The keynote speaker at the press conference on the current situation regarding the COVID-19 epidemic was the Chair of the Commission for Children with Special Needs of the Council of Experts of the Republic of Slovenia for General Education, psychologist Kristijan Musek Lešnik.

At today’s 17th session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Janez Janša answered parliamentary questions raised by Jani Möderndorfer (LMŠ), Jani Prednik (SD), Violeta Tomić (Levica) and mag. Marko Pogačnik (SDS).

The speakers at the press conference on the current situation in relation to the COVID-19 epidemic were the Director of the National Education Institute, Vinko Logaj and the head of the Communicable Disease Centre of the National Institute of Public Health, Mario Fafangel

A press conference was held on the current situation regarding the COVID-19 epidemic, which was attended by Minister of Justice Lilijana Kozlovič and the government spokesperson Jelko Kacin.

Prime Minister Janez Janša was the guest of last week’s BBC NEWS WORLD programme, where he talked about the government’s plans to revive the tourism industry and other issues concerning tourism after Slovenia, as the first country in Europe to do so, declared the end of the coronavirus epidemic.

At the press conference on the current situation related to the COVID-19 epidemic, the speakers were the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning. Andrej Vizjak, Mojca Matičič, a doctor at the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana and a professional mentor for students at the government call centre, and Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin.

At a press conference on the current situation with respect to the COVID-19 epidemic, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Zdravko Počivalšek, and the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Janez Cigler Kralj, and the Minister of Finance, Andrej Šircelj, presented the third package of measures to mitigate the consequences of the epidemic.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša spoke to Slovenia’s citizens on the adoption of the third coronavirus stimulus package.

At today's session, the Government concluded their consideration of the proposal for the Act Determining the Intervention Measures to Mitigate and Remedy the Consequences of the COVID-19 Epidemic for Citizens and the Economy.

Prime Minister Janez Janša assessed the Franco-German proposal on the establishment of a 500 billion euro recovery fund to restart the EU economy following the COVID-19 pandemic as "a good step forward". The fund would be financed by EU borrowing on the markets and would be used to fund the sectors and regions of the EU that were most affected by the pandemic.

"Children, pupils and students successfully returned to kindergartens and schools yesterday, thanks to the principals and the teachers who thoroughly prepared for the return and made all the necessary arrangements to successfully carry out classes. Students and parents were also very understanding and prepared for a smooth implementation of the education process in schools," stressed the Minister of Education, Science and Sport at today's press conference in her first evaluation of kindergartens and schools reopening yesterday. Schools are reporting good cooperation with local communities and smooth operation of school transport.

Borders will be gradually reopened, and the amended ordinance gives the state a discretion to refuse entry to EU citizens who do not have temporary or permanent residence in Slovenia and show clear signs of infection or disease, said the Government's spokesperson, Jelko Kacin, at today's press conference. The Government has amended the Ordinance on imposing and implementing measures for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 at border crossings at the external border and at checkpoints at the internal borders of the Republic of Slovenia, which was adopted on 14 May 2020.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted an ordinance declaring the end of COVID-19 epidemic effective from 15 May, based on a joint assessment by healthcare professionals and the Government Slovenia is thus the first country in Europe to take this step. Since the risk of spreading COVID-19 still persists, the general and specific measures adopted pursuant to the decision on the application of measures under the Communicable Diseases Act will continue to apply based on expert opinion until 31 May 2020.

This morning, Prime Minister Janez Janša spoke with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen over the phone. Their discussion was very substantive and constructive. They talked about the proposals for the next EU budget and the recovery fund in response to the coronavirus epidemic.

At today’s extraordinary session of the National Assembly, the deputies discussed the proposed resolution on the acquaintance with the report on the status, reasons, reserves and orders of personal protective equipment and critical medical equipment upon the declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) epidemic and the purchases that enabled Slovenia’s success in overcoming the epidemic. The proposed resolution was submitted for discussion by the Government of the Republic of Slovenian and, at the session, Prime Minister Janez Janša further explained the proposal.

A fable of us as boiled frogs cooked in lukewarm water and of death threats
"There cannot be a war between one person and the media, just as there cannot be a war between one person and the army of a country."

Today, a videoconference of EU and Western Balkans leaders took place which was co-chaired by President of the European Council Charles Michel, Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenković and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

We, the Ministers of South Africa, Sweden, Argentina, Australia, Albania, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cabo Verde, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, are honored to issue this joint statement on behalf of the people and governments of 58 countries: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Namibia, Netherlands, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine and Uruguay.

Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar participated at today's virtual pledging event hosted by the European Commission as part of a unified global response to the Covid-19 outbreak. On behalf of Slovenia, Minister Logar pledged EUR 13,760,000 for finding a cure and vaccine, and improving diagnostics to combat the disease.

Published below is the statement of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Janez Janša, on 1 May, the International Labour Day, and the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.