Press Release

Government adopted a decision agreeing with the content of the call for enrolment in undergraduate studies in academic year 2010/2011

At today's session the Government adopted the decree on the distribution of enrolment places in undergraduate study programmes in the academic year 2010/2011 at the University of Ljubljana, the University of Maribor, the University of Primorska, the University of Nova Gorica and independent higher education institutions, and the decision agreeing with the content of the call for enrolment in undergraduate studies in the academic year 2010/2011.

In the academic year 2010/2011, public and chartered institutions offer 290 study programme, which is five more than last year. Of those, 75 per cent are university programmes. For the second year in a row, higher education institutions have been offering only the Bologna study programme. Most of these last three years, while 28 last four.

The total number of places for the next study year is 26,565, which is 690 fewer than in the previous one, with 111 places more for full-time study, but 801 fewer for part-time. The ratio between places offered for full-time study versus places for part-time study is 74.9 per cent versus 25.1 per cent (last year 72.6%: 27.4%).

The University of Ljubljana will offer 333 fewer places, the University of Maribor 240 fewer places, while the number of places offered by the University of Primorska is down by 112. Independent institutions will be offering 40 fewer places.

At today's regular session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia approved the Decree amending the Decree Implementing the Regulation (EC) No. 717/2007 on Roaming on Public Mobile Telephone Networks within the Community and Amendments to the Directive 2002/21/EC and sent it for publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

On 29 June 2009, Regulation (EC) No. 544/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council  of 18 June 2009 on roaming on public mobile telephone networks within the Community and Directive 2002/21/EC on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services. The special characteristics of international roaming which led to the adoption of the Regulation (EC) No. 717/2007 and the imposition of obligations on mobile operators with regard to the provision of Community-wide voice roaming calls apply equally to the provision of Community-wide SMS and data roaming services. Member States must lay down rules on the penalties applicable to infringements of the Regulation and take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented.

The Government also approved the Decree Amending the Decree Implementing the Republic of Slovenia Guarantee Scheme Act, which was issued on the basis Article 5 of the Republic of Slovenia Guarantee Scheme Act.

Amendments to the Regulation are necessary due to the changes to the Temporary Community framework for State aid measures to support access to finance in the current financial and economic crisis of 15 December 2009.

The Decree amends the provision in paragraph 2 of Article 5 referring to the calculation of the total annual wage bill so as to include the criterion of average labour costs in the European Community as determined by Eurostat. It will affect the amount of the loan, as the most favourable criterion for the beneficiary can be used to determine the maximum loan by using gross wages plus the level of contributions and taxes currently in force, or the average costs of labour in the European Union, which are determined by Eurostat. Currently, average costs of labour are more favourable to most companies.

The Government approved the work programme and financial plan of the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI) for 2010 in 2011.

In 2010 and 2011 JAPTI will continue implementing key measures to develop entrepreneurship and the competitiveness of the Slovenian economy, stressing invigoration and adaptation considering the needs of target user groups and the economic situation in Slovenia in the aftermath of the recession.

JAPTI will prepare programmes and carry out tasks in the following areas:

- encouraging entrepreneurship and raising the entrepreneurial culture, education and training, clearing administrative obstacles connected to establishing, and the business of, companies, and improving access of companies to business information and VEM services;

- encouraging innovation in companies, improving conditions for the development and transfer of knowledge to the economy, encouraging entrepreneurial investment in research, development and innovation, encouraging networking of companies, encouraging connection of companies with research and education organisations and building an environment favourable to creating and running innovative companies;

- encouraging direct foreign investment based on gaining direct foreign investment, particularly in projects with higher added value, and raising the recognition of Slovenia as a suitable location for investment;

- direct financial incentives for the development of companies to reach a higher level of competitiveness of the Slovenian economy, and incentives to attract direct foreign investors;

- encouraging direct foreign investment and the internationalisation of the business activities of Slovenian companies by providing information on foreign markets, counselling, and education for international cooperation, disseminating information on Slovenia's business opportunities through services offered by representations of the Slovenian economy abroad.

With successful implementation, JAPTI will create a more efficient business environment, greater institutional recognition and, mostly, greater recognition of all support services carried out indirectly or in cooperation with the entrepreneurial and innovative support environment and in the area of direct foreign investment and internationalisation. Every year, it will carry out benchmarking studies of the effectiveness of the implementation of support services and satisfaction of users. 

According to the financial plan, the following income is planned in 2010: EUR 42,584,170, of which EUR 2,495,000 is earmarked for financing the activities of JAPTI, while EUR 40,089,170 is earmarked for the implementation of programmes. Planned expenditure totals EUR 42,584,170, of which EUR 2,495,000 is earmarked for financing the activities of a JAPTI, EUR 1,815,000 for representations of the Slovenian economy abroad and EUR 38,274,170 for other programmes.