News

On behalf of Prime Minister Janez Janša, the Slovenian Armed Forces Guard laid wreaths at the Monument to the Fallen in the Slovenian Independence War, the Memorial to the Slovenian Home Guard at Žale Cemetery, the grave of the father of the Slovenian State, Jože Pučnik, and the grave of the former Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Andrej Bajuk, on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Dead. The Slovenian Armed Forces Guard also laid a rose and lit a candle on the grave of the former Prime Minister and President of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Drnovšek.

Below is the message delivered by Prime Minister Janez Janša on the occasion of today’s national holiday – Reformation Day.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife Urška Bačovnik Janša attended an event celebrating 100 years of the Skala Mountaineering Club in Slovenia, entitled "Upward like a rock, we go!" ("K višku kot skala, vodi naša pot!"), delivering a speech at a ceremony held at Hotel Lev in Ljubljana.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a state ceremony marking Reformation Day, which took place at the Krško Cultural Hall. The keynote speaker at the ceremony was the Minister of Culture, Dr Vasko Simoniti.

Mag. Franc Vindišar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, attended today’s press conference and presented the situation in Slovenian hospitals. He pointed out that our health system is currently facing numerous challenges.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša continued his working visit to Brussels.

In the week leading up to Remembrance Day on 1 November, a wreath was laid in Gorlice, Poland, on behalf of Prime Minister Janez Janša at the memorial to the Slovenians who fell on the Galician Front during World War I.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today met with President of the European Council Charles Michel for a working dinner in Brussels.

At today's session, the Government adopted amendments to the Ordinance on the method of meeting the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which set out the frequency of screening with the rapid antigen self-test or rapid antigen tests every 48 hours, bi-weekly self-testing for all primary and secondary school pupils and students, and the obligation to wear masks despite the fulfilled recovered/vaccinated rule for health, education and social care activities, and in activities and services where there is interpersonal contact.

Today, the Prime Minister Janez Janša took part in a national Sovereignty Day ceremony, which took place in the sports hall of the Koper Primary School. The keynote speaker at the ceremony was the Minister of Defence Matej Tonin.

Today, Prime Minister Janša attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition "The peculiar thing about dreams is they sometimes come true" in the Park of Military History in Pivka. On this occasion, the Prime Minister addressed the participants. The Prime Minister opened his address saying that that today we are celebrating a final act in the Slovene epic of independence, when Slovenes became masters on their own land.

...Brothers! Our spring is rising from the ground,
Clear as a gale, strong as a wave:
It has descended on our homes,
Dispelled the darkness, brought out the sun,
The sun – the day of King Matjaž.
(Rudolf Maister Vojanov, Onward)

After the two-day meeting of the European Council in Brussels, Prime Minister Janez Janša took part in a press conference, where he spoke about several discussions held by European leaders on current topics over the past two days.

Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending a European Council meeting in Brussels, where he and the other EU leaders are discussing the COVID-19 situation, digital transformation, energy prices, migration and external relations.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today met with the Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Tim Cook, via videoconference.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the Tripartite Social Summit, which was held virtually. The summit focused on the topic of "Transforming Europe's recovery into long-term sustainable growth supporting more and better jobs".

The Prime Minister today addressed the participants of the 15th traditional Strategic Conference on Trade, which was organised virtually in collaboration with the School of Economics and Business of the University of Ljubljana.

At today's press conference the Director of the National Institute of Public Health, Milan Krek, and Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate provided the latest information on the COVID-19 situation in Slovenia.

The Government delegation concluded its visit to the Obalno-kraška (Coastal-Karst) region with a public debate on the development of the Obalno-kraška region in Lipica, discussing the challenges and opportunities in the region with representatives of local communities and business.

Today, the Slovenian Government visited the Obalno-kraška (Coastal-Karst) region, which includes the municipalities of Ankaran, Divača, Hrpelje-Kozina, Izola, Komen, Koper, Piran and Sežana. The region's performance figures are good, especially with regard to the development indicators, which are above the Slovenian average. For other indicators, it stands out in terms of below-average youth unemployment and total unemployment, a high level of treated wastewater and a relatively low risk of natural disasters. The Obalno-kraška region is also the only one alongside Osrednjeslovenska (Central Slovenia), with an above-average GDP per capita and productivity.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša participated in the "Government Beyond Recovery: Towards a Future-fit Public Sector" international conference, where he took part in the "Shaping Innovative and Inclusive Governments" panel discussion. Other participants who addressed the audience during this discussion included: OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, EIPA Director-General Marco Ongaro and Slovenian Olympic medallist Petra Majdič.

At today's 26th session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, Prime Minister Janez Janša answered parliamentary questions from deputies Bojana Muršič (SD), Luka Mesec (Levica), Alenka Bratušek (SAB) and Monika Gregorčič (SMC). The questions put to the Prime Minister addressed the increase in energy prices and other goods in Slovenia, tackling environmental challenges, the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, and methods of governance.

At today’s session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia took note of the information on the issue of extraordinary growth in energy product prices on energy markets. In view of the current situation, Slovenia has called an extraordinary meeting of energy ministers for 26 October to find common solutions that will protect citizens against further price rises. The Government also issued a new regulation on the treatment of unaccompanied minors and adopted a decree on financial assistance to compensate for damage in beekeeping in 2021.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions via videoconference. The discussion focused on key current topics and issues faced during the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has reached all the decisions regarding the appointment of European Delegated Prosecutors from Slovenia within its legal powers and the national part of the appointment procedure prescribed by law.

Prime Minister Janša and his ministerial delegation today met with ten leading Slovenian automotive suppliers at the Hidria company in Spodnja Idrija. Automotive manufacturers and suppliers are facing major and necessary structural challenges. Restructuring against the backdrop of the Fourth Industrial Revolution seems crucial for Slovenia to retain a prominent place on the international automotive map.

After participating in the Croatian Tourism365 conference, where he took part in a panel of leaders together with the Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister Janez Janša also held bilateral talks with his host. In a press statement after the meeting, the Prime Minister congratulated Croatia on a well organised event, as well as on its record-breaking tourist season, including the number of tourist arrivals from Slovenia this summer.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the Tourism 365, a Croatian conference on tourism, in Terme Tuhelj, where he took part in a panel discussion together with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. The conference focused on initiatives and plans for post COVID tourism, smart and sustainable business operations, new technologies and a new future for tourism.

A press conference held to provide a COVID-19 update was attended by Minister of Health Janez Poklukar and Professor Borut Štrukelj from the Faculty of Pharmacy in Ljubljana.

In today’s statement to the press following the presentation of the budget documents at the National Assembly, Prime Minister Janez Janša commented on the fact that the opposition had obstructed a session involving the presentation of a document as important as the budget. The Prime Minister said that he regretted this behaviour by the opposition.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today attended the 83rd extraordinary session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, where the Presentation of the Budget Memorandum 2022–2023, Draft Amendments to the Budget of the Republic of Slovenia for 2022 and the Draft Budget of the Republic of Slovenia for 2023 were discussed.

The EU-Western Balkans Summit, which took place today and was hosted by the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU at Brdo pri Kranju, brought together the leaders of the EU member states and the six Western Balkan partners: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia and Kosovo*

Tonight, the Prime Minister hosted an informal working dinner at Brdo pri Kranju for the heads of state and governments of the EU member states. The European leaders held a strategic discussion on the role of the EU on the international stage in view of recent events in Afghanistan, the AUKUS security alliance and the development of relations with China.

Prime Minister Janez Janša responded to a letter from Zoran Stevanović, president of the Resni.ca party. In the letter, Zoran Stevanović calls for the immediate abolition of the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule and immediate resignation of the Government.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today had a meeting with European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Šuica. They discussed the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today met with senior representatives of the Identity and Democracy Group in the European Parliament, which is on a study visit to Slovenia.

The press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by the Minister of Public Administration, Boštjan Koritnik.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša paid a working visit to London at the invitation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

A press conference to provide a COVID-19 update was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar, and the head of the vaccination advisory group, Bojana Beović.

In Ljubljana, Prime Minister Janša today met with Latvian President Egils Levits, who is on an official visit to Slovenia at the invitation of Slovenian President Borut Pahor.

The government finished its visit to the Zasavje Region with a public forum in which it discussed the challenges and opportunities in the region with representatives of business interests and local communities.

A Slovenian Government delegation visited the Zasavje region today. The Zasavje statistical region is Slovenia’s smallest in terms of surface area and comprises the municipalities of Hrastnik, Litija, Trbovlje and Zagorje ob Savi.

A press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Dr Irena Grmek Košnik, epidemiologist of the National Institute of Public Health’s Kranj Regional Unit.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the 2nd regular session of the Commission of Inquiry for determining the possible political responsibility of holders of public office for financially inappropriate measures and the allegedly unjustified restriction of rights in the implementation of measures related to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Following the reception of Slovenian Olympic and Paralympic athletes, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with the Czech Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček.

Following the state ceremony to mark the Day of Slovenian Sport, Prime Minister Janša hosts a reception for Slovenian Olympic and Paralympic athletes at Vila Bled.

Today in Bled, Prime Minister Janes Janša attended the state ceremony on the occasion of the Day of Slovenian Sport and the opening event of the European Week of Sport, where he was the keynote speaker.

At today’s 25th session of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister Janez Janša answered parliamentary questions raised by Robert Pavšič (LMŠ), Marko Koprivc (SD), Luka Mesec (The Left) and Jožef Horvat (NSi). He explained to deputies the circumstances of his contacts with lobbyists and suppliers of medical equipment, and also answered questions about the consequences of bank rehabilitation and the lack of public rental housing.

The press conference on the current COVID-19 situation was attended by the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Janez Cigler Kralj, and the Commander of the Civil Protection Service of the Notranjska Region, Sandi Curk.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the 8th MED7 Summit of the Mediterranean States in Athens, into which the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Croatia were admitted.

The press conference on COVID 19 updates was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar, the Minister of Public Administration, Boštjan Koritnik, and the Director of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), Milan Krek.

Accompanied by a delegation, Ambassador Jožef Drofenik, Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the authorised representative of the Republic of Slovenia for succession issues, attended the 20th meeting of the Joint Committee for the Distribution of Diplomatic and Consular Properties of the Former SFRY, in compliance with Annex B to the Agreement on Succession Issues, convened in Sarajevo on 13 and 14 September. At the meeting, the immovable property of the former SFRY in Rome was allocated to Slovenia.

At a press conference following a joint meeting of the governments of Slovenia and Hungary and the signing of intergovernmental agreements, the Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Zdravko Počivalšek, and the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjárto, presented specific cooperation projects and the positions of Slovenia and Hungary.

Prime Minister Janša and his ministerial delegation met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his ministerial team in Celje today.

Before the joint meeting of the Governments of the Republic of Slovenia and Hungary, the Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended a ceremony marking the opening of the 53rd International Trade Fair in Celje and addressed the participants.

Yesterday, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia visited the Savinjska region to learn about the projects and challenges of the region, and to discuss challenges and opportunities with the main actors of development in the region.

Published below is the address of Prime Minister Janša to mark the occasion of the Day of Restoration of the Primorska Region to the Motherland, celebrated today.

A Slovenian Government delegation today visited the Savinjska region. In terms of area, the Savinjska statistical region is the fourth largest in Slovenia, and the third largest in terms of population. It comprises 31 municipalities.

Members of the Government first met for a working consultation in Podčetrtek, followed by separate programmes for the Prime Minister and ministers. During the visit, the Prime Minister and ministers met representatives of businesses, institutions, municipalities and other stakeholders in the region, which was followed by a public debate.

The Prime Minister, Janez Janša, today visited VIAL Automation d.o.o., as part of a tour of the Savinjska region. He met with the management of the company and was shown its production line.

The COVID-19 update press conference was today attended by the State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Franc Vindišar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Simon Zajc, and Maja Bratuša, who opened the press conference by presenting the latest epidemiological data.

In a video address, Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed participants at the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, taking place virtually from 13 to 15 September , as one of the keynote speakers. The main topic of the session, which will be attended by the representatives of the 53 member states of WHO's European region, is tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and setting the course for further action.

The Prime Minister, Janez Janša, attended the 30th Economic Forum in Poland, entitled 'Europe in Search of Leadership'. The Economic Forum in Karpacz is the largest conference in Central and Eastern Europe. The Forum, which is traditionally held in Poland in early September, annually attracts more than 4000 guests (political, economic and social leaders) from over 60 countries in Europe, Asia and America. The purpose of the Forum is to create a favourable environment for the development of political and economic cooperation between EU Member States and their neighbours.

At tonight's closing ceremony of the 30th Economic Forum in Poland, Prime Minister Janez Janša received the Man of the Year 2020 of Central and Eastern Europe award.

As part of the Government visit to the Goriška region, Prime Minister Janez Janša today visited Hidria and attended an event marking the 50th anniversary of the company. Together with dr. Iztok Seljak, the Executive Director of Hidria, he laid the foundation stone for a new high-tech centre for the development and manufacture of key components for electric motors for electric and hybrid vehicles of the future. The centre is expected to be up and running in mid-2023.

A Slovenian Government delegation visited the Goriška region today. The Goriška region is located in west Slovenia, along the Italian border. The Julian Alps, the Soča River and the fertile Vipava Valley are the most distinctive natural geographical features of the region. Since 1995, 13 municipalities have been established in the Goriška region, of which four have fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. In terms of area, the Goriška statistical region is the third largest in Slovenia, and in terms of population it is the sixth largest. The municipality with the largest population is Nova Gorica (31,845), followed by Ajdovščina (19,704) and Idrija (11,735). The smallest municipality is Bovec (3,245).

The Prime Minister, Janez Janša, met with the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell at a working dinner.

The Prime Minister, Janez Janša, was the keynote speaker at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the logistical action to seize the military storage facility in Podstrmec pri Borovnici. Guests were also addressed by the president of the MORiS Kočevska Reka association, Tone Krkovič. The action in Podstrmec pri Borovnici was the logistical action of the century, in which 23 members of the reconnaissance squad of the MORiS Brigade, took place on 28 June 1991, the second day of the armed conflicts in the war for Slovenia. The squad seized the Yugoslav People's Army storage facility in Podstrmec pri Borovnici with no casualties on the Slovenian side.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on a working visit.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the 16th Bled Strategic Forum, which is being held under the title "The Future of Europe".

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the 16th Bled Strategic Forum, which is being held under the title "The Future of Europe".

Prime Minister Janez Janša attends the Bled Strategic Forum, which he opened with an opening address. The unauthorised Prime Minister's speech is published below.

Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending the 16th Bled Strategic Forum, which is being held under the theme "The Future of Europe".

The main topic of today's press conference was the situation in hospitals, as the number of people who need medical help due to COVID-19 infection is increasing again. Dr Tatjana Lejko Zupanc presented the situation in hospitals and Maja Bratuša presented an overview of the current epidemiological data.

Today at a working lunch, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with the delegation of US senators who are on an official visit to Slovenia.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the ceremony traditionally held for the Slovenian-American Friendship and Alliance Day.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with Governor of Lower Austria Johanna Mikl-Leitner at a working lunch. The two discussed the COVID-19 situation on both sides of the border and the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Today in Ljubljana, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the international conference entitled “Illusive Reconciliation: Transitional Processes in Central and Eastern Europe in a Comparative Perspective”, organised by the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Study Centre for National Reconciliation in cooperation with the Platform of European Memory and Conscience.

In light of the chaotic situation in Afghanistan that has been going on in recent days, Europe has been intensively preparing for a potential new wave of migrants. Janez Janša, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, currently holding the presidency of the Council of the EU, wrote on social media that the European Union would not be opening European "humanitarian" or migration corridors for Afghanistan.

The Covid-19 update press conference was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Damir Orehovec, and Maja Bratuša, who opened the press conference by presenting the latest epidemiological data.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša spoke with President of the European Council Charles Michel over the phone. They discussed the latest developments and the situation in Afghanistan, the future activities of the EU Council in the light of the changing geopolitical situation, the future of Europe and the Bled Strategic Forum, as well as the agenda of the forthcoming EU-Western Balkans Summit.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and Minister of Finance Andrej Šircelj today met with members of the Fiscal Council. On behalf of the Fiscal Council, the meeting was attended by the President of the Fiscal Council, Dr Davorin Kračun, two members of the Fiscal Council, Alenka Jerkič and Tomaž Perše, and the head of the Fiscal Council's Analysis Service, Aleš Delakorda. The discussion focused on the public finance situation and economic policy both in Slovenia and the European Union.

Prekmurje in the heart

"Again I hear the song amid the plains", says a line in the poem by Feri Lainšček, which we read in the middle of the wonderful Prekmurje landscape which is so special, dreamlike and beautiful. A landscape that makes the poet's soul sing and sets his heart to play. It is not only the poet who feels this way but also all the people of Prekmurje, who were cut off from the Slovenian homeland for nearly 900 years. Given this historical fact it is almost unbelievable that throughout those nine long centuries, and under the influence of other nations they preserved the Slovenian language, Slovenian culture and the ideas of a unified state and of Slovenian identity. That they have stood up and remained Slovenians.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife Urška Bačovnik Janša today attended the main ceremony to mark the Day of the Unification of Prekmurje Slovenes with the Mother Nation, which took place in the castle courtyard in Beltinci.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša visited the Žale Cemetery in Ljubljana and laid a wreath at the tomb of Dr Andrej Bajuk, former prime minister, minister, and the president of the Nova Slovenija political party, marking the 10th anniversary of his death.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša and his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenković spoke on the phone about foreign policy issues. They discussed measures to protect the EU's external borders against the rising wave of illegal migrations, the need for rapid expansion of the Schengen zone, the situation in Afghanistan, and the preparations for the Bled Strategic Forum 2021.

The following is an interview with Prime Minister Janez Janša for the Polish news agency PAP. In the interview, the Prime Minister spoke about the situation in the judiciary, the fact that he was a political prisoner twice, the second time during democracy, the reform of judicial legislation, the need for self-reflection of the judiciary, respect for EU law and the future of the EU.

At its meeting by correspondence, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued the Ordinance temporarily restricting the offering and sale of goods and services to consumers in the Republic of Slovenia, which will be in force from 26 July to 1 August 2021 inclusive, and will publish it in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

At today's meeting, the Government extended the validity of most ordinances related to COVID-19, requiring organisers of events, gatherings and sports competitions, providers of services and goods in the field of drivers and vehicles in Slovenia, and cableway operators and associated ski slopes to verify whether participants meet the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule. Cross-border migrant workers residing within 10 kilometres of the border with a neighbouring country were added to the exceptions for entering Slovenia without going into quarantine and without meeting the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule. The Government also founded the Government Office for Digital Transformation.

Today's press conference on the current situation regarding COVID 19 was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar and the Director of the National Institute of Public Health, Milan Krek.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife Urška Bačovnik spoke about various topics in an exclusive interview for Prijatelji Radia Ognjišče (Friends of Ognjišče Radio) magazine.

Margaritis Schinas, the European Commission vice-president and Commissioner for Promoting the European Way of Life and the Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed a letter to the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach proposing that when the Slovenian team arrives in the parade of nations at the official opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympics, in additional to the Slovenian national flag, it also carries the flag of the European Union.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today attended the 80th extraordinary session of the National Assembly, where he provided additional explanation to his proposal to appoint Mark Boris Andrijanič as Minister without portfolio for digital transformation.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, who is in Slovenia on an official visit. Mr Janša and Dr Kluge focused on issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, the vaccination strategy and the measures to limit and contain the spread of the virus.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with former Italian Prime Minister, multi-term European Commissioner and President of the WHO Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development Mario Monti. Mr Janša and Mr Monti discussed current affairs, especially economy and finance, and the health situation in Europe.

At today's press conference held in Ljubljana Prime Minister Janez Janša and Deputy Prime Ministers Zdravko Počivalšek and Matej Tonin discussed the current epidemiological situation and other current topics.

At today's press conference in Ljubljana, Prime Minister Janez Janša and Deputy Prime Ministers Zdravko Počivalšek and Matej Tonin discussed the current epidemiological situation and other current topics.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša today took part in a video conference with the US think tank CEPA. The mission of the Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) is to ensure a strong and enduring transatlantic alliance rooted in democratic values and principles with a strategic vision. Through research, analyses and programmes it provides a new insight into energy, security and defence issues.

The Government issued the Ordinance amending the Ordinance determining the conditions of entry into the Republic of Slovenia to contain and control the COVID-19 communicable disease and published it in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

Today's press conference was attended by deputy head of the Communicable Disease Centre at the National Institute of Public Health Ms Nuška Čakš Jager. Ms Maja Bratuša presented the current epidemiological situation.