Government approves the amendment to the draft Act amending the Bloudek Awards Act

At a session of the Committee on the Economy today, the Government approved an amendment to the draft Act amending the Bloudek Awards Act. This refers to the recipients of the Bloudek Award.The proposed amendment clarifies the definition of the recipients of the Bloudek Award under the conditions laid down by the Act. In individual sports, the recipient is an individual athlete, and in team sports, the Bloudek Award is conferred on the team of athletes. The amendment has been drafted taking into account the opinion of the Legislative and Legal Service of the National Assembly.

Government’s response to a question raised by the Employers’ Interest Group regarding the development of measures to improve Slovenia’s competitiveness

The Government has confirmed the reply to the question raised by the Employers’ Interest Group regarding the development of measures to improve Slovenia’s competitiveness and prevent further tightening of the economy, which will be sent to the National Council. The question "Is the Government of the Republic of Slovenia working on measures, such as support for energy-intensive industries and labour market measures (subsidised part-time work, temporary layoffs), to improve Slovenia’s competitiveness and prevent a further deterioration of the economic situation, and if so, when can they be expected?" was discussed and endorsed by the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia at its July session.

The Government has considered the question and noted that the content thereof relates to the same issues that were discussed by the Committee on the Economy and the Committee on Labour, Family, Social Affairs and the Disabled in a joint session of the National Assembly on 4 July 2023.

At the time, it was decided that the Committee on the Economy and the Committee on Labour, Family, Social Affairs and the Disabled propose to the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport that it should draw up, within three months, an analysis of the situation of the Slovenian economy and an action plan to improve its comparative advantages.

On the basis of the adopted decision, the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport has already started to implement activities that will provide the basis for the Ministry to draw up an action plan. The action plan will also be coordinated with the activities of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and submitted to the National Council for information. 

Meanwhile, Slovenia has been hit by severe flooding, which has also had a significant impact on the economy. In view of the new circumstances, the Government’s first priority is to stabilise the situation, provide urgent rehabilitation measures and help the economy to cope with the aftermath. Time will tell whether adjustments to these plans will be necessary.

The Government is actively monitoring the situation in the field on an almost daily basis and is adjusting both the measures and its response to the situation as necessary.

Revision of the values of projects for the compensation of electricity and natural gas suppliers in the current Development Programmes Plan 2023–2026 (DPP 2023–2026)

The Act Regulating Emergency Intervention to Address High Energy Prices (ZNPOVCE) provides in Article 18 that if the Government of the Republic of Slovenia sets a price ceiling for electricity, natural gas or district heating, it may also grant an appropriate financial compensation or any other measure having the effect of an appropriate compensation for damage to suppliers or distributors of district heating which would be significantly affected by this measure. On the basis of the aforementioned Article of the ZNPOVCE, the Decree determining compensation for natural gas suppliers and the Decree determining compensation for electricity suppliers have been adopted; these lay down the method for determining the appropriate financial compensation or any other measure having the effect of appropriate compensation for damage.

The baseline value of the projects listed below will be increased for the months of March and April as a result of new applications from suppliers. Appropriations amounting to EUR 43,684,310.63 are to be transferred from the electricity projects registered under number 2430-23-4000 to the projects of individual electricity suppliers numbered 2430-23-4002 to 2430-23-4014 and appropriations amounting to EUR 6,829,090.16 are to be transferred from the natural gas project registered under number 2430-23-4001 to the projects of individual natural gas suppliers numbered 2430-23-4016 to 2430-23-4029.

The value of the compensation to be paid to suppliers in 2023 is estimated at EUR 162.6 million for electricity and EUR 60.1 million for natural gas.

Under the current DPP 2023–2026, the following projects will be subject to modifications: 

• 2430-23-4002 Compensation to EE SIJ ACRONI – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4003 Compensation to EE ZDS Jesenice – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4005 Compensation to EE Suncontract – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4006 Compensation to EE HEP Energija– Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4007 Compensation to EE HSE – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4008 Compensation to EE PETROL – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4009 Compensation to EE E3 – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4010 Compensation to EE Energija plus – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4011 Compensation to EE ECE – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4012 Compensation to EE ENERGETIKA LJUBLJANA – Cost-of-living crisis, 
• 2430-23-4013 Compensation to EE GEN-I – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4014 Compensation to EE Elektro energija, – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4016 Compensation to ZP ECE – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4017 Compensation to ZP Energija plus – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4019 Compensation to ZP Komunala Sevnica – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4020 Compensation to ZP Petrol – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4021 Compensation to ZP Energetika Ljubljana – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4022 Compensation to ZP Geoplin – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4025 Compensation to ZP ADRIAPLIN – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4026 Compensation to ZP Energetika Celje – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4027 Compensation to ZP ENOS – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4028 Compensation to ZP ISTRABENZ PLIN – Cost-of-living crisis,
• 2430-23-4029 Compensation to ZP PLINARNA MARIBOR – Cost-of-living crisis.

Proposal for changing the base value of the project Renovation of the Češnja Home facilities for the implementation of the social care programme for children and adolescents – Draga Centre for Training, Work and Care

At today’s meeting of the Committee on State Organisation and Public Affairs, the Government amended the current Development Programmes Plan 2023–2026, changing the base value of the project Renovation of the Češnja Home facilities for the implementation of the social care programme for children and adolescents – Draga Centre for Training, Work and Care.

The Dolfka Boštjančič Centre for Training, Work and Care, Draga, is a public social care institution for the training, education, work, healthcare, medical (re)habilitation and care of children, adolescents and adults with moderate, severe and profound intellectual disabilities or multiple disorders. The services are provided at their central unit and 18 units at separate locations, currently ensuring care for 482 people.

The investment’s estimated value is EUR 883,355.61 including VAT, and will be realised in 2022 and 2023. The investment will ensure appropriate facilities, guaranteeing the users’ rights to education, developing their potentials, movement, social involvement, adequate medical treatment, and necessary support and assistance, reduce inequalities in the treatment of persons with emotional and behavioural disorders, help manage the individuals’ risky behaviour, and improve the mental health of the most vulnerable group of children and adolescents with undesired behaviour patterns.

Changed value of the BELIN-V unmanned aircraft acquisition project

Following a proposal of the Ministry of Defence, the Committee on State Organisation and Public Affairs adopted a decision to amend the current Development Programmes Plan 2023–2026, increasing the base value of the project by 20% to finance the purchase of the BELIN-V unmanned aircraft.

The project’s initial base value of EUR 1,341,036.20 including VAT was increased to the new base value of EUR 4,913,626.52 including VAT. Between 2015 and 2018 and later in 2022 and 2023, the Slovenian Armed Forces acquired the Belin unmanned aircraft systems (hereinafter: the UAS) for carrying out reconnaissance to provide air intelligence support to military units. The necessary training and deployment of systems into operation in the Slovenian Armed Forces were carried out. The Belin UAS displayed their excellent capacities during both military exercises and peacekeeping operations and missions carried out by the Slovenian Armed Forces.

The Belin-V is the latest UAS generation with vertical take-off and landing. The changes made to the project concern the acquisition of four Belin-V independent unmanned aircraft, which are equipped for simultaneous independent flying, and the acquisition of four UAS Belin-V unmanned aircraft systems (each consisting of three unmanned aircraft with upgraded navigation and communication equipment).

The implementation of the project will ensure the operation of UAS tactical units and improve the efficiency of operational tasks, military reconnaissance and observation, and air surveillance.

Renovation of bathroom and toilet facilities at the Vič ŠD3 student hall

The Committee also adopted the decision to amend the current Development Programmes Plan 2023–2026 to include a new project entitled "Renovation of bathroom and toilet facilities at the Vič ŠD3 student hall".This February, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations issued a public call to co-finance maintenance works at student halls in 2023 and 2024. In considering the applications and the allocation of funding, the Ministry accounted for the level of urgency of the maintenance work investment based on the current situation. Among other things, the Ljubljana student hall therefore received funding for a full renovation of bathroom and toilet facilities at the Vič ŠD3 student hall. The facilities are more than 40 years old and in need of repair. The purpose of the project is the renovation of installations, flooring and fittings, modernising them and thus improving the students’ standard of living.

Approval of the Amendment and Supplementation to the General Terms and Conditions of the Slovenian Regional Development Fund

At the meeting of the Committee on the Economy, the Government approved the Amendment and Supplementation to the General Terms and Conditions of the Slovenian Regional Development Fund.

To regulate its operation, the Slovenian Regional Development Fund (hereinafter: the Fund) adopted the General Terms and Conditions (hereinafter: the GTC), which are particularly relevant to the provision of the Fund’s financial incentives. The GTC are adopted by the Fund’s Supervisory Board and enter into force upon the Government’s approval.

The amendment to the current GTC will introduce a longer repayment period, i.e. up to 300 months, for applicants financing public/local infrastructure projects, which will make it easier for municipalities to carry out projects. The amended GTC’s new terminology and content will also provide the basis for the content of public calls and issuing of decisions in implementing development incentives provided by the Fund until the end of this year. Together with the amendment and supplementation to the GTC, existing financial incentive instruments and their purpose, format and allocation procedures will also be amended.