NEWS

Prime Minister’s press conference

At today’s 77th regular session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, alongside other resolutions, adopted the amended Financial Operations, Insolvency Proceedings and Compulsory Dissolution Act and the text of the Remodelling of the Pension Fund Management (KAD) and the Slovenian Compensation Company (SOD) Act. The Government also appointed Mr Igor Zajc as member of the Supervisory Board of the Slovenian Railways and took note of information about the situation in waste management and illegal waste dumping, including a plan of relevant measures.  The responsible ministers outlined the major resolutions, and Mr Pahor then answered a number of topical questions.

     

(Foto: Matej Leskovšek/STA)

     

At today’s session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the amended Financial Operations, Insolvency Proceedings and Compulsory Dissolution Act. In the second half of 2009, the general and professional public started to raise numerous questions as to the adequacy of the regulation of insolvency proceedings, which is partly also due to economic developments resulting from the global economic crisis. The Act is included in the Slovenian Exit Strategy 2010-2013 to overcome the economic and financial crisis. Both, the Strategy and the amended Act, aim at boosting economic activities as soon as possible. The proposed amendments are particularly important, because they provide that the compulsory settlement procedure does not necessarily mean the termination of business operations of an enterprise, instead it enables the enterprise to continue its activities, subject, however, to certain conditions.
       
The ministers today also adopted the Remodelling of the Pension Fund Management (KAD) and the Slovenian Compensation Company (SOD) Act. This Act rounds up the policy of governance of enterprises directly or indirectly owned by the state; this policy has already been launched through the adoption of the Corporate Governance of State Capital Investments Act. The national authority responsible for the management of capital investments of the Republic of Slovenia will on behalf and on the account of KAD and SOD enforce property entitlements in enterprises defined as strategic enterprises, as well as in investments where KAD and SOD have acquired a common share, the value of which exceeds EUR 40 million. The acquisition of new investments is limited to a 5% share in an enterprise, which means that in new enterprises KAD and SOD can only be portfolio investors. 
     
Today, the Slovenian Government took note of information about the situation in waste management and illegal waste dumping, including a plan of relevant measures.  The identified measures are primarily targeted at improving waste separation.  The information also contains a list of identified possible measures against the occurrence of illegal dump sites and lays down a preliminary plan of measures aimed at eliminating factors leading to such occurrence.
       
At the close of the press conference, the Slovenian Prime Minister answered a number of topical political questions.  In respect of the participation of the Slovenian Armed Forces in Afghanistan, Mr Pahor expressed the opinion that merely the increase in the number of NATO troops in Afghanistan will not contribute to the success of the mission; he therefore expects a change in the policy of the Alliance toward this operation.  "Slovenia is making preparations and will assume its obligations, if the strategy of the Alliance forces is not changed; however, half way through the operation we will analyse whether we are achieving the objectives, which have been the reason for our assumption of a higher level of responsibility," added Prime Minister Pahor. When asked about the candidate for the new minister of agriculture, Mr Pahor said: "I will propose to the National Assembly the candidate for the new minister of agriculture in a few days and also explain why I have decided for the candidate". Regarding the interpellation motion filed against the Interior Minister Katarina Kresal and the question on the difference between the rent for the premises of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) paid by the State and the lease paid by Ram Invest to the bank, the Slovenian Prime Minister said that he would defend the Minister in the National Assembly.  He expects her to be "very convincing in refuting doubts about having taken a biased decision regarding the new building for the needs of the Office.