News

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Slovenians Abroad, Matej Arčon, has spent the last two days with the Slovenian minority in Porabje, Hungary.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a state ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, where he delivered a keynote address. The ceremony was dedicated to remembering the past, expressing gratitude and reflecting on the values that continue to unite us today.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a ceremonial session of the City Council of the City of Ljubljana. He was accompanied by his partner, Ms Tina Gaber.

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center (WB3C) is proud to announce its collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to host the region’s first Cyber Capacity Building Workshop on 19-20 May 2025 in Podgorica. This high-level gathering will convene global experts and regional stakeholders to strengthen the Western Balkans’ cybersecurity resilience through two critical streams: addressing the cyber talent shortage and enhancing collaborative strategies against cybercrime.

On 9 May 2025, State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič participated in the informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers held in Lviv, Ukraine. She also took part in the meeting of the Core Group on the Establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

On the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and in celebration of Europe Day, the Government Communication Office presents a new episode of the GOVSI podcast featuring Dr. Aleš Gabrič, a renowned historian and president of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. In conversation with host Zoran Potič, they reflect on the meaning of May 9—once and today—as a day of victory, liberation, and European unity.

Every year on Europe Day, we commemorate the signing of the historic Schuman Declaration which, on 9 May 1950, laid the foundations for today's European Union. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War – a milestone that should serve as a reminder that peace is worth every effort.

At yesterday's session, the Government adopted the Human Resource Management Strategy in State Administration until 2030. The strategy aims to introduce strategic and comprehensive human resource management, utilise the potential of public employees effectively, and create an attractive work environment with a development-oriented organisational culture. Its adoption forms part of the public administration reform project under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).

Foreign ministers and their guests met in Warsaw during Poland's six-month presidency of the EU. There was ample opportunity for frank discussions on the world's key challenges, including the importance of closer foreign and security policy cooperation with the UK, efforts to achieve an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine and further dialogue with the US in the light of the first 100 days of America First.

The Government adopted the text of the proposed Act Amending the Pension and Disability Insurance Act. Amendments are necessary primarily to adapt the system to the ageing population, while the reform is also part of commitments under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

At today’s session, the Government approved the proposed changes to the pension reform and was briefed on the current defence and security policy. It also adopted the draft Act on the Publication of Acts in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, the draft Act on School Inspection, the draft amendment to the Primary School Act, and issued a new flood regulation introducing the concept of flood and erosion resilience.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Sustainable mobility in Velenje.

At today's press conference, "Public Sector in Numbers", the Minister of Public Administration, Franc Props, the Minister of Finance, Klemen Boštjančič, and the Director General of the Public Sector Directorate at the Ministry of Public Administration, Peter Pogačar, emphasised that public employees are key to the functioning of society, which is why the wage system reform ensures the proper evaluation of their work performance and a stimulating working environment.

We, the Foreign Ministers of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain express our grave concern about the reported Israeli plans to expand its military operations in Gaza and to establish a prolonged Israeli presence in the Strip. This would mean crossing yet another line, marking a dangerous new escalation and jeopardizing any prospects of a viable Two-State solution.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Call for proposals to co-finance sustainable mobility measures in the period 2023-2029. Municipalities will use the funding to develop and ensure accessible, safer and sustainable day-to-day mobility for their inhabitants. The Cohesion Fund will contribute 42.1 million euros in EU funding.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted an Opinion on the Proposal for a Declaration on the Preservation and Strengthening of the Autochthonous Slovenian National Minority in the Republic of Austria at a correspondence session. The Government welcomes the initiative of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia and supports the purpose of the Declaration, which comprehensively addresses the issue of the position and exercise of the rights of the Slovenian national minority in the Austrian regions of Carinthia and Styria.

Construction has begun in Maribor on Arnes' data centre, which will also house a supercomputer for the artificial intelligence factory. This will be the biggest data centre in Slovenia. The foundation stone was unveiled by Prime Minister Robert Golob, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Igor Papič and Director of the Academic and Research Network of Slovenia (Arnes) Marko Bonač.

The 10th edition of the EUSAIR Forum under the theme “Bridging horizons: Strengthening cooperation, resilience and cohesion in the Adriatic-Ionian Region” is taking place in Georgioupolis, Crete. The minister for cohesion and regional development Dr Aleksander Jevšek attended the event.

At the international academic conference titled Responsibility to Protect in Theory and Practice, Minister Tanja Fajon underlined: "There is no alternative to international law. We must all respect it, and Slovenia has consistently defended the same standards for all, without exception." The conference, held at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the new data centre ARNES in Maribor.

Slovenia presented its statement before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, emphasising Israel's obligation to facilitate emergency humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, grounded in the principles of respect for human rights, adherence to international humanitarian law and its obligations as a UN Member State.

Dear citizens, residents of Slovenia and Slovenians abroad, On the occasion of 1 May, International Labour Day, I extend my sincere congratulations to you all.

The Archivalia of the Month May 2025 with the title The Expropriation of the Land Estates owned by the Diocese of Ljubljana.

The Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, in cooperation with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) and the Labour Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia, is organizing a free webinar titled "Key Factors for Effective Management of Occupational Safety and Health in the EU and Slovenia."

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals Enriching quality and accessible education and integrating circular economy education in educational institutions in the Zasavska region.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tehran will be closed on Labour Day on Thursday, 1 May 2025.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Integrated Territorial Investments City of Ljubljana e-buses.

Dear citizens, dear residents of Slovenia and Slovenians abroad,

Each year, the Day of Uprising Against Occupation reminds us of the importance of freedom, unity and courage.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The funeral service was presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. The Prime Minister was accompanied at the funeral ceremony by his partner, Ms Tina Gaber.

At today's extraordinary session, members of parliament approved the proposal of the new Civil Servants Act (ZJU-1). The Act focuses on enhancing the competence and independence of public employees while increasing flexibility in human resource management within public administration. The most important new development is the establishment of the Human Resources Centre.

The National Assembly has adopted the Declaration on the Activities of the Republic of Slovenia in EU Institutions for the period until June 2026.

During a visit to Austria, Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon met with the new Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Beate Meinl-Reisinger. The visit was aimed at developing good neighbourly relations between the two countries and discussing current foreign policy and EU issues, including the Western Balkans and the EU enlargement.

In the 21st episode of the government GOVSI podcast, host Petra Bezjak Cirman spoke with Igor Feketija, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, who played a key role in negotiating the recently reached pension reform agreement. The reform, set to be implemented gradually from 2026 onwards, addresses major demographic challenges and strengthens the long-term sustainability of the pension system.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Purchase of audio-visual equipment for the Prison Administration of the Republic of Slovenia.

24 April is the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, declared by the UN General Assembly in 2018. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs marked the day in a particularly special way with a simulation of international negotiations within the framework of the United Nations, conducted by university and secondary school students under the auspices of the United Nations Association of Slovenia.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia fully supports the joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom (E3) on April 23, 2025, regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

At today’s session, the Government adopted amendments to the Animal Protection Act which, among other things, provide for the financing of care for abandoned animals, ban hen cage rearing and introduce restrictions on keeping wildlife species. It also took note of the preparation of the proposed Act Amending Pension and Disability Insurance Act and the Development Report 2025.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals Enriching quality and accessible education and integrating circular economy education in educational institutions in the SAŠA coal region.

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work, observed on April 28, highlights the importance of safe working conditions for all workers. This year's theme emphasizes the role of artificial intelligence and digitalization in improving workplace safety. International experts will explore how new technologies are transforming safety and health systems at work across different sectors and countries.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) project Reconstruction of the Barjanska cesta road.

Prime Minister Robert Golob gave an opening address in the National Assembly on the interpellation with respect to the work and responsibility of the Government.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Swimming pool in Krško.

To mark Earth Day, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning held an expert consultation on our role in protecting the planet in the face of climate change. Participants presented systemic spatial planning measures, seismic activity aspects, landslides, mining and resource extraction. The consultation also addressed key legal and information arrangements aimed at reducing the impact of natural disasters.

The theme of this year's International Mother Earth Day, "Our Power, Our Planet", underscores the potential of individuals and communities to shape a sustainable, just and energy-independent future. Slovenia's commitment to sustainable development is also reflected in its foreign policy.

Minister Tanja Fajon hosted Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, on an official visit. This visit, the first of its kind at this level, is a follow-up to the dynamic and in-depth political dialogue between Slovenia and Morocco.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco.

On the basis of inspections carried out on 17 April 2025, the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection reports the findings in premisses connected to the water supply system of the Maximarket business building, Ljubljana.

The cultural programme of the 2025 Latin American and Caribbean Days opened with a screening of the acclaimed Brazilian documentary The Salt of the Earth (Sal de Terra), which chronicles the life and work of world-renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado. The event took place at the Slovenian Cinematheque and was organised by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in cooperation with the embassies of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, the Slovenian Cinematheque, the Vodnik Homestead and the Konzorcij Bookstore.

The Inspection for Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection (IVHVVR) was today informed that due to faecal contamination of drinking water in the internal water supply system of the Maximarket business building, contaminated foodstuffs might also have been placed on the market in the premisees at that location.

A three-day Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) workshop, co-hosted by Slovenia and the United States of America, successfully concluded yesterday, 16 April.

During her official visit to Azerbaijan, Minister Tanja Fajon met with President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to discuss the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. They also discussed the draft peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On the sidelines of the visit, important contacts were established between representatives of Slovenian and Azerbaijani companies.

At today's session, the Government adopted the proposed Individual Investment Account Act, which introduces a special type of investment account designed to make investing in capital markets easier, more transparent and more cost-effective for individuals. It also approved amendments to the acts on freshwater fisheries and marine fisheries, and the Decree on municipal waste incineration.

Today, the Government approved a proposal for the third amendment to the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), which the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Recovery and Resilience will submit, together with all supporting documents, to Brussels for formal consideration. The Government will also submit the proposal to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for information.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tehran will be closed for Easter on Sunday, 20 April, and Monday, 21 April 2025.

In 2024, Slovenia allocated 0.23% of its gross domestic product to official development assistance. Together with funding from the European Union budget, the EU committed EUR 152 million to humanitarian aid and development cooperation projects and programmes, a nominal decrease of just over EUR 700,000 compared to a year before.

The representatives of the ministries responsible for higher education from Italy, Spain, Greece, France, Malta, Cyprus, Portugal, Croatia and Slovenia, a representative of the Union for the Mediterranean and a representative of the European Commission attended a ministerial meeting at Brdo pri Kranju. This was the first event since Slovenia assumed the one-year Presidency of MED9, a group of EU Member States in the Mediterranean.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today received Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu for a brief meeting.

Minister Tanja Fajon's first stop on her visit to the South Caucasus region was Armenia, where she encouraged her interlocutors to continue advancing efforts towards the normalisation of relations with neighbouring Azerbaijan. Minister Fajon and her Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, discussed the strengthening of economic cooperation in the fields of pharmaceuticals, sports infrastructure, energy, cancer treatment technologies and tourism.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Slovenians Abroad, Matej Arčon, visited Trieste, where he met with the leaders and representatives of societies from the two umbrella organisations, the Slovenian Cultural and Economic Union and the Council of Slovenian Organisations. He also visited several Slovenian institutions. He was accompanied by Gregor Šuc, the Consul-General of the Republic of Slovenia in Trieste.

The Ministry of Public Administration in Ljubljana is hosting the annual meeting of the Central Purchasing Bodies (CPB) Network – a European network that supports national purchasing bodies in implementing effective solutions. The two-day event was opened with an introductory address by State Secretary Jure Trbič.

At the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Minister Tanja Fajon called for more decisive action to bring about a ceasefire and a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, and for the return of more than 19,000 abducted Ukrainian children: “These are war crimes and clear violations of international law. This must remain a humanitarian priority and part of the peace negotiations.”

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia will be closed on the following dates:

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project ITI Urban Municipality of Kranj Brioni.

Yesterday, Moody's Ratings (Moody's) affirmed Slovenia's credit rating of A3 with a positive outlook. Slovenia thus continues to enjoy the confidence of the rating agencies, which is particularly important in the current uncertain environment.

Minister Matjaž Han hosted Swiss Federal Councillor and Minister of Economic Affairs Guy Parmelin in Ljubljana to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation between Slovenia and Switzerland. The talks focused on deepening collaboration in key sectors, particularly the pharmaceutical industry and the space sector. During the meeting, they also signed the Support Measure Agreement under the second Swiss Contribution.

In Antalya, State Secretary Melita Gabrič attended the extended format meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation-League of Arab States Gaza Contact Group. The meeting hosted by Türkiye was a follow-up to the meetings of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and is also attended by representatives of Norway, Ireland, Spain and the EU.

Ministers Kumer and Jevšek signed a Support Measure Implementation Agreement under the Swiss-Slovenian Cooperation Programme. The Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy will direct funding towards agri-photovoltaic pilot projects, the digitalisation of local energy concepts, investments in energy communities and the replacement of fossil fuels with shallow geothermal energy in the heating sector.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project ITI Urban Municipality of Kranj Digital. The municipality will receive over €900,000 from the European Regional Development Fund to deploy digital solutions for traffic optimisation and promotion of sustainable mobility.

Prime Minister Robert Golob and Minister of Health Valentina Prevolnik Rupel paid a working visit to the Oncology Institute in Ljubljana today.

Minister Jevšek met with the chairs of regional development councils and signed the first annex to the agreements on the development of region for all 12 development regions. The annex includes 98 projects worth altogether 347 million euros. The projects will receive 210 million euros in co-financing.

At today's session, the Government adopted the proposed Psychotherapeutic Services Act and the proposed Information Security Act. The debate on giving approval to the appointment of the Director General of the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute was adjourned. A decision is scheduled to be taken tomorrow at a correspondence session.

During political consultations at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, State Secretary Marko Štucin met with Wael Hamed, Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Abu Bakr Hefny, Deputy Foreign Minister for African and Regional Affairs, and Nabil Habashi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates.

Ljubljana, 10 April 2025 – The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals Incentives for the digital transformation of SMEs (P4D 2025). The call will come with a total budget of EUR 17.8 million; the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund will stand at EUR 15 million.

Warsaw hosted an informal meeting of directors-general responsible for development cooperation and humanitarian aid in EU Member States, which was attended by Ambassador Edvin Skrt, Director-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The future global role of the EU as a major donor of ODA was at the centre of the debate.

Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, concluded a three-day visit to Benin and Togo on behalf of the EU High Representative. In the Togolese capital, she assured the country’s senior officials that the EU’s partnership with this West African coastal state remains crucial for ensuring regional security and stability.

The Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration hosted the Spring plenary meeting of the Western European Nuclear Regulatory Association (WENRA) in Bled, Slovenia, on 8 and 9 April.

Today, State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the Second Ministerial Conference of the Khartoum Process in Cairo. Egypt currently holds the chairmanship of the Process, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia visited Benin on behalf the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, and held a series of talks with the country’s top officials and representatives of civil society. She confirmed EU’s interest in deepening its partnership with Benin and visited some of the project sites with which the EU is engaged in the country.

The Minister of Public Administration, Franc Props, received Ambassador of Montenegro to Slovenia, Dragan Tufegdžić, for a courtesy visit. The two discussed the bilateral cooperation between Montenegro and Slovenia on public administration matters.

The slogan of this year's World Health Day, "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures", reminds us that investing in the health of women and children lays the foundations for a healthier, fairer and more resilient society. Health during pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood has a significant impact on health in adulthood and is therefore a cornerstone of population health.

On this World Health Day conducted under the title ‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’, the international community is urged to reflect on ways to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being. The health of women and mothers and the well-being of children have always been at the forefront of Slovenia's international efforts.

The rating agency Fitch yesterday affirmed Slovenia's A-rating, upgrading the outlook from stable to positive. This marks an important sign of confidence in Slovenia and sends a strong message at a time of global economic uncertainty.

The 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council concluded in Geneva, with Slovenia as one of the key co-creators of initiatives that contribute significantly to the strengthening of international human rights standards.

Slovenia's Minister of Public Administration Franc Props and North Macedonia's Minister of Public Administration Goran Minčev signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on public administration reform in Skopje. In a joint statement, the ministers emphasised that this marked a significant milestone in their bilateral relationship, clearly demonstrating their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation.

Due to planned maintenance on the central communication network of the state administration, occasional difficulties may occur in the operation of the online service Virtual Archive Reading Room on Sunday, April 6, 2025.

At today's session, the Government adopted a proposal for the Higher Education Act, which aims to reform the higher education system. It also approved a draft Act Amending the Matura Examination Act, aligning with the expert guidelines and objectives of the public education system, as well as a draft Act Amending the Provision of Foster Care Act, designed to improve the quality of foster care provision.

Today, at a correspondence meeting, the Government adopted a decision to deploy an expert to the EU Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team, as requested by the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) through the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism, in view of the massive earthquake in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Call for proposals for business infrastructure development (business incubators) projects in the Savinjsko-Šaleška (SAŠA) coal region under the Just Transition Fund 2025-2027.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development informs municipalities that the funding available for 2025 under the first call for proposals for co-financing basic community infrastructure projects in Roma settlements in 2025 and 2026 has already been used, leaving 1,000,000 euros available for 2026.

The National Assembly adopted the Act Amending the Health Services Act (ZZDej-N). It is one of the fundamental healthcare acts, as it regulates health services as a whole, public health services, health service providers, healthcare workers and co-workers and other key issues related to the provision of health services.

"Strengthening public healthcare has been and remains one of the key priorities of this Government. This is the promise we made to the people, and today we have taken an important step towards its fulfilment.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Integrated Territorial Investment project in the Urban Municipality Murska Sobota called Noršinska (ITI MO MS Noršinska).

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended today's signing of the Social Partners' Agreement on the proposed Act Amending the Pension and Disability Insurance Act and addressed the participants on this occasion.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Call for proposals for the co-financing of projects of youth career centres+.

Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development, Dr Aleksander Jevšek, participated in the Regional policy dialogue on good governance and women leadership in Southeast Europe. The Minister emphasised that the gender gap in decision-making and leadership positions points to the urgent need for effective strategies and measures to enhance women’s participation across all sectors of society.

Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, accompanies President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar on her official visit to Kazakhstan with a strong business delegation. Minister Fajon met separately with Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu.

In March, Denmark – the first among the new UNSC members – took over the presidency of the Security Council from China. The programme of work included discussions on the Middle East, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Sudan and South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Improving the quality and accessibility of the green urban infrastructure in the Bonifica SRC area.

The new issue of the News from Nuclear Slovenia is published.

The Archivalia of the Month April 2025 with the title Documentary Film Nepal – »Lost« and Found Again.