Responding to a question by unaffiliated MP Alenka Bratušek, Cerar repeated that the government did not ask Brussels for an extension of the deadline for the bank's sale or any other changes to the plan.

In exchange for the European Commission's approval of state aid for NLB in late 2013, Slovenia committed to sell a 75% stake in the bank by the end of 2071.

"An extension of the deadline or other changes to the commitments have not been proposed and the Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) is continuing with the activities to meet the commitments by the deadline," said Cerar.

He pledged for the privatisation to be conducted in such a way as to "prevent the taxpayers from suffering even greater damage than they already have".

Quizzed about the project to build a second track between the port of Koper and the inland hub of Divača, Cerar said that the project remained a priority, but was being planned with caution to prevent the ballooning of costs as in the case of the TEŠ 6 generator project.

In his question, Matej Tonin of the opposition new Slovenia (NSi) said that the only thing known about the second track was that its construction was supported by all political parties. He warned against a repeat of TEŠ 6, especially as the cost of the project was not known.

Cerar responded that the construction would be technically demanding and would take several years, considering the 28-kilometre track would have to negotiate almost 400 metres in difference in altitude.

The legal basis for the investment is to be submitted to parliament within a few months, and provided that the financial sources are secured, preparatory works on the track could start at the end of the year.

Cerar repeated that the projected financing relied heavily on EU funding, the government has invested EUR 200m through the special purpose vehicle 2TDK and is in talks with the hinterland countries to join in the financing, while some 30% would be secured in the form of a European Investment Bank loan.

Challenged by Tonin about the cost estimates ranging between EUR 600m and one billion, Cerar said the project was estimated at less than a billion, but that the more detailed figures were subject to deals with contractors.