At today’s session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia approved a draft act on the corporate governance of government capital investment.

The aim of the act is to better regulate the system of corporate governance of shares and stock owned by the Republic of Slovenia by establishing a special agency. The act also stipulates the principles of such governance, as well as the organisation and responsibilities of such an agency, along with an accreditation commission as the agency’s consulting body. Furthermore, the draft act lays down the criteria for the appointment and dismissal of executives of the agency or the accreditation commission, and stipulates the modes of managing and acquiring capital investment. Overall, the act aims to improve the efficiency, transparency, predictability and distribution of responsibility with regard to the corporate governance of investment by separating the ownership function from other, government-operated functions. It is vital that all investment is managed economically, in the public interest and in line with the principles of efficiency, transparency, responsibility and predictability, and that goals set in accordance with individual policies are achieved.

Acting on a proposal by the Ministry of the Economy, the Government at today’s session approved the text of a draft act on services in the internal market, and submitted it for discussion to the National Assembly.

The draft act is a new act partially transposing into Slovenian legislation the provisions of the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Services in the Internal Market. In addition to making general provisions regarding the freedom of establishment for service providers and the free movement of services between member states, the act simplifies the rules for provision of services, ensures better quality services and provides for more efficient administrative cooperation between national authorities. The simplification applies to procedures and formal requirements for acquiring permits for performing services in the Republic of Slovenia; one of its main goals is the establishment of a ‘point of single contact’, which is required for the successful transposition of the Directive into Slovenian legislation.

The new act also addresses the issue of quality of service, which is ensured under the current law by providing information about service providers through professional liability insurance and guarantees, promotion/advertising, and the prohibition of business communication for regulated professions. The act also includes rules on preventing incompatibility issues in certain areas, and dispute settlement.

The chapter on administrative cooperation between member states lays down rules for the mandatory cooperation of competent authorities with those of other member states with a view to controlling service providers. An electronic information system, the IMI–Internal Market Information System, is to be used for exchanging information about service providers, raising the alert in cases of services which pose a health, safety or environment risk, and for procedures regarding exceptions to the free provision of services, subject to a government decree.

At its meeting, the Government also discussed Slovenia joining the Special Programme on the Control of Chemicals of the OECD.

Slovenia is very active in the area of chemicals both nationally and internationally (EU, SAICM – Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, international conventions). It also used to participate in IFCS (Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety) and has gained a great reputation in OECD with participation in working groups and a presentation at the June meeting. It is in Slovenia’s interest to join a special programme and continue contributing knowledge and funds to greater chemical security. OECD is the leading global driving force in the area. By joining, Slovenia would be able to equally implement planned activities with regard to chemicals together with other countries.

The Government agreed with the initiative to enter an agreement between the Government of Slovenia and the Government of Croatia on simplifying border controls on the railway line between stations Dobova and Zagreb, and approved the draft text of the agreement.

To enable faster passenger railway transport across the border with Croatia on the 10th pan-European transport corridor, the Government supports the initiative to enter an agreement between the Governments of both countries on simplifying the border control procedure between the stations at Dobova and Zagreb in international transport; the stop at Dobova station will then be reduced to the minimum time needed to change the locomotives and transfer carriages.

The Government also agreed with Slovenia’s Armed Forces participating in KFOR forces in Kosovo and NATO structures in the Western Balkans.

The Government adopted a decision agreeing with Slovenia’s participation in KFOR forces in Kosovo with two manoeuvre units of the SAF in command, logistic and other structures, totalling up to 370 members from March 2010, with a possibility of rotation. From September 2010 this number includes the employment of a Bell 412 helicopter with personnel and maintenance equipment.

The Government also agreed on Slovenia’s participation in NATO’s command structures or offices in Sarajevo, Skopje and Belgrade, comprising up to 14 members from January 2010, with a possibility of rotations. The decision also approved the participation of two civilian technical specialists in the NATO Advisory Team (NAT) from January 2010.