News

The 2nd European Science Diplomacy Conference is being held under the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Peter Japelj, Director-General of the Directorate for Economic, Cultural and Science Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, participated in the opening panel entitled European science diplomacy in a rapidly changing world.

State Secretary Neva Grašič participated in the General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, which focused on the draft European Council conclusions, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034 and conclusions on EU enlargement. The three EU institutions approved the joint declaration on EU legislative priorities for 2026, and ministers were briefed on progress on legislative simplification and on the roadmap for the 2026 European Semester.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon led the Slovenian delegation at the Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine. This Council of Europe Open Convention establishes an international reparation mechanism for damage, loss or injury arising from the internationally wrongful acts of the Russian Federation in or against Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, where EU ministers discussed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in all its dimensions. Topics included efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace, continued support for Ukraine and maintaining pressure on Russia. Ministers also exchanged views on developments in the Middle East and on EU-China relations.

The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs organised a meeting in Ljubljana for directors of consular crisis centres from Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia. The meeting was held as part of a Slovenian initiative to strengthen cooperation between centres in the region, and was also attended by representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief.

To mark Human Rights Day, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, in her capacity as President of the Security Council, chaired a discussion on the situation in Afghanistan. »Although human rights are universal, inalienable and indivisible, the situation on the ground is a stark reminder that their realisation remains a distant prospect, particularly for women and girls,« the Minister underlined.

On the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of 10 December as International Human Rights Day, with this year’s slogan being Human Rights, Our Daily Essence, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon emphasised: »Slovenia strives to contribute to a world in which everyone can live with dignity and enjoy equal opportunities. In the international community, we systematically support human rights as a universal value«.

In 2015, the UN General Assembly, on the initiative of Armenia, passed a resolution establishing 9 December as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was one of the first treaties addressing respect for human rights and was adopted one day before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on 10 December 1948. Commemoration and memorialisation efforts not only honour the victims and survivors of genocide, but also serve as effective mechanisms for the prevention of future genocides.

State Secretary Melita Gabrič attended this year's Doha Forum in Qatar. Bringing together leaders, politicians, experts and civil society representatives from around the world in joint consideration of key global challenges, this year's Forum focused on substantive justice, accountability and translating words into action.

On the first day of her December visit to New York, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon, as President of the Council, chaired a discussion on cooperation between the UN and the OSCE. She emphasised that the fundamental principles and commitments on which both organisations operate must apply equally to all, without exceptions or double standards.

Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, participated in the 32nd Ministerial Council meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna. “Despite numerous challenges, the OSCE is an irreplaceable security forum that brings 57 countries to the same table and maintains dialogue even in times of crisis, which is indispensable in diplomacy,” she said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels. The meeting aimed to review the progress on implementing the decisions made at the June NATO Summit in The Hague and discuss key political and security issues, including Russian aggression against Ukraine, Russian hybrid activities and other security challenges.

The Ministry hosted the fourth session of the Slovenian-Brazilian Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation, the key mechanism for strengthening economic ties between the two countries. Priority areas of discussion included science, artificial intelligence and digitalisation, space technologies, sustainable fuels, the EU-Mercosur Agreement, trade relations, security and defence.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon leads the Slovenian delegation at the 24th session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is taking place from 1 to 6 December 2025 in The Hague under the topic of strengthening the protection of the ICC and its resilience. Minister Fajon emphasised the importance of the independence and impartiality of the Court and respect for the rule of law.

In November, under Sierra Leone’s presidency, the adoption of the resolution on Gaza resonated most strongly in the Security Council. The resolution welcomes the adoption of a comprehensive plan to end the war and establish a Peace Committee, and authorises the latter to establish an international stabilisation force in Gaza.

Slovenia begins its second one-month Presidency of the UN Security Council for the 2024–2025 term, which will be marked by three signature events: a visit by the Security Council to Syria and Lebanon, an open debate on Leadership for Peace and a meeting on Afghanistan held on Human Rights Day. As expected, the Council will also focus on Palestine and Ukraine.

On International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Slovenia reaffirms its steadfast support for the Palestinian people, who have endured immeasurable suffering for decades through the loss of loved ones and homes, forced displacement, and the denial of fundamental rights, including the right to self-determination and independence.

On the Day of the Mediterranean, 28 November, 43 representatives of the Union for the Mediterranean met in Barcelona to discuss the implementation of the priorities of the new vision, which focuses on people. The EU and 10 countries from Southern Europe have ratified the Pact for the Mediterranean. Minister Fajon highlighted: "Only a shared vision among Mediterranean countries and cooperation in a turbulent geopolitical world can bring peace, dignity and prosperity for all."

State Secretary Neva Grašič met with non-resident ambassadors to Slovenia in the Austrian capital, Vienna. In her address, she highlighted the most prominent achievements of Slovenian foreign policy in 2025: Slovenia's first MED9 presidency and its non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council, which ends with Slovenia’s presidency of the Council in December.

Today, the General Assembly and the Security Council unanimously adopted twin resolutions with identical wording on the review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture (Peacebuilding Architecture Review – PBAR). The negotiation process was led by the Permanent Representatives of Slovenia and Egypt, Ambassadors Samuel Žbogar and Osama Abdelkhalek. The adoption of the resolutions and the agreement on strengthening the effectiveness of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture marked the successful conclusion of nearly one year of negotiations.