The Government Communication Office's (UKOM) rejection to pay a bill for the STA's public service has prompted strong reactions from STA employees and from several journalist organisations at home and abroad as well as some MPs. The move is seen as another attempt at destabilising the press agency after its funding was first suspended in late 2020.

The Government Communication Office (UKOM) has suspended the financing of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) again, declining to pay it for the services provided as a public service in January on the ground that the parties have not yet signed a contract for the year.

The Slovenian authorities have not withdrawn notification of state aid to the STA even though the European Commission has said its clearance is not necessary. If Slovenia insists it wants a decision, the case will be processed as a matter of priority, a Commission spokeswoman said on Thursday.

The emerging National Demographic Fund might become the founder and the only shareholder of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), according to an amendment to the government-sponsored bill on the new fund. The agency's founder and only shareholder is now the Republic of Slovenia, with the government acting on behalf of the state.

The Association of Journalists and Commentators (ZNP) has welcomed the government releasing the funding of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), while noting that the STA management now needs to keep its end of the bargain by providing the Government Communication Office with data it requires to determine proper financing of the STA.

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.

Two EU commissioners have stressed that the state may support news agencies as entities performing a service of general economic interest under EU state aid rules if they so wish, and without prior notification, as they responded to an STA letter on the suspension of the agency's financing.