Headlines

30.03.2012

Social partners agreed on the basis for the new social contract at a session of the Economic and Social Council (ESC) on Friday. The majority of partners are to sign the new social contract basis on Tuesday, 3 April 2012. Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs Andrej Vizjak also said that the government will discuss a package of measures for budget revenue, to complement the austerity measures and the supplementary budget, at its next regular meeting.

29.03.2012

The Government has taken note of the National Reform Programme 2012 – 2013 proposal and finalised the text of the draft of the ratification of the treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism among eurozone Member States. The Government has also decided that Slovenia will continue its military and civilian contribution to NATO’s ISAF operation in Afghanistan until the completion of the operation’s transition period at the end of 2014.

27.03.2012

Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs Andrej Vizjak presented the negotiating guidelines concerning social affairs and the labour market. The minister told the press that most of the austerity measures concerned are selective and have been proposed for negotiation in such a way that they will not harm the most socially vulnerable. He also has stressed that the Government final decisions will be taken after discussing all the negotiating positions with social partners.

22.03.2012

The discussion at the 7th regular Government session today focused on drawing up the guidelines for revising the budget and the associated package of measures aimed at balancing public finances, which provide the Government's standpoints for negotiating with the social partners.

21.03.2012

The government presented measures to the government coalition MPs that will be adopted as a proposal for negotiations with social partners and as a basis for the preparation of documents for amending budget, which will be sent to the National Assembly in the following weeks. PM Janez Janša stressed in his statement that the government will give up its privileges since it wants to lead the way in initiating austerity measures.

19.03.2012

Minister of Foreign Affairs Karl Erjavec met President Ivo Josipović, Prime Minister Zoran Milanović, Speaker of the Parliament Boris Šprem and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vesna Pusić during his official visit to Zagreb. Ministers Erajvec and Pusić told the press after the meeting that Slovenian and Croatian governments would soon meet to discuss open issues.

15.03.2012

The Government decided to suspend the start of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement ratification process until further instructions. At the session, the Government approved the working draft of the Act on the Fiscal Rule, which seeks to ensure the sustainability of public finances with a fiscal rule. The proposed Act determines the rule, which is aimed at strengthening budget discipline.

12.03.2012

On Saturday, the Government met for a budget session to review in detail the budgetary performance of all ministries. The ministers presented their obligations and liabilities under sectoral laws and estimated the potential for savings of particular provisions. The purpose of this session was to obtain a comprehensive picture of Slovenia’s fiscal position and form a joint assessment on possible measures for the reconstruction of public finance.

08.03.2012

The Government approved the proposal to begin the procedure to amend article 148 of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia via the draft Constitutional Act on Amending Article 148 of the Constitution. The Government also discussed the current situation regarding the drawing of European Cohesion Policy Funds and European Territorial Cooperation funds in the 2007-2013 period and decided that DARS motorways company is to immediately stop all activities regarding the introduction of a new free flow electronic toll charging system.

05.03.2012

Heads of parliamentary parties agreed to include the golden fiscal rule into the Slovenian Constitution under which the budget has to be balanced or in surplus, while indebting is not allowed. Prime Minister Janez Janša told the press after the meeting that there was a goal to reach a balanced budget as soon as possible already within his government’s term.