WEBVTT

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Hello. Today, the Government
adopted the National Strategy

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for Artificial Intelligence
until 2030.

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I would like to begin
by emphasizing

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that the strategy was prepared
through a very broad

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and inclusive process.

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In addition to all ministries,
experts and scientists,

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the business community,
and civil society

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also participated
in its development.

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We held several
public consultations

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and a long public debate,

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and the strategy
was also discussed

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by the Economic and Social Council,

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where it was unanimously
adopted and approved.

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I emphasize this primarily
because artificial intelligence

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has long ceased to be
a technical issue.

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It's an area that has a significant
impact on the functioning

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of the state, the economy,
and society as a whole.

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That's why we wanted
the strategy to be developed

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not in a narrow way,

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but as a kind of
social agreement

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on how we want to develop,
use, and manage AI in Slovenia,

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and how we want to
live with AI in the future.

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As an umbrella
strategic document,

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it doesn't interfere
with individual projects.

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This was a conscious decision.

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The development of AI
is extremely fast and dynamic,

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so the strategy must remain
stable and long-term.

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On this basis, an action plan
will be prepared

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no later than nine months
after its adoption,

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which will define specific
measures, holders, timelines,

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sources of funding,
and performance indicators.

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In this way, we maintain
a clear strategic direction

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while ensuring
sufficient flexibility

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for timely adaptation
to technological developments.

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The strategy thus defines

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the vision for the development
of AI applications,

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basic principles,
strategic objectives,

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horizontal components
of the AI national ecosystem,

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and the method of management.

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The starting point
of the strategy is clear.

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AI has become
one of the key technologies

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of the modern economy,
public sector, and society.

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It enables better decision-making,
more efficient processes,

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advanced digital services, and new
products with high added value,

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while also raising
questions of trust,

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security, ethics, responsible use,
and human rights.

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The strategy is based
on five strategic objectives.

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The development of
sovereign and trustworthy AI,

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wider use of AI
in the economy,

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science, the public sector,
and civil society,

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strengthening Slovenian
knowledge and innovation,

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using AI for security
and resilience,

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and increasing Slovenia's
international integration.

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In order to achieve that,

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the strategy relies on concrete
foundations or building blocks

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that are already being established
or have already been established.

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Slovenia is already building
a supercomputer

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together with an AI factory.

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The AI competence centre
is also already fully operational.

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A data infrastructure and
data centre are being established,

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which will enable the secure,
lawful, and effective use of data.

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A national platform
is also being developed

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to enable the secure use
of advanced models.

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This means that the strategy
is not just on paper,

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but is already
being implemented in practice.

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The strategy places
particular emphasis

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on the Slovenian language
and cultural identity.

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This is key to accessibility
and trust in public services

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and to preserving
cultural heritage

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and local characteristics
in the digital environment.

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If AI doesn't work
in the Slovenian language

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and doesn't stem from
our social and historical context,

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we will lose our linguistic

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and cultural sovereignty
in the long term.

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Thank you, Minister.
Any questions on the topic of AI?

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No. Thank you very much,
Minister, and good luck.

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Minister Jevšek,
please present

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the draft Resolution on the Regional
Development Strategy of Slovenia

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for the period 2026-2050.

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At today's session,
the Government adopted the text of

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the draft Resolution on the Regional
Development Strategy of Slovenia

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for the period 2026-2050

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and submitted it to the National
Assembly for consideration.

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With the Regional Development
Strategy of Slovenia until 2050,

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Slovenia has clearly opted
for a polycentric development

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that strengthens
all regional centres

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and reduces excessive centralization
in the central Slovenian region.

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The goal is to continue
strengthening Ljubljana

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and achieve a developmentally
balanced country

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with several strong centres.

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We're convinced that only regions
that are connected, resilient,

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competitive, and well-managed
can achieve the set goals.

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The analysis clearly shows that
regional differences are increasing.

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If we don't upgrade
regional policies

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and adapt them
to the new circumstances,

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these trends will intensify.

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In the long term,
this will reduce the resilience

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and competitiveness
of the entire country.

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Slovenia's development
is directly dependent

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on the development performance
of all regions, which is why we need

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a systemic upgrade
of regional policy.

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The strategy focuses on the economic
transformation of regions.

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It focuses on growth 
in productivity and competition,

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development of human resources
and better access to services.

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Its advantages are:

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firstly, stimulation
of economic transformation,

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with the main focus
on productivity increase,

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competiveness
and development of human resources.

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Secondly, it should provide
appropriate access to public services

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and infrastructure in all regions
for achieving a high quality of life.

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Thirdly, a focused support
to border areas

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and regions with special
developmental challenges.

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Fourthly, reinforcing the systems
of management and execution

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development policies
on the national and regional level.

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A new regional developmental model
is based on a territorial approach,

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which foresees
a targeted support to regions,

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considering their specific needs
and developmental features.

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It emphasizes a long-term orientation
of the economic development

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and a quality life
in all regions

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with an access
to high added-value jobs,

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as well as the quality public
and marketing services

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as close to home as possible.

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With it,
we address everyday needs

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and minimize daily commutes.

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In accordance with a strategy
the regions aren't considered

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only as executers
of local infrastructural projects,

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but as active sources of economic,
innovation and social development.

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The centre of regional policies
is moving towards knowledge,

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entrepreneurship, innovation
and economic transformation.

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Regions shall in the future
get a complete support,

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which will be targeted
and adapted to their challenges.

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Measures and projects will be created
tailored to each region.

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A motion for a strategy resolution

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for a regional
development of Slovenia

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for a period 2026-2050
is necessary

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also for further activity, important
for use of European funding

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in a new,
multiannual fiscal period.

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A strategy adoption will be followed
by the preparation of local programs

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and implementation papers.
On the national level,

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an action program
for coherent regional development.

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And on a regional level,
agreements for regional development.

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Thank you very much.

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Any questions?

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Nejc Krevs, RTV. Today, you are
in a Central Slovenian region.

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What are the challenges for the most
highly developed region?

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You are in Ljubljana today and this
is the last governmental visit.

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The central region scores 155%
of the average GDP in the state.

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The other 11 regions,
on the other hand,

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don't procure
the average development.

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The worst region is Zasavje
with 55%.

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It is not our goal to block
the Central Slovenian region,

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but to have a strategy and plans
to stimulate other regions

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to catch up the Central region.
-Thank you.

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If there are no questions,
I thank you for being here

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and I wish you a good day.
Goodbye. -Thank you.