Slovenia Times
15. January, 2021
Several hundred euro banknotes stacked by value. Euro money concept. Rolls Euro banknotes. Euro currency. Announced cancellation of five hundred euro banknotes. Banknotes stacked on each other in different positions. Toned photo.
Ljubljana – The government has provisionally approved the release of overdue budget payments to the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) as required by the 7th economic stimulus package, the Government Communication Office (UKOM) said on Thursday.
The provisional release of funds was cleared based on a message by EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager which “indicates the possibility of a positive European Commission decision regarding the transfer of state aid for the STA” as the government awaits a final decision, UKOM said.
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Slovenia s national press agency at risk after funding slashed
The right-wing government of Prime Minister Janez Jansa has cut funding for Slovenia s public press agency, claiming the service hasn t accounted for its spending. Rights groups have decried the threat to press freedom.
Prime Minister Janez Jansa has consistently criticized STA s reporting
The future of Slovenia s national press agency, STA, is at risk after the Slovenian government suspended funding earlier this month and said its funding for 2021 is also at risk.
If funds are not restored by the end of the year, it would mean a loss of almost half a million euros, STA director Bojan Veselinovic told DW, adding that the government has never been late with its payments. It means that we would run out of money for the salaries of 70 people, he added. STA currently employs 80 journalists and photo reporters.
2020/12/17 14:22 The future of Slovenia s national press agency, STA, is at risk after the Slovenian government suspended funding earlier this month and said its funding for 2021 is also at risk. If funds are not restored by the end of the year, it would mean a loss of almost half a million euros, STA director Bojan Veselinovic told DW, adding that the government has never been late with its payments. It means that we would run out of money for the salaries of 70 people, he added. STA currently employs 80 journalists and photo reporters. Uros Urbanija, head of the government s information office (UKOM), has blamed the press agency for the funding refusal, saying STA management had failed to provide the necessary data for the agency s financial operations to verify the credibility and eligibility of this funding. UKOM provides around €2 million ($2.5 million) annually to fund STA s operations. In return, STA is obliged to provide regular