News

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs organised an event in support of Ukraine and in memory of the victims of Russia's brutal aggression. Acting Secretary-General Renata Cvelbar Bek addressed the Diplomatic Corps and the Ministry's staff on behalf of Minister Tanja Fajon, who is attending the Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly. Andrii Taran, Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia, also addressed the participants. The speeches and a minute's silence for the victims of the aggression against Ukraine were followed by the raising of the Ukrainian flag.

State Secretary Tina Heferle attended the 2nd European Conference on Border Management in Athens. The discussions focused on the effectiveness of European Union's border management and return policies as well as on the issue of EU funding to upgrade member states' operational capacities at the external borders.

Below is a statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, on the first anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"There has never been any doubt in Slovenia that Ukraine is the victim and Russia is the aggressor, and we will continue to help Ukraine in every possible way," said Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob on the anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Last year, Slovenia helped Ukraine with almost €30 million in various forms of aid: from humanitarian and material assistance to direct aid to Ukrainian refugees who have taken refuge in our country. We have also been a strong supporter of Ukraine on the political stage and have been working hard to clearly condemn Russia's aggression and its crimes.

In the following we publish the statement by Prime Minister Robert Golob on the anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit. Their discussion focused on strengthening competitiveness, transforming the labour market to support the green and digital transitions, and on EU-level solutions to labour shortages.

At today's session, the Government adopted proposals for legislation to speed up the green transition, a draft amendment to the Macro-prudential Supervision of the Financial System Act to facilitate and protect minimum wage earners who wish to take out a loan, and amendments to the Decree on self-employed professionals in culture. It approved investments to improve the water supply in Slovenian Istria and the Karst hinterland, and adopted a number of personnel matters in the Ministry of the Interior.

At today's meeting, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia set out the text of the draft Resolution on the overall long-term programme for the development and equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces until 2040 (hereinafter: the Resolution) and sent it to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for consideration and adoption.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman led the third Strategic Dialogue between the two countries in Washington today. Established in 2020, the Dialogue provides a framework for discussions and exchanges of views on bilateral cooperation and current political, security and other issues and challenges in the international community.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon addressed the Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York marking the first anniversary of the start of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Slovenia strongly supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and Member States working towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, hosted the Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, on his official visit to Slovenia. This is the second official visit of a foreign leader at Mr Golob’s invitation.

In December, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food issued an open call to individuals, legal persons or bodies governed by public law for submitting the applications for the 2023 Golden Bee Award. The Republic of Slovenia gives out the Golden Bee Award as the highest national award for the preservation and protection of bees and other pollinators. The call remains open until 1 March 2023. The topic of this year's call is research on bees and other pollinators.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the ceremonial opening of the biggest sporting event in Slovenia’s history – the Nordic World Ski Championships Planica 2023. More than 2,000 athletes and members of support teams from 66 countries are due to take part.

In this difficult situation for the entire European Union, we need our positions to be firm and uniform. Any uncoordinated political action is unnecessary and out of place. On the first anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, we need political unity both at home and at the European level.

On the 21st of February 2023, the Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (stable)/A (stable)/AA- (stable) reopened its 0.4875% October 2050 (Oct-50) by €200mn. The new issue size totalled €1.85bn after reopening.

The newly appointed Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar has taken the office from the Minister of Public Administration and Acting Minister of the Interior Sanja Ajanović Hovnik.

The Republic of Slovenia announces the cash tender results of the Euro denominated notes of the tender that expired on 20 February 2023.

State Secretary Marko Štucin today attended the General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. In the run-up to the March European Council, the agenda of the meeting between Ministers and State Secretaries for European Affairs included Ukraine, competitiveness, the EU's single market and economy, energy and migration.

The Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (stable) / AA-(stable) / A (stable), has this morning mandated Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and Erste Group to lead manage a reopening of the SLOREP benchmark due in October 2050. The transaction will be Regulation S in dematerialized registered form.

Around two million four hundred thousand Slovenians at home and abroad speak Slovene as their first, mother tongue, meaning that Slovene is their language of communication, learning, thinking and creating. People also dream in their mother tongue.