News

Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dr Jože Podgoršek, hosted today at Brdo the Ambassadors of the Member States of the European Union (EU). Central focus was on presentation of priority tasks of Slovenia’s Presidency of the EU Council in the sector of agriculture, forestry and food, and on principal events to be organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MAFF) during the Presidency. Using this opportunity, the Minister presented to the Ambassadors the Traditional Slovenian Breakfast project to take place tomorrow in all the Slovenian schools and kindergartens – in the past year, on account of the epidemic, the breakfast could not be carried out, and had to be postponed.

Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning Andrej Vizjak attended the last meeting of the Environment Council before the start of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Portuguese Presidency presented the report on the progress made in negotiations on the proposal for a regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries, which is an integral part of the European Green Deal. The Council Conclusions on EU strategy on adaptation to climate change were also adopted, where the ministers welcomed the preparation of the adaptation communication in line with the Paris Agreement to be submitted to the UNFCCC. The ministers also exchanged views on the action plan on zero pollution, which sets out a vision for zero-pollution by 2050 and horizontally addresses all aspect of pollution. At the end of the meeting, Minister Vizjak presented the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency in the field of the environment.

In advance of Slovenia's approaching EU Council Presidency, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held talks with State Secretary for the European Union Affairs at the Croatian Foreign Ministry, Andreja Metelko Zgombić, via videoconference. State Secretary Dovžan briefed his counterpart on the priorities of Slovenia's Presidency in the second half of this year.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Upgrading the water supply system C – Phase 2. The project worth EUR 10.9 million will be implemented by Municipality Gornja Radgona in cooperation with Municipality Apače and Municipality Sveti Jurij ob Ščavnici under the Agreement on the development of the Pomurje region. The Cohesion Fund contribution stands at EUR 4.8 million.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Promoting vocational education and training 2021-2022. The project worth EUR 700 thousand will be implemented by the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training and will receive EUR 560 thousand of European Social Fund support.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Drava River basin – Municipality Šentilj. The project worth a little under EUR 1.6 million will be implemented by the municipality Šentilj under the Agreement on the Development of the Podravje region and will receive EUR 553 thousand of Cohesion Fund support.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša met with the President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Swiss Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, Guy Parmelin, who is currently on an official visit to Slovenia. At their meeting in Ljubljana, they primarily discussed the priorities of Slovenia’s EU Presidency and current international developments.

Prime Minister Janez Janša meet today with President of the Swiss Confederation and Minister of the Economy, Education and Research, Guy Parmelin.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held consultations with Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, ahead of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan met with Wendy Morton, Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas at the Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who is on a two-day visit to Slovenia.

Before the launch of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Director-General Barbara Sušnik held bilateral consultations with the Secretary General for European Union Affairs at the Cypriot Foreign Ministry, Philippa Karsera, via an audio-video link.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan took part in an online meeting with Polish Minister for European Affairs Konrad Szymański. The State Secretary briefed his counterpart on the priorities of Slovenia's EU Council Presidency, which will take place in the second half of this year. He highlighted the importance of the Union's quick economic recovery, resilience to future crises and ensuring strategic autonomy. He also mentioned the Conference on the Future of Europe, where Slovenia will play an important role as the EU presiding country.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan participated in a videoconference with Märt Volmer, Undersecretary for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attended today’s opening ceremony of the Cooperative Union of Slovenia congress entitled "Na temeljih tradicije v poslovni model prihodnosti” (Developing a Business Model of the Future Based on Tradition), addressing the decision-makers in Slovenian cooperatives.

Secretary of State, Mr Aleš Irgolič, MSc, participated in the Informal Videoconference of Fisheries Ministers. The session was important as the ministers competent for fisheries conducted the discussion and confirmed the final agreement in principle on fishing possibilities in 2021, and on the deep sea fish stocks for 2021 and 2022, which had most recently been reached between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom.

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals Appeal Chamber unanimously rejected all grounds of appeal by Ratko Mladić, former Bosnian Serb army chief, thereby confirming the first-instance judgement. In 2017, Ratko Mladić was found guilty of genocide in Srebrenica, war crimes and crimes against humanity during the siege of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

On 15 June 2021 the Embassy will restart issuing Schengen visas.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Extension of the gym in the Stane Žagar Primary School – Kranj. The project worth over EUR 2.8 million will be implemented by the Urban Municipality Kranj under its Sustainable Urban Strategy and will receive a good EUR 1.1 million of European Regional Development Fund support.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the call for project proposals Supportive environment for cultural activities 2021. The funding available under the call for proposals that will be implemented by the Ministry of Culture amounts to EUR 627 thousand with the European Social Fund contributions standing at EUR 502 thousand.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a discussion at the presentation of the publication, Z lepilom na podplatih: Trideset let slovenske države. (With Glue on the Soles: Thirty Years of the Slovenian State.), on the Nova24TV channel.

Interior ministers, including Slovenia's Aleš Hojs, held a meeting in Luxembourg today. The initial exchange of views focused on the Strategy on the future of Schengen, which was presented by the European Commission last week.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan met with State Secretary for the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain Juan González-Barba Pera to discuss the incoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency and current European topics.

In videoconference, the Minister Dr Jože Podgoršek met today with the Italian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Sig. Stefano Patuanelli, Ing. The meeting was arranged as a forerunner of the Slovenian and Italian Ministerial Coordination Council to take place on 14. 6. 2021.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the ceremony held at Paloma to mark the completion of the investment in a new paper machine, the largest investment in the Slovenian paper industry in the past 40 years.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held consultations with the Undersecretary of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Vincenzo Amendola.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar concluded a two-day working visit to Korea today. He met with his host, Chung Eui-yong, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Korea. They advocated strengthening political and economic ties between the two countries, including the opening of the Slovenian Embassy in Seoul. Minister Logar also took the opportunity to present the priorities of Slovenia’s EU Council Presidency in the second half of this year and to exchange views on current international issues.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today met with the Vice-President of the European Commission and the Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas. Mr Janša and Mr Schinas continued the discussion they started during the visit of the Slovenian Prime Minister to Athens on 10 May 2021.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan today held a videoconference with Secretary General at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, focusing on the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency in the second half of 2021.

A press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was held by the head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health, Mateja Logar, and the Director of the Ljubljana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Marjana Majerič.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a videoconference with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs of Turkey Faruk Kaymakçi. They assessed bilateral relations and exchanged views on EU-Turkey relations in the light of the incoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs met with Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Vice-President for Promoting the European Way of Life, today at Brdo Castle. The discussion focused on three key topics: the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the strategy for the future of Schengen and the proposal for an amendment of the Regulation establishing the Schengen Evaluation Mechanism and internal security.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion has approved EU funding for the project Arrangement of Agricultural and Business Dobrovnik – Phase 2. The project worth a good EUR 1 million will be implemented by municipality Dobrovnik under the Agreement on the development of the Pomurje region and will receive EUR 612 thousand of European Regional Development Fund support.

Today, the Slovenian Prime Minister attended the traditional Holy Mass and memorial ceremony at the Burial Ground below Kren in Kočevski Rog. Prior to the memorial ceremony, Prime Minister Janez Janša and the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, laid a wreath at the pit under Macesnova gorica in Kočevski Rog. After the ceremony, they laid a wreath at the Memorial to the Victims of the National Liberation War at Smrečje near Turjak.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša submitted the notice of resignation of the Minister of Justice, Lilijana Kozlovič, to the National Assembly in accordance with Article 261 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly.

Today, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a meeting via videoconference with Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen. The meeting focused on the presentation of the priorities of the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with the president of the Strategic Council for Digitalisation, Mark Boris Andrijanič, and the heads of working groups. They presented the course of the Council’s work thus far and welcomed good cooperation with government representatives and external stakeholders.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, held a working meeting with the Italian Minister of the Interior, Luciana Lamorgese, at the Brdo Castle today. The Ministers agreed that the countries had a tradition of good cooperation in the area of home affairs. They discussed Slovenia’s preparations for the Presidency in the second half of 2021 and irregular migration.

Today, the Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik attended the EU Telecommunications Council meeting in Luxembourg, where he presented the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency in the field of digitisation. At the meeting, ministers took note of the state of play of legislative proposals on data management, cyber security, ePrivacy, roaming on mobile communications networks in the European Union (roaming) and artificial intelligence. There was also a political debate on the European Union’s digital future.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša took part in a video conference of the BusinessEurope Council of Presidents. BusinessEurope joins 40 national industry and employer's business federations from 34 European countries and represents over 20 million small, medium-sized and large companies.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a video conference with the Minister for EU Affairs of Sweden, Hans Dahlgren. State Secretary Dovžan briefed Minister Dahlgren on the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency in the second half of this year.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and Secretary General Jožef Drofenik hosted a regular informal meeting of secretaries-general of the EU Member States and the Secretary General of the European External Action Service.

The press conference on the current situation regarding COVID 19 was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar, the Minister of Public Administration, Boštjan Koritnik, and the Director of the National Institute of Public Health, Milan Krek.

Director-General of the Directorate for European Union Affairs Barbara Sušnik held bilateral consultations with Jean-Louis Thill, Director-General for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg via videoconference.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with his Czech colleague Jan Hamáček in Prague today, as part of the preparations for Slovenia’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. He continued the working visit in Bratislava with a meeting with the Slovakian Minister Roman Mikulec.

At the invitation of Mr Guan Zhi'ou, the administrator of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of the People’s Republic of China, Minister Podgoršek attended today by videoconference the Third Ministerial Conference of the Mechanism for the Cooperation in Forestry between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (17+1 Forestry Mechanism). 17+1 Forestry Mechanism strengthens business, scientific research and political cooperation in the field of forestry and forest-wood chains.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar had a telephone conversation today with Liechtenstein Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport Dominique Hasler.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the formal handover of 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, lended by Hungary to Slovenia. On this occasion, a press conference took place in Ljubljana, attended by Prime Minister Janša, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary Petér Szijjártó, Minister of Health Janez Poklukar, and Director of the National Institute of Public Health Milan Krek.

World Environment Day is one of the oldest of the world days designated by the United Nations and its environmental programme. This is the 47th World Environment Day, and it features an additional slogan: Reimagine, Recreate, Restore - Generation for Restoration (#GenerationRestoration). The aim is to encourage people through initiatives and best practice to help preserve the environment. "We are a generation that has to hold out our hand to nature," according to the creators of World Environment Day.

As part of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the proclamation and defence of the independent and sovereign Republic of Slovenia, a ceremony was held today in Ig, marking the 30th anniversary of the oath taken by the first Slovenian recruits. Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the ceremony and gave the key address on this occasion. Thirty years ago, more precisely, on 2 June 1991, the first generation of military recruits serving in the Territorial Defence forces were solemnly sworn in at the training centres at Ig and Pekre near Maribor. For the first time in the history of Slovenians, recruits were performing military service in the Slovenian Armed Forces. After the ceremony and the signing of the oath, the first generation of 270 young men began their military service at a time when the Yugoslav Army was preparing an aggression against Slovenia.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the 25th annual Consultation of Slovenian Diplomats at Brdo pri Kranju, where he addressed ambassadors of the Republic of Slovenia and high representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consultations are taking place in the last month before Slovenia will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In his address to diplomats, the Prime Minister spoke about the current situation in the world after the pandemic, the issues Slovenia has faced and is still facing, the enlargement of the European Union, the challenges that lie ahead, even during the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the future and the stabilisation of Europe.

On the second day of the 25th Consultation of Slovenian Diplomats, which was launched yesterday at Brdo pri Kranju, the core topics revolved around the future of the European Union and Europe, building the Union’s resilience following the pandemic, and its role in the changed global geopolitical situation. Heads of Slovenian diplomatic missions and consular posts, along with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were addressed by Prime Minister Janez Janša. He referred to the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international relations, and the future of the Union: “In my view, genuine debate on what Europe should look like is the greatest added value of the Conference on the Future of Europe.”

Minister Anže Logar participated in the NATO foreign affairs ministers' session via video-conference, which was carried out ahead of the NATO Summit on 14 June.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Themed route: Marof archaeological site and Kette avenue. The EUR 490,000 project is implemented by Urban Municipality Novo mesto as part of the Sustainable Urban Strategy Novo mesto 2030 and will receive support from the European Regional Development Fund in the amount of EUR 296,000.

On Monday, 31 May 2021, and Tuesday, 1 June 2021, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan participated in the virtual ministerial session of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Council titled “Shared Values: Building a Green and Inclusive Future”. The session was opened by the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, on behalf of the country holding the Presidency.

Today marks the launch of the 25th Consultation of Slovenian Diplomats at the Brdo Congress Centre, which is taking place one month before Slovenia takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In his introductory address, Foreign Minister Anže Logar, who is heading the two-day Consultation, assured the participating diplomats that Slovenia is well prepared for the Presidency. “The following months will be very challenging for all of us. The Presidency will be another test due to the limitations and uncertainties brought about by the pandemic. However, we have the knowledge, experience and confidence to accomplish this task as successfully as we did in 2008,” explained Minister Logar.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša held a working lunch with the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who is paying an official visit to Slovenia between 31 May and 1 June 2021 at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor. This is the second bilateral visit of a Portuguese president to Slovenia so far (the first such visit was in April 1999 by the then Portuguese president Jorge Sampaio).

A press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 featured the head of the vaccination advisory group, Bojana Beović.

Today, at the invitation of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife, Urška Bačovnik Janša, are attending the ceremony organised by the Republic of Croatia on the occasion of their Statehood Day. On this occasion, the Prime Minister and his wife attended a concert at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša received Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić on a working visit. At the working meeting, the two prime ministers discussed the situation of the pandemic, which is improving in both countries, the relations between the two countries and the EU enlargement process.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today met his host and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov for a working meeting aimed at presenting the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency in the second half of 2021, exchanging views on current international topics, and bilateral cooperation.

It was not possible to reach a political agreement with the European Parliament and the European Commission on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in a super trilogue and the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council. The Portuguese Presidency will continue the negotiations until the end of its Presidency, aiming to reach a final agreement at June's meeting of the EU Council that will be held in Luxembourg. Minister Jože Podgoršek has attended the meeting on behalf of Slovenia. After the suspension of negotiations, Mr Podgoršek said early this morning that, even though we still have different views from the European Parliament and the Commission on some questions and final solutions, we are closer to a final agreement. "It is vital to go through a democratic process to reach important agreements, such as the agreement on the new Common Agricultural Policy. This means that opinions and specific characteristics of numerous stakeholders and Member States are included and taken into account. We obviously have to find some more political will to reach a real compromise and seek solutions that, in the end, will benefit agriculture and rural areas. I believe that the Portuguese Presidency will do everything in its power to conclude the negotiation process in June's Council. If the negotiations are not concluded by then, Slovenia will continue these complex negotiations during its Presidency of the Council of the EU."

The 2nd Session of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation between Slovenia and North Macedonia was held via videoconference today. Slovenia was represented by State Secretary Stanislav Raščan and North Macedonia by State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy, Razmena Cekić-Durović.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, via videoconference today. The meeting was convened at Slovenia’s initiative and focused on the presentation of the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

Today's press conference featured Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Janez Cigler Kralj.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Industrial-Business Zone Steklarna – TKI Hrastnik. The Municipality Hrastnik will implement the EUR 4 million project under the Agreement on the Development of the Zasavje Region. European Regional Development Fund contribution stands at nearly EUR 2.5 million.

In the month that celebrates World Bee Day, an important EU supported project that transcends municipal and state borders is being completed “House of the Carniolan Bee – Centre for Innovative Technologies (ApiLab)”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar attended an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich) in Lisbon. The ministers discussed EU-Africa relations, the unresolved conflicts in the European Eastern Neighbourhood, Belarus and the drafting of the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi joined them for a working lunch and briefed them on the situation in the region and the Middle East Peace Process.

The press conference focused on the decisions taken by the Government at its 77th and 78th sessions; the decisions were presented by Minister of Health Janez Poklukar, Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik, the head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health, Mateja Logar, Inspector Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate, and Deputy Director-General of the Police Tomaž Pečjak.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan met with Roland Schilling, Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for Central Europe. They discussed the priorities of Slovenia's EU Council Presidency, migration, the difficult humanitarian situation of refugees and migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Slovenia's support for the UNHCR.

The Minister of Finance M.Sc. Andrej Šircelj on the basis of the third paragraph of Article 40 of the Slovenian Sovereign Holding Act, issued a Decision on the appointment and tasks of the Expert Commission for the preparation of the candidate proposal for the member of the Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) Supervisory Board.

Today, at the 75th extraordinary session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Janez Janša responded to a proposal for a constitutional indictment filed by opposition parties. His answer outlined the current epidemiological situation and listed the reasons for the situation in Slovenia. He pointed out that the opposition must be moderate in exercising possible instruments, and spoke of an optimistic economic forecast, then gave the latest data about vaccinations, stressing that a year of recovery is ahead, which will be faster than the average of EU member states and will return Slovenia to pre-crisis levels in record time.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a meeting via videoconference with State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. Their conversation focused on the priorities of the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, officially opened the 10th jubilee Africa Day International Conference. Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar, who emphasised that from the very beginning, the Africa Day Conference has been a forum for the exchange of ideas and views between partners, including Slovenian and African companies, also addressed the participants.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project ITI Arrangement of cycling connections in Urban Municipality Murska Sobota – Phase 2 – Cohesion Fund. The project implemented by the Urban Municipality Murska Sobota is worth EUR 1.3 million with the Cohesion Fund contribution standing at EUR 601 thousand.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša, together with Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar, Minister of the Economy Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs, Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti and Minister of Health Janez Poklukar, had a virtual meeting with President of the European Parliament David Sassoli and the leaders of the European Parliament's political groups. After the meeting, President of the European Parliament and Prime Minister Janša issued a joint statement for the media.

The press conference was attended by State Secretary Jelko Kacin, responsible for the logistics of mass vaccination against Covid-19.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Agreement on the development of region: Drinking water supply in the Upper Sava River area – Set 4. The project worth a good EUR 3 million will be implemented by the Municipality Preddvor and the Municipality Naklo in the framework of the Agreement on the Development of the Gorenjska region and will receive EUR 943 thousand of Cohesion Fund support.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Upper Sava River basin – Municipality Tržič. The project implemented by the municipality Tržič under the Agreement on the Development of the Gorenjska region is worth EUR 10.4 million with the Cohesion Fund contribution standing at EUR 2.5 million.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar is hosting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković on an official visit to Slovenia. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, supporting Serbia on its path towards EU membership and exchanging views on the situation in the Western Balkans in the light of Slovenia's upcoming EU Council Presidency.

Director-General for European Affairs Barbara Sušnik held bilateral consultations with Pilvi-Sisko Vierros-Villeneuve, Director-General at the Department for Europe at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs via videoconference today. They exchanged views on current bilateral European and international topics.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with the Maltese Minister for Home Affairs, Byron Camilleri, in Malta today, as part of preparations for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The press conference was attended by Irena Grmek Košnik, a representative from the Kranj Regional Unit of the National Institute of Public Health. Maja Bratuša presented the epidemiological situation in the country.

Prime Minister Janez Janša is participating at a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels. The leaders will focus on the current status regarding the harmonisation of the EU response to COVID-19 and the reform of the Fit for 55 climate and energy legislative package.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša is in Brussels where he met Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Eduard Heger, prior to the special meeting of the European Council. During their talks, the discussion partners spoke about the management of the COVID-19 situation and the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with the Greek Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, and the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Notis A. Mitarachi, in Athens today, as part of preparations for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan today held a consultation with Msgr Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski, the Under-Secretary of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Pameče 3 Business Zone expansion. The project worth EUR 2.3 million will be implemented by the Urban Municipality Slovenj Gradec under the Agreement on the development of the Koroška region and will receive nearly EUR 1.3 million of European Regional Development Fund support.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar, together with his Austrian and Czech counterparts Alexander Schallenberg and Jakub Kulhánek, visited Tirana and met with Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka, Prime Minister Edi Rama, President Ilir Meta and President of the largest opposition Democratic Party Lulzim Basha. The three ministers travelled to the Albanian capital in the context of a two-day working visit to Skopje and Tirana.

This evening, Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife Urška Bačovnik Janša attended a concert by the Big Band of the Slovenian Armed Forces Orchestra on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Pekre events. The concert took place outside the Kadetnica military facility in Maribor. On this occasion, Prime Minister Janez Janša also gave an official address.

Minister Andrej Šircelj attended the informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers in Lisbon on 21 and 22 May. The recovery following the COVID 19 pandemic remains a key priority of the EU Member States. It is important for the European Union that an inclusive and balanced recovery process ensures resilience and stimulates green and digital transitions at the same time.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, was the guest on a TV Slovenija 3 talk show hosted by Igor Pirkovič. He spoke about vaccination, those who have recovered from COVID-19, curbing the epidemic, vaccination coverage, the current political situation, the balance of political powers, the upcoming presidency of the Council of the EU and the planned priorities.

Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated this year's landmark Slovenian Diplomacy Day. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence and in the run-up to its EU Council presidency, the Ministry commemorated prominent personalities of Slovenian diplomacy, who have opened new doors in the international arena during the last few decades. This year, the special occasion was dedicated to Štefan Falež, the first Slovenian Ambassador to the Holy See.

In 2019, the world honey yield was 173% higher than in 1961. In 2019, 10,145 beekeepers in Slovenia were taking care of 208,000 hives (3,245 organic), each an average of 21 hives. In 2019, Slovenian beekeepers produced 650 tons of honey, 63% less than in 2018.

The District Court in Ljubljana annulled the enforcement orders for the recovery of EUR 169,000.00 for January 2021 and EUR 169,000.00 for February 2021, issued by the District Court in Ljubljana against the Government Communication Office (UKOM) on the basis of the motion for enforcement filed by Slovenska tiskovna agencija, d.o.o., represented by Bojan Veselinović through the law firm Kozinc and Partners o.p., d.o.o. They also added that the court will decide on the claim and costs in civil proceedings before the District Court in Ljubljana.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project Agreement on the development of region: Medvode-Pirniče-Vikrče cycling connection. The project worth EUR 2.2 million will be implemented by the Municipality of Medvode under the Agreement on the development of the Osrednjeslovenska region and will receive EUR 912 thousand of European Regional Development Fund support.

Today at Brdo pri Kranju, Prime Minister Janez Janša held the first introductory debate on the future of Europe entitled “The Future of Europe – Discussion on Strategic Challenges at the Beginning of a pan-European debate”. The participants in the debate were also President of Slovenia Borut Pahor, Adviser to the President Dr Ernest Petrič (through video call), former Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitrij Rupel, lawyer Dr Matej Avbelj, lawyer Dr Jurij Toplak and former Member of the European Parliament Zofija Mazej Kukovič.

On Europe day, 9 May, the work on the Conference on the Future of Europe has started. This unique and democratic project will enable Europeans to exchange views and try to find answers regarding the direction of the future development of our continent, the role and positioning of the Union in the changed geopolitical relations and, last but not least, our own existence. What are the foundations that will unite and connect the Europeans in the present as well as in the future? The Council of the EU, which will be chaired by Slovenia for the most of the time during which the conference will be held, the European Parliament, and the European commission will be jointly responsible for the implementation of this major project. In its role as the country holding the presidency, Slovenia will coordinate and represent the positions of the Member States when conducting the conference.

At the press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 Franc Vindišar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Damir Orehovec, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate, and Alojz Sladič, Head of the General Safety and Security Planning Section from the General Police Division of the General Police Directorate were present.

On the second and concluding day of his working visit to Berlin, Foreign Minister Anže Logar met with President of the German Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble. He highlighted the excellent cooperation between the two parliaments and outlined the priority tasks of Slovenia's EU Council presidency. He exchanged views with the German side on topical issues and gave an overview of the European perspective of the Western Balkans.