News, Notices

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved ERDF funding for the call for proposals Incentives for innovative start-ups in 2022 (P2 2022). The purpose of the call is to support entrepreneurship, notably by facilitating the transfer of development ideas into market-successful ventures and by supporting the creation of new innovative enterprises with growth potential.

State Secretary Aleš Irgolič attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels. Ministers exchanged views on better coherence between the Green Deal, the common agricultural policy and trade policy to ensure the transition to sustainable food systems. In the afternoon, they discussed the Regulation on the making available on the Union market as well as export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation. They also discussed the situation in agricultural markets. On the Austrian initiative supported among others by Slovenia, the Council held a debate on a fair income for farmers. In the margins of the Council, State Secretary Irgolič participated in a working meeting of the 4Forests initiative, which brings together forestry ministers from Finland, Sweden, Austria and Slovenia.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan took part in the regular General Affairs Council session in Brussels. The discussion focused on preparations for the European Council meeting to be held on 24 and 25 March as well as strengthening the EU’s resilience, response capacity and preparedness to future crises. The General Affairs Council also held a hearing on the rule of law in Poland under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union. The members of the Council exchanged views on the activities under the Conference on the Future of Europe.

At the extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), the EU foreign affairs ministers took forward the debate they opened at the regular meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council a day before. The security situation in Eastern Europe was further exacerbated following the decision by Russian President Putin to recognise two self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on 21 February 2022.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan participated in the extraordinary meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) convened by Poland’s Chairmanship of the organisation in response to the decision taken by the President of the Russian Federation Putin to recognise the “independence” of the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. This decision violates international law and the OSCE’s fundamental principles.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and President Borut Pahor met today to discuss the current security situation related to the developments on the Russian-Ukrainian border.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar participated in the first Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, which was hosted by France as part of its Council Presidency programme. The foreign ministers of the EU member states and countries in Southeast Asia explored ways to step up cooperation. The main topics of the Forum were: the security situation, global challenges (climate, the environment, health, the oceans), and connectivity and digital issues.

Slovenia strongly condemns the decision by President Putin to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities. These hostile measures are a flagrant violation of international law and obligations contained in the Minsk agreements, and will not remain without consequences.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

As of 19 February 2022, restrictions due to Covid-19 no longer apply when entering Slovenia.

Health pass no longer mandatory, reading room no longer limited to 8 users.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs attended the Development Council of the Pomurje Region online event where she presented the activities regarding the Partnership Agreement for the period 2021-2027 and the Programme for the implementation of the European Cohesion Policy in the period 2021-2027.

Between 18 and 20 February 2022, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar attended the Munich Security Conference, which was marked by debates on the heightened security situation in and around Ukraine. The highest representatives of states and international organisations were united in expressing support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, condemning the actions of the Russian Federation that endangers Ukrainian, European and international security.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has issued the Ordinance repealing the Ordinance of determining the conditions for entry into the Republic of Slovenia for the purpose of containment and control of the infectious disease COVID-19. The Ordinance enters into force on 19 February 2022.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the European Union–African Union summit in Brussels on Thursday, 17 February 2022, and on Friday, 18 February 2022. This was the sixth summit in a row. The first summit between the two Unions took place in 2000 in Cairo (Egypt) and the one before the current one in 2017 in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

Today, European leaders continued with the European Union–African Union Summit, attended by Prime Minister Janez Janša.

As announced in the video address of the Ambassador of Slovenia in Tokyo, H.E. Dr. Ana Polak Petrič, and the Ambassador of Japan to Slovenia, H.E. Mr. Hiromichi Matsushima, this year marks 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Slovenia and Japan.

The two Ministers exchanged views on the work of the Government Office for Digital Transformation and the Japanese Digitisation Agency and assessed that there are many similarities and opportunities to share good practices.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended an informal European Council meeting in Brussels, where, together with European leaders, he discussed the current situation in Ukraine and relations with Russia, as well as the intensified security conditions due to Russian forces assembling near and in Ukraine.

On the second day of the visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Minister Jože Podgoršek met with the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Ms Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri. The ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the ministries in the field of sustainable development and food systems. "The signing of the Memorandum marks a new political step towards better cooperation between our two countries in sustainable food production and the promotion of Slovenian food in UAE," said Minister Podgoršek. Minister Podgoršek attended today the region's largest speciality food fair Gulfood together with the representatives of Slovenian agri-food companies and the Chamber of Agricultural and Food Enterprises of Slovenia.