AGP Executive Report

RTV Funding Referendum: The European Federation of Journalists backs Slovenian media unions in opposing the planned abolition of the mandatory RTV contribution, warning that cutting the model without a guaranteed alternative could undermine RTV Slovenija’s independence ahead of an 11 October consultative vote. Climate & Water: A Reuters report says Slovenia’s Triglav glacier has dwindled to last patches of ice and could vanish within days, with wider risks for river flows in the Drava and Mura basins. EU Budget Fight: Seventeen EU states led by Italy and Romania urge Ireland to protect cohesion and farm funding in the 2028–2034 budget, arguing cuts would weaken Europe’s economic and social goals—Slovenia is among the signatories. Sports—Nations League: Scotland hosts Slovenia at Hampden in a rematch after a rocky start for new Scotland coach Sebastien Pocognoli; the tie is framed as a chance for Scotland to build momentum and for Slovenia to bounce back. Social—Child Poverty: Eurostat data highlighted by ARTE_FR shows Slovenia has the lowest child poverty risk in the EU, but the trend has worsened since 2022.

Slovenia-Taiwan Politics: A debate is growing over whether Slovenia’s Taiwan approach could shift after the June 2026 government change, with the country sitting between Central Europe’s “One-China” alignment and the Western Balkans’ more cautious, Beijing-friendly stance. EU Budget Fight: Seventeen EU leaders, including Slovenia, urged Ireland’s EU presidency to protect farm and regional funding, warning cuts to the CAP and Cohesion Policy would weaken the bloc. Nations League Focus: Switzerland beat Slovenia 2-1 in Lucerne, with Dan Ndoye turning the match after an early Slovenian goal and an own goal; Scotland also grabbed a 2-0 win over North Macedonia, setting up a big Hampden clash with Slovenia. Scotland vs Slovenia Preview: Scotland’s new coach Sebastien Pocognoli is asking fans for patience as he prepares for the rematch, after a first win under him and a tough start including a red card. .si Domain Boom: Slovenia’s .si internet domain surged after Trump’s “super intelligence” push, with registrations jumping from about 3,500 in August to 46,066 in September. Cycling in Slovenia: Remco Evenepoel won the European road race title in Slovenia after a photo-finish, while Tadej Pogačar stayed home due to injury concerns.

Bosnia Election Watch: Polls opened in Bosnia and Herzegovina as 3.4 million voters choose a new three-member presidency and hundreds of lawmakers across the country’s complex Dayton-era system, with 518 officials on the ballot and biometric ID reportedly debuting. EU Budget Fight: Seventeen EU leaders, including Slovenia, urged Ireland’s rotating presidency to protect farm and regional funding, warning cuts to the CAP and Cohesion Policy would weaken the EU and fail to modernize it. Nations League, Slovenia in focus: Switzerland beat Slovenia 2-1 in Lucerne, overturning an early Slovenian lead via an own goal and Dan Ndoye’s winner, while Scotland finally broke through with a 2-0 win over North Macedonia as Andy Robertson marked his 100th cap. Football market buzz: Slovenian striker Benjamin Šeško is reportedly on Manchester United’s sales radar, with Juventus among the clubs linked. Sports culture: In Arco, Adam Ondra and Jessica Pilz won at Rock Masters, with Ondra taking the KO Boulder title in a dramatic night.

UEFA Nations League: England thrashed Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka as Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scored twice, with Jude Bellingham also starring in another dominant Thomas Tuchel performance. UEFA Nations League: Spain stayed perfect, beating Czechia 3-1 in Oviedo thanks to Lamine Yamal’s early strike plus goals from Rodri and Mikel Merino. UEFA Nations League (Slovenia): Switzerland came from behind to beat Slovenia 2-1, with an own goal leveling things before Dan Ndoye sealed it. Scotland in the Balkans: Scotland finally got their first win under Sebastien Pocognoli, beating North Macedonia 2-0 in Skopje; Kieron Bowie scored early and John McGinn converted a second-half penalty, with Andy Robertson celebrating his 100th cap. EU Budget Talks: Seventeen EU leaders, including Slovenia, urged Ireland’s EU presidency to protect farm funding and keep Cohesion Policy and the CAP intact in the 2028–2034 budget negotiations.

EU Budget Fight: Seventeen EU leaders, including Slovenia’s government, have signed a joint letter warning against cuts to Cohesion Policy and the CAP in the 2028–2034 budget, saying the policies underpin competitiveness, food security, and support for millions. Slovenia Tech Boom: Slovenia’s .si domain registry says registrations surged after Donald Trump’s “super intelligence” push, with tens of thousands of new domains logged in September and demand accelerating day by day. Energy & Infrastructure: Croatia is pushing an Adriatic–Ionian rail corridor linking Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Greece, while Croatia’s LNG terminal on Krk could supply Germany within two years via a southern corridor through Slovenia and Austria. Environment in the Region: Croatia’s cleanup of illegally dumped hazardous waste in the Lika region is underway, but locals fear lasting damage. Sports (Regional Focus): Nations League action continues with Slovenia hosting Switzerland, and Scotland chasing a first win in Skopje against North Macedonia under new coach Sébastien Pocognoli.

Climate & Food Security: Heat and drought are hitting European hop harvests and even the alpha acids that make beer bitter, with research warning of further yield and quality drops by 2050—pushing growers toward resilient varieties and more irrigation. Digital Economy: After Trump’s “super intelligence” push, Slovenia’s .si domain market has surged, with tens of thousands of new registrations in days and a spike in demand tied to the new branding. EU Budget Fight: Seventeen EU countries, including Slovenia, are pushing back against cuts to nearly €900bn for farmers and regional cohesion in the 2028–2034 budget, setting up a clash with “frugal” states. Slovenia–Germany Ties: Germany’s foreign minister is visiting Slovenia to deepen cooperation in areas like automotive, defence, robotics, and digitalisation. Water Quality Watch: A new study finds Europe’s rivers are cleaner, but only Slovenia is improving fast enough to meet 2030 water targets. Sports (Regional Interest): Scotland’s Nations League trip to North Macedonia is framed as a must-win for new coach Sebastien Pocognoli, while Slovenia’s .si boom and hop pressures keep the home front in focus.

EU Budget Fight: Seventeen EU countries—including Slovenia—warn that cuts to cohesion policy and the CAP would weaken the bloc and risk public support, pushing talks ahead of the October summit. Slovenia Politics & Society: A Ljubljana court will hear journalist Jože Možina’s defamation lawsuit against Svetlana Makarovič, with Možina alleging personal attacks rather than political satire. Foreign Policy: Germany’s foreign minister is visiting Slovenia to deepen cooperation in areas like automotive, defence, innovation, robotics and digitalisation, with security and support for Ukraine on the agenda. Tech & Business: Temu signed with the Slovenian Chamber to help SMEs with digitalisation and international expansion, starting with a webinar on online retail growth. Sports (Nations League): Scotland, led by Sebastien Pocognoli, face North Macedonia after a goalless draw with Slovenia and a 3-0 loss to Switzerland; the focus is on breaking a scoring drought. AI & Sovereignty: A debate piece highlights how AI systems could unintentionally affect state sovereignty, raising new legal and policy questions.

EU-Ukraine Security Push: Zelensky told EU ambassadors in Kyiv to boost funding and deliver more air defense and anti-ballistic systems, while also stepping up sanctions against Russia. Digital Economy for SMEs: Temu signed with the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (GZS) to help SMEs with digitalisation and international expansion, starting with a webinar on online retail growth. EU Legal Pressure: The European Commission issued infringement decisions and a reasoned opinion to Spain over consumer credit rule delays, while also opening proceedings against Italy on investment taxation. .si Domain Surge: Slovenia’s .si registry says registrations jumped to 44,000 in September after Trump’s “super intelligence” push, though the registry is cautious about linking it fully to the speech. Energy & Industry: ELES, Plinovodi and Yokogawa agreed to develop a hydrogen ecosystem in Slovenia, including possible demonstration work tied to electricity and gas networks. Culture & Heritage: Maribor’s centuries-old Žametovka “Old Vine” remains the world’s oldest grapevine still producing fruit. Sports (Slovenia-linked): Slovenia’s Nations League campaign continues as the spotlight stays on regional football results.

AI & Domains in Slovenia: After Donald Trump urged a rename of AI to “super intelligence” (SI), Slovenia’s official .si registry says registrations surged to 44,000 in September—up from under 2,000 in August, with 11,000 new domains on Sept. 30—sparking speculation about branding and domain speculation. EU Legal Pressure: The European Commission opened two infringement proceedings against Italy over investment taxation, targeting how interest and bond income is treated for certain non-resident investors and how Individual Savings Plans (PIRs) portfolios are structured. Slovenia in Sports Spotlight: In UEFA Nations League action, Scotland’s new coach Sebastien Pocognoli faces North Macedonia after a tough start that included a 0-0 draw in Slovenia and a 3-0 home loss to Switzerland; the next match is set for Oct. 3 in Skopje. Cycling Update: Tadej Pogačar and Urška Žigart returned to Slovenia ahead of the European Championships despite injuries ruling them out of racing. Business & Investment: Sofia’s LAUNCHub Ventures announced the first close of Fund III with €65m committed, targeting €75m+ to back early-stage startups across Central and Eastern Europe.

Slovenia Economy: Slovenia’s inflation rose to 3.3% year-on-year in September, with transport up sharply to 6.3% and housing/utilities climbing to 8.8%, while prices fell 0.9% month-on-month. Housing & Cost Pressure: In Australia, big banks are passing the RBA’s latest rate hike in full to variable mortgage holders, raising pressure on big-ticket retailers like Harvey Norman—an angle on how higher borrowing costs hit household spending. Tech & Finance: OpenAI rolled out new ChatGPT Ads features for advertisers, including bulk product feed creation and better product review tracking. Digital Slovenia: A claim is spreading online that Trump’s “Super Intelligence” push sparked a surge in Slovenian .si domain registrations, with allegations of insider domain buying driving profits. Sports (Slovenia-linked): Scotland’s new boss Sebastien Pocognoli started with a goalless draw in Slovenia, then suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Switzerland after an early red card; the team is now chasing a first win in Nations League B1. EU Politics & Elections: Bosnia’s election commission met EU “Friends of the Western Balkans” ambassadors, discussing preparations and the use of electoral technology.

Slovenian Politics: A Mediana poll for POP TV shows public confidence in Slovenia’s government slipping ahead of 11 October referendums, with 50.2% opposing the government’s work and SDS leading on voting intention (23.7%). Nations League (Slovenia): Slovenia beat North Macedonia 2-0 in Ljubljana, while the wider group picture includes Scotland’s 0-3 loss to Switzerland. EU Border Rules: The Entry/Exit System (EES) is driving fresh travel friction for UK visitors to Schengen, with biometric checks at major airports including Slovenia. Regional Crime Watch: New research traces illicit cigarette flows through Montenegro and Bosnia toward Slovenia and the EU, highlighting organised networks and lost excise revenue. Business & Tech: Deutsche Telekom and Cloudflare are directly connecting networks to expand secure cloud offerings across Europe. Travel Deals: Interrail has launched a flash sale with up to 50% off rail passes across 33 countries, ending 1 October.

UEFA Nations League: Spain kept a perfect start with a 4-1 win over Croatia as Lamine Yamal scored twice, while England beat 10-man Czechia 2-0; in League B, Slovenia won 2-0 vs North Macedonia, and Scotland were hammered 0-3 by Switzerland at Hampden after Jack Hendry’s early red card. Scotland coaching spotlight: New boss Sebastien Pocognoli said the plan collapsed after the sending off, with Switzerland punishing the free-kick and adding goals after the break. EU pensions pressure: The EU’s move to raise the retirement age is set to lengthen working lives across Europe, with Croatia not yet matching the biggest jumps seen elsewhere. Crypto regulation in Greece: Greece entered the EU’s MiCA framework with four providers added to the register, while Slovenia-linked providers also appeared in the latest update. Business/tech: NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS and stc group launched an IoT connectivity solution in Saudi Arabia for Komatsu equipment, built to meet local telecom rules.

Ljubljana–Washington Protocol Clash: Slovenia’s president Nataša Pirc Musar says any invitation to US President Donald Trump must go through proper channels, after PM Janez Janša publicly announced he had invited Trump during the UN General Assembly, turning it into a constitutional fight over who can invite foreign leaders. Digital Boom in Slovenia: Trump’s UN push to rename “artificial intelligence” as “superintelligence” sparked a rush for Slovenian “.si” domains, with registrations jumping from about 1,000/month to thousands per day and pushing totals above 220,000. Crypto Regulation Update: Greece entered the EU MiCA register for the first time, adding four providers (including Piraeus Bank), while regulators deny claims of political or ECB interference. Transport & Business: TUI Airways will launch scheduled Ljubljana flights to Brussels and Düsseldorf for summer 2027, boosting airport connectivity. Sports Spotlight: Luka Dončić says the Lakers’ post-LeBron era is a “new challenge,” while Scotland’s Sebastien Pocognoli begins his Hampden home run against Switzerland after a goalless draw in Slovenia.

Lakers Transition: With LeBron James gone, Bronny James says he’s focused on his own path as Luka Dončić embraces a bigger leadership role and Austin Reaves locks in as a co-leader after a new $184.76m deal. Slovenia Spotlight Online: After Trump’s UN remarks on “super intelligence,” Slovenia’s .si domain saw registrations surge by over 15% in September, jumping from about 3,515 in August to 4,311 in a single day. EU Justice Update: The EU Council appointed new EPPO prosecutors for Germany and Slovenia, part of a partial renewal of the office. Football at Hampden: Scotland’s new coach Sebastien Pocognoli takes charge at home vs Switzerland after a 0-0 draw in Ljubljana, stressing players must get regular club minutes by March. Tourism Policy Watch: Europe’s Travel Summit in Brussels tackles overtourism and record flight demand, with live coverage on Euronews. Defence Readiness: Slovenia’s Hajdinjak links continued Ukraine support to stronger European defence preparedness and joint procurement.

Pope Leo XIV in France: Hundreds of thousands turned out in Paris and Lourdes as the pope used his four-day visit to push faith revival, address the clerical abuse scandal, and spotlight AI. EU Energy Rules: The European Commission opened infringement cases against 18 states, including Slovenia, for not fully implementing EU energy-sharing and supplier-choice rules. Scotland–Slovenia football ties: Sebastien Pocognoli’s Scotland began with a 0-0 Nations League draw in Ljubljana, with praise for second-half pressure and chances—setting up a key Hampden test vs Switzerland. North Adriatic hydrogen push: The Hydrogen Ecosystem North Adriatic is moving from a “valley” concept toward broader innovation, investment, and market deployment, with new open calls and a major conference in Gorizia/Nova Gorica. Global law debate at UNGA: Leaders warned that selective enforcement of international law is eroding trust in institutions, with Gaza and other conflicts driving the backlash. Amazon protection analysis: Carbon Brief says Lula’s Brazil avoided at least 20,000 km² of deforestation since 2022, shaping the stakes ahead of the next election.

Slovenia–Scotland Football: Sebastien Pocognoli’s Scotland era began in Ljubljana with a 0-0 Nations League stalemate, but the second half brought a clear change in shape and intensity, leaving fans encouraged despite missed chances; Scotland now host Switzerland next. Player Watch: Scotland’s Stephen Welsh and John McGinn pointed to the half-time tweaks as the turning point, while Scott McTominay’s return is still a puzzle after a heart procedure. Injuries Abroad: Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is set to miss Portugal’s next match with a “complicated problem,” and Denmark’s Patrick Dorgu also left early, adding to club injury worries. Culture in the Region: Greece’s EMST won the European Museum Academy’s Art Museum Award 2026, beating major contenders including Slovenia’s National Gallery in Ljubljana. Global Politics: China and the US held talks at the White House, with observers calling deeper cooperation key for stability. Sports Elsewhere: Brandon McNulty won the men’s elite road race world title in Montreal, ending a 33-year US drought.