News

On the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a memorial wreath was laid on behalf of Prime Minister Janez Janša at the Jewish cemetery in Ljubljana, which is located at the Ljubljana Žale Cemetery. The wreath-laying ceremony took place in the presence of the Guard of Honour of the Slovenian Armed Forces.

Today, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia visited the Posavje region, which consists of the municipalities of Bistrica ob Sotli, Brežice, Kostanjevica na Krki, Krško, Radeče and Sevnica.

Today, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia paid a working visit to the Posavska region, which consists of the municipalities of Bistrica ob Sotli, Brežice, Kostanjevica na Krki, Krško, Radeče and Sevnica. At the end of the visit, members of the Government attended a public forum and answered questions from mayors, businesspeople and other actors of development in the region.

As part of the government visit to the Posavje region, Prime Minister Janez Janša in a statement to the media, following a consultation and a meeting at the Faculty of Tourism at the University of Maribor, stressed that Posavje is a region of many distinguishing characteristics, which has managed to catch up with the Slovenian average in terms of development.

For many years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the Slovenian delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) have supported, and actively contributed to, remembrance, research, and education on the Holocaust.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs attended an online business breakfast where the participants discussed grants for businesses in 2022.

Prime Minister Janša today hosted the traditional New Year's reception for diplomatic corps at Brdo pri Kranju together with the President of the Republic, Borut Pahor. Prime Minister Janša also delivered an address for the diplomats that attended the reception. The diplomatic corps at the reception were also addressed by the President of the Republic, Borut Pahor, and the Apostolic Nuncio, Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, Archbishop Msgr Jean-Marie Speich.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Brazil’s recognition of the Republic of Slovenia, State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan held an audio-video conference with Ambassador Kenneth Felix Haczynski da Nóbrega, Secretary of Bilateral Negotiations in the Middle East, Europe and Africa at the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended the first session of the General Affairs Council after the conclusion of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU in Brussels. At the beginning of the session, he expressed support to the French Presidency for the guidelines for the work of the General Affairs Council in the first half of 2022 and advocated for the ambitious continuation of work of the Conference on the Future of Europe. He also called for further coordinated action of EU member states in facing the COVID-19 pandemic and welcomed the commitment of the EU to the enlargement process and strengthened cooperation with the Western Balkans.

The press conference on the current COVID-19 situation was attended by the deputy head of the Communicable Disease Centre at the National Institute of Public Health, Nuška Čakš Jager, and State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Franc Vindišar.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today attended the regular meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, led by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. The meeting focused on the situation in Syria, Libya and Eastern Europe. The ministers exchanged views with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the situation at the Ukrainian-Russian border via video link.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan held an audio-video discussion with Deputy Foreign Minister of Argentina Pablo Anselmo Tettamanti on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Argentina’s recognition of the Republic of Slovenia on 16 January 1992.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended the third Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe in Strasbourg. The discussion centred on the recommendations put forward by European Citizens’ Panels on European democracy, values and rights, the rule of law, security, climate change, environment and health, and on the related recommendations adopted by the national European Citizens’ Panels. On the eve of the session, the working groups met and held preparatory discussions. State Secretary Dovžan participated in the Working Group on “European democracy”.

Mateja Logar, head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health, and Janez Tomažič from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana took part in a press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19.

Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs attended a two-day conference on border management in Vilnius. Participants addressed the issue of the instrumentalisation of migrants for political purposes and discussed common measures to strengthen surveillance at the EU's external borders in the face of increased migration flows. On the margins of the event organised by the Interior Ministers of Austria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland, the participants visited a border surveillance centre and were updated on the situation at the external border.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan held a video conference call with Uruguay Deputy Foreign Minister Carolina Ache Battle. The discussion was aimed at assessing relations between the two countries on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Uruguay’s recognition of Slovenia’s independence.

As part of the Slovenian delegation visiting the Expo 2020 in Dubai, State Secretary Anton Harej attended the presentation of the Slovenian wood industry.

State Secretary Dr. Stanislav Raščan held a video conference call with Acting Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Chile Carolina Valdivia, stressing that Slovenia will be forever grateful to Chile for recognising Slovenia's independence on 16 January 1992 – only a day after a number of European countries recognised it as well.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with the representatives of automotive companies united in the GREMO consortium.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy (GODC) and the company ZaVIta held an audio-video conference with those giving opinions regarding the strategic environmental impact assessment (SEIA) in drafting the national European Cohesion Policy 2021-2027 Programme.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held bilateral consultations in Bratislava with Martin Klus, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic and took part in a discussion on the future of Europe with student from a bilingual high school.

The press conference on the current COVID 19 situation was attended by the State Secretary at the Ministry of Health Franc Vindišar and the Director of the National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, Tjaša Žohar Čretnik.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with Bogdan Gabrovec, President of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia. At the meeting, the two interlocutors reviewed the state of play in the field of systemic state support to Slovenian sports.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with the management representatives of the Firefighting Association of Slovenia. The Firefighting Association of Slovenia was entrusted by the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF) with the implementation of the Firefighting Olympics (International Fire Brigade Competitions), which will take place in Celje this year.

Minister Jože Podgoršek attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels. It was the first Council meeting under the French Presidency. The meeting focused on the presentation of the French Presidency's programme in agriculture, food safety, fisheries and forestry, the presentation of the Commission's Communication on sustainable carbon cycles, the situation on agricultural markets and trade-related issues.

Prime Minister Janez Janša had an interview for the Indian national television Doordarshan.

Prime Minister Janez Janša has given an interview for the India's newspaper The Economic Times. In the interview, conducted by journalist Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, topics such as cooperation between Slovenia - India and bilateral relations were discussed.

The Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša was tonight's guest in the Odmevi TV programme broadcast on TV Slovenija 1, where he talked about various current topics, including the coalition meeting held at Brdo pri Kranju today.

A meeting of coalition deputies and certain ministers was held today in Brdo pri Kranju. The meeting was also attended by the President of the Slovenian National Party, Zmago Jelinčič, and deputy of the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia, Robert Polnar.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar took part in an informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers (Gymnich), which was held in Brest, France. The ministers focused their discussions on the security situation in Eastern Europe and relations between the EU and China. They also resumed their political debate on the Strategic Compass.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the 6th regular session of the Commission of Inquiry to determine the potential 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.

Acting Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation Igor Jukič met with Ute Klamert, Assistant Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), via a videoconference.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs today met with the representatives of Slovenian Business Club (SBC) to discuss EU funding opportunities, especially the calls targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The media have reported that President of the European Parliament David Sassoli died last night in a hospital in Aviano at the age of 65.

On Tuesday, 11 January 2022, the European Commission published draft guidelines and regulations to govern state aid in agriculture, forestry and fisheries for 2023–2027. It also invited all interested parties to submit to it, as part of a public consultation, their comments on these proposals by 13 March 2022.

At the press conference on COVID-19, the Slovenian Minister of Health Janez Poklukar and scholar Professor Dr Franc Strle presented the latest findings regarding the spread of the new Omicron variant and the field activities in terms of vaccination.

At an online press conference, the Slovenian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Jože Podgoršek, presented the main activities in agriculture, forestry and fisheries during Slovenia's EU Council Presidency. As the key achievements he highlighted the adoption of legislative acts of the common agricultural policy, the adoption of the Council conclusions on the new forest strategy and negotiations on fishing quotas for the year 2022.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar attended a meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of NATO member states that took place by videconference. At the meeting, the allies held a consultation on the security situation in Ukraine and its neighbourhood ahead of the announced talks between the US and the Russian Federation on 10 January 2022 and between NATO and the Russian Federation at the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) on 12 January 2022.

Today's press conference following the working consultation on the situation and measures to contain the COVID 19 epidemic and preserve the country's economic potential was attended by the Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek and Minister of Health Janez Poklukar..

At the invitation of the President of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA) and Academy Member, Peter Štih, Prime Minister Janez Janša visited the institution and met with its leadership.

The Strategy for the digital transformation of the economy, which has been adopted today, is part of the reform measures under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, under the digital transformation of enterprises component. The strategy is also an important milestone for achieving the objectives set out in the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (Stable – Moody’s) / AA- (Stable – S&P) / A (Stable – Fitch), successfully issued today a new EUR1.25bn 4-year Slovenian Government bond due 13th February 2026 and EUR500mn 40-year Slovenian Government bond due 13th February 2062. The transaction marks Slovenia’s first benchmark transaction in 2022.

Today’s press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar, and by the Head of the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology and the Head of the Laboratory for the Diagnosis of Viral Infections, Professor Dr Miroslav Petrovec.

The Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 / AA- / A (all stable), has mandated Barclays, BNP Paribas, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE and J.P. Morgan to lead manage a EUR dual-tranche transaction consisting of a new 4-year benchmark due 2026 and 40-year benchmark due 2062. The transaction will be Regulation S in dematerialized registered form. The deal is expected to be launched in the near future, subject to market conditions.

The working group of State Secretaries discussed and approved draft document of the renewed and renamed Smart Specialisation Strategy (S5) on 23 December 2021.

Below is the address of Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Janša at the end of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council.

The Government has declared 2022 the year of the architect Jože Plečnik and the composer Giuseppe Tartini.

Below is the New Year message by Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Janša to his fellow citizens.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife, Urška Bačovnik Janša, appeared as guests on the Jutro programme on Planet TV. They talked about their memories of childhood and student life, about the beginnings of their love, and also about a lost engagement ring and their wedding.

Prime Minister Janez Janša was a guest on the programme A Talk with the Prime Minister, broadcast on TV Slovenija 1. The interview was conducted by Jože Možina. Below is a transcript of the entire talk, which focused mainly on the coronavirus epidemic, economic indicators, the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the internal political dynamics.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding under the European Regional Development Fund for the project Designing project documents for the connecting road of the Third Development Axis – Ravne Eastern Bypass. This is another in a series of investments, supported by EU funding, that aims to connect Slovenia.

Today, the Prime Minister Janez Janša met with the Rector of the University of Ljubljana, Professor Dr Gregor Majdič, and the President of the Governing Board of the University of Ljubljana, Professor Dr Emil Erjavec.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a special ceremony at which the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor awarded state decorations to Cardinal Franc Rode, Bishop Geza Filo and Mufti Nedžad Grabus.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the Call for proposals for investment in quality and sustainable transformation of Slovenian tourism sector to strengthen its resilience. The call will be published and managed by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and supported by the European Regional Development Fund under the React-EU initiative.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project COVID-19 – Arrangement of the building of the Institute of Occupational Safety of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana. The project, implemented by the Ministry of Health, will result in adequate equipment of the existing building of the former Institute of Occupational Safety of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana and will receive European Regional Development Fund support under the React-EU instrument.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the commemorative session of the National Assembly and the main state ceremony marking Independence and Unity Day, which is celebrated on 26 December. He attended the main state ceremony at Cankarjev Dom as the keynote speaker, together with his wife Urška Bačovnik Janša.
Below is a transcript of the address delivered by Prime Minister Janez Janša at the main state ceremony marking Independence and Unity Day. Check against delivery.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša hosted a reception for relatives of the members of the Slovenian Territorial Defence, of the Ministry of the Interior and of civilian war victims killed or injured in the Slovenian War of Slovenia. The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by his wife Urška Bačovnik Janša, delivered a speech. The reception was also attended by the Slovenian President, Borut Pahor.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Drava River basin – Municipality Hoče-Slivnica. The project will receive Cohesion Fund support and will result in established wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure in the area of Radizela and Spodnje Hoče.

The Archives of the Republic of Slovenia will be closed from December 27th to December 31st, 2021.

The Council has approved an agreement between the EU and the UK on fishing opportunities for 2022, paving the way for EU fishermen and women to exercise their fishing rights in the Atlantic and the North Sea. The decision determines fishing rights for around 100 shared fish stocks in EU and UK waters, including the total allowable catch (TAC) limit for each species.

On 23 December, which marks Constitution Day, the Ljubljana Opera and Ballet will perform a holiday classic, the ballet The Nutcracker – A Christmas Carol by choreographer Youri Vámos with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The honorary patron of the performance, dedicated to the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, is the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša.

The last meeting of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) in 2021 marked the end of the Presidency of the EU Military Council. On this occasion, Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Major General Robert Glavaš, addressed the EUMC in a video message.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the ceremony at the Club 90 to mark the 30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence, where he delivered a speech. Before the ceremony, a moment of silence was observed for deceased deputies.

Patricija Furlan Fon, Chief Inspector of the Infrastructure Inspectorate (IRSI), and Tomaž Pečjak, Senior Police Advisor of the General Police Administration, took part in a press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar met with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken today in Washington, which was the third bilateral meeting at the level of foreign ministers over the last year and a half. The meeting was aimed at continuing the strategic dialogue between the two countries.

The Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning Andrej Vizjak attended the last meeting of the Environment Council to be held during the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Slovenian Presidency presented a report on the progress made in negotiations on the proposal for a regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries, which is an integral part of the European Green Deal. The proposals contained in the “Fit for 55” package were the main priority of the Slovenian Presidency, which strived for the greatest possible progress and a coherent approach to dealing with dossiers that are highly horizontal in nature.

The first international Golden Bee Award was awarded today in the House of the Carniolan Honey Bee. Prof. Lucas Alejandro Garibaldi from Argentina received the award. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food and Chair of the Golden Bee Award Committee Jože Podgoršek announced the winner of the award. President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor presented the award, which was collected by a representative of the Embassy of Argentina on behalf of the award winner.

The development of rural areas requires coherent and integrated rural development approaches. Combining different European funds offers opportunities to invest in infrastructure, technology and people for resilient, inclusive and prosperous rural areas.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša was a guest on the "Kdo vam laže?" ["Who is telling you lies?] show on Nova24TV, in which he spoke about current domestic political issues.

Today’s press conference, dedicated to COVID-19, focused on the Vaccination Days campaign, which will take place between 19 and 23 December. Participants in the press conference included the Minister of Health Janez Poklukar, Commander of the Slovenian Civil Protection Force Srečko Šestan and the General Secretary of Red Cross Slovenia Cvetka Tomin.

On the invitation of Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt, Minister Dr Anže Logar is paying an official visit to the Kingdom of Norway. Cooperation between Slovenia and Norway is excellent, and the ministers discussed opportunities for further widening and strengthening mutual collaboration.

A regular informal political dialogue between the European Union and the Russian Federation on the EU enlargement was held today via video conferencing. The EU side was led by Political Director and Director-General Jernej Müller.

The Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Andrej Vizjak, will chair the last meeting of EU Environment and Climate Change Ministers before France takes over the European Council presidency.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the European Council meeting in Brussels, where EU leaders discussed the current situation regarding COVID-19, crisis management and resilience, energy prices, security and defence, migration and certain issues related to the EU's external relations. After the European Council meeting, the Prime Minister attended the Euro Summit. In accordance with the conclusions of the June 2021 Euro Summit, the state of play of the Capital Markets Union was discussed.

The Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs and the Minister of Justice Marjan Dikaučič, current Chairs of the EU Home Affairs Council and EU Justice Council respectively, attended the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs ministerial meeting in Washington on 16 December 2021. The ministerial meeting was also attended by the European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, the Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, a delegation of the General Secretariat of the EU Council, the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Ilkka Salmi, the Executive Director of Europol Catherine de Bolle and the President of Eurojust Ladislav Hamran.The meeting agenda was dedicated to justice and home affairs topics of shared EU and US interest.

A regular informal political dialogue between the European Union and the United States on the EU enlargement was held today via video conferencing. The EU side was led by Political Director and Director-General Jernej Müller.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Maribor riverfront redevelopment – Lent. The ERDF-supported project will foster Maribor waterfront regeneration, making the famous Lent bank and the promenade along the Drava River a vibrant urban place offering opportunities for social interaction, recreation, cultural events or just a pleasant place to sit and relax.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar met with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris today. The main purpose of his visit to France was to outline the achievements of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and to discuss future work on the key European dossiers during the upcoming French Presidency.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan attended the 29th consultations of the economic and social stakeholders of the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) via video conference.

On the margins of the European Council meeting today in Brussels, Prime Minister Janez Janša signed the Joint Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission on the EU's legislative priorities for 2022. A resilient and reinvigorated EU will remain at the forefront of events in the year ahead.

Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending a European Council meeting in Brussels, where he and the other EU leaders will discuss the COVID-19 situation, including the emergence of new virus variants, coordination of measures, provision of vaccination and and external relations. They will also address external relations, including with Belarus and Ukraine, as well as the issue of crisis management and resilience, energy prices, security and defence, and the external aspects of migration.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs attended an evening discussion on Cohesion Policy. The on-line event was organised by the info point Europe Direct Novo mesto and the Development Centre Novo mesto. The State Secretary drew attention to the important role Cohesion Policy funds play in ensuring a balanced regional development and went on to present the priorities supported by the NextGenerationEU instrument and the entities eligible to the funding available under the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027.

The continually updated virtual exhibition "Pioneers of Slovenian Modern Architecture – Fabiani, Plečnik and Vurnik – Forms for a New Democracy" is being rounded off with an exhibition at the National Museum of Slovenia and a comprehensive monograph on the three great Slovenian architects produced by Bojana Čampa in Stane Jeršič.

Igor Jukič, Acting Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation, attended the meeting of the EU directors-general for development cooperation on Team Europe initiatives, which was held as an audio-video conference.

The Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs and the Minister of Justice Marjan Dikaučič, current Chairs of the EU Home Affairs Council and EU Justice Council respectively, will attend the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs ministerial meeting in Washington on 16 December 2021.

Today, the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels, four years on since the last summit in 2017. As Belarus is not attending this year’s summit, its regime having suspended its participation in the Eastern Partnership (on 28 June 2021), there is an empty seat at the table.

Prof. Dr Borut Štrukelj from the Faculty of Pharmacy in Ljubljana was one of the speakers at the press conference on COVID-19 held today.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed the Transition with Ambition conference over video link. The event was organised by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the SPIRIT Slovenia, Public Agency and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan today chaired the final regular meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Brussels in the context of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council. Ministers of European affairs discussed draft conclusions for the December European Council and the coordination of the enlargement conclusions that have been unanimously confirmed, which is yet another achievement of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Acting as Minister for Development Cooperation, State Secretary Raščan addressed the participants of an important virtual event marking the launch of the Digital for Development (D4D) Hub in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is a multi-stakeholder mechanism of the “Team Europe” initiative, the aim of which is to strengthen dialogue and partnership in digitalisation to promote a human-centric digital transformation.

State Secretary Kirbiš Rojs today gave closing remarks at the webinar marking the launch of the Europe Sustainable Development Report 2021. In her speech, State Secretary called for action.

As part of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, a video conference of the Management Board of Europol started today. The participants were addressed by the Slovenian Minister of the Interior and Chair of the Home Affairs Council, Aleš Hojs.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the 28th regular session of the National Assembly, at which his response to the question raised by Deputy Matej T. Vatovec concerning corruption and the "mafia-style" running of the country was discussed. The Prime Minister presented his position on the issue.

Today, EU fisheries ministers held the last meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels.They successfully concluded difficult negotiations on fishing quotas for next year. The Council meeting was chaired for the last time by the Slovenian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Jože Podgoršek.

Today’s press conference on COVID-19 was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar, the National Coordinator of the Vaccination Programme at the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Dr Marta Grgič Vitek, and by the Head of the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology and the Head of the Laboratory for the Diagnosis of Viral Infections, Prof Dr Miroslav Petrovec.

At the 28th regular session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, Prime Minister Janez Janša answered parliamentary questions from Andrej Rajh (SAB) on measures related to the energy crisis, Ivan Hršak (DeSUS) on measures for the older generation, Janja Sluga (non-affiliated deputies) on the energy crisis and the Government’s response to it, and Jožef Horvat on the implementation of the coalition agreement.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan, on behalf of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, led the thirteenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Serbia at ministerial level today in Brussels. "Bringing enlargement forward has been one of the main priorities of the Slovenian Presidency," the State Secretary stressed.

On the second day of the meeting, agriculture ministers focused on the resilience of the food system and on ensuring the strength of the food supply chain. Council conclusions on a new contingency plan for ensuring food supply and security in times of crisis were approved unanimously. Ministers also discussed unfair trading practices in the food supply chain and focused on the Commission's proposal to prevent deforestation. The Council, chaired for the last time by the Slovenian Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Jože Podgoršek, also took note of the preparation of the strategic plans for the common agricultural policy.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan, on behalf of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, led the fourteenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at ministerial level today in Brussels. As the current holder of the Presidency of the Council of the EU, Slovenia is striving to speed up the enlargement process.