Government provides funding to mitigate the damage caused by this summer's storms and floods

At today's meeting of the Committee on Economic Affairs, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia provided the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, the Protection and Rescue Administration of the Republic of Slovenia and the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia with funds to deal with the consequences of this summer's storms and floods.

On 4 August 2023, the Government provided the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning with €222 million, €132 million from the budgetary reserve fund and €90 million from the general budgetary reserve, to implement the preliminary programme for the repair of direct damage as a result of the floods.

From 17 July to 3 August 2023, the Government provided the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning with €8.5 million to implement the preliminary programme for the repair of direct damage as a result of the storms with flooding.

From 12 to 13 July 2023, the Government provided the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning with €3.6 million to implement the preliminary programme for the repair of direct damage as a result of the storms with flooding.

The Government has provided the Protection and Rescue Administration with more than €8,000 from the budget reserve fund. The funds will cover the cost of damage assessments carried out by the municipal committees and the Slovenian Protection and Rescue Administration in the aftermath of the severe storms with rain, flooding and wind between 12 and 13 July 2023.

The Government has allocated €4 million to the Financial Administration from the general budget reserve to provide assistance to the self-employed who, as a result of the August floods, are unable to carry out their activities or are carrying them out to a significantly reduced extent even after the floods.

Government does not support proposed changes to the Drivers Act

On 10 August 2023, a group of 5,000 voters submitted to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia a proposal on the amendments and additions to the Drivers Act. The proposal introduces an additional requirement for commencing practical driving training and obtaining a driver's licence, namely fulfilling primary school requirements as set out in the act regulating primary school and the completion of at least grade 7 of primary school. Those behind the proposal stressed that the fundamental objective of the proposal is to improve road safety. With the proposal on amendments and additions to the Drivers Act, they want to ensure that those who want to take their driving test have first attended primary school for nine years and have successfully completed at least grade 7 of primary school under the law governing primary school. This would ensure that people taking the driving test can read and write, making them a safer driver on the road.

The Government has carefully examined the proposal on amendments and additions to the Drivers Act (ZVoz-1F) and has stated that it cannot support the proposed solutions.

In today's Committee on Economic Affairs meeting, the committee reached a consensus, stating that making the practical training at driving schools and obtaining a driving license contingent upon fulfilling primary school requirements and successfully completing grade 7 of primary school will not enhance driver safety or improve road safety.

The imposition of the additional condition of "fulfilling primary school requirements as set out in the act regulating primary school and completing at least grade 7 of primary school" could, in the Government's view, lead to learner drivers driving without a licence, which is not in line with the European Road Safety Action Programme 2021–2030 and the national regulations and measures adopted on their basis.

Most other EU member states take the same position on this issue, and therefore do not impose a condition such as fulfilling primary school requirements and completing at least grade 7 of primary school in order to take the practical part of the training at a driving school or to pass the driving test and be issued with a driving licence.

SPIRIT Slovenia operated efficiently and effectively in 2022

At the committee meeting, the Government took note of the Report of the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport on the supervision of the legality, efficiency and effectiveness of the work of the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for the Promotion of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Internationalisation (SPIRIT) for 2022, as well as the work of its director. The ministry's report shows that the key objectives set out in the 2022 Work Programme and Financial Plan were achieved.

The Government also agreed that the surplus of revenue over expenditure of SPIRIT Slovenia in 2022, which amounted to just over €600, be earmarked for the performance and development of the Agency's activities in 2023.

The result of the Work Programme and Financial Plan was 36% higher than planned. The planned key activities under each programme were fully implemented and exceeded, despite the developments in the region (the war in Ukraine, extremely high energy price increases and a cooling global economy). The ministry also concluded that SPIRIT Slovenia operated legally, efficiently and effectively in 2022.

National Council vetoes act regulating COVID-19 offences (ZUVPNB)

At today's meeting of the Committee on State Regulation and Public Affairs, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted an opinion on the request of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia that the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia reconsider the Act on the regulation of certain issues relating to certain offences committed during the period of validity of measures to prevent the spread of the communicable disease COVID-19 (ZUVPNB) and will send it to the National Assembly.

The Government considers that the views of the National Council requesting a reconsideration of the Act on the regulation of certain issues relating to certain offences committed during the period of validity of the measures for the prevention of the spread of the communicable disease COVID-19 (ZUVPNB) are not justified. The Government therefore calls on the deputies of the National Assembly to vote in favour of the act again when it is reconsidered.

The Government sets out the text of the proposed Act Amending the Mental Health Act

At its 12th regular session on 20 September 2023, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a decision that the proposed Act Amending the Mental Health Act be prepared by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for the third reading. The proposed act has been prepared by the Government and sent to the National Assembly for consideration. Amendments to Articles 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 19, 20 and 29 were adopted during the second reading of the proposed act.