A Russian central (web) business magazine Invest Foresight this week published an interview with the VZMD President  (VIDEO), Mr. Kristjan Verbič, which was held, among other things, during his recent attendance at the eminent GAIDAR FORUM. Mr. Verbič – also in the role of the Board Member of the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users (Better Finance) – reiterated his wishes for strengthening of business and investment collaboration, and for stronger integration with the Russian association of investors, shareholders and business persons. Given that Mr. Verbič was invited to the "Russian Davos", i.e. GAIDAR FORUM personally – by the Dean of the Moscow Institute of Business Studies, Mr. Sergey Myasoedov – also the year before, the interview at that time was published again in the same magazine (VIDEO).

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia remedied the great injustice incurred to Mr. Kristjan Verbič with regard to the decisions of the Lower and Higher Court in Ljubljana with which he was convicted with final force for a crime that he had not committed. The ten-year long court trail has raised a lot of attention and gained considerable response from the public, since it dealt with the first and only decision regarding misuse of inside information in the country.

Yesterday, Moscow saw the kick-off of the 11th Gaidar Forum, this year entitled “Russia and the World: Challenges of the New Decade”. A two-day forum, traditionally organized by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), which enjoys the status of the “Russian Davos Forum”, gives the opportunity to share and confront views to thousands of eminent scientists, economists, businessmen, decision-makers, and most important government representatives, politicians and public figures from many countries and international institutions. Foreign guests view the forum as an important source of information about socio-economic trends, business developments, and state of the business and investment climate in Russia, whilst domestic experts seize this opportunity to build the prospects for further economic growth and Russian integration with the world economy. In view of that, this year's forum is hosting 85 panels, presentations, and other events to discuss current topics and challenges for the next decade.

On Tuesday, the presentation of the "The Adriatic Journal: Strategic Foresight 2020" issue took place in Ljubljana, and it is traditionally given by the Institute for Strategic Solutions. The event was attended by the prominent representatives of the state, institutions, the economy and civil society such as Mr. Miro Cerar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Ms. Karin Kneissl, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Blaž Brodnjak, NLB Bank Chairman of the Board, Mr. Gregor Pilgram, Generali CEE Holding Board member. As part of the VZMD's efforts and its international business-investor programs Invest to Slovenia - investo.si and International Investors' Network – invest-to.net, the event was attended by the President of the Association, Mr. Verbič, who took the opportunity to talk to many prominent guests. Among other things, a discussion was held about further collaboration in terms of activities by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, Public Agency SPIRIT Slovenia - primarily in light of preparations for the Slovenia's presidency of the EU Council.

Yesterday, the Euronext Stock Exchange in Brussels hosted the Sustainable Value for Money international conference organized by the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users (Better Finance) in collaboration with the CFA Institute. The important conference addresses the issues of sustainable and long-term real returns of various financial products intended for long-term and retirement savings.

Yesterday, the General meeting of the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users (Better Finance) took place at the CFA Institute in the Brussels downtown, followed by the meetings of the Legal Committee and the Executive Board. The events were also attended by the PanSlovenian Investors' & Shareholders' Association (VZMD) President, Mr. Kristjan Verbič, as a member of the Better Finance's Executive Board. He pointed out, among other things, two key issues from the vantage point of investors in Slovenia, which are also being fully addressed by the European Federation of Investors. 

The 6th extraordinary session that took place on Monday saw the members of the National Council unanimously vote for the suspensive veto to the Act on Judicial Relief Granted to Former Holders of Qualified Bank Credit (ZPSVIKOB). The session at the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia was also attended by the President of the VZMD, Mr. Kristjan Verbič. Last week, immediately after ZPSVIKOB was adopted in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Verbič addressed an appeal to the National Council, urging the members of the Council to veto the act and enable the reading of their incomparably more suitable bill.

On Tuesday evening, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia has seen 34 votes against and 46 votes for in favor of adopting the Act on Judicial Relief Granted to Former Holders of Qualified Bank Credit (ZPSVIKOB) prepared by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. At the PanSlovenian Investors’ & Shareholders’ Association (VZMD), where they have been actively following the legislative procedure the entire time, providing numerous proposals, remarks, and warnings about the unsuitability of the Government’s bill, they decided to send a reasoned appeal to the members of the National Council urging them to veto the adopted act. This way, the repeated voting in the National Assembly would have to see the absolute majority of members of the parliament voting to adopt the questionable ZPSVIKOB, meaning once again at least 46 votes. At the VZMD they are of the opinion that it would be harder to achieve the majority of votes the second time around.

Lebanese capital of Beirut is hosting the meeting of the European Federation of Investors and Financial Services Users (Better Finance) and the World Federation of Investors (WFI). The high-level meetings and the high-profile international conference are taking place under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Lebanon, General Michel Aoun, and are organized by the distinguished law Office Boulos with the support of both international associations and Belgian Business Council in Lebanon.

On Wednesday, Dublin hosted an important convention of the European Securities Exchanges (FESE) attended by over 300 important representatives of European institutions and financial industry, decision-makers and experts from 31 countries. The current expert discussion primarily addresses the role of stock exchange and capital markets, the influence of the MiFID II/MiFiR financial market reform and Brexit, the European future and strategic need for a sustainable union of capital markets.

At the organizers' invitation, this important event is attended for the third time by the VZMD President Mr. Kristjan Verbič. On the Tuesday night gala reception, Mr. Verbič took the opportunity to engage in discussions about the proposals and efforts from the VZMD and Better Finance, where he is a member of the Executive Board. Mr. Verbič spoke to the President of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) Mr. Steven Maijoor, who was the keynote speaker at the reception, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance in Ireland Mr. Michael W. D'Arcy, the Better Finance Managing Director Mr. Guillaume Prache, the FESE President Mr. Petr Koblic, Head of the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union at the European Commission Mr. Olivier Guersent, Director of the financial markets division at the European Commission Mr. Ugo Bassi, and numerous other FESE representatives, directors of European stock exchanges and regulatory authorities.

Through the discussions, Mr. Verbič also addressed the VZMD and Better Finance warnings regarding the non-compliance of the Slovenian Financial Instruments Market Act (ZTFI) with EU Directive no. 909/2014, which represents a hazard which could lead to the final destruction of the individual possession of securities in Slovenia. Additionally, he discussed the VZMD proposal to establish the European Tribune institute i.e. an Ombudsman for the economic rights in the EU, the unsuccessful efforts to resolve the issue of expropriated investors in Slovenian banks and the pertaining unconstitutionality, and the current changes of the Book Entry Securities Act (ZNVP-1B) where its authors failed to listen to constructive and well-supported suggestions prepared by the VZMD (in collaboration with Slovenian Consumers' Association).

Mr. Verbič had also discussed these issues with some of the attendees of the annual congress of the European Business Angel Network  (EBAN) in Helsinki, before he traveled to Dublin.

The annual European Business Angel Network congress (EBAN), one of the biggest international events in the field of start-up capital and business angels in Europe, organized for the 20th time by EBAN together with the national members’ organization, has concluded tonight in Helsinki. In addition to the Finnish Business Angel Network FiBAN), this year’s congress was co-organized by the Arctic15 conference, which is considered one of the most successful networking events for start-ups in Europe.