WEBVTT 00:00:00.307 --> 00:00:03.664 Greetings. Welcome to today's press conference 00:00:03.785 --> 00:00:06.200 after the 143rd government session. 00:00:06.321 --> 00:00:08.900 We will be joined by three ministers, 00:00:09.021 --> 00:00:12.973 first the Minister of Justice Andreja Katič. Go ahead. 00:00:13.405 --> 00:00:17.198 Greetings. The government approved the draft amendment 00:00:17.319 --> 00:00:21.967 to the Forfeiture of Assets of Illegal Origin Act, known as ZOPNI, 00:00:22.088 --> 00:00:24.893 and proposes its expedited consideration 00:00:25.014 --> 00:00:26.801 in the National Assembly. 00:00:26.994 --> 00:00:30.594 It also reviewed the report of the inter-ministerial working group 00:00:30.765 --> 00:00:34.880 on the reform of the system for the temporary securing, 00:00:35.001 --> 00:00:39.083 forfeiture, storage, and management of seized assets. 00:00:39.357 --> 00:00:42.218 Over the past year, after nearly 15 years 00:00:42.339 --> 00:00:45.987 of various attempts to establish systemic solutions, 00:00:46.108 --> 00:00:48.684 the working group reached a consensus 00:00:48.805 --> 00:00:52.092 on the organisational framework for these areas 00:00:52.213 --> 00:00:54.787 and outlined the regulatory framework 00:00:54.908 --> 00:00:56.837 for managing seized assets. 00:00:57.133 --> 00:01:02.801 ZOPNI was adopted in late 2011 based on a parliamentary proposal 00:01:02.922 --> 00:01:07.075 and amended in 2014. Some of its provisions have given rise 00:01:07.196 --> 00:01:10.340 to a relatively substantial body of case law, 00:01:10.461 --> 00:01:13.104 and the Constitutional Court has ruled 00:01:13.225 --> 00:01:15.945 on its constitutionality several times. 00:01:16.066 --> 00:01:19.492 Calls for amendments came from judicial stakeholders 00:01:19.613 --> 00:01:22.159 and the inter-ministerial working group. 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:25.140 The proposed amendment aims to streamline 00:01:25.333 --> 00:01:29.151 forfeiture procedures of assets of illegal origin, 00:01:29.271 --> 00:01:32.992 enhance inter-agency cooperation in these procedures, 00:01:33.113 --> 00:01:37.190 and address the flaws and ambiguities in the provisions 00:01:37.310 --> 00:01:40.774 that have emerged in the implementation of ZOPNI. 00:01:41.371 --> 00:01:44.318 The fact is that illegally obtained assets 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:47.580 fuel organised crime and corruption, 00:01:47.741 --> 00:01:50.175 which is why the proposed amendment 00:01:50.296 --> 00:01:53.647 follows the principle that no one may retain 00:01:53.820 --> 00:01:57.960 assets acquired through unlawful means or activities. 00:01:58.510 --> 00:02:01.950 Effective forfeiture of illegally obtained assets 00:02:02.071 --> 00:02:06.280 depends on early detection and securing of such assets. 00:02:06.710 --> 00:02:09.418 Under ZOPNI, financial investigations, 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:13.117 an essential preliminary phase of civil procedures, 00:02:13.238 --> 00:02:15.597 are the state's most powerful tool 00:02:15.718 --> 00:02:18.831 for identifying and securing illegal assets. 00:02:19.230 --> 00:02:21.812 The scope of financial investigations 00:02:21.933 --> 00:02:26.765 also affects the number of illegal asset forfeiture lawsuits 00:02:27.067 --> 00:02:31.760 and, consequently, the volume of forfeited assets of illegal origin. 00:02:32.116 --> 00:02:34.800 The proposed amendment strengthens the role 00:02:34.921 --> 00:02:37.723 of the Specialised State Prosecutor's Office 00:02:37.843 --> 00:02:40.000 and removes the exclusive competence 00:02:40.121 --> 00:02:42.001 of the District Court in Ljubljana. 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:45.726 It clarifies cases where the state prosecutor requires 00:02:45.846 --> 00:02:48.738 additional information on a person's assets 00:02:48.859 --> 00:02:52.432 before deciding to initiate a financial investigation 00:02:52.553 --> 00:02:55.647 to assess whether there are grounds to suspect 00:02:55.768 --> 00:02:58.480 that they have assets of illegal origin. 00:02:58.730 --> 00:03:02.735 It also aligns the terminology of specific criminal offences 00:03:02.856 --> 00:03:05.739 and minimally expands the list of criminal offences 00:03:05.866 --> 00:03:07.307 to include terrorism 00:03:07.428 --> 00:03:10.647 and crimes linked to the right to drinking water. 00:03:10.830 --> 00:03:14.103 It establishes a legal basis for the continued involvement 00:03:14.224 --> 00:03:17.080 of members of the financial investigation group 00:03:17.201 --> 00:03:20.439 after the formal conclusion of the investigation. 00:03:20.559 --> 00:03:23.960 It also allows for the extension of the financial investigation, 00:03:24.081 --> 00:03:27.507 with a maximum extension period of one year, 00:03:27.627 --> 00:03:32.710 rather than the previous six months, due to objective reasons. 00:03:33.125 --> 00:03:36.507 The deadline for filing a lawsuit in cases where 00:03:36.628 --> 00:03:40.960 a temporary seizure of illegal assets had been previously ordered 00:03:41.081 --> 00:03:44.246 has been extended from one month to six months 00:03:44.367 --> 00:03:46.736 Importantly, the amendment enables 00:03:46.857 --> 00:03:51.772 the filing of a claim for the forfeiture of substitute assets, 00:03:51.892 --> 00:03:56.352 i.e., assets equivalent in value to the assets of illegal origin 00:03:56.473 --> 00:03:59.325 or a monetary amount matching that value, 00:03:59.445 --> 00:04:03.679 even in cases where the forfeiture of illegal assets is not possible 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:06.960 due to circumstances arising before the lawsuit, 00:04:07.081 --> 00:04:11.083 such as when the assets of illegal origin have been fully spent, 00:04:11.204 --> 00:04:13.279 hidden, or transferred abroad. 00:04:13.460 --> 00:04:16.440 Although the initial proposal was to lower the threshold 00:04:16.561 --> 00:04:19.530 to initiate a financial investigation to €10,000 00:04:19.651 --> 00:04:22.517 and it was raised to 30,000 in the public debate, 00:04:22.638 --> 00:04:26.609 we did not reach this consensus in inter-ministerial coordination. 00:04:26.730 --> 00:04:30.377 Therefore, the threshold remains unchanged at €50,000, 00:04:30.498 --> 00:04:33.240 but I believe this will be discussed in depth 00:04:33.361 --> 00:04:35.048 at the National Assembly. 00:04:35.332 --> 00:04:37.227 Slovenia must transpose 00:04:37.347 --> 00:04:41.072 the Directive on Asset Recovery and Confiscation 00:04:41.193 --> 00:04:45.103 into its national legal order by 23 November 2026. 00:04:45.296 --> 00:04:48.234 The directive stipulates the establishment 00:04:48.355 --> 00:04:51.431 of specialised asset recovery offices, AROs, 00:04:51.552 --> 00:04:55.135 asset management offices, AMOs, 00:04:55.256 --> 00:04:57.695 the creation of a central register, 00:04:57.816 --> 00:05:01.233 and statistical reporting to the European Commission. 00:05:01.354 --> 00:05:04.836 The establishment of an effective system is also mandated 00:05:04.957 --> 00:05:07.584 by the Resolution on the National Programme 00:05:07.705 --> 00:05:11.957 for the Prevention and Suppression of Crime for the period 2024-2028, 00:05:12.078 --> 00:05:17.160 and it was also highlighted in the 2017 MONEYVAL evaluation report. 00:05:17.528 --> 00:05:21.200 The inter-ministerial working group has prepared a proposal 00:05:21.320 --> 00:05:24.820 outlining a new system for the temporary securing, 00:05:24.941 --> 00:05:28.355 forfeiture, storage, and management of seized assets 00:05:28.475 --> 00:05:30.400 under the Criminal Procedure Act 00:05:30.521 --> 00:05:33.760 and the Forfeiture of Assets of Illegal Origin Act. 00:05:33.881 --> 00:05:35.536 This does not include assets 00:05:35.657 --> 00:05:38.156 subject to tax and minor offence proceedings. 00:05:38.276 --> 00:05:42.440 Today the government approved a slightly revised version. 00:05:42.728 --> 00:05:47.600 The storage and management of temporarily secured assets 00:05:47.721 --> 00:05:52.054 are currently fragmented between various stakeholders, 00:05:52.175 --> 00:05:55.123 depending on the type of procedure and asset. 00:05:55.244 --> 00:05:59.067 These include the police, state prosecutors, courts, 00:05:59.188 --> 00:06:02.720 SDH, the Ministry of Finance, the Financial Administration, 00:06:02.841 --> 00:06:05.083 the Farmland and Forest Fund, 00:06:05.204 --> 00:06:09.423 authorised executors, external service providers, and others. 00:06:09.719 --> 00:06:12.959 According to the inter-ministerial working group, 00:06:13.080 --> 00:06:17.040 as of 31 December 2024, the total estimated value of assets 00:06:17.161 --> 00:06:20.382 subject to temporary securing in criminal proceedings 00:06:20.503 --> 00:06:24.869 and proceedings for the forfeiture of assets of illegal origin 00:06:24.990 --> 00:06:29.319 amounted in 381 cases to nearly €233 million, 00:06:29.664 --> 00:06:34.171 while the total value of illicit proceeds related to these cases 00:06:34.292 --> 00:06:37.958 amounted to 197.5 million. The current system does not allow 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:40.960 for a precise overview of ongoing proceedings, 00:06:41.081 --> 00:06:43.889 which in turn hampers effective asset management 00:06:44.010 --> 00:06:46.620 and generates unnecessary storage costs, 00:06:46.741 --> 00:06:50.917 particularly for seized movable property like vehicles and vessels. 00:06:51.104 --> 00:06:53.689 According to reports from the police, 00:06:53.810 --> 00:06:56.324 the Prosecutor's Office, and courts, 00:06:56.445 --> 00:07:01.383 the costs of storage and management borne by the state budget for 2023 00:07:01.504 --> 00:07:04.244 amounted to approximately €1.6 million. 00:07:04.365 --> 00:07:07.556 The proposed measures will enhance the efficiency 00:07:07.677 --> 00:07:11.726 of the forfeiture of illicit gains and assets of illegal origin 00:07:11.847 --> 00:07:15.040 by centralising the storage and management of assets 00:07:15.161 --> 00:07:19.340 such as motor vehicles, vessels, machinery, illicit drugs, 00:07:19.461 --> 00:07:22.680 drug manufacturing laboratories and equipment, 00:07:22.801 --> 00:07:25.881 large quantities of seized tobacco products, 00:07:26.002 --> 00:07:29.436 immovable property, and assets with highly volatile value, 00:07:29.556 --> 00:07:32.702 and the effective management of these assets, 00:07:32.823 --> 00:07:36.776 which includes the establishment of a centralised register. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:40.259 The proposal places the ARO 00:07:40.380 --> 00:07:46.273 within a new department at the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office, 00:07:46.394 --> 00:07:49.240 likely as the Department for International Cooperation 00:07:49.361 --> 00:07:50.861 and Asset Recovery. 00:07:50.980 --> 00:07:54.640 The tasks of the AMO could be carried out 00:07:54.814 --> 00:07:59.314 in a newly established agency or another suitable form, 00:07:59.435 --> 00:08:03.010 which would also oversee the central data registry. 00:08:03.131 --> 00:08:06.989 Today the government instructed the Ministry of Justice 00:08:07.110 --> 00:08:11.755 to conduct further analysis and coordinate with other institutions 00:08:11.876 --> 00:08:15.525 that were not in the inter-ministerial working group 00:08:15.645 --> 00:08:17.873 to determine whether any of them 00:08:17.994 --> 00:08:20.160 would fully take over this task, 00:08:20.281 --> 00:08:24.051 but it will not fall to the police, prosecutor's office, or judiciary. 00:08:24.172 --> 00:08:28.575 A new law governing the storage and management of secured assets, 00:08:28.695 --> 00:08:31.553 and the disposal of confiscated property, 00:08:31.674 --> 00:08:36.472 will be submitted for public debate in the second half of this year. 00:08:36.592 --> 00:08:40.200 It will initially standardise provisions 00:08:40.348 --> 00:08:43.720 related to the storage, management, and disposal 00:08:43.841 --> 00:08:47.581 of temporarily secured, forfeited, and seized assets 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:49.283 in criminal proceedings 00:08:49.403 --> 00:08:53.057 and cases of forfeiture of assets of illegal origin. 00:08:53.177 --> 00:08:57.510 Later, it may also include minor offence proceedings. 00:08:57.871 --> 00:09:01.680 Thank you, Minister. You will now be taking questions. 00:09:02.800 --> 00:09:05.467 Go ahead. -�ana Vrta?nik, POP TV. 00:09:05.588 --> 00:09:08.243 You highlighted the threshold 00:09:08.364 --> 00:09:13.449 as one of the key solutions of this amendment. 00:09:14.130 --> 00:09:18.880 Why did this change? Unofficially, the Ministry of Finance 00:09:19.001 --> 00:09:23.918 opposed lowering the threshold. What are the main arguments? 00:09:25.212 --> 00:09:29.414 The correspondence between the Ministries of Justice and Finance 00:09:29.535 --> 00:09:33.416 on this matter is completely clear. The Ministry of Finance 00:09:33.537 --> 00:09:37.464 followed the provisions of the Financial Administration, 00:09:37.585 --> 00:09:40.379 which stated that lowering the threshold 00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:42.359 from €50,000 to €30,000 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:46.680 would require additional staff and increased funding 00:09:46.838 --> 00:09:50.640 and that it would ultimately have the opposite effect. 00:09:50.761 --> 00:09:55.482 Instead of being able to conduct in-depth financial investigations, 00:09:55.603 --> 00:09:59.605 lowering the threshold would lead to more investigations, 00:09:59.726 --> 00:10:02.657 which would result in the opposite effect. 00:10:02.778 --> 00:10:06.520 Due to the larger number of financial investigations, 00:10:07.119 --> 00:10:10.452 the available staff would be overwhelmed, 00:10:10.573 --> 00:10:14.000 chasing the small fish and missing the big ones. 00:10:16.385 --> 00:10:19.640 Anyone else? -Denis Mala?i?, Svet na Kanalu A. 00:10:19.761 --> 00:10:22.955 The Supreme State Prosecutor's Office 00:10:23.076 --> 00:10:25.993 also opposed lowering the threshold, 00:10:26.114 --> 00:10:31.560 mainly because it would result in too many investigations. No? 00:10:31.900 --> 00:10:34.200 When we discussed the initial proposal 00:10:34.321 --> 00:10:38.912 to lower it from 50,000 to 10,000, stakeholders opposed the idea, 00:10:39.033 --> 00:10:42.201 including the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office. 00:10:42.321 --> 00:10:45.612 but we did reach consensus around €30,000. 00:10:47.324 --> 00:10:49.074 Anyone else? Go ahead. 00:10:50.350 --> 00:10:52.503 Thank you. Domen Anderle, STA. 00:10:52.624 --> 00:10:56.076 What is your assessment of the efficiency 00:10:56.197 --> 00:11:00.657 of the forfeiture of illegal assets in practice 00:11:00.778 --> 00:11:04.731 after a decade since ZOPNI came into effect? 00:11:06.973 --> 00:11:09.767 At a glance, I could say that, 00:11:09.888 --> 00:11:13.805 as citizens, we all expected significantly more. 00:11:14.109 --> 00:11:16.902 It is true that the Constitutional Court 00:11:17.023 --> 00:11:19.659 annulled a decree in the meantime, 00:11:19.780 --> 00:11:24.362 leading to a significant drop in cases. However, I believe, 00:11:24.482 --> 00:11:27.827 as does the inter-ministerial working group 00:11:27.948 --> 00:11:30.672 that also proposed these amendments 00:11:30.793 --> 00:11:34.705 to the Forfeiture of Assets of Illegal Origin Act, 00:11:34.826 --> 00:11:38.750 that the proposed changes could enhance efficiency 00:11:38.871 --> 00:11:41.907 and bring more cases before the courts. 00:11:42.446 --> 00:11:45.605 Due to the current case, may I ask what stage 00:11:45.726 --> 00:11:49.880 the bill on protection against SLAPP lawsuits is in? 00:11:51.669 --> 00:11:54.102 There has been a lot of talk lately 00:11:54.223 --> 00:11:57.949 about the case of the Psychiatric Clinic in Ljubljana 00:11:58.070 --> 00:12:01.142 Could you tell us what stage that bill is in? 00:12:01.263 --> 00:12:05.765 I would first like to say that I find it completely unacceptable 00:12:05.886 --> 00:12:10.878 that public funds are being used for so-called SLAPP lawsuits. 00:12:11.043 --> 00:12:14.043 Last October, the government reviewed 00:12:14.164 --> 00:12:17.081 the groundwork for drafting the bill. 00:12:17.341 --> 00:12:21.205 We drafted it and it underwent expert coordination 00:12:21.326 --> 00:12:24.760 and public debate from 11 December to 31 January. 00:12:24.881 --> 00:12:27.842 Based on the comments and initiatives, 00:12:27.963 --> 00:12:31.804 and our discussions with interested stakeholders, 00:12:31.925 --> 00:12:35.048 we are preparing changes and supplements 00:12:35.169 --> 00:12:37.889 and we will go ahead with the bill. 00:12:38.033 --> 00:12:41.781 Although the deadline for transposition into our legal system 00:12:41.902 --> 00:12:43.781 is next year, we will not wait. 00:12:43.902 --> 00:12:46.145 I believe this bill will be processed 00:12:46.266 --> 00:12:50.220 by the government and the National Assembly as soon as possible. 00:12:50.341 --> 00:12:56.076 Would this bill prevent cases like N1 and the Psychiatric Clinic? 00:12:56.249 --> 00:13:01.356 It wouldn't prevent them by saying that it is prohibited. 00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:07.371 Journalists from various media outlets stated so themselves. 00:13:07.602 --> 00:13:11.760 But it will definitely help expedite proceedings 00:13:11.965 --> 00:13:16.465 and help those who have SLAPP suits filed against them. 00:13:17.808 --> 00:13:21.955 There are no more questions, thank you, Minister. 00:13:22.520 --> 00:13:25.840 Thank you. -Have a nice day. We will now be joined by 00:13:25.961 --> 00:13:30.376 Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development, Aleksander Jev�ek, 00:13:30.497 --> 00:13:34.428 presenting the measures for expediting the use of EU funds 00:13:34.549 --> 00:13:37.496 that were adopted today. Go ahead, Minister. 00:13:38.751 --> 00:13:40.351 Greetings. 00:13:43.517 --> 00:13:46.934 The government of the Republic of Slovenia 00:13:47.055 --> 00:13:51.388 approved the measures for expediting the use of funds 00:13:51.509 --> 00:13:54.509 from the EU Cohesion Policy programme 00:13:54.630 --> 00:13:57.630 for the period 2021-2027 in Slovenia. 00:13:57.751 --> 00:14:00.468 In this context, it approved amendments 00:14:00.589 --> 00:14:04.026 to the EU Cohesion Policy programme for 2021-2027 00:14:04.147 --> 00:14:06.480 and issued a revised regulation 00:14:06.601 --> 00:14:09.969 in the field of implementing EU Cohesion Policy. 00:14:10.090 --> 00:14:14.310 The proposal for these measures was prepared by our Ministry 00:14:14.431 --> 00:14:16.659 together with other departments. 00:14:17.084 --> 00:14:21.025 The key point here is that the measures are not intended 00:14:21.146 --> 00:14:24.607 for Slovenia to just spend European cohesion funds, 00:14:24.727 --> 00:14:26.954 but the adopted measures enhance 00:14:27.075 --> 00:14:30.446 the 2021-2027 European Cohesion Policy programme 00:14:30.567 --> 00:14:33.960 and will contribute to Slovenia's development greatly. 00:14:34.081 --> 00:14:36.640 The following measures have been adopted. 00:14:36.761 --> 00:14:39.075 The introduction of the STEP platform, 00:14:39.196 --> 00:14:40.951 allocating €100 million 00:14:41.072 --> 00:14:43.605 for the development of key strategic technologies 00:14:43.746 --> 00:14:46.319 to strengthen economic independence, 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:49.442 with a significant portion directed towards 00:14:49.563 --> 00:14:51.853 top-tier research infrastructure, 00:14:51.974 --> 00:14:55.880 accelerating the breakthrough development of Slovenia's economy. 00:14:56.001 --> 00:14:58.752 The upgrade of the Ljubljana Railway Station, 00:14:58.873 --> 00:15:02.787 sections B and C, estimated at €205 million. 00:15:02.970 --> 00:15:04.698 a smaller danger of floods 00:15:04.818 --> 00:15:11.280 in the Savinja region, measures are assessed at €32 million 00:15:11.642 --> 00:15:15.360 and will protect Laško, Žalec and Celje, 00:15:15.909 --> 00:15:18.589 measures for protection, which include 00:15:18.710 --> 00:15:21.920 a new civil protection centre 00:15:22.040 --> 00:15:28.000 and flood protection centre which will cost €18.3 million, 00:15:28.471 --> 00:15:32.120 co-financing projects at the third development axis - north, 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:36.600 Velenje - Slovenj Gradec that will cost €44.3 million, 00:15:37.157 --> 00:15:42.857 €12.1 million for upgrading the system 00:15:42.977 --> 00:15:48.160 to inform citizens about natural disasters 00:15:48.280 --> 00:15:53.760 and adapt to them in the changed climate, 00:15:54.239 --> 00:15:59.360 buying research equipment as a part of international projects 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:03.520 on research infrastructure that play a key role 00:16:04.116 --> 00:16:08.746 in creating new knowledge and innovations 00:16:08.866 --> 00:16:13.000 and make the cooperation between the industry and the academy possible. 00:16:13.362 --> 00:16:16.401 We will upgrade our research sector 00:16:16.521 --> 00:16:20.000 with high quality equipment 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:23.200 in the areas of biomedicine, biotechnology, chemistry, 00:16:23.422 --> 00:16:27.132 restoration, structural biology and biophysics 00:16:27.252 --> 00:16:31.640 that will help the industry as well. 00:16:32.009 --> 00:16:34.800 The estimated cost is €17 million. 00:16:35.123 --> 00:16:39.753 The restoration of the grain depository at Ptuj castle, 00:16:39.873 --> 00:16:45.760 which is our biggest depository, will cost €8 million. 00:16:46.481 --> 00:16:52.437 I presented the changes to the cohesion commissioner 00:16:52.557 --> 00:16:56.840 and the Commission vice president Fitto. 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:00.080 The Commission will have to confirm them. 00:17:00.496 --> 00:17:03.234 We also talked about the future of cohesion 00:17:03.354 --> 00:17:05.516 and the Commission suggestion 00:17:05.637 --> 00:17:10.640 that the funds might be used for solving the housing crisis as well. 00:17:10.947 --> 00:17:16.320 We could build public housing with the EU funds. 00:17:16.674 --> 00:17:20.689 We support this and when we have the legal basis, 00:17:20.809 --> 00:17:26.440 we will be able to change the cohesion programme 2021-2027. 00:17:26.770 --> 00:17:30.000 Thank you. Questions. Pop TV. 00:17:31.463 --> 00:17:35.411 Hello. I am interested in the EU funds 00:17:35.531 --> 00:17:40.160 for the C0 canal. When is the deadline for using them 00:17:40.357 --> 00:17:45.640 and what will happen if we do not finish the canal? 00:17:46.369 --> 00:17:52.791 I cannot comment on why the permit has not been issued 00:17:52.911 --> 00:17:57.387 because we do not have the authority. We used some EU funds 00:17:57.507 --> 00:18:00.742 in 2023 and now, 00:18:00.862 --> 00:18:04.720 Ljubljana is building the canal with its money. 00:18:07.196 --> 00:18:12.360 Any more questions? Kanal A, STA? 00:18:13.378 --> 00:18:17.040 No? Thank you. -Thank you. -Have a nice day. 00:18:17.971 --> 00:18:22.434 Now, Valentina Prevolnik Rupel will join us 00:18:22.554 --> 00:18:27.581 to present the Decree on programmes and funding for this year. 00:18:27.701 --> 00:18:33.440 Go ahead. Thank you. 00:18:34.661 --> 00:18:39.095 You have the floor. -Thank you. Hello. 00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:43.150 Today, the Government passed the Decree 00:18:43.270 --> 00:18:46.625 on programmes that are a part of the compulsory health insurance 00:18:46.745 --> 00:18:53.373 and the funding needed in 2025. 00:18:53.493 --> 00:18:56.681 We pass the Decree every year 00:18:56.801 --> 00:19:01.602 and define which programmes will be expanded, 00:19:01.722 --> 00:19:05.360 how they will be financed 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:09.208 and the obligations of healthcare providers 00:19:09.328 --> 00:19:13.248 and the Health Insurance Institute 00:19:13.368 --> 00:19:17.720 when the treatment is covered by the compulsory insurance. 00:19:18.973 --> 00:19:25.160 We allocated additional €91.4 million this year. 00:19:26.733 --> 00:19:30.360 I will just present the main measures 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:33.520 because there are plenty of them. 00:19:33.741 --> 00:19:38.120 We allocated additional funding to the tertiary level. 00:19:38.614 --> 00:19:41.586 We will allocate 00:19:41.707 --> 00:19:46.260 additional funding to the University Clinical Centres 00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:50.471 because of difficult treatments and standby duty. 00:19:50.591 --> 00:19:56.960 Patients from all around Slovenia 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:59.443 considering their complexity 00:19:59.650 --> 00:20:03.970 or severity of the medical treatment 00:20:04.563 --> 00:20:07.977 transferred to University Clinical Centre. 00:20:09.010 --> 00:20:13.937 The key thing is to provide continuous healthcare 00:20:14.043 --> 00:20:17.410 for treating the most severely ill patients from all Slovenia. 00:20:18.390 --> 00:20:24.603 The additional funds for the tertiary level amount to €31.6 million. 00:20:25.917 --> 00:20:30.870 We have also changed the way of financing a community health care, 00:20:31.110 --> 00:20:36.657 where providers would be paid for a programme that is exceeded 00:20:36.743 --> 00:20:39.590 up to 120% of the contract value. 00:20:39.837 --> 00:20:45.357 Provided that 5% of the preventive treatments are carried out. 00:20:45.943 --> 00:20:50.863 Palliative care of children and adults is being also upgraded. 00:20:51.070 --> 00:20:56.030 Here, we have established in detail what the content of the treatment is 00:20:56.183 --> 00:20:59.683 with children and adults. 00:20:59.783 --> 00:21:03.843 We have also established the team, 00:21:04.097 --> 00:21:08.563 we've adjusted the composition of the workforce in the team. 00:21:09.843 --> 00:21:15.037 We put the additional programmes among those, paid after completion. 00:21:15.163 --> 00:21:19.617 These programmes are screenings of the newborns 00:21:19.803 --> 00:21:24.603 for spinal muscular atrophy, severe congenital impairment of immunity, 00:21:24.830 --> 00:21:29.390 cystic fibrosis and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 00:21:29.537 --> 00:21:33.543 which are a part of pediatrics. 00:21:34.303 --> 00:21:38.623 We shall also provide additional funds for vaccines, 00:21:39.970 --> 00:21:42.710 examinations of registered athletes, 00:21:43.063 --> 00:21:48.110 health resorts will get the costs covered for major treatments. 00:21:48.397 --> 00:21:52.089 Referrals to the pharmaceutical consultancy programmes 00:21:52.137 --> 00:21:54.070 are going to be a bit different too. 00:21:54.323 --> 00:21:57.470 We've already had a pharmaceutical consultancy, 00:21:57.670 --> 00:22:02.977 but the base is expanding. Apart from people who take more medicines 00:22:03.197 --> 00:22:06.170 or they have problems because of the medicine, 00:22:06.290 --> 00:22:11.377 a referral to this consultancy will get also persons with a disease 00:22:11.510 --> 00:22:16.257 unresponsive to the treatment or they will start taking medicine 00:22:16.370 --> 00:22:20.463 that can cause a dangerous reactions with other medicines. 00:22:20.750 --> 00:22:24.330 Fund will be allocated also for functioning a Slovenian registry 00:22:24.490 --> 00:22:27.010 of cardiovascular diseases, EuroHeart. 00:22:27.750 --> 00:22:35.057 And additional €200,000 are allocated for a pilot project 00:22:35.270 --> 00:22:39.043 of integrating women in national screening programme Dora 00:22:39.283 --> 00:22:43.743 in the age group 45-49 years. 00:22:44.763 --> 00:22:48.990 Besides, there are other programmes, 00:22:49.217 --> 00:22:53.277 where the funds have been allocated for better assessment 00:22:53.397 --> 00:22:57.350 or expansion of the programmes, for materials 00:22:57.570 --> 00:23:00.783 at primary and secondary level 00:23:00.910 --> 00:23:05.650 for changing the value of preparing and administering the medicine. 00:23:05.903 --> 00:23:09.877 There are a lot of things, I can't introduce every measure. 00:23:10.897 --> 00:23:13.903 Thank you. -Thank you. STA, go ahead. 00:23:14.843 --> 00:23:18.590 Domen Anderle of STA. First, I would like to ask you 00:23:18.837 --> 00:23:21.610 about the tertiary level that you have stressed. 00:23:21.877 --> 00:23:27.683 Is the main reason here the liquidity problems of both Clinical centres, 00:23:27.830 --> 00:23:32.390 since University Clinical Centres are treating severely ill patients 00:23:32.523 --> 00:23:36.323 and have been getting additional money for it already. 00:23:36.603 --> 00:23:42.503 It's true. Ensuring the continuous healthcare 00:23:42.590 --> 00:23:46.817 in both University Clinical Centres is bit different than elsewhere. 00:23:47.003 --> 00:23:53.310 They are somehow the end service and have to take all patients 00:23:53.417 --> 00:23:55.257 for all services. 00:23:55.537 --> 00:24:02.617 Some activities, where the amount of patients is lower, 00:24:02.850 --> 00:24:08.690 but the team has to be available, are more expensive. 00:24:08.857 --> 00:24:13.717 In other hospitals this isn't the case, because they don't provide 00:24:13.837 --> 00:24:17.463 continuous healthcare in all services. 00:24:17.690 --> 00:24:22.610 Because of it both Centres have bigger cost 00:24:22.877 --> 00:24:26.670 and we have added the funds to the tertiary level. 00:24:26.857 --> 00:24:30.743 This measure is based on a preposition of both Centres. 00:24:30.910 --> 00:24:34.197 That's right. -Is it coordinated with HIIS? 00:24:34.530 --> 00:24:36.377 Yes, it is. 00:24:36.637 --> 00:24:42.477 I would also like to know about expanding the programmes and teams. 00:24:42.590 --> 00:24:47.497 Last year the programmes of physiotherapy were expanded. 00:24:47.663 --> 00:24:51.430 Waiting time is still very long. 00:24:51.730 --> 00:24:55.497 Is there a possibility to reinforce the teams 00:24:55.657 --> 00:25:00.363 in the fields with a very long waiting time? 00:25:00.772 --> 00:25:06.936 The regulation for 2025 is only the basis for 2025, 00:25:07.057 --> 00:25:10.307 so that healthcare providers 00:25:10.428 --> 00:25:13.193 can have some certainty in their approach, 00:25:13.313 --> 00:25:16.128 so that they know which programmes will be funded. 00:25:16.248 --> 00:25:19.802 We wanted to adopt it as soon as possible. 00:25:20.038 --> 00:25:23.296 A number of further measures are planned, 00:25:23.416 --> 00:25:27.353 e.g. in the area of first checks, which you know was a measure 00:25:27.473 --> 00:25:30.094 that had very positive effects. 00:25:30.215 --> 00:25:31.960 As we did last year, 00:25:32.081 --> 00:25:36.097 when there were many amendments to the 2024 regulation, 00:25:36.217 --> 00:25:41.394 we will be adopting a number of amendments to the regulation. 00:25:41.515 --> 00:25:44.501 I think we're planning the first one very soon. 00:25:44.621 --> 00:25:50.444 We will also include extensions, better evaluations, 00:25:50.565 --> 00:25:54.982 and further measures also in the area of first checks. 00:25:57.146 --> 00:26:00.116 You mentioned that newborn screening 00:26:00.237 --> 00:26:05.667 is being added to the payment in accordance with realisation. 00:26:05.788 --> 00:26:11.775 Is this the only additional programme or are there others? 00:26:11.896 --> 00:26:14.071 This is the only one in this regulation. 00:26:14.191 --> 00:26:17.595 Screening for rare diseases. 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:20.906 This is the only one in this regulation. 00:26:21.026 --> 00:26:24.500 Is any of it being cancelled? -No. 00:26:26.966 --> 00:26:29.270 Žana Vertačnik, Pop TV. 00:26:30.029 --> 00:26:33.212 I would like to know about the Health Services Act. 00:26:33.332 --> 00:26:40.427 The Legislative and Legal Service has made a number of comments. 00:26:40.706 --> 00:26:44.695 Have you already looked at them 00:26:44.816 --> 00:26:48.385 and what do you think about the main comment 00:26:48.505 --> 00:26:52.705 that this should be a completely new act, 00:26:52.826 --> 00:26:56.270 not only an amendment to the existing one? 00:26:56.391 --> 00:27:00.132 The Health Services Act has already been passed by the Government, 00:27:00.252 --> 00:27:02.153 it's now in the National Assembly. 00:27:02.273 --> 00:27:06.219 I believe that the content will remain the same, 00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:10.877 and that the adoption process will go ahead. 00:27:10.998 --> 00:27:15.002 I think that in a short time it will continue its way 00:27:15.122 --> 00:27:18.921 through the National Assembly in its current form. 00:27:19.041 --> 00:27:21.090 Regardless of the comments? 00:27:21.210 --> 00:27:25.202 I haven't yet been able to look at them in full, 00:27:25.323 --> 00:27:30.611 but both the MPs and we will examine them shortly, 00:27:30.732 --> 00:27:33.482 and we will decide how to proceed. 00:27:34.803 --> 00:27:38.056 Go ahead. -Yes, one more question. 00:27:38.330 --> 00:27:40.613 Today is also the session 00:27:40.734 --> 00:27:43.525 of the University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana, 00:27:43.645 --> 00:27:47.756 where a new clinic director is expected to be appointed. 00:27:47.876 --> 00:27:53.136 The current director Bojan Zalar has apparently also applied. 00:27:53.257 --> 00:27:55.507 If the Council chooses him, 00:27:56.005 --> 00:27:59.306 will the Government give consent to his appointment or not, 00:27:59.426 --> 00:28:01.980 given all the past developments? 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:07.689 And your comment on the SLAPP lawsuits against N1. 00:28:07.844 --> 00:28:10.916 The Minister of Justice said a few minutes ago 00:28:11.036 --> 00:28:15.630 that she finds this unacceptable, that it is basically spending 00:28:15.750 --> 00:28:19.997 taxpayers' money for these purposes. How do you see it? 00:28:20.117 --> 00:28:22.859 I agree with the Minister. 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:26.949 This Government has supported freedom of the media from the beginning 00:28:27.069 --> 00:28:28.828 and the media has a role to play. 00:28:28.948 --> 00:28:32.377 As for the session, it hasn't started yet, so we don't know. 00:28:32.497 --> 00:28:36.381 I would rather wait and see what the decision will be, 00:28:36.501 --> 00:28:38.663 and then we will take further action. 00:28:38.783 --> 00:28:43.588 Have you managed to consider the additional measures 00:28:43.709 --> 00:28:47.319 or the report on them, which, so they say, 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:49.532 were sent to you from the management 00:28:49.652 --> 00:28:51.325 regarding the monitoring 00:28:51.445 --> 00:28:53.543 by the Office for the Monitoring, Quality and Investments? 00:28:53.663 --> 00:28:57.756 We have received the response, we're considering it, 00:28:57.876 --> 00:29:03.962 and as soon as we have prepared the response, 00:29:04.083 --> 00:29:09.167 we will send it to the Council and inform the public about it. 00:29:09.886 --> 00:29:12.724 Just wait a moment for the microphone. 00:29:12.844 --> 00:29:15.208 Denis Malačič, Kanal A. 00:29:15.329 --> 00:29:20.649 Will other screening programmes follow the example of Dora? 00:29:20.770 --> 00:29:27.599 What about the Peter screening programme beginning this year? 00:29:28.190 --> 00:29:33.204 We're introducing the screening programmes in a pilot phase 00:29:33.325 --> 00:29:36.327 in accordance with the advice of the professionals. 00:29:36.447 --> 00:29:41.867 We're also following the guidelines of other countries or the EU. 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:46.699 We're well ahead in screening programmes in Slovenia, 00:29:46.916 --> 00:29:49.996 we're a kind of model for other countries, 00:29:50.116 --> 00:29:56.455 because the ones we have are organised on a systemic level. 00:29:56.576 --> 00:30:02.578 The pilot expansion of Dora to other age groups 00:30:02.699 --> 00:30:05.528 and the Peter programme are the only programmes 00:30:05.648 --> 00:30:08.886 that we will be launching on a pilot basis this year. 00:30:09.006 --> 00:30:12.840 We're also planning the Luka programme, 00:30:12.961 --> 00:30:16.295 i.e. the lung cancer screening programme. 00:30:17.774 --> 00:30:19.897 Is that all? There are no more questions. 00:30:20.017 --> 00:30:23.827 Thank you all for being with us. 00:30:23.948 --> 00:30:26.948 Have a nice day, goodbye. -Thank you.