News

Prime Minister Golob presented two Levstik Awards for Lifetime Achievement on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Mladinska knjiga Publishing House.

In a ministerial meeting of the extended Madrid Group of the Global Alliance, Minister Tanja Fajon called for immediate action, stressing that words alone cannot bring peace to Gaza, where civilians are dying by the minute. She once again urged countries that still hesitate to recognise Palestine, as Slovenia did a year ago, to take this step.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Mateja Čalušić met with European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen. One of the main topics of the discussion was the payment of emergency financial aid to farmers because of frost damage in 2024. The European Commission will provide Slovenia with EUR 2.9 million for this purpose.

The May issue of the Diplomatic Bulletin focuses on food security and the vital role that bees play in ensuring it. It also covers Slovenian Diplomacy Day and the Ministry’s first Lifetime Achievement in Diplomacy Award, which was presented to Dr Boris Frlec. Read about the opening of the Slovenian Embassy in Manila, and how the Ministry’s team participated in the three-runner race under the ‘Slovenia – Aid & Partnerships’ banner.

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič addressed members of the UN Security Council during the open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, with a particular focus on emerging threats, safeguarding civilian populations and strengthening accountability mechanisms.

On Slovenian Diplomacy Day, Minister Tanja Fajon presented the Lifetime Achievement in Diplomacy Award to Ambassador Dr Boris Frlec. "The award is an expression of special respect and gratitude to individuals who, through their many years of work, achievements and efforts, have left an indelible mark on Slovenian diplomacy," said Minister Fajon at the ceremony.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who was on an official visit to the Republic of Slovenia.

At today’s session, the Government adopted the proposed new amendments to the Parental Protection and Family Benefits Act, the Forest Act, the Insurance Act and the Public Passenger Transport Management Act. It also adopted the draft Resolution on the National Programme of Sport of the Republic of Slovenia 2026–2035 and took note of the reasons for the extension of the temporary reintroduction of border controls at the internal Schengen borders with Croatia and Hungary.

In a video address at the 5th Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in Rabat, Morocco, Minister Tanja Fajon drew attention to the catastrophic situation in Gaza and called for concrete measures to be taken against Israel, which must be held accountable for its actions.

Minister Tanja Fajon participated in the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting. In the discussion on peace, security and governance, she highlighted: "Stability and peace can only be achieved by working together – through coordinated action and a united voice. In Slovenia, we are actively working on strengthening cooperation with African countries." The Ministerial Meeting is held for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek attended the Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Urban Matters, held in Warsaw between 20 and 21 May 2025. The Ministers signed a joint declaration calling for a more coordinated and territorially sensitive response to global challenges, promoting cohesion across the EU and ensuring that no city or town is left behind.

As part of the Latin America and Caribbean Days 2025 cultural programme, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs held a soirée dedicated to the life and work of Branislava Sušnik, a Slovenian anthropologist who worked in Paraguay. The event was organised in cooperation with the Embassy of Paraguay, the Slovenian Cinematheque, the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum and the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana.

At the regular meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Minister Tanja Fajon emphasized that "business as usual" with the Israeli government, which is bombing hospitals, destroying schools and turning refugee camps into dust, is no longer possible: "As humans, we must ask ourselves how long we will continue to watch the catastrophe in Gaza unfold before our eyes." The ministers also discussed the peace negotiations in Ukraine and the situation in Syria.

In celebration of World Bee Day, the fifth Golden Bee Award was presented this year. The winner was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Mateja Čalušić, and the golden award was presented by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Nataša Pirc Musar. This year, the Golden Bee was awarded to the Polish company Osima Future.

Ministers and high-level representatives from OECD countries and beyond convened in Warsaw, Poland, for the ministerial meeting on regional development policy. They discussed ways to strengthen resilience, cohesion, and prosperity by harnessing regional opportunities.

Prime Minister Robert Golob hosted a meeting of social and humanitarian organisations. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Luka Mesec, and the State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Andrej Sotošek.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the fourth European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels. In her speech, she emphasized that Slovenia has tripled its humanitarian aid since 2021 and that the EU must remain a leader in this field. She welcomed the joint announcement by the EU and its Member States to disburse EUR 5.5 billion in humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable in 2025

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with representatives of the Association of Social Institutions of Slovenia, an organisation that brings together providers of institutional care for the elderly and specific groups of adults.

Slovenian bee diplomacy continues to implement projects that promote social and environmental resilience. This year, Slovenian diplomatic missions and consular posts will once again carry out more than 30 projects worldwide in cooperation with local partners.

Whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid, Israel blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza for over two months. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted. The population faces starvation. Gaza’s people must receive the aid they desperately need.