News

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon is visiting Skopje, where she and Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia for European Affairs Bojan Maricik signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Development Cooperation between Slovenia and North Macedonia for the 2023-2024 period.

Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia will host The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 2023 Global Access to Justice Roundtable that will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 6th till 8th of December 2023.

On the occasion of the approval of EU funding, Dr Aleksander Jevšek, Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development, said: “The planned integrated measures to improve flood safety along the Drava, Dravinja and Polskava River will reduce flood risk in the wider area. In the long term, these measures will reduce the impact of climate change on flood risk in the area.”

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, took part in the 30th Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Skopje, where the foreign ministers discussed the war in Ukraine and the current situation in the organisation. The council comes at a crucial time for the organisation, whose work has become very difficult, especially after the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The Slovenian delegation is attending the winter plenary session of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in Zagreb, which brings together delegates from 35 member countries, observer countries and representatives of partner international organisations.

Minister Jevšek has participated at the meeting of the EU ministers responsible for cohesion policy. The ministers have approved the conclusions on the future of cohesion policy. The conclusions will serve as a basis for the discussions and the work on the legislative framework for cohesion policy after 2027.

At today’s session, the Government laid down the text of the Draft Act Amending the Basic School Act and adopted the Action Plan to Alleviate Energy Poverty for a three-year period.

The Slovenian Intellectual Property Office and the Visegrad Patent Institute (VPI) today concluded a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at supporting the innovation ecosystems of Slovenia and the four VPI countries through joint activities.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Establishing Aerial Firefighting Capacity. Dr Aleksander Jevšek, Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development, said: “With the help of EU Cohesion Policy funding, Slovenia has strengthened its capacity in the field protection and disaster relief for firefighting and protection of people and property.”

Slovenia is participating in the first Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B) as a co-organiser of one of the panels on cyber capacity building at the regional level. The Conference is being organised to raise awareness of the importance of each country having the expertise to invest in its digital future and to encourage countries to work together to ensure a free, open and secure digital world.

On November 28, 2023, an important stride towards ensuring the safety of nuclear and radiation practices in the Republic of Slovenia was achieved as the National Assembly unanimously embraced the Resolution on nuclear and radiation safety for the forthcoming decade, spanning 2024-2033.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs will provide EUR 200,000 in humanitarian aid to the Olena Zelenska Foundation for the reconstruction of the central hospital in Izyum. The donation agreement was signed today by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Ambassador Renata Cvelbar Bek, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia, Andriy Taran.

Minister Tanja Fajon made her first appearance at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East in New York. On behalf of Slovenia, which will become a non-permanent member of the Security Council on 1 January 2024, she called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, a halt to violence, the protection of civilians, and urged the Security Council to step up its efforts to establish a lasting and just peace in the region.

The Slovenian Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob, today attended the Slovenian Business Summit in Brdo pri Kranju. The debate focused on sustainable development, including in the context of post-flood reconstruction.

State Secretary Sanja Štiglic attends a two-day meeting of NATO and Swedish Foreign Ministers. They discussed the current international situation, which is marked by the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. Ministers exchanged views on the situation in the Western Balkans. For the first time, a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting was held in the format of foreign ministers.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington, in collaboration with the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad and the American Slovenian Education Foundation (ASEF), organized a Symposium on Artificial Intelligence that highlighted the exceptional contributions of Slovenian researchers who work in the United States.

The European Commission has approved an advance payment of 100 million euros from the EU Solidarity Fund, the maximum mobilised to date, following the application for support that Slovenia submitted to Brussels after the devastating floods that took place in the country in August 2023. The advance payment will be made in the next couple of days, said the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira during a conference call with Slovenia's Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Aleksander Jevšek.

Next week, Slovenia is hosting the 23rd Meeting of the Member Parties to the Barcelona Convention, COP 23 – the Conference for the Mediterranean, in Portorož, under the auspices of the United Nations. Slovenia is taking over the two-year Presidency of the Convention, and the programme and objectives were presented at today's press conference by H.E. Minister Ms. Alenka Bratušek.

On 28 November 2023, a cultural event with a round table discussion on "The Power of Music, Poetry and Literature as Mediums for Intercultural Dialogue" and a concert by the Jazz Oud Quartet took place at the National Museum of Contemporary History housed in the Cekin Mansion to mark the Day of the Mediterranean. The participants were first addressed by the National Coordinator for the Mediterranean at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Nina Skočajić Juvan.

In cooperation with the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CONNECT) and the Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), we invite you to the CEF Digital Info Day for the third Call for proposals under the digital strand of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Programme. The CEF Digital Info Day will take place online on Thursday, 30th of November 2023, between 10:00 a.m. CET and 12:30 p.m. CET.

Minister of Interior Boštjan Poklukar has attended the International Conference on a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling in Brussels. The goal of the conference convened by the European Commission is to strengthen the efforts to tackle the challenges posed by migrant smuggling.

At the sessions of government committees, the Government adopted the opinion about the proposed recommendation to stop illegal migration. In the applicable Development Programmes Plan 2023–2026, the Government incorporated several new projects and adopted the incentive to conclude an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of Ukraine on the donation of non-refundable funds of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to the Government of Ukraine for humanitarian aid in the field of de-mining.

The Resolution on Nuclear Safety was adopted in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia. The Resolution is a programming document representing the fundamental guidelines and long-term commitment of the Republic of Slovenia to nuclear and radiation safety. Its content observes the fundamental standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, Marjan Šarec, and the Minister of Defence of the Italian Republic, Guido Crosetto, signed an amendment to the Implementing Agreement between the Ministry of Defence of the Italian Republic and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia on cooperation in the field of military aviation (hereinafter referred to as the Implementing Agreement), which defines the purchase of additional six Leonardo AW139M multirole helicopters, based on the Government-to-Government model.

In his role as guest speaker at the 5th Government Communicators Day, Petra Bezjak Cirman, Director of the Government Communication Office (UKOM), said that UKOM’s success in communicating information during the catastrophic floods was all thanks to an excellent and experienced team.

The Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob, attended the ceremony to present the highest national prizes and awards for outstanding achievements in science, research and development.

Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, attended the meeting of foreign ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in Barcelona, co-chaired by Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan.

A joint closure event of three cross-border programmes, i.e. Slovenia-Austria, Slovenia-Croatia, and Slovenia-Hungary, was held in Ljubljana today to mark the closure of the 2014-2021 programming period. The keynote speaker at the event, the Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek, highlighted the successful performance of the programmes, drawing particular attention to their importance for cross-border regions.

Today, the European Commission provided a positive preliminary assessment of the second payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which Slovenia submitted to Brussels in mid-September. Slovenia could receive the payment in the amount of EUR 541 million around the New Year.

At the start of a four-day ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which saw the release of several hostages and prisoners, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon met with the highest political representatives in Israel and Palestine. She called for an end to violence, respect for international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians and urgent talks on a settlement that would bring lasting peace to the Middle East.

European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski visited Slovenia at the invitation of Minister of Defence Marjan Šarec, acting in the capacity of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. The purpose of the visit was to present to the Commissioner the agricultural damage in the aftermath of catastrophic floods that struckSlovenia in August of this year. The Commissioner visited the affected areas to see the on-the-ground situation.

Permanent Representative of Slovenia to NATO, Ambassador Dr Andrej Benedejčič, presented letters of credence to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today.

At its correspondence session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the proposed Healthcare Intervention Measures Act as per the urgent procedure, which will contribute to the enhanced accessibility and efficiency of our healthcare system.

State Secretary Marko Štucin met with the President of the Austrian Federal Council, Claudia Arpa. They discussed, among other things, the good cooperation between the two countries and reviewed the possibilities for further deepening bilateral relations.

Slovenia organised a training for Information Security Officers (CISO) in critical infrastructure and state administration. The activity took place in Podgorica from 20 to 22 November within the framework of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C). The activity was organised and financially supported by the Slovenian Government Information Security Office (URSIV) and brought together 19 representatives from all six Western Balkan countries.

The second day of the Latin America and Caribbean Days began with a session focusing on business opportunities and scientific research presentations in forestry and irrigation. The two afternoon panels discussed digitalisation and artificial intelligence, and feminist foreign policy. The discussion on the latter topic was opened by Minister Tanja Fajon’s address.

The Embassy of Slovenia in Tirana will be closed on December 8, on the occasion of Youth Day.

The Embassy of Slovenia in Tirana will be closed on November 28, on the occasion of the Independence Day of Albania.

Today, the Government agreed on the text of the proposed Reconstruction, Development and Provision of Financial Resources Act, whose aim is to provide mechanisms for accelerated reconstruction and development in areas that were flooded in August and protection against future natural disasters.

Today we remember Rudolf Maister. A general of steadfast character and unwavering convictions. A great patriot who, 105 years ago in Maribor, laid historic milestones in the struggle for freedom and, with his fighters, bravely and fearlessly disarmed the German security guards. Together with many teachers, educated, learned and conscious people, he passed on the awareness, ethics and knowledge of freedom to generations.

The autumn session of the 5th Latin America and Caribbean Days international conference (LAC Days 2023), focusing on the environment, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and related economic opportunities, and feminist foreign policy, kicked off in Ljubljana with an opening panel.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon attended the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the nine EU Mediterranean countries in Madrid, Spain, the first MED-9 meeting at the level of foreign ministers. The ministers discussed the situation in the Middle East and enhanced cooperation with the Southern Neighbourhood countries.

The Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy has set targets, put in place measures and allocated resources for reducing energy poverty in Slovenia in the Action Plan to Alleviate Energy Poverty. To this end, it will allocate almost EUR 34 million over the next three years.

At today's session, the Government continued its consideration of the proposed Act on Reconstruction, Development and the Provision of Financial Resources. It approved the proposed amendment to the Public Use of the Slovenian Language Act, the proposed amendment to the Building Act and the proposed Minimum Tax Act.

Representatives of the 21 Mediterranean countries – signatories to the Barcelona Convention, which commits them to the maintenance of healthy, safe, clean and biodiverse Mediterranean sea and coasts – will meet in Portorož early in December. This meeting highlights the importance of education and young people as key agents in the efforts for the sustainable development of the Mediterranean. At the meeting, Slovenia will take over the presidency of the group of countries from Türkiye, passing it on to Egypt in 2025.

At today’s sessions of the Committee on the Economy, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia included two new investment projects of the GREMO Consortium into the current Development Programmes Plan, namely e-MOTION – Experimental Development and i-MOTION – Industrial Research.

"We worked with a single goal in mind: to develop the best possible digital services for users," said Kristina Valenčič, Acting Director-General of the Directorate for Digital Solutions Development and Data Economy, at the presentation of the projects launched under the Operational Programme for the Implementation of the European Cohesion Policy in the period 2014-2020 and financed from the EU funds.

At today’s gala event at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, SPIRIT Slovenia and the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport presented awards to the best foreign investors who have achieved outstanding results and made a significant contribution to the development of Slovenian economy in the past year.

Ministers of the Central European Initiative (CEI) member states met to discuss the prospects for and the acceleration of the EU integration process, including in the light of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the broader implications of the war, the impact of which is being felt in all CEI countries.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon announced that with great efforts and excellent cooperation between several parties, three Slovenian citizens have been evacuated from Gaza. She thanked her colleagues for their tireless efforts to help Slovenian citizens and announced a visit to the Middle East.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Žalec-Rogatec Cycle Route.

Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in an informal video conference of EU foreign ministers on the situation in Israel and the wider region.

At today's correspondence meeting, the Government adopted a Report on the implementation of the state budget in the first half of this year, adopted positions on the opinions of the National Council on budget documents, and took a position on the amendments to the draft budget amendments for 2024 and the amendments to the supplemented draft state budget for 2025.

Children's rights are human rights - and they are being seriously violated for millions of children around the world: in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti and elsewhere. On World Children's Day, we echo UNICEF's call for peace for every child. Every child has the right to live in peace, in a clean and safe environment. They also have the right to be heard and to participate in the decisions that affect them.

World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), which started on 18 November with the European Antibiotic Awareness Day, takes place this week. Growing antimicrobial resistance is a threat to people, animals, plants and the environment.

The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU organised the 4th European AI Alliance Assembly, which aims to improve EU policy and cooperation in the development and use of AI. The event was attended by Ambassador Tadej Rupel, National Coordinator for External Aspects of Digitalisation, AI and Cyber Security.

On 18 November 2023, we celebrate the European Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. Slovenia, together with the initiating countries Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco and San Marino, has for the 9th year in a row prepared a declaration to mark this day. This year, 37 other European countries and the European Union have endorsed the joint declaration.

Temporary reintroduction of internal border controls is extended by 20 days, until 9 December 2023 (under Article 28 of the Schengen Borders Code). On 22 December, six-month internal border controls, as provided for in Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code, will be introduced.

The Government agreed to the proposed amendments to the proposal for the Implementation of the Republic of Slovenia’s Budget for 2024 and 2025 Act and issued a Decree amending the Decree on the method of determining and calculating the contribution for ensuring support for the production of electricity from high-efficiency cogeneration and renewable energy sources.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Slovenian delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance strongly condemn the hate message that appeared this morning on the door of the Jewish Cultural Centre and Synagogue in Ljubljana on Križevniška Street. It is unacceptable that individuals should attempt to violate the dignity of Jews or any other minority group.

From 12 to 15 November 2023, Ljubljana hosted the 16th Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) Classroom Network international conference entitled "Leading Change: Digital Transformation of Education in the Era of AI", where foreign guests were also served a traditional Slovenian breakfast to raise awareness of a healthy diet and regular breakfast for children and adults.

Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar has hosted the Romanian Minister of the Interior Marian-Cătălin Predoiu. They primarily talked about migration and Schengen.

The United Nations Security Council adopts a resolution focussing on the protection of children in Gaza and the release of hostages, many of whom are children. Below is the response of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, to the adoption of the resolution.

The amendments to the Act also aim to strengthen existing development regions. “We want to see a more balanced development in development regions and reduce the development gap of less developed areas. The amendments aim to provide a legal basis for the country to delegate more tasks to development regions to be responsible for more than just the absorption of EU funds and to define how to ensure adequate resources for their operation.”

The High-Level Meeting of the OECD Development Assistance Committee was held in Paris to review and discuss the challenges of development cooperation in the context of rising global development and humanitarian needs, conflicts and disasters, the impact of climate change, and the slowdown in progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Slovenia will host the 23rd Meeting of the Member Parties to the Barcelona Convention, COP 23 – Conference for the Mediterranean, in Portorož between 5 and 8 December 2023, marking the second time in history that Slovenia has held the two-year Presidency of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean. The meeting will be held under the slogan “Green transition in the Mediterranean: from decisions to actions”.

On 15 November 2023, in Apia, Samoa, the EU and its member states signed with the 79 members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) a new Partnership Agreement, which will serve as the overarching legal framework for cooperation over the next 20 years. On behalf of Slovenia, the Agreement was signed by the Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Iztok Jarc, in Brussels.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today inspected the reconstruction of the areas affected by the natural disaster in Sneberje, Ljubljana. “The state must ensure the safety of Slovenian citizens,” the Prime Minister stressed after the visit.

The 16th international conference of the Asia-Europe Foundation Classroom Network took place from 13 to 15 November 2023 in Ljubljana to discuss the digitalisation of education in the age of artificial intelligence. The participants were addressed by Maja Balant Slobodjanac, Governor from Slovenia in the Asia-Europe Foundation from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, which is actively involved in the Foundation

Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration (SNSA) has received a report from the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) on the event and the repair of the damaged pipeline as well as on the immediate and short-term actions taken to restart of the plant.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals for co-financing municipal integrated transport strategies.

On his working visit to Rome, Prime Minister Robert Golob had an official meeting with his host, the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, Giorgia Meloni. At the forefront of the meeting were the strengthening of cooperation, the migration issue, current foreign policy topics and the national communities of both countries.

Late this afternoon in Brussels, Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon attended the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Meeting gathering the EU's Foreign Ministers and their counterparts from six Western Balkan countries. The second joint meeting this year was aimed at deepening cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkan countries in the field of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Prime Minister Robert Golob received the President of the Slovenian Federation of Pensioners' Organisations, Zdenka Jan, and the federation’s former president, Janez Sušnik. They discussed the situation of pensioners in Slovenia and the related Government measures.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today met with Chey Taewon, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea for EXPO 2023 and Chairman of SK Group, Korea's second largest conglomerate.

Today, as part of preparations for tomorrow’s working visit to Rome, Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the representatives of the Slovenian minority in Italy. The minority representatives initially thanked the Slovenian Government for its good cooperation.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in the regular meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, which focused on the situation in Israel and the region. We are witnessing a crisis of humanity and a crisis of world order. It is therefore high time for an immediate humanitarian pause to the hostilities in Gaza and the establishment of humanitarian corridors," the Minister said.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Improvement of the Koren Brook embankment – arrangement of a pedestrian path.

The Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development, Dr Aleksander Jevšek, and his Croatian colleague, Minister Šime Erlić, attended the opening ceremony of the first headquarters of the European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) in Slovenia, namely the headquarters of the EGTC Pats of the Future – Ljubljana – Novo mesto – Karlovac – Zagreb, which is located in Novo mesto.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals Fighting youth precarity with youth work.

Ministry of Defence has received cyber defence equipment from the US government to improve the security of communication and information systems, and the cyber defence capabilities of SAF and DoD personnel.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended the International Humanitarian Conference for the Civilian Population in Gaza, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. The key aim of the conference is to improve the coordination of international aid for Gaza and gather additional humanitarian funds for the affected civilian population.

Monitoring Committee of Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027 held its second meeting today. Members of the Monitoring Committee reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the programme and took note of strategic operations and plans for the remainder of 2023 and for 2024. The first calls for proposals have already been published and the first projects have been approved.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project City centre revitalization programme.

At today's meeting, the Government adopted a draft amendment to the Restriction on the Use of Tobacco Products and Related Products Act, which bans all attractive fruity, sweet and herbal flavours in electronic cigarettes, except for the taste or smell of tobacco or menthol. The draft amendment also introduces a ban on smoking rooms, that is, a complete ban on smoking in all enclosed public and work places.

Slovenia has contributed EUR 15,000 to the International Criminal Court's Trust Fund for Victims to help victims of the most serious crimes.

Only one more month separates us from the 23rd Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention COP (COP 23). The meeting of Mediterranean countries, hosted by Slovenia, is set to place in Portorož in the week of 5-8 December 2023 – and, for the second time in history, Slovenia will assume the two-year presidency of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean, better known as the Barcelona Convention.

The 33rd session of the Slovenian-Bavarian Mixed Commission, Slovenia's oldest form of international cooperation, opened at Brdo pri Kranju. The Commission will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, and this session was dedicated to the preparations for this important event. The members of the Commission were introduced by State Secretary Marko Štucin.

On 8 November 2023, the European Commission adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, and for the first time also for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. The package provides an assessment of the state of play by key areas where reform progress is needed in each country.

The Slovenian Minister of the Interior, Boštjan Poklukar, hosted the Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nenad Nešić. The main topic of their talks was the migration situation in the Western Balkans.

The new issue of the News from Nuclear Slovenia is published.

At the Government committees meetings, the Government adopted, among other things, two answers to the questions of the National Council Commissions on the wolf issue and included several new projects in the current Development Programmes Plan 2023-2026.

Today, the Strategic Council for Nutrition and the Strategic Health Council held a joint session. The experts from both councils expressed the clear view that decisive measures are needed to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol and the use of tobacco, in particular among young people.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with the leaders of parliamentary parties. The meeting was aimed at finding a consensus on solutions to the Act on Reconstruction, Development and Provision of Financial Resources.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, who was on a visit to Slovenia.

The 17th Meeting of the Agriculture Ministers of the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in South-Eastern Europe (SWG) was held in Jahorina, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Slovenia, participating as an observer, was represented at the meeting by Maša Žagar, Director-General of the Agriculture Directorate.

Today, the first national conference on artificial intelligence, entitled "Artificial Intelligence - an Advantage and an Opportunity for Slovenia", took place at Jable Castle. The conference was opened by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon and Minister of Digital Transformation Emilija Stojmenova Duh.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, in collaboration with PiNA – Association for Culture and Education, has initiated a pilot project called At the School of Open Cohesion. The project involves eight secondary schools from various regions of Slovenia. It is an interdisciplinary educational programme that combines civic education, digital and statistical skills acquisition, and data journalism competencies.

Today at the Space Summit in Seville, Spain, Slovenia presented a formal request for full membership of the European Space Agency (ESA). The request for membership, which follows the official decision of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia last Friday, was submitted today to the Director-General of ESA, Josef Aschbacher, by State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport, Matevž Frangež, and the head of the Slovenian Space Office, Tanja Permozer, on the margins of the ESA ministerial meeting.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon hosted Ahmed Attaf, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria. Their discussion focused on three important topics: bilateral relations, economic cooperation and the non-permanent membership of both countries in the UN Security Council.