News

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the annual session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, hosted by Moldova. “Today, we have taken a significant step towards establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. By doing so, we are sending a clear message that respect for international law is not an option. It is a necessity and a shared responsibility,” she emphasised.

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.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration Jure Trbič attended the 49th session of the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Strasbourg. Representing the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, he addressed the members of the Congress during the debate on implementing the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Slovenia.

The Director-General of the Slovenian Prison Administration and a representative of the General Office for International Cooperation participated in Kraków at the EuroPris Annual General Meeting and at the 30th Council of Europe Conference of Directors of Prison and Probation Services.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Mojca Ramšak Pešec attended the third session of the Council of Europe's Steering Committee on Democracy in Strasbourg. At the Committee's invitation, she presented Slovenia's recent reforms to the public sector salary and employee systems as examples of best practice.

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič attended the 134th meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which discussed the role of the organisation in the new geopolitical context as a guardian of democratic security, in particular its actions in support of Ukraine and the New Democratic Pact for Europe. They also took stock of the Reykjavik Declaration implementation.

On 25 June 2024, the Council of Europe hosted the opening of the exhibition "75 women in the 75-year history of the Council of Europe". Among the 75 women are two Slovenian women, Petra Roter and Alenka Puhar.

In Strasbourg, Minister Tanja Fajon attended the 133rd Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which focused on Ukraine, reviewed progress in implementing the decisions of the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government and adopted the first international instrument on artificial intelligence and human rights. She also represented Slovenia at the Commemorative Ceremony of the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe.

Ambassador Berta Mrak presented her credentials to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Maria Pejčinović Burić, and thus assumed her duties as Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe.

An exhibition by Slovenian painter Katja Bednařik Sudec was held at the Council of Europe in January.