tax. 00:28:46.750 --> 00:28:49.310 Okay. You will let me know by the end of the day. 00:28:49.430 --> 00:28:52.130 Have you said anything on this 00:28:52.250 --> 00:28:55.510 subject. I imagine that, given that there has been a lot of talk about it, 00:28:55.630 --> 00:28:58.690 we now have a different concept. 00:28:58.810 --> 00:29:02.480 Is this in agreement with employers and unions 00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:06.255 that have expressed scepticism. 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:10.410 Yes, the employers themselves, as far as I have heard, first proposed 00:29:10.530 --> 00:29:12.790 such a solidarity day on the 14th of August. 00:29:12.910 --> 00:29:18.190 Then it was also proposed by the banks when the Prime Minister met 00:29:18.310 --> 00:29:23.140 with them, so we basically adopted and took ideas from them. 00:29:23.260 --> 00:29:27.670 But the contribution is this. 00:29:27.790 --> 00:29:32.800 We cannot, as the Chamber of Commerce proposed, just deduct 00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:38.500 from people's salaries, because the Chamber of Commerce proposed at the 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:43.630 time that people should contribute one day's salary to this fund. 00:29:43.750 --> 00:29:47.300 This cannot be the case because wages are a constitutionally 00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:51.330 protected category and you cannot take wages without the worker's 00:29:51.450 --> 00:29:55.720 consent. So we have gone the other way, and that is to introduce an 00:29:55.840 --> 00:29:58.990 additional contribution on top of income tax. 00:29:59.555 --> 00:30:04.060 And of course, the economy will pay the same amount. 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:08.510 Because I could not agree to the idea that only the employee would 00:30:08.630 --> 00:30:10.480 pay and employers would not. 00:30:10.600 --> 00:30:13.360 Both will have to contribute, and in equal amounts. 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:16.090 And perhaps just one more thing that has not been mentioned today 00:30:16.210 --> 00:30:17.480 and has not been clarified. 00:30:17.650 --> 00:30:20.410 So there is a limit to what pensioners can do. 00:30:20.530 --> 00:30:22.640 You said there would be no more. 00:30:22.761 --> 00:30:26.979 Have you reached any agreement in the intervention bill? 00:30:27.520 --> 00:30:29.150 Yes, there is a limit. 00:30:29.270 --> 00:30:34.120 Pensioners' work will be extended until the end of this year. 00:30:36.270 --> 00:30:41.290 From 60 to 90 hours. 00:30:41.410 --> 00:30:44.790 It remains a temporary work form and the restriction 00:30:44.911 --> 00:30:46.810 has not been completely lifted. 00:30:46.930 --> 00:30:50.760 And of course we will invite all pensioners who want to work and earn 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:53.165 extra money to help with the remediation. 00:30:53.530 --> 00:30:55.720 Anyone else? 00:30:55.840 --> 00:30:59.380 Yes, Marta Razboršek, Zoom. 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:01.940 I apologise, let us give the floor to Marta 00:31:02.060 --> 00:31:03.850 she has already raised her hand. 00:31:04.947 --> 00:31:06.220 Hello. 00:31:06.340 --> 00:31:10.540 I have a question about the workforce that you are thinking of 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:14.350 importing from the Western Balkans, as I understand. 00:31:14.470 --> 00:31:19.460 I wonder how many people you need, are long-term jobs available? 00:31:19.580 --> 00:31:24.310 And I would also like to know about Slovenia opening 00:31:24.430 --> 00:31:28.790 a Consulate General in the Philippines, which means that we 00:31:28.910 --> 00:31:32.800 obviously have a great interest in Filipino labour. 00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:37.840 Why Filipinos, given that they are also basically 00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:39.970 common in other countries? 00:31:40.090 --> 00:31:45.058 Why did you choose them and what kind of profiles are you looking for? 00:31:45.580 --> 00:31:48.570 The first thing I would ask is that we do not mix 00:31:48.690 --> 00:31:51.750 apples and pears. I've already read on the internet 00:31:51.870 --> 00:31:56.840 that I said last time that we will try to provide as much free 00:31:56.960 --> 00:32:01.720 housing as possible for people who have lost their homes. 00:32:01.840 --> 00:32:05.440 So now we will create a pool of housing from the public 00:32:05.560 --> 00:32:10.490 administration and the ministries, the housing fund and so on, where we 00:32:10.610 --> 00:32:14.410 can put people in crisis accommodation free of charge. 00:32:14.530 --> 00:32:17.037 I read on the internet that we are supposed to be doing this so that we 00:32:17.158 --> 00:32:18.910 can put foreigners there. 00:32:19.030 --> 00:32:24.960 No. These homes will be available to those who lost their homes in the 00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:27.362 floods and no one else. 00:32:27.483 --> 00:32:33.270 We decided that foreign workers could be hired on a fast-track 00:32:33.390 --> 00:32:34.490 basis, i.e. 00:32:34.610 --> 00:32:40.460 within 10 days of arriving in Slovenia, simply to help with 00:32:40.580 --> 00:32:45.157 remediation and reconstruction work. 00:32:45.515 --> 00:32:47.075 That's what it's all about. 00:32:47.196 --> 00:32:50.560 This measure will apply this year and next until the end of the year. 00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:54.410 As I said, the employment service will be able to issue a permit for 00:32:54.530 --> 00:32:57.520 foreigners from non-visa countries within 10 days. 00:32:57.640 --> 00:33:01.650 We are not talking about Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines and so 00:33:01.770 --> 00:33:05.200 on. That is a completely separate topic from the one we have here. 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:08.274 So I am happy to explain that measure. 00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:13.000 But to avoid being taken out of context once again, I will stress 00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:18.130 at this point that we are not talking about foreign workers 00:33:18.250 --> 00:33:23.260 coming from countries from which you need a visa to enter Slovenia. 00:33:24.190 --> 00:33:29.630 Thank you. Lara Drašković, STA. 00:33:35.055 --> 00:33:40.155 Okay, I would like to add to this answer on foreign labour. 00:33:40.330 --> 00:33:42.760 Why non-visum countries? 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:45.730 You should know that these foreigners can otherwise enter 00:33:45.850 --> 00:33:47.210 Slovenia as tourists. 00:33:47.330 --> 00:33:49.548 They can stay in Slovenia for three months. 00:33:49.736 --> 00:33:54.460 For this reason, it is a measure that other countries already know. 00:33:54.580 --> 00:33:58.600 For example, in Austria and Germany, we have decided to allow 00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:03.210 faster recruitment of foreigners who are already in the country, 00:34:03.330 --> 00:34:07.680 or who can come very quickly, in the event of recovery from floods and 00:34:07.800 --> 00:34:09.250 landslides this year. 00:34:09.370 --> 00:34:13.410 These foreigners and these applications will have to be 00:34:13.530 --> 00:34:18.550 labelled as remediation and then the process will go much faster. 00:34:18.670 --> 00:34:22.230 Both at the Employment Service and then later at the administrative 00:34:22.350 --> 00:34:26.230 units, where we are also abolishing local competence and designating one 00:34:26.350 --> 00:34:30.040 administrative unit to deal specifically with these exceptions. 00:34:30.820 --> 00:34:31.820 Thank you very much, Minister. 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:33.700 Another question from Lara Drašković. 00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:38.020 I would also like to ask for some clarification on emergency 00:34:38.140 --> 00:34:39.400 social assistance. 00:34:39.520 --> 00:34:44.218 First of all, you are talking about a 7-fold lump sum of minimal wage. 00:34:44.470 --> 00:34:48.250 Is this now about raising this existing emergency social assistance 00:34:48.370 --> 00:34:49.610 from a 5-fold sum? 00:34:49.730 --> 00:34:56.112 Or is it a separate thing and technically someone can get both, 00:34:56.980 --> 00:35:00.370 It is an emergency cash grant. 00:35:00.490 --> 00:35:04.180 But we are raising the maximum amount to a 7-fold lump sum. 00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:08.420 And the second thing that is important is that we allow lump-sum 00:35:08.540 --> 00:35:13.120 payments. If we kept the institution as it is, then these 00:35:13.240 --> 00:35:17.600 people could get paid in September, and in October, November and 00:35:17.720 --> 00:35:22.990 December. But they can get 7 times that amount in a lump sum. 00:35:23.110 --> 00:35:27.740 This is essential, no. To help them quickly and to give them a sum of 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:31.630 money to start rebuilding their lives. 00:35:31.904 --> 00:35:38.091 In the next bill, we will talk about how we will settle the damage. 00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:42.550 If I understand correctly, this is the maximum amount. 00:35:42.670 --> 00:35:45.730 What criteria will be used to determine these amounts? 00:35:45.850 --> 00:35:48.730 Who will get the sixfold and who will get the fivefold? 00:35:49.568 --> 00:35:54.600 Could you expand on this? How will people prove 00:35:54.750 --> 00:35:56.770 the damage? On some assessment? 00:35:56.890 --> 00:36:00.860 Will those most affected by the floods have to carry out the work 00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:03.163 first and then submit some invoices? 00:36:03.370 --> 00:36:04.990 If you could explain. 00:36:05.111 --> 00:36:08.110 First they will be paid, then they will submit their invoices. 00:36:08.230 --> 00:36:10.356 Because we want help as soon as possible. 00:36:13.080 --> 00:36:17.080 The aid will be accessed by applying to social work centres. 00:36:17.200 --> 00:36:21.500 I therefore urge those people who have suffered damage to apply to the 00:36:21.620 --> 00:36:25.540 Social Work Centre as soon as possible for this solidarity aid. 00:36:25.660 --> 00:36:29.820 The staff of the social work centres are involved in the 00:36:29.940 --> 00:36:34.460 municipal commissions that take stock of the damage, and we 00:36:34.580 --> 00:36:39.850 therefore count on them to be aware of who has suffered damage on such 00:36:39.970 --> 00:36:44.020 scale that they need solidarity assistance. 00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:48.970 So it will be channeled through the Social Work Centres? 00:36:49.090 --> 00:36:52.540 The amounts people receive? -Yes. 00:36:52.798 --> 00:36:55.690 We have exhausted the questions for Minister Mesec. 00:36:56.110 --> 00:36:59.860 Thank you very much. -Thank you very On to the banks. 00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:02.740 Špela Bezjak, POP TV. 00:37:02.860 --> 00:37:07.060 Minister for Finance. 00:37:07.180 --> 00:37:09.605 Hello! Špela Bezjak, POP TV. 00:37:09.726 --> 00:37:13.080 The 48-hour deadline set by 00:37:13.200 --> 00:37:16.660 Prime Minister Golob for the banks to come up with measures is soon up. 00:37:16.780 --> 00:37:19.900 I wonder if the meeting with the banks has already taken place, 00:37:20.020 --> 00:37:22.690 have you already had the banks' proposals on the table? 00:37:22.810 --> 00:37:27.821 What was written and if you have already made any compromises? 00:37:28.282 --> 00:37:31.990 In recent days, there has been very intensive communication between the 00:37:32.110 --> 00:37:33.220 government and the banks. 00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:37.100 In addition to that meeting, where you were also present in the 00:37:37.220 --> 00:37:40.660 lobby of the Great Hall, the journalists were also present. 00:37:40.780 --> 00:37:43.680 Other meetings are also taking place, mainly at the Ministry of Finance. 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:50.180 Today, the banks or an association of banks have sent a 00:37:50.300 --> 00:37:53.260 reply with their proposal. 00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:57.059 I believe that this answer has also been made public, or at least 00:37:57.528 --> 00:37:58.780 its summary. 00:37:58.900 --> 00:38:04.520 The Ministry of Finance has already prepared a reply to this reply, so 00:38:04.640 --> 00:38:09.790 we will also send out a short press release on this in the next few 00:38:09.910 --> 00:38:14.260 hours. The fact is, as I said, these talks are intense. 00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:19.940 First of all, I can express my satisfaction with the willingness 00:38:20.060 --> 00:38:21.460 of the banks to talk. 00:38:21.580 --> 00:38:23.680 Of course, different banks have different views. 00:38:23.800 --> 00:38:28.150 I will not comment on them, because that is not fair to 00:38:28.270 --> 00:38:30.400 the individual interlocutors. 00:38:30.520 --> 00:38:34.960 Different, both in terms of flexibility and operability. 00:38:35.080 --> 00:38:41.540 There are a number of things in these responses or proposals from 00:38:41.660 --> 00:38:44.940 the banks that are, of course, very welcome. 00:38:45.850 --> 00:38:51.280 We have already addressed some of this in the bill approved today. 00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:57.340 But I would like to point out one thing in particular that has 00:38:57.460 --> 00:39:02.570 happened today, which is that 00:39:02.690 --> 00:39:07.110 we welcome the steps taken by individual banks to announce large 00:39:07.230 --> 00:39:10.960 increases in passive interest rates or deposit rates. 00:39:11.080 --> 00:39:16.310 We have been pointing this out not only in these last meetings, but for 00:39:16.430 --> 00:39:22.800 a long time. I am sure that other banks will have to follow suit, and 00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:29.770 this is of course very good news for all the people who have deposits 00:39:29.890 --> 00:39:31.360 in these banks. 00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:34.420 As for the other measures: 00:39:34.540 --> 00:39:36.960 We are satisfied with the banks' response. 00:39:37.750 --> 00:39:42.190 Of course, we are not yet where the government thinks we can be. 00:39:42.310 --> 00:39:46.300 Intense discussions with banks will continue in the coming days. 00:39:46.420 --> 00:39:51.020 As I said in this response from our Ministry, we have already invited 00:39:51.140 --> 00:39:55.150 the Association of Banks to new meetings in the coming days. 00:39:55.270 --> 00:40:01.930 So I believe that in the next few days, say in a week or two, we will 00:40:02.050 --> 00:40:04.840 come to a final version. 00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:08.990 Whether or not this will go beyond the agreement, again, it is difficult 00:40:09.110 --> 00:40:11.650 to say. It is important to be aware that on the other hand there is a 00:40:11.770 --> 00:40:14.550 relatively large number of entities that find it difficult to coordinate 00:40:14.670 --> 00:40:21.670 with each other. But regardless, as I said after intensive discussions, 00:40:21.790 --> 00:40:24.670 there are encouraging first steps. 00:40:24.790 --> 00:40:28.954 But we are not yet where the government thinks we should be. 00:40:29.440 --> 00:40:33.530 When we talk about these taxes on these extraordinary bank profits 00:40:33.650 --> 00:40:37.090 on the one hand, and on the balance sheet totals on the other. 00:40:37.210 --> 00:40:41.080 Is it true, then, that the government is looking for 00:40:41.200 --> 00:40:43.390 a percentage of up to two percent 00:40:43.720 --> 00:40:47.750 of the total balance sheet, and that the banks have offered in 00:40:47.870 --> 00:40:50.407 return 0.1%. 00:40:50.590 --> 00:40:52.419 And how do you react to the proposal? 00:40:52.540 --> 00:40:54.340 Delo wrote today that 00:40:54.460 --> 00:40:58.570 the Association of Banks says that if banks' profits are taxed, the 00:40:58.690 --> 00:41:02.570 whole economy should contribute, because they are businesses 00:41:02.690 --> 00:41:04.143 themselves. 00:41:06.100 --> 00:41:10.070 The position of the banks is a good starting point for further 00:41:10.190 --> 00:41:13.960 discussions, including on the introduction of a balance sheet 00:41:14.080 --> 00:41:16.569 contribution for banks and savings banks. 00:41:16.690 --> 00:41:21.770 The purpose of which is, of course, solely to repair the damage caused 00:41:21.890 --> 00:41:23.998 by a natural disaster. 00:41:24.119 --> 00:41:29.690 But we absolutely believe that this response is, of course, positive on 00:41:29.810 --> 00:41:35.090 the one hand, but we will absolutely continue the discussions 00:41:35.210 --> 00:41:40.510 both in terms of agreeing more precisely both the amount of the 00:41:40.630 --> 00:41:45.700 duration itself and the obligations of this contribution. 00:41:45.820 --> 00:41:53.440 There are banks that are committed to voluntarism, but of 00:41:53.560 --> 00:42:00.430 course it is very difficult to gauge what the response will be. 00:42:00.550 --> 00:42:04.590 This is absolutely one of the key areas where we will continue our 00:42:04.710 --> 00:42:07.034 discussions with the banks. 00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:11.280 Is one tenth of one percent of the balance sheet 00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:15.970 enough, or how much do you expect banks to contribute to this fund? 00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:18.880 This is a very complex issue. 00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:22.480 It is one of the key things we are talking to the banks about. 00:42:22.600 --> 00:42:26.400 You have to understand that I cannot explain to journalists 00:42:26.520 --> 00:42:31.200 our positions and our explanations of why we think certain 00:42:31.320 --> 00:42:35.600 percentages or percentages of percentages are necessary at this 00:42:35.720 --> 00:42:40.510 stage. It is also important to be aware that in response 00:42:40.630 --> 00:42:45.270 to a lot of relatively populist calls, it is not, of course, one of 00:42:45.390 --> 00:42:50.090 the most important sectors of the economy, because it is also very 00:42:50.210 --> 00:42:54.750 important to keep an eye on the financial stability of the whole 00:42:54.870 --> 00:42:58.410 sector. We are very aware of this in the government, 00:42:58.530 --> 00:43:02.590 so I will not make any populist statements about 00:43:02.710 --> 00:43:05.260 what should be done and how it should be done. 00:43:05.380 --> 00:43:10.970 We are arguing our positions in meetings with the banks and I 00:43:11.090 --> 00:43:17.610 believe I said that we will reach a final decision by the government in 00:43:17.730 --> 00:43:20.170 a relatively short time. 00:43:20.950 --> 00:43:24.540 There is a difference between one tenth of a percent and 00:43:24.660 --> 00:43:28.280 one percent. On the one hand we have 50 million, on the other half a 00:43:28.400 --> 00:43:32.456 billion. What are we talking about here? 00:43:32.770 --> 00:43:37.690 Like I said. It is not just a matter of the government and banks, it is a 00:43:37.810 --> 00:43:40.180 matter of financial stability. 00:43:40.300 --> 00:43:44.890 The Bank of Slovenia is also involved in these talks. 00:43:45.010 --> 00:43:49.540 The introduction of a specific mandatory contribution has a 00:43:49.660 --> 00:43:54.190 different impact on different banks, because the financial 00:43:54.310 --> 00:43:57.060 situation of individual banks also varies. 00:43:57.740 --> 00:43:59.740 So we are very attentive to all this. 00:44:00.140 --> 00:44:04.671 We are working on a series of calculations on what it would mean. 00:44:05.022 --> 00:44:09.950 I would not get into the debate about whether we are talking and 00:44:10.070 --> 00:44:14.650 what figures we are talking about because all these debates lead to 00:44:14.770 --> 00:44:18.770 speculation, which mostly has little to do with reality. 00:44:19.040 --> 00:44:25.238 You do not rule out extraordinary taxation of the economy, right? 00:44:25.970 --> 00:44:30.920 As for the economy, or other industries, banking is one of them. 00:44:31.040 --> 00:44:38.700 Of course, banks are not the only industry that we think needs help 00:44:38.820 --> 00:44:40.970 in times of crisis. 00:44:41.090 --> 00:44:44.410 There are other sectors, which of course have very different 00:44:44.530 --> 00:44:47.060 situations. No, of course not. 00:44:47.180 --> 00:44:50.530 The question of insurance companies immediately comes up, but it is part 00:44:50.650 --> 00:44:51.740 of the financial system. 00:44:51.860 --> 00:44:54.410 But of course, again, it is a specific situation, because of 00:44:54.530 --> 00:44:57.380 course, on the other hand, the insurance companies were affected. 00:44:57.500 --> 00:45:02.700 There are other industries in these floods that we believe have a 00:45:02.820 --> 00:45:04.580 contribution to make. 00:45:04.700 --> 00:45:08.390 But, as I said, I would not talk about that today. 00:45:08.510 --> 00:45:12.800 This will happen in the coming weeks and months. 00:45:13.860 --> 00:45:15.710 TV Slovenia. 00:45:15.831 --> 00:45:19.730 I have a question on last week's proposal, namely the issuance of 00:45:19.850 --> 00:45:22.370 government bonds. How far are you with this proposal? 00:45:22.490 --> 00:45:27.280 Have you checked it? Are you trying to persuade people to put their savings 00:45:27.400 --> 00:45:31.993 into government bonds and get slightly higher interest rates 00:45:32.114 --> 00:45:33.050 there? 00:45:33.735 --> 00:45:37.160 Are you talking about so-called retail bonds? 00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:42.020 I already announced this spring that we would very likely issue 00:45:42.140 --> 00:45:44.570 these bonds by the end of the year. 00:45:44.690 --> 00:45:48.050 The position is still the same. 00:45:48.170 --> 00:45:52.780 We will very likely do it this year all this time, over the summer, and 00:45:52.900 --> 00:45:57.420 that is actually independent of what has happened now, we have been 00:45:57.540 --> 00:45:58.640 preparing for it. 00:45:58.760 --> 00:46:03.390 Because, as with all the other measures, this measure was not 00:46:03.510 --> 00:46:08.700 intended to be populist and, above all, to respond to certain calls, 00:46:08.820 --> 00:46:13.650 and to a large extent to certain media, which are pushing us very 00:46:13.770 --> 00:46:14.840 hard to do this. 00:46:14.960 --> 00:46:18.780 Individual countries have done it, individual countries have not. 00:46:18.900 --> 00:46:22.460 There are pros and cons to issuing this type of shares and 00:46:22.580 --> 00:46:24.020 issuing this type of bonds. 00:46:24.140 --> 00:46:28.130 So, on the one hand, compared to conventional borrowing, but on the 00:46:28.250 --> 00:46:32.300 other hand, of course, nominally with a positive upside for capital 00:46:32.420 --> 00:46:36.490 market development, which is one of the strategic objectives of the 00:46:36.610 --> 00:46:37.760 Ministry of Finance. 00:46:37.880 --> 00:46:43.120 So I won't go into too much detail, because I'll be too long, but just 00:46:43.240 --> 00:46:45.230 one very important thing. 00:46:45.350 --> 00:46:51.830 This is the kind of thing where a nearby country is praised a lot. 00:46:51.950 --> 00:46:55.530 One very important thing that we think about the issuance of this 00:46:55.650 --> 00:46:58.880 type of shares is the functioning of the secondary market. 00:46:59.000 --> 00:47:03.500 So I think it's very important that when this kind of bond is issued. 00:47:03.620 --> 00:47:06.680 We have a secondary market where these bonds can be traded. 00:47:06.800 --> 00:47:10.700 There will be a completely different interest in these bonds. 00:47:10.820 --> 00:47:13.250 So that is one thing we are working on intensively. 00:47:13.370 --> 00:47:19.990 The other is, of course, that it is no secret that this is also part of 00:47:20.110 --> 00:47:25.220 the way we are forcing banks to raise deposit rates. 00:47:25.340 --> 00:47:31.880 Apparently, according to today's announcement by our biggest bank. 00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:40.700 I suppose that is partly the reason they decided to do it. 00:47:41.330 --> 00:47:45.530 I want to know where is the government with the decision to 00:47:45.650 --> 00:47:50.296 borrow more from the Recovery and Resilience Fund? 00:47:50.480 --> 00:47:53.750 What is the implementation plan, given that we know that the 00:47:53.870 --> 00:47:57.670 deadlines are very tight and that the deadline for changes to the plan 00:47:57.790 --> 00:47:59.000 is the end of the month. 00:47:59.120 --> 00:48:00.199 Thank you. 00:48:00.320 --> 00:48:01.430 Yes, first of all. 00:48:01.550 --> 00:48:05.600 We are talking about borrowing, or government borrowing. 00:48:05.720 --> 00:48:08.960 It is a completely different thing from grants. 00:48:09.080 --> 00:48:13.340 So, again, I am speaking because there is a relatively large amount 00:48:13.460 --> 00:48:16.520 of information both in politics and in the media. 00:48:16.640 --> 00:48:19.610 Why don't we choose to do that and why don't we go for it? 00:48:19.730 --> 00:48:24.380 It must first be said that in Europe, 00:48:25.700 --> 00:48:30.720 August 31 is the deadline for countries to send the final version 00:48:30.840 --> 00:48:34.730 of their Recovery and Resilience Plan redesign. 00:48:34.850 --> 00:48:38.840 Then we will actually see how many countries have applied for grants. 00:48:38.960 --> 00:48:42.360 Two months ago, data showed that there were fewer than ten such 00:48:42.480 --> 00:48:43.580 countries in Europe. 00:48:44.720 --> 00:48:49.110 This instrument is not so interesting, especially for those 00:48:49.230 --> 00:48:54.100 countries that, of course, borrow relatively favourably on the capital 00:48:54.220 --> 00:48:56.180 markets. So no surprise there. 00:48:56.300 --> 00:49:01.170 This is interesting for those countries where 00:49:01.290 --> 00:49:06.530 they have to borrow at higher costs or at higher interest rates. 00:49:06.650 --> 00:49:11.239 Slovenia is still in a very good position. 00:49:11.360 --> 00:49:18.580 In terms of borrowing, we have the lowest markup on 00:49:18.700 --> 00:49:23.660 the base rate among CEE countries. 00:49:23.780 --> 00:49:27.650 Despite the fact that, unfortunately, the financial 00:49:27.770 --> 00:49:32.270 markets, because we are in so-called central eastern Europe, 00:49:32.390 --> 00:49:37.430 consider us to be closer to Ukraine than Portugal and Spain, and we are 00:49:37.550 --> 00:49:42.490 still achieving very comparable markups, so ... 00:49:43.612 --> 00:49:48.680 To say a few things about how good this is: 00:49:48.800 --> 00:49:52.370 This is relatively comparable to the conventional borrowing we are 00:49:52.490 --> 00:49:57.830 achieving. The second thing is, of course, the constraints that come 00:49:57.950 --> 00:50:00.750 from the Recovery and Resilience Plan. 00:50:01.220 --> 00:50:05.930 This is exclusively for either grants or reimbursements for 00:50:06.050 --> 00:50:10.470 projects that have to be completed by August 2026. 00:50:10.590 --> 00:50:14.150 Here we have a lot of infrastructure projects that it is 00:50:14.270 --> 00:50:17.990 questionable whether they can even be completed by 2026. 00:50:18.110 --> 00:50:22.140 Plus the additional thing is that even for grants other than the 13%, 00:50:22.260 --> 00:50:25.410 you can only apply after the project has actually been 00:50:25.530 --> 00:50:29.410 implemented, which means that liquidity-wise we have to provide 00:50:29.530 --> 00:50:31.420 the interim funding ourselves anyway. 00:50:31.910 --> 00:50:37.180 Nevertheless, the Ministry of Finance or the Office for Resilience 00:50:37.300 --> 00:50:42.460 Recovery, which is responsible for the plan, has called on all 00:50:42.580 --> 00:50:44.660 ministers 00:50:44.780 --> 00:50:49.130 ten days ago because 00:50:49.250 --> 00:50:53.970 the European Commission had asked us to see if we could make more use of 00:50:54.090 --> 00:50:58.457 these funds. So the ministries 00:50:58.610 --> 00:51:03.510 that were impacted by the floods, they were asked which 00:51:03.630 --> 00:51:09.370 of these remediation projects would meet the conditions of the 00:51:09.490 --> 00:51:12.110 Recovery and Resilience Plan. 00:51:12.230 --> 00:51:15.500 And in fact, what is happening these days is that we are reviewing 00:51:15.620 --> 00:51:18.830 what is happening with these relatively strict conditions for 00:51:18.950 --> 00:51:20.180 drawing down these loans. 00:51:20.300 --> 00:51:22.460 What criteria we meet. 00:51:22.580 --> 00:51:26.660 And of course, we will continue to do so until the end of the month 00:51:26.780 --> 00:51:29.750 i.e. until the deadline. 00:51:31.010 --> 00:51:35.275 Let's move online, where we have Anže Božič from Pop TV with us. 00:51:39.350 --> 00:51:43.950 Yes, good afternoon. Minister, I would like to ask you to please 00:51:44.070 --> 00:51:46.819 elaborate a little more on this SOS Fund. 00:51:46.940 --> 00:51:50.343 Is it true that it will operate within SID bank? 00:51:50.464 --> 00:51:51.800 How will it be managed? 00:51:51.920 --> 00:51:55.740 What will actually be the main source of funding for this fund and 00:51:55.860 --> 00:51:57.780 when will it come into operation? 00:51:57.900 --> 00:52:01.700 I understand that the government has just set this up today, or 00:52:01.820 --> 00:52:05.010 whatever you want to call it. 00:52:05.130 --> 00:52:10.600 Today, we have announced the creation of 00:52:10.720 --> 00:52:16.500 this fund, but of course the actual act of creation will follow in the 00:52:16.620 --> 00:52:21.770 future, very probably in the framework of the next bill, which 00:52:21.890 --> 00:52:24.990 will address the longer-term flood recovery. 00:52:25.890 --> 00:52:30.630 So, the aim is to put all the resources into recovering from these 00:52:30.750 --> 00:52:36.030 floods, into remediation, we are talking about infrastructure, 00:52:36.150 --> 00:52:39.600 which of course will be by far the largest share. 00:52:39.720 --> 00:52:43.890 or helping the economy or helping households. 00:52:44.010 --> 00:52:51.180 All these funds are pooled in one place, the so-called SOS Fund, and 00:52:51.300 --> 00:52:53.700 then funded from here. 00:52:55.061 --> 00:52:57.900 The sources for this fund will vary widely. 00:52:58.410 --> 00:53:05.780 Nominally, of course, partly from the budget, partly from European grants, 00:53:05.900 --> 00:53:09.300 partly from repayable resources. 00:53:09.420 --> 00:53:14.341 Then there's classic borrowing 00:53:14.610 --> 00:53:17.910 and credits of individual multilateral banks? 00:53:18.030 --> 00:53:22.910 By the way, these days the Ministry of Finance is intensively holding 00:53:23.030 --> 00:53:27.670 responsible talks with both the European Investment Bank and the 00:53:27.790 --> 00:53:32.850 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, because it is going 00:53:32.970 --> 00:53:37.500 to use their credit lines, which offer us relatively favourable 00:53:37.620 --> 00:53:42.340 credits, precisely because all these institutions have actually 00:53:42.460 --> 00:53:46.290 recognised the critical nature of this natural disaster. 00:53:46.410 --> 00:53:53.660 In addition, it is also likely to be backed up by some additional new 00:53:53.780 --> 00:53:57.660 resources. We will pay very close attention to donations. 00:53:57.780 --> 00:54:00.930 In this respect, we will also be making a number of changes in the 00:54:01.050 --> 00:54:04.470 coming weeks and months to make donations much more attractive than 00:54:04.590 --> 00:54:08.220 they are today. I am talking fiscally, so on the one hand, 00:54:08.340 --> 00:54:13.230 this fund will be replenished from various repayable and non-repayable 00:54:13.350 --> 00:54:17.990 sources, but on the other hand, as I said, everything will be financed 00:54:18.110 --> 00:54:19.440 through this fund. 00:54:19.844 --> 00:54:21.820 There are several reasons for this. 00:54:21.940 --> 00:54:22.980 One is transparency. 00:54:23.203 --> 00:54:28.180 We want to make it very clear who is going to finance 00:54:28.300 --> 00:54:30.930 this fund, from whatever source. 00:54:31.050 --> 00:54:34.920 Of course, these funds can only be used for remediation. 00:54:35.040 --> 00:54:40.520 On the other hand, of course, we also make no secret of the fact that 00:54:40.640 --> 00:54:46.120 the reason for the creation of a special fund is the European rules 00:54:46.240 --> 00:54:51.800 on borrowing in this respect, so in this context, of course, we have 00:54:51.920 --> 00:54:57.720 been studying for some time now, actually since the flood itself, and 00:54:57.840 --> 00:55:03.390 we are intensively studying the creation of similar funds abroad. 00:55:03.510 --> 00:55:06.450 The German fund of 2002 is a case in point. 00:55:07.163 --> 00:55:13.790 The main questions is how will this fund and the resources 00:55:13.910 --> 00:55:21.000 in this fund have an impact on the budget deficit, how will it be dealt 00:55:21.120 --> 00:55:24.130 with? There will be many discussions with the European 00:55:24.250 --> 00:55:27.550 Commission. So these are all reasons why we go into a special 00:55:27.670 --> 00:55:32.580 fund. But as I said, the details are by no means finalised. 00:55:32.700 --> 00:55:36.970 SID Bank will play an important role here, in particular because of 00:55:37.090 --> 00:55:40.350 its experience in grant and repayment mechanisms. 00:55:40.470 --> 00:55:46.730 Far from being the sole or independent manager of this fund, 00:55:46.850 --> 00:55:52.632 SID Bank will in fact be in a merged body that we will set up. 00:55:52.753 --> 00:55:54.060 Thank you very much, Minister. 00:55:54.180 --> 00:55:55.887 Metka Majer. 00:55:56.008 --> 00:56:00.910 Minister, could you perhaps tell us about this Solidarity Saturday and 00:56:01.030 --> 00:56:03.180 this compulsory contribution? 00:56:03.300 --> 00:56:07.110 What financial impact are you hoping for? 00:56:07.710 --> 00:56:09.670 I would not make any predictions in advance. 00:56:09.810 --> 00:56:15.790 The estimate is between 100 and 150 00:56:15.910 --> 00:56:17.520 million a year. 00:56:18.210 --> 00:56:21.139 What about the whole fund? 00:56:21.342 --> 00:56:24.580 In reality, it is very difficult to say - we do not even have a precise 00:56:24.700 --> 00:56:27.120 calculation of the consequences of natural disasters. 00:56:27.240 --> 00:56:31.130 At the moment, we are talking about a natural disaster of over 00:56:31.250 --> 00:56:34.370 five billion. So it is difficult for me to say what it will be and, 00:56:34.490 --> 00:56:37.630 of course, how it will be financed through years, but at the end of the 00:56:37.750 --> 00:56:41.010 day, these first steps will be as accurate an assessment of the damage 00:56:41.130 --> 00:56:43.400 as possible. And in parallel, of course, we are already working on 00:56:43.520 --> 00:56:46.129 the resources for this fund. But of course the exact figures are not yet 00:56:46.250 --> 00:56:47.129 known. 00:56:47.250 --> 00:56:51.420 Thank you very much, Minister, and now I thank you and invite the other 00:56:51.540 --> 00:56:55.023 two Ministers, Minister Ajanović Hovnik and Minister Brežan, 00:56:55.144 --> 00:56:56.460 to join us on stage. 00:56:57.710 --> 00:57:00.300 Metka Majer, POP TV, has a question for you. 00:57:00.420 --> 00:57:03.260 We are very comprehensive, 00:57:03.380 --> 00:57:05.850 but there are still various questions that arise. 00:57:05.970 --> 00:57:11.090 Solidarity Saturdays, are voluntary if you don't 00:57:11.210 --> 00:57:13.580 pay a compulsory contribution. 00:57:13.700 --> 00:57:17.440 Can companies choose 00:57:17.560 --> 00:57:19.500 which Saturday they work on? 00:57:19.963 --> 00:57:22.353 Or are we talking about a second Saturday in a month? 00:57:22.474 --> 00:57:24.874 Which Saturday are we talking about? 00:57:25.413 --> 00:57:28.860 It is as you mentioned. Two options are available. 00:57:28.980 --> 00:57:32.440 One is a compulsory contribution, which can be replaced by a voluntary 00:57:32.560 --> 00:57:34.480 Saturday. Which one will it be this Saturday? 00:57:35.100 --> 00:57:40.110 The company will make a voluntary decision together with the 00:57:40.230 --> 00:57:44.370 employees, and the same next year if it chooses this option. 00:57:44.490 --> 00:57:45.930 Why two options? 00:57:46.050 --> 00:57:51.030 This is mainly because we have found that not all companies in all 00:57:51.150 --> 00:57:56.410 sectors are in the same position and that many find it very difficult 00:57:56.530 --> 00:57:58.290 to organise their work. 00:57:58.410 --> 00:58:01.140 Sixth or seventh day of the week. 00:58:01.378 --> 00:58:06.020 Okay, now maybe one for you, Mr Brežan. 00:58:06.140 --> 00:58:09.540 Of course, the exact damage will now become clearer in the 00:58:09.660 --> 00:58:13.070 coming days, at the beginning of the month, but perhaps as far as 00:58:13.190 --> 00:58:16.860 those people who have been left without everything are concerned. 00:58:16.980 --> 00:58:20.370 There are a few hundred who cannot return home at the moment. 00:58:20.490 --> 00:58:22.540 What do you have planned here? 00:58:22.950 --> 00:58:29.670 What can these people who cannot go home and may not even be able to, do? 00:58:29.790 --> 00:58:32.055 What are the plans? 00:58:35.310 --> 00:58:40.520 First of all, it must be said that these people have been provided with 00:58:40.640 --> 00:58:45.820 alternative housing, either through the civil protection system or 00:58:45.940 --> 00:58:50.280 through local communities or through the social network. 00:58:50.400 --> 00:58:53.770 And that is what is crucial at this moment. 00:58:53.891 --> 00:58:58.320 That is to say, no one is homeless. 00:58:58.440 --> 00:59:03.140 And of course we are concerned about how these people will now be 00:59:03.260 --> 00:59:05.800 able to get access to alternative land. 00:59:06.270 --> 00:59:11.110 We have a measure that is already provided for in the current building 00:59:11.230 --> 00:59:14.430 legislation, in Article 4 of the Building Act. 00:59:14.550 --> 00:59:19.780 It is possible to identify certain areas in the municipality for 00:59:19.900 --> 00:59:25.630 temporary replacement housing that are not currently designated for 00:59:25.750 --> 00:59:28.804 building in the municipal spatial plan. 00:59:29.070 --> 00:59:33.720 And it can be done on a temporary basis for three years. 00:59:33.840 --> 00:59:38.670 And this is one of the measures that the State, together with the 00:59:38.790 --> 00:59:42.420 help of the municipalities, can of course take. 00:59:42.540 --> 00:59:46.900 The second option, which we are introducing with the Intervention 00:59:47.020 --> 00:59:51.300 bill, is a municipal detailed spatial plan for the regeneration of 00:59:51.420 --> 00:59:55.540 these places. Here, however, we will be able to come up with land 00:59:55.660 --> 00:59:59.540 through a mechanism that is already established, which the 00:59:59.660 --> 01:00:04.420 municipalities are also familiar with, like the municipal spatial 01:00:04.540 --> 01:00:09.140 plan, possibly in combination with Article 4 of the Building Act, 01:00:09.260 --> 01:00:13.540 so that temporary land is provided through it 01:00:13.660 --> 01:00:17.380 and then through the municipal spatial plan for 01:00:17.500 --> 01:00:21.860 reconstruction, there is a permanent possibility for 01:00:21.980 --> 01:00:24.270 people to live there. 01:00:24.390 --> 01:00:29.840 This municipal detailed spatial plan is a faster procedure than the 01:00:29.960 --> 01:00:34.140 one currently foreseen in the current legislation. 01:00:34.260 --> 01:00:39.430 However, it still introduces landscape design or urban design to 01:00:39.550 --> 01:00:44.840 ensure that, for such permanent settlements, for new settlements 01:00:44.960 --> 01:00:49.940 that would be created in areas at risk, we will ensure that these 01:00:50.060 --> 01:00:55.160 areas are nevertheless of a habitable quality and that they will 01:00:55.280 --> 01:01:00.060 provide some long-term accommodation for the inhabitants. 01:01:00.180 --> 01:01:06.200 Of course, we are counting on help and working hand in hand with 01:01:06.320 --> 01:01:12.430 the municipalities, because they know their areas very well and that 01:01:12.550 --> 01:01:17.280 is it, those are the two options that we have for this. 01:01:19.390 --> 01:01:23.940 POP TV is still with us remotely. 01:01:24.060 --> 01:01:28.080 Anže Božič. One last question, because we are very exhaustive and 01:01:28.200 --> 01:01:30.770 we have been here for an hour already. 01:01:30.890 --> 01:01:34.230 So, Anže Božič. 01:01:34.858 --> 01:01:38.940 One question for Minister Sanja Ajanović Hovnik, please. 01:01:39.060 --> 01:01:41.490 I would like to revisit the SOS Fund. 01:01:41.610 --> 01:01:45.720 Is the basis for funding this fund 01:01:45.840 --> 01:01:50.700 the 300 million that the state has earmarked for next year, I believe, 01:01:50.820 --> 01:01:55.240 for aid, and which you have somehow reallocated from the budget 01:01:55.360 --> 01:02:00.030 otherwise earmarked for the recapitalisation of companies in the 01:02:00.150 --> 01:02:02.068 energy sector. 01:02:04.100 --> 01:02:07.370 I cannot say exactly. 01:02:07.490 --> 01:02:12.240 But the fact is that the 300 million was allocated in the 01:02:12.360 --> 01:02:17.860 so-called B balance, so there is a high probability that the 300 01:02:17.980 --> 01:02:22.010 million will be reallocated to this fund. 01:02:22.130 --> 01:02:27.000 But as the Minister said earlier, he has given details of what the 01:02:27.120 --> 01:02:30.410 resources are and where they will come from. 01:02:30.530 --> 01:02:34.030 It is not yet clearly defined and will be known and presented in the 01:02:34.150 --> 01:02:35.150 very near future. 01:02:35.894 --> 01:02:39.340 I would just like to complement Anže Božič by asking him to send this 01:02:39.460 --> 01:02:42.630 question to the Ministry of Finance, because I think it has gone 01:02:42.750 --> 01:02:47.351 into the budget reserve, so that we do not accidentally misspeak. 01:02:48.328 --> 01:02:52.430 To provide a clear answer, please send the question in writing. 01:02:54.830 --> 01:02:57.240 Thank you all for being with us. 01:02:57.360 --> 01:02:58.968 Have a nice day, goodbye! -Thank you.