News

Dear citizens, dear compatriots at home and abroad, few nations in the world can boast such a strong commitment to culture as the Slovenes.

On the sidelines of the visit of foreign ministers from the Middle East and the Gulf to Slovenia, a panel discussion entitled 'From the Board of Peace to Broader Peace in the Middle East' took place as part of the Bled Strategic Forum. All participants emphasised that nobody wants a new war in the region and that everyone is making significant diplomatic efforts to achieve peace.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with a group of the most powerful Arabic ministers of foreign affairs, who came to Slovenia to show their support for the Slovenian government’s policy regarding the Palestinian question. Talks focused on the current situation in Palestine and the strong mutual desire to further enhance bilateral relations.

With its visit to the Koroška region, the Government continued its series of regional visits. In the morning, it held its 190th regular session in Dravograd, after which members of the Government continued with separate field programmes. In the afternoon, a consultation with mayors and representatives of the business sector was organised in Slovenj Gradec, aimed at reviewing key development challenges and coordinating further steps.

The Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs fully supports Franc Jožef Smrtnik, a member of the Carinthian State Parliament (Landtag), who was reprimanded during yesterday's session for using three Slovene phrases in his six-minute address.

On the basis of the Aviation Act, a Public Tender for Enhanced Air Connectivity of Slovenia was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia and the Official Journal of the European Union on 6. 2. 2026. In accordance with the Act, the tender documentation is publicly published, however, the English translation is merely an information aid for foreign air carriers when preparing applications for aid.

The application for aid and Annexes must be submitted in Slovene language.

First submission deadline is 6. 3. 2026 at 23:59:59.
Second submission deadline is 31. 8. 2026 at 23:59:59.

Ahead of the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the Government GOVSI Podcast discussed the expectations of the Slovenian Olympic team, the importance of fan support, and the role of the Slovenian House in promoting Slovenia. The guests of the episode were Blaž Perko, Head of the Slovenian Olympic Team, and Matic Švab, Managing Director of the Slovenian Olympic Committee.

As part of the Slovenian government visit to the Koroška region, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon visited the First Primary School Slovenj Gradec, one of the first schools in Slovenia to join the UNESCO Associated Schools Network.

State Secretary Neva Grašič held political consultations with Thomas Byrne, Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs and Defence at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and exchanging views on current European and global issues, particularly in light of Ireland’s preparations for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026.

At today’s session, the Government adopted the Programme of Development Incentive Measures in the Fields of Economic, Environmental, Social and Cultural Development and Human Resources Development. It was briefed on information related to the preparation of starting points for drafting legislative bases that will regulate the use of social networks and similar online services, and it proclaimed 5 March as the National Reading Day.

As part of a government visit to the Koroška region, the Prime Minister visited Dravograd and Ravne na Koroškem, where he met with the management and the staff of the General Hospital Slovenj Gradec.

Prime Minister Robert Golob hosted a working breakfast for members of the European Commission and leaders of political groups in the European Parliament, who are currently visiting Slovenia.

The 36th Alpe-Adria Fair – the region’s largest tourism event – opened on 4 February. In her address, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon emphasised that tourism today is about much more than just travel. It is a form of soft power, promoting dialogue, trust and stability. Tourism provides an important platform for developing international cooperation and partnerships and for fostering mutual understanding.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the Dual-Use Slovenia 2026 conference. Prime Minister Golob began by recalling that Europe has had to face serious challenges in the last five years: first the pandemic, then the war in Ukraine, natural disasters, and finally the trade war.

July 31st 2026 the Consulate General will be offering consular hours in Tower, Minnesota.

April 11th and April 12th 2026 the Consulate General will be offering consular hours in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As part of the Latin America and Caribbean Days (LAC Days) conference, the Ministry of Finance, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), organised the fourth seminar entitled 'Business Opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean'.

On January 30, 2026, Ambassador Iztok Mirošič attended an NBA basketball game in which Luka Dončić played for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The Archivalia of the Month section features the Archivalia of the month of February, which is is dedicated to the world of espionage at the end of the First World War. We present the case of Anton Kravanja from Soča, a man who—even at first glance—appeared exceedingly suspicious.
The text was prepared by Jernej Komac.

At a correspondence session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia took note of the support expressed by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, for the candidacy of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

On 21 January 2026, the Ambassador attended the ceremonial world premiere of the documentary film Melania as the only invited ambassador. On the sidelines of the event, he met with numerous representatives of the U.S. administration.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food has issued an open call for citizens, legal persons, and other organisations to propose candidates for the 2026 Golden Bee Award.

Slovenia is continuing its tradition of Olympic houses at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which will take place from 6 to 22 February 2026. Once again, the Slovenia House will serve as the central hub of Slovenia's presence at the Games and a key platform for the comprehensive promotion of the country. It will also host two outstanding Slovenian champions and Olympic gold medallists who continue to inspire generations worldwide – Tina Maze and Primož Roglič.

In the new episode of the GOVSI podcast, we focused on one of the most demanding and at the same time most significant periods of Slovenian foreign policy – Slovenia’s two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council hosted UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, at the initiative of Slovenia and Ireland. Minister Tanja Fajon emphasised that human rights are increasingly being treated as optional rather than universal. "Respect for human rights is a priority for Slovenia." At the meeting, ministers also backed measures against Iran.

At the invitation of Hungarian Minister of the Interior Sándor Pintér, Slovenia’s Minister of the Interior Branko Zlobko visited Budapest.

Minister Tanja Fajon met with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže in Riga to discuss bilateral relations. Slovenia and Latvia enjoy good and friendly relations and work closely together in various multilateral forums. At the annual meeting of heads of Latvia’s diplomatic missions, Minister Fajon shared Slovenia's experiences of serving on the UN Security Council, to which Latvia was elected following Slovenia's term.

At today’s session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia took note of information on the implementation of the provisions of the Weapons Act, which introduced the possibility for holders to surrender weapons or ammunition possessed without a valid firearms licence. It appointed Uroš Brežan as Director of the Triglav National Park Public Institution and approved the content of the call for enrolment in undergraduate and integrated master’s study programmes for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The EU and India have concluded negotiations on a historic, ambitious and commercially significant free trade agreement. The agreement will strengthen economic and political ties between the world's second- and fourth-largest economies at a time of rising geopolitical tensions and global economic challenges, while also underscoring their shared commitment to economic openness and rules-based trade.

State Secretary Neva Grašič attended the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Brussels, where ministers and state secretaries for European affairs held a strategic exchange on the European Democracy Shield, the rule of law and the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU for this semester. Emphasising the importance of a comprehensive approach to combating disinformation and foreign interference, she also referred to the upcoming elections in Slovenia.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the largest and deadliest Nazi concentration camp, on 27 January 1945. With its 1.5 million Jewish victims, Auschwitz stands as a haunting testament to the horrors of the Holocaust. This day not only preserves the memory of the mass atrocities, but also raises awareness to ensure that genocide is never repeated.

Prime Minister Robert Golob was a guest on CNN’s Connect the World with Becky Anderson, where he spoke about the most topical foreign policy issues.

Prime Minister Robert Golob is attending tonight’s working dinner of European Council members in Brussels. The main purpose of this extraordinary meeting is a strategic discussion about recent events concerning transatlantic relations and the European Union’s response to these developments.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in London is advertising a job position in the consular department – administrator. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who likes helping people in a very dynamic and quick pace environment.

During a government visit to the Savinjska region, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon met with representatives of the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry Celje, together with the management teams of the companies Celjske mesnine, Cetis and LXNAV. The discussions focused on furthering the internationalisation of the Slovenian economy and science, particularly in the Savinjska region.

Today, the Government continued its series of regional sessions with a visit to the Savinja Region, focusing, this time, on the Celje and Kozje areas. Prime Minister Robert Golob began the visit at the Šmarje pri Jelšah Retirement Home, where he met with residents and toured the facilities. In discussions with management, he saw for himself that, as of January 2026, monthly bills in retirement homes have been significantly reduced.

State Secretary Tina Heferle attended the informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Cyprus, organised by the Presidency of the Council of the EU.

At today’s session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Decree on the designation of health regions, introducing six health regions with the aim of ensuring the best possible access to healthcare services. The Government also issued the Decree on the preparation and publication of acts in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia and adopted the position of the Republic of Slovenia in response to the invitation to the Board of Peace.

The first issue of the year brings insights from the Slovenian capital on the conclusion of Slovenia’s second term on the UN Security Council at the end of December 2025. It also features reflections on Slovenia's third term on the UN Human Rights Council, which began on 1 January 2026.

State Secretary Grašič took part in political consultations in Tirana, where she was hosted by Megi Fino, Albanian Deputy Minister at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The discussions reaffirmed the strong and friendly relations between the two countries and focused on Albania’s progress on its path towards EU membership.

Prime Minister Robert Golob made a statement to the media today focusing on current foreign policy developments, particularly with regard to Greenland and the invitation from the President of the Unites States to participate in the Board of Peace.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a presentation of two pillars of the national security system of the Republic of Slovenia at Brdo pri Kranju.

Slovenian Consulate General in Cleveland Welcomes You to Special February Events. Everyone is welcome!

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a ceremony marking the start of the investment in the new wood-energy centre in Kočevska Reka and addressed those present.

Slovenia was presented at the Matka Travel Fair in Helsinki as a green, sustainable destination. Visitors explored Slovenia's natural and cultural heritage and its rich beekeeping tradition through presentations, tastings, and workshops, strengthening visibility in the Nordic market.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, and Tina Gaber Golob, as well as the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, and Aleš Musar, today hosted the traditional New Year's reception for the Diplomatic Corps at Brdo pri Kranju. The President, Prime Minister and the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, Msgr Luigi Bianco, also addressed the Diplomatic Corps.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals Developing competence and innovative approaches for managing dementia. The call will make EUR 2.7 million available and will receive nearly EUR 1.7 million from the European Social Fund Plus.

Slovenia welcomes the signing of the Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur. These agreements are the result of over 25 years of negotiations. The two legally distinct instruments run in parallel and together establish a comprehensive framework for enhanced political, economic and sectoral cooperation between the EU and Mercosur countries.

At a correspondence session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a decision on the participation of two officers of the Slovenian Armed Forces in the planning and implementation of the international military exercise Arctic Endurance led by the Kingdom of Denmark with the aim of strengthening regional security.

The success of Slovenian companies in foreign markets is proof that Slovenia has a knowledge-based, quality-driven economy with a long-term focus on development. The companies Ensol 360 and Vinakoper demonstrate that internationally recognised stories can be created from local environments. These companies generate jobs, promote regional development and boost the country's reputation.