News

Prime Minister Golob met today with Beti Hohler, judge at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. They discussed the role of the International Criminal Court and the challenges it faces in its work.

We begin our membership of the UN Security Council in a period full of complex challenges for the international community. This will make it all the more important that, as we have done in the past, we work for balanced international relations and for the protection of the most vulnerable.

Message from Prime Minister Robert Golob for the New Year.

Slovenia has received EUR 536 million in response to its second request for the payment of funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The most magical time of the year is before us. A time spent in anticipation of Christmas and the beginning of the following year. A time that we would look forward to as children and still do today, as adults.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Robert Golob, delivered a solemn address at the ceremony on the occasion of Independence and Unity Day.

"I am pleased that today we signed a contract with the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), which will provide sufficient resources for the provision of this public service in 2024," said Petra Bezjak Cirman, Director of the Government Communication Office, at the signing ceremony.

The Prime Minister, Robert Golob, hosted today a holiday reception for the relatives of the fallen soldiers of the Slovenian War of Independence, the defence and security structures of the Republic of Slovenia and representatives of veterans' organisations.

The Government has defined the legal bases allowing the payment of suitable compensation to insurance companies, adopted the proposed new amendments to the Road Transport Act and the proposed new amendments to the Spatial Planning Act, and concluded a contract with the Slovenian Press Agency (STA).

At today's 27th annual meeting of Slovenian diplomats, Prime Minister Robert Golob addressed the heads of diplomatic and consular missions.

Prime Minister Golob is attending the December European Council meeting today and tomorrow. On the table are strategic decisions important for the future of the EU: the rapprochement of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European budget.

The Government adopted a decree on the establishment and provision of a public information and alert system via public mobile networks, took note of information on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and issued the Ordinance temporarily reintroducing controls at internal borders of the Republic of Slovenia with the Republic of Croatia and Hungary.

The EU-Western Balkans Summit, which was attended today by Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob, reaffirmed the prospect of EU membership for the Western Balkans on the one hand and the increased commitment of the Western Balkan partners to accelerate reforms and alignment with EU policies and values on the other.

The Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob met with the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron in Paris. During a working lunch, the two leaders exchanged views on key issues to be discussed at tomorrow’s European Council. They also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic field.

As part of a final discussion of its working bodies, the Government adopted decisions establishing two public education institutions, reallocated spending rights and amended the 2023–2026 Development Programmes Plan.

Prime Minister Robert Golob has attended today's meeting of the ambassadors of EU members states to Slovenia hosted by the Spanish ambassador Juan Aristegui Laborde at the European Union House in Ljubljana.

The Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob attended today's corner stone ceremony for Lek Pharmaceuticals' new high-tech centre for the production of biosimilars in Lendava. This is one of the largest direct foreign investment projects in Slovenia's history.

As part of maintaining regular dialogue and good collaboration, Prime Minister Robert Golob and Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar met at a working breakfast.

"When it comes to the environment, there are no borders. There is only one environment, and that is the environment of our planet. We must take action and we must act globally. You will be proud of what Slovenia is going to stand for in the next two years," Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob told the delegates gathered at the 23rd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention – COP 23, as Slovenia takes over the Presidency.

At today's session, the Government has adopted the Energy Act Proposal and reallocated EUR 5 million for co-funding radio and television programmes at RTV Slovenija for the Italian and Hungarian ethnic communities. In addition, it has approved the National Commodity Reserves Act Proposal and extended the controls at internal borders.

“When it comes to the environment, there are no borders. There is only one environment, and it is the environment of our planet. We must take action and act globally. You will be proud of what Slovenia will advocate in the next two years,” said Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob to the delegates gathered at the 23rd Meeting of the Member Parties to the Barcelona Convention, COP 23, as Slovenia is taking over the Presidency.

The Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia (FURS) today paid the first EUR 4.5 million in advance payments to homeowners for the reconstruction of homes damaged by floods and landslides on 4 August 2023. To date, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning has advanced EUR 218.5 million for emergency rehabilitation to all municipalities that have submitted applications.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, today held a meeting with representatives of business associations and organisations.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with the representatives of newspaper publishing houses Delo, Dnevnik and Večer.

The Prime Minister, Robert Golob, today met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, Ms Annalena Baerbock, who is on a working visit to Slovenia. They discussed in particular Bosnia and Herzegovina's further steps towards EU membership and the situation in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Robert Golob, President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar and President of the National Assembly Urška Klakočar Zupančič hosted a traditional reception for representatives of disability organisations in Brdo pri Kranju to mark the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is commemorated on 3 December.

Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with disabilities in our society.

At today’s session, the Government laid down the text of the Draft Act Amending the Basic School Act and adopted the Action Plan to Alleviate Energy Poverty for a three-year period.

The Slovenian Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob, today attended the Slovenian Business Summit in Brdo pri Kranju. The debate focused on sustainable development, including in the context of post-flood reconstruction.

At the sessions of government committees, the Government adopted the opinion about the proposed recommendation to stop illegal migration. In the applicable Development Programmes Plan 2023–2026, the Government incorporated several new projects and adopted the incentive to conclude an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of Ukraine on the donation of non-refundable funds of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to the Government of Ukraine for humanitarian aid in the field of de-mining.

The Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob, attended the ceremony to present the highest national prizes and awards for outstanding achievements in science, research and development.

At its correspondence session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the proposed Healthcare Intervention Measures Act as per the urgent procedure, which will contribute to the enhanced accessibility and efficiency of our healthcare system.

Today, the Government agreed on the text of the proposed Reconstruction, Development and Provision of Financial Resources Act, whose aim is to provide mechanisms for accelerated reconstruction and development in areas that were flooded in August and protection against future natural disasters.

Today we remember Rudolf Maister. A general of steadfast character and unwavering convictions. A great patriot who, 105 years ago in Maribor, laid historic milestones in the struggle for freedom and, with his fighters, bravely and fearlessly disarmed the German security guards. Together with many teachers, educated, learned and conscious people, he passed on the awareness, ethics and knowledge of freedom to generations.

At today's session, the Government continued its consideration of the proposed Act on Reconstruction, Development and the Provision of Financial Resources. It approved the proposed amendment to the Public Use of the Slovenian Language Act, the proposed amendment to the Building Act and the proposed Minimum Tax Act.

At today’s sessions of the Committee on the Economy, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia included two new investment projects of the GREMO Consortium into the current Development Programmes Plan, namely e-MOTION – Experimental Development and i-MOTION – Industrial Research.

At today's correspondence meeting, the Government adopted a Report on the implementation of the state budget in the first half of this year, adopted positions on the opinions of the National Council on budget documents, and took a position on the amendments to the draft budget amendments for 2024 and the amendments to the supplemented draft state budget for 2025.

The Government agreed to the proposed amendments to the proposal for the Implementation of the Republic of Slovenia’s Budget for 2024 and 2025 Act and issued a Decree amending the Decree on the method of determining and calculating the contribution for ensuring support for the production of electricity from high-efficiency cogeneration and renewable energy sources.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today inspected the reconstruction of the areas affected by the natural disaster in Sneberje, Ljubljana. “The state must ensure the safety of Slovenian citizens,” the Prime Minister stressed after the visit.

On his working visit to Rome, Prime Minister Robert Golob had an official meeting with his host, the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, Giorgia Meloni. At the forefront of the meeting were the strengthening of cooperation, the migration issue, current foreign policy topics and the national communities of both countries.

Prime Minister Robert Golob received the President of the Slovenian Federation of Pensioners' Organisations, Zdenka Jan, and the federation’s former president, Janez Sušnik. They discussed the situation of pensioners in Slovenia and the related Government measures.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today met with Chey Taewon, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea for EXPO 2023 and Chairman of SK Group, Korea's second largest conglomerate.

Today, as part of preparations for tomorrow’s working visit to Rome, Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the representatives of the Slovenian minority in Italy. The minority representatives initially thanked the Slovenian Government for its good cooperation.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended the International Humanitarian Conference for the Civilian Population in Gaza, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. The key aim of the conference is to improve the coordination of international aid for Gaza and gather additional humanitarian funds for the affected civilian population.

At today's meeting, the Government adopted a draft amendment to the Restriction on the Use of Tobacco Products and Related Products Act, which bans all attractive fruity, sweet and herbal flavours in electronic cigarettes, except for the taste or smell of tobacco or menthol. The draft amendment also introduces a ban on smoking rooms, that is, a complete ban on smoking in all enclosed public and work places.

At the Government committees meetings, the Government adopted, among other things, two answers to the questions of the National Council Commissions on the wolf issue and included several new projects in the current Development Programmes Plan 2023-2026.

Today, the Strategic Council for Nutrition and the Strategic Health Council held a joint session. The experts from both councils expressed the clear view that decisive measures are needed to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol and the use of tobacco, in particular among young people.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with the leaders of parliamentary parties. The meeting was aimed at finding a consensus on solutions to the Act on Reconstruction, Development and Provision of Financial Resources.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, who was on a visit to Slovenia.

At a correspondence session, the Government adopted Slovenia's first Space Strategy and the decision to apply for full membership of the European Space Agency.

Following a turbulent night, the weather is gradually settling, but another weather front is forecast to sweep over Slovenia on Sunday. A yellow alert is in place for most of the country and an orange alert for the Primorska region and the northwest due to strengthening south-westerly winds and forecast heavy rainfall on Sunday.

The expected extreme meteorological and hydrological conditions in Slovenia were presented at the press conference by meteorologist Branko Gregorčič and hydrologist Janez Polajnar, both from the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO), Director of the Slovenian Water Agency Neža Kodre, Commander of the Civil Protection of the Republic of Slovenia Srečko Šestan, and Director of the Geological Survey of Slovenia Miloš Bavec.

Below is the message by Prime Minister Robert Golob on the occasion of Reformation Day on 31 October.

Prime Minister Robert Golob, Head of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Post-Flood and Landslide Reconstruction Boštjan Šefic and Commander of the Civil Protection of the Republic of Slovenia Srečko Šestan today visited the flooded areas in Baška Grapa, where a preventive evacuation from the most seriously affected buildings was ordered yesterday to ensure the safety of citizens. A total of 36 inhabitants have been relocated.

 On 26 and 27 October 2023, Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the regular session of the European Council in Brussels. The agenda of this year's summit focused on the situation in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, the revision of the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework, migration management, the economy and other pressing issues.

Prime Minister Robert Golob is attending the two-day October European Council meeting in Brussels. Ahead of the regular meeting of the leaders of the Group of 27 countries, he stressed that the current situation in the Middle East will mark the first day of the meeting.

Speaking at a press conference, Branko Gregorčič of the Slovenian Environment Agency has said that the weather conditions would worsen in the second half of the night and on Friday morning. Heavy rain is expected, and the south-westerly wind will intensify.

At 78th session, the Government considered the Bill on Reconstruction, Development and Provision of Financial Resources and the Draft Amendment to the Act Determining Intervention Measures for Recovery from the Floods and Landslides of August 2023. The proposed solutions from both laws were presented by the Minister of Infrastructure Alenka Bratušek and the Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič.

Prime Minister Robert Golob marks Sovereignty Day with these words: It has been 32 years since we became a sovereign country and were given the exclusive authority to take control of our own territory.

Prime Minister Robert Golob and Minister of Finance and Public Administration Klemen Boštjančič met today, on 24 October 2023, with the representatives of the Association of Urban Municipalities of Slovenia, the Association of Municipalities of Slovenia and the Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia. They discussed the lump sum funding per capita for 2024 and 2025.

At the correspondence session, the Government adopted amendments to the Decree determining the amount of excise duty on energy products and electricity.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today participated in a public consultation of experts, politicians, civil society and the general public on changes to the electoral system.

We have all followed the mass shootings that occur in the United States. The two massacres that took place a few months ago in Belgrade, close to us, remind us of the evils that arise when it becomes too easy to access weapons

Prime Minister Robert Golob and his ministers visited the Savinjska region today, where they met with mayors, business owners and representatives, and others driving development in the region.

At the correspondence session, the Government included the possibility of part-time work for workers who are victims of domestic violence in the proposed new amendments to the Employment Relationships Act (ZDR-1).

At today's meeting, the Government approved amendments to the Employment Relationships Act, issued the Decree on determining the price of electricity, and issued the Ordinance temporarily reintroducing border controls along the borders between the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Croatia.

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob attended by videoconference an extraordinary European Council meeting on the current developments in the Middle East.

Today, Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob attended a ceremony marking the emergency completion of a water pipeline in Prevalje, visited the flood recovery works area along the Meža River in the Dobrije residential area in Ravne na Koroškem, and attended a celebratory meeting of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Črna na Koroškem.

At today's session, the Government took note of the draft budget plan of the general government sector for 2024 and the first progress report on the use of European Cohesion Policy funds in the 2014–2020 and 2021–2027 programming periods. It also adopted the Preliminary Programme for the repair of direct damage to property caused by the floods of 4 August 2023 in the field of national road and rail infrastructure.

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob today met with the President of the Management Board of the Public Institute Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVS), Zvezdan Martić, who briefed the Prime Minister on the financial situation at RTVS.

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob met today with the President of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation Martin Candidas. They assessed relations between the two countries as friendly and very positive.

At a press conference, the Director of the Slovenian Protection and Rescue Administration, Leon Behin, presented the progress of the reimbursement of intervention costs to local communities and to protection and rescue personnel incurred during the August floods and landslides during the period of the activated National Plan, i.e. between 4 and 31 August.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with the representatives of 14 business organisations and associations. The discussions focused on joint efforts to ensure the well-being of the residents of Slovenia following the floods. The participants at the meeting agreed on the urgent need for continued dialogue between the business sector and the Government, especially in these challenging times of recovery and reconstruction.

At today's meeting of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, presented deputies with the budget documents for the next two years

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob attended the 3rd European Political Community Summit held in Granada in Spain.

It has been two months since the catastrophic floods that took place on 4 August. Floods and landslides affected 183 of Slovenia's 212 municipalities, with 104 municipalities severely impacted. The total area affected is estimated at 17,203 square kilometres. To date, the Slovenian Government has provided EUR 515.9 million to help people, municipalities and the economy.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob notified the Slovenian National Assembly that he had received a letter of resignation from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Uroš Brežan, proposing that the Minister of Infrastructure, Alenka Bratušek, temporarily take over his function.

At today's session, the Government was briefed on the Estimate of Direct Flood Damage, it finalised the draft Resolution on the 2023–2030 National Road Safety Programme and adopted the 2023–2028 Natura 2000 Management Programme.

Today, Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob sent a proposal to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for the appointment of Prof. Dr Valentina Prevolnik Rupel to the post of minister of health.

At the government committee meetings, the Government adopted its opinion on several legislative proposals and provided funds to deal with the aftermath of this summer's storms and floods.

Prime Minister Robert Golob took part in the 10th summit of the heads of the EUMED-9 member states, which was held in Valletta, the capital of Malta.

The Government has approved the budget package for 2024 and 2025. The priority for the next two years is to finance measures to deal with the consequences of this year's floods. The draft budgetary amendment for 2024 foresees €14 billion in revenue and €16.2 billion in expenditure, and for 2025 €14.56 billion in revenue and €15.82 billion in expenditure.

At today's session, the Government took note of information on the progress of the implementation of the Preliminary Programme for the repair of direct damage to property caused by the floods of 4 August 2023, the progress of activities to prepare the application to the EU Solidarity Fund, and the activities related to the determination and payment of intervention costs.

Prime Minister Robert Golob and his ministers today visited Koroška, the region worst affected by the August floods, where they met with mayors, business representatives, entrepreneurs and others.

Today the Council of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Reconstruction met for its first meeting.

With electrification and de-fossilisation trends predicting a doubling of electricity use by 2050, the Nuclear Power Plant 2 (NPP2) project is a national investment of strategic importance in a low-carbon electricity source in the Republic of Slovenia.

At its meeting today, the Government adopted the preliminary programmes for the repair of direct damage to property caused by the flooding on 4 August 2023, by the storm with flooding between 12 and 13 July 2023 and by the storm with flooding between 17 July and 3 August 2023.

Message from Prime Minister Robert Golob on the occasion of the Day of the Return of Primorska to the Motherland

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a charity football match played by former football stars at Stožice Stadium on the initiative of UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. The funds raised will be donated to those affected by the floods.

Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with the Qatari Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanim, and the Mufti of the Islamic Community in Slovenia, Nevzet Porić.

The Government decided that intervention expenditure in the amount of EUR 94.9 million be reimbursed to 138 municipalities and up to EUR 11.4 million to protection and rescue forces. Intervention expenditure of up to EUR 2.5 million will be reimbursed to firefighting units. The Government earmarked EUR 31.7 million for the preliminary programme of eliminating the consequences of damage in the economy and EUR 47 million for measures on water infrastructure.

The Government starts examining information on the preparation of the budgets of the Republic of Slovenia for 2024 and 2025. It gave its consent to the draft amendment of the Operational Programme for the Implementation of the EU Cohesion Policy 2014–2020, took note of the Autumn Forecast of Economic Trends 2023 and the information on the baselines for the preliminary programme for the repair of direct damage resulting from the August floods.

At its correspondence session, the Government gave its consent to the proposed amendments to the draft act amending the Mental Health Act.

At government committee sessions, the Government agreed with the proposed amendments to the Financial Operations, Insolvency Proceedings and Compulsory Dissolution Act and the proposed amendments to the Bloudek Awards Act. In the Development Programmes Plan 2023–2026, the Government added several new projects.

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, the Prime Minister Robert Golob paid an official visit to Luxembourg. This is a follow-up to Prime Minister Bettel's visit to Slovenia in February this year, when the two countries pledged to work even more closely together, particularly in economic matters.

In the context of maintaining regular dialogue and good cooperation, Prime Minister Robert Golob and President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar met for a working lunch.

Prime Minister Robert Golob wrote to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, about the importance of the EU's expansion to the Western Balkans and making the decision to start accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At today's meeting, the Government took note of information on the progress of activities to prepare an application for the EU Solidarity Fund, established the Government Office for Flood and Landslide Recovery and appointed the Director General of the Police.

Prime Minister Robert Golob visited the call centre for assistance to residents after the floods, which started its operation today.

Prime Minister Robert Golob received today the President of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković, who is on an official visit to Slovenia.