More than EUR 1 million in incentives to the economy for nearly zero-energy buildings

At today's meeting of the Government Committee on the Economy, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia included a new programme, Financial Incentives to the Economy for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings, in the current Development Programme Plan 2022-2025. The funding for 2022 (up to EUR 220,000.00) and 2023 (EUR 1,000,000.00) is provided by the Climate Change Fund. The aim of encouraging such new buildings is primarily to reduce the amount of energy needed to operate them, as they must on average demonstrate at least a 50% improvement in energy performance compared to the requirements of the Rules on efficient use of energy in buildings. The energy required must, however, be largely produced from renewable sources.

The objectives of the project are to increase the use of renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The non-refundable financial incentives will be granted to legal persons, sole proprietors, individuals and other natural persons carrying out registered activities or activities specified by regulation or by the act of establishment, who are entered in the business register of Slovenia, except for their branches abroad, and who are investors in and owners or co-owners of the real estate, or holders of the building right on the real estate where the measure will be implemented.

Increasing the use of renewable energy sources and improving the energy efficiency of buildings reduces excessive PM10 air pollution. This improves ambient air quality, contributes to low carbon and circular economy objectives, increases resilience to the impacts of climate change and increases the use of natural, renewable resources. In the long term, nearly zero-energy buildings provide low operating and maintenance costs, a high-quality working and living environment, a longer life cycle and lower environmental burdens.

The Government considers that the reasons put forward by the proposer for calling a legislative referendum on the amendment to the Radiotelevizija Slovenija Act are unfounded

At the meeting of the Government Committee on State Regulation and Public Affairs, the Government rejected the arguments put forward by the proposer of the request for a legislative referendum on the Act amending the Radiotelevizija Slovenija Act.

The Government explains that the fundamental purpose of the amendment is to ensure the full institutional and programme autonomy of RTV Slovenija and to protect its journalistic autonomy and editorial independence. The latter is a prerequisite for RTV Slovenija, as a public institution of special cultural and national importance, to be able to carry out its statutory mission, based on the constitutionally protected right to freedom of expression or public information, which is crucial for the existence of democracy and thus of the state.

Developments at RTV Slovenija in recent months confirm that the existing legal framework allows for a situation in which freedom of expression can be restricted or politics can influence RTV Slovenija's programme decisions. RTV Slovenija employees point to the unsustainable situation in the news programme of TV Slovenija, in particular the illegal interference of the management in journalistic and editorial autonomy, the cancellation of some prominent programmes, censorship, intimidation of employees, etc. The consequences of these practices are reflected in the declining public image of RTV Slovenija and the lower media relevance, lower quality of programmes and lower professional standards.

It is therefore imperative that party politics be completely removed from the management and governance of the public institution, that RTV Slovenija employee autonomy be restored, and they be provided with the conditions for professional and independent work. Only in this way will RTV Slovenija be able to continue to fulfil its important mission, which is based on the constitutionally protected right to freedom of expression or public information, which is essential for the existence of democracy.

Government adopts text of amendment to the Draft Act amending the Enforcement of Criminal Sanctions Act

The Government Committee adopted the text of the amendment to the Draft Act amending the Enforcement of Criminal Sanctions Act (ZIKS-1H), submitted to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia by a group of Members of the Parliament of the Republic of Slovenia, with Danijel Krivec as the first signatory, and forwarded it to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia proposes the amendment for third reading, which contains an additional transitional provision pertaining to criminal records. This is necessary due to the decision to postpone the commencement of the consideration of the proposal for a new Personal Data Protection Act (ZVOP-2), which will remove the restriction of the current Personal Data Protection Act on the linking of criminal records with other public records. The new transitional provision allows for the immediate application of the new Article 250b of the ZIKS-1, similar to what will apply after the adoption and entry into force of the ZVOP-2. This will allow for the implementation of activities related to the ongoing renewal of the criminal records information system.

Inclusion of a new project – Purchase of property Trg Brolo 12, Koper (University of Primorska) in the Development Programme Plan 2022-2025

At the Committee meeting, the Government also decided to include a new project in the current Development Programme Plan 2022-2025, namely the Purchase of the property Trg Brolo 12, Koper. The purpose of the investment project is to provide premises for the University of Primorska to carry out its core activities.

The successful realisation of the investment will reduce the costs of the University of Primorska educational and support activities by EUR 116,400.00 per year. It will also enable the integration of this infrastructure into the University of Primorska operational plan in line with the principles of a green and resilient transition to Society 5.0.