167th regular session of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia

The Government adopted the draft amendment to the Act Regulating Relations of the Republic of Slovenia with Slovenians Abroad. The amendment establishes and regulates measures to strengthen the economic base of Slovenians in neighbouring countries. It defines measures to support their economic foundations, sets out the procedure for implementing a public call for applications to select eligible beneficiaries, and introduces the possibility of direct allocation of funds for projects that make a particularly important contribution to the preservation, strengthening, and development of the Slovenian national community in neighbouring countries. The amendment also introduces the possibility of providing premises for non-governmental organisations operating in the public interest in the field of cooperation with Slovenians abroad and around the world. In the field of regional cooperation, it designates the authority responsible for ensuring the funding of Slovenia’s assumed obligations for development programmes and projects, including financing the Muraba Joint Fund for 2025 and 2026.

The Government determined the text of the draft amendment to the Act on Cooperation in Criminal Matters with the Member States of the European Union and submitted it to the National Assembly for consideration under the shortened procedure. The proposed amendment eliminates certain irregularities and shortcomings in the transposition of several EU legal acts and ensures the transposition of subsequently adopted EU acts on cooperation in criminal matters between Member States. It covers the following areas:

• European Arrest Warrant and surrender procedures,
• European Investigation Order,
• mutual recognition of judgments imposing custodial sentences or measures involving deprivation of liberty,
• mutual recognition of probation measures, conditional sentences, alternative sanctions, and decisions on conditional release with supervision,
• mutual recognition of orders on the confiscation of property in criminal proceedings and the provisional securing of such confiscation, and
• exchange of information from criminal records.

The proposed changes take into account the principles of cooperation in criminal matters between EU Member States, in particular the protection of human rights and freedoms, the rule of law, legitimacy and proportionality of repression, effectiveness, efficiency, and mutual trust.

At today’s session, the Government also determined the text of the draft Healthcare Digitalisation Act (ZDigZ) and submitted it to the National Assembly under the regular procedure. This draft replaces the one submitted to the National Assembly on 19 June 2025. The Government opted for this step because the suspension of the Act on Assistance in Voluntary Termination of Life has also blocked the adoption of the ZDigZ, as both affect the Patients’ Rights Act. The new proposal has therefore been adjusted accordingly, while the essential content remains unchanged.

The objective of the Act is to improve the functioning of the entire healthcare system through digital data exchange and the use of modern information technology. Healthcare services will thus be faster and more efficient. The Act introduces numerous innovations that will make the work of healthcare professionals easier, simplify patients’ path through the system, and ensure more orderly and transparent data management for the entire healthcare sector. For instance, all healthcare providers will be required to submit medical records to the central electronic health record (CeZZ), meaning all key patient data will be collected in one place. Patients will no longer have to print or physically transfer documents between providers. All healthcare professionals and associates treating a patient will, in line with their authorisations, have access to the patient’s medical data. This will enable better teamwork and relieve physicians, as internal data sharing will no longer be necessary. Patients will nevertheless retain the right to deny access to certain providers or individuals.

A public company will be established to maintain uniform and comprehensive IT solutions and to simplify access management to health data. The company will act solely as a contractual processor, meaning it will operate strictly under the instructions of data controllers (e.g. healthcare providers, NIJZ) and will not be allowed to independently decide on data processing or system development. Databases will be consolidated and streamlined – instead of more than 80 collections, approximately 30 will be established. This will improve data connectivity, reduce errors, and contribute to better diagnostics, treatment, and planning of systemic changes in healthcare.

The Government took note of the Autumn Forecast of Economic Trends 2025, prepared by the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development (IMAD). Economic growth will slow this year from last year’s 1.7% to 0.8% due to a decline in export activity, which is below IMAD’s spring expectations (2.1%). Growth is expected to pick up again in the next two years (2.1% in 2026 and 2.2% in 2027). Inflation will be somewhat higher this year (2.9% year-on-year at year-end), mainly due to higher food prices. Over the next two years, it is projected to decline to around 2.3%. The forecast is subject to considerable, mostly negative risks, mainly from the international environment, such as potential escalation of trade tensions, increased uncertainty, deteriorating financial market confidence, and geopolitical risks. Domestic risks are linked mainly to the capacity for implementing major investment projects and rising labour costs, though there is also potential for higher growth than projected.

The Government adopted a decision to amend the Joint Staffing Plan (JSP) of state administration bodies for 2025 and 2026 by setting a minimum quota for the employment of top athletes and coaches. The number of permitted employments will be increased to 21 at the Ministry of Finance (Financial Administration), 59 at the Ministry of the Interior (Police), and 103 at the Ministry of Defence (Slovenian Armed Forces). The JSP is also amended by transferring one quota each from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food and the Ministry of Infrastructure to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning. Funding for these quota transfers and minimum quotas for the employment of athletes and coaches will be secured by the respective budget users within their labour cost allocations or through internal reallocations. The total number of permitted employments in the JSP remains unchanged, as quotas are redistributed within the adopted plan for 2025 and 2026.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a decision to prohibit entry into the Republic of Slovenia to Milorad Dodik. The decision enters into force today. The reasoning behind the decision remains confidential.