Second Annual Meeting Under the Second Swiss Contribution

The meeting was opened by the Ambassador of Switzerland to Slovenia, Her Excellency Gabriele Schreier, and the Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development, Dr Aleksander Jevšek. Both speakers highlighted the successful cooperation between the two countries and said a few words about the approved programme entitled "Increasing Energy Efficiency and Promoting Renewable Energy in Alpine Regions", under which a Swiss contribution of CHF 15.12 million has been allocated to Slovenia. The programme contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency, promoting the use of renewable energy sources and raising awareness about the need to move to a low-carbon society. The basis for the launch of the programme are the Support Measure Agreement and Support Measure Implementation Agreement that were signed on 11 April 2025.

The aim of the annual meeting was to discuss progress made in conducting two feasibility studies supported by Technical Support funds under the second Swiss contribution, as well as progress made in the implementation of the programme managed by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy, acting as the programme operator. The representatives of the Green Transition Promotion Office and the Energy Directorate gave an overview of the milestones achieved, outlining the planned activities for the coming year.

On 13 May 2025, a day before the annual meeting, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy invited the delegation from Switzerland on a field visit to the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia's Trial Orchard, the site of an agri-photovoltaic pilot project that is implemented as part of one of the two supported feasibility studies. The field visit continued with a tour of the solar power plant on the green roof of Miško Kranjec Primary School in Ljubljana, a good practice example of a renewable energy community project co-financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the City of Ljubljana, and private investor.