News

The Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee, the so-called Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, which deals mainly with human rights issues, has concluded its session in New York. During its session, which began on 3 October, the Committee again addressed a wide range of thematic issues and human rights situations around the world.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Tanja Fajon visited London at the invitation of Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland David Lammy. Slovenia and the United Kingdom are allies and partners who share democratic values and enjoy excellent cooperation, including in the UN Security Council.

The 6th Latin America and the Caribbean Days international conference (LAC Days), organised by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs under the auspices of the Bled Strategic Forum since 2018, concluded with a panel discussion entitled The Role of Latin America and the Caribbean in the New Geopolitical Reality.

At today's session, the Government adopted several regulations on the classification of jobs into salary grades as a result of the adopted salary reform, and the Decree Implementing Regulation (EU) on the establishment of a Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). The Government also took note of extended controls at the internal Schengen border with Croatia and Hungary.

The American Slovenian Education Foundation (ASEF) organized a scientific symposium in San Francisco on Slovenian scientific and technological achievements in the field of space, followed by a gala dinner marking ASEF's 10th anniversary. Ambassador Iztok Mirošič addressed the participants via video message.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in cooperation with the Bled Strategic Forum, is organising the 6th Latin American and Caribbean Days international conference (LAC Days) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 20-21 November 2024. This year's conference focuses on strengthening political, economic, scientific and cultural ties, and on addressing global challenges through more effective multilateralism.

State Secretary Melita Gabrič attended the Ministerial Meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI), which brings together 16 Member States from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.

The European Commission today welcomed the second proposal to amend of the Slovenian Recovery and Resilience Plan. The amendment to the plan also needs to be approved by the Council of the European Union.

On the occasion of World Children's Day, Prime Minister Robert Golob received Ava Planinc and Izabela Rosc, the Junior Ambassadors of UNICEF Slovenia.

Librarians first celebrated the Day of Public Libraries in 2002. Each year, it is accompanied by Public Library Week, which this year is being celebrated in libraries from November 18 to 22. The slogan for this year's celebration is "(Let's) Gather in the Library."

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the regular General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. The meeting focused on preparations for the December European Council and the dialogue on the rule of law. At the informal working lunch, ministers exchanged views on the role of cohesion policy in enhancing the competitiveness of the EU.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with the wife of the President of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, and the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yuliia Svyrydenko. The meeting took place on the day when Ukraine marks a grim milestone of 1000 days since Russia has started its war of aggression against Ukraine.

State Secretary Melita Gabrič met with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko. They focused on Slovenia’s continued support for Ukraine, cooperation in the framework of humanitarian and development assistance, economic cooperation and reconstruction of Ukraine.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Slovenians Abroad, Matej Arčon, visited the Slovenian community in Vienna. He met with Slovenian societies at the Korotan Student Residence and Hotel, where the main focus was on the establishment’s operation after Slovenia’s recent capital increase aimed at securing the future of this symbol of Slovenian identity in Vienna.

As part of the European Week of Waste Reduction (18–24 November 2024), the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy of the Republic of Slovenia highlights the importance of responsible food management.

Yesterday, State Secretary Marko Štucin attended high-level meetings on the situation in Gaza and Ukraine at the United Nations Security Council. On behalf of Slovenia, he called for more decisive action by the Security Council and respect for international and human rights law.

Ambassador Mirošič, together with the U.S. Department of State and the Center for European Perspective, hosted a reception as part of the seminar and study tour of the European Digital Diplomacy Exchange in Washington.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the Evening of the Stars, the closing event at which the Slovenian Cycling Federation presented awards to the best female and male cyclists of 2024.

Minister Tanja Fajon attended the regular meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, chaired for the last time by High Representative Josep Borrell. Ministers discussed the war in Ukraine, Georgia, EU-US relations, the situation in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. Minister Fajon also briefed ministers on her recent visit to Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.

On Friday, November 15, three decades after the initial promises and government decisions were made, the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia at Poljanska Street 40 in Ljubljana finally opened its much-needed new archival building, which is going to house all archival employees under one roof for the first time since 1990. This marks the end of an important chapter in the history of the Slovenian state archive, which next year will celebrate its 80th anniversary of operating as an independent institution.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the signing of the Agreement on the Salary System Reform and New Classifications of Positions and Titles into Salary Grades in the Public Sector, the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector, the Annex to the Collective Agreement for Non-commercial Activities in the Republic of Slovenia, as well as collective agreements or annexes to sectoral collective agreements and agreements harmonised as part of specific pillar negotiations.

To mark the publication of the book by Dr Ana Polak Petrič, Slovenian Ambassador in Berlin, and Dr Grega Pajnkihar, entitled Succession in International Law: Dissolution and Succession after Yugoslavia, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs held a symposium on this topic.

Slobodan Šešum, Director-General of the Directorate for Economic and Public Diplomacy, took part in a panel discussion on the circular economy as part of the 9th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP).

15 November 2024 – The Ministers of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and representatives of the representative trade unions of the public sector today signed the key documents necessary for introducing the reformed public sector salary system on 1 January 2025.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia organised an international expert event on the protection of nuclear facilities in armed conflicts to examine whether existing international legal norms and political commitments sufficiently address the issue of security and protection.

Slovenia concluded its second Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) with the 9th Annual Forum at Brdo pri Kranju. The priorities of Slovenia's Presidency of the Strategy, which provides a valuable platform for regional cooperation and the search for common solutions, were youth, water and the circular economy.

The European Commission has announced the selection of 27 chip competence centres in 24 Member States, including Slovenia. The centres will provide essential resources for the development of semiconductor and chip solutions, in particular for SMEs and start-ups.

At today’s session, the Government adopted three decrees seeking to cut the high electricity bills in the upcoming winter season and thus ease the transition to the new system of calculating network charges. The measures are aimed at enabling people to get through the winter calmly, without high electricity bills.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has decided to provide material aid in the form of food and sanitation items to the Palestinian civilian population affected by the war in Gaza, via Jordan.

At todays’ session, the Government adopted proposed new amendments to the Police Tasks and Powers Act and several measures to cut electricity bills in winter in order to ease the transition to the new system for calculating network charges. It also took note of the initialled documents relating to implementing the reform of the public sector pay system.

State Secretary Marko Štucin reaffirmed the good neighbourly relations during bilateral consultations with Nikolaus Marschik, Secretary General of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, held in Bled. He expressed hope that Austria would continue to adopt measures to improve the situation of the Slovenian minority through close cooperation with the minority community.

On Thursday, 14 November 2024, a targeted and reinforced inspection of buses and heavy vehicles was carried out by the Police, the Labour Inspectorate, the Financial Administration, and the Infrastructure Inspectorate.

Below is the response of Prime Minister Robert Golob regarding recent events related to threats and violence against judges.

Prime Minister Robert Golob and President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar today held a working meeting to discuss key foreign and domestic policy issues.

At the government committee meetings, the Government adopted, among others, the Amendments to the Business and Financial Plan of the Slovenian Regional Development Fund for 2024 and 2025.

State Secretary Marko Štucin visited Ukraine, engaging in discussions with representatives of the Ukrainian Government and visiting sites affected by the recent aggression. In Borodyanka and Moshchun, he witnessed the severe consequences of the conflict, while in Bucha, he paid tribute to the victims of Russian aggression at the memorial wall.

From 20 to 22 November 2024, on-line information days will be held in several languages for international students interested in studying in Slovenia. Full details and a registration link are available in the attachment.

From 11 to 22 November, the 29th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Slovenian delegation will be led by Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer, who will participate in the ministerial negotiations to be held in the meeting’s second week.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Integrated care for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) for improving health literacy and reducing health inequalities – Let's prevent CKD.

Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Science and Innovation Directorate 10 November marks World Science Day for Peace and Development, which highlights the significant role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended an informal summit of EU leaders in Budapest.

The Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Information Security (GISO) organized a workshop in Podgorica, bringing together cybersecurity experts from Western Balkan countries. The event, which took place on November 6 and 7, was hosted by the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C).

On Friday, November 15th, the archival reading room will be closed.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals to set up an advocacy organisation in the field of social economy.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob is attending an informal summit of EU leaders in Budapest.

Prime Minister Dr. Robert Golob welcomed the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Nadia Calviño.

Prime Minister Dr. Robert Golob congratulated Marta Kos by phone on her successful hearing and confirmation as the new European Commissioner for Enlargement before the relevant committee of the European Parliament.

At today's session, the Government adopted an amendment to the Spatial Management Act, included 64 projects in the Development Programme Plan, approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the PALFINGER Group's investment in a new strategic production facility, and approved a third package of material aid for the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza.

The Recovery and Resilience Office informed the Government of the implementation of measures of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, with regard to which the ministries record major substantive and temporal derogations. To optimise the implementation of the plan and subsequent drawing of available European funds, the Government ordered the Office to draft and harmonise the third proposed amendment to the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) on the basis of the ministries’ proposals for adjustment of the measures.

Tanja Fajon, Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, congratulated President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and all congressmen, governors and senators, including two of Slovenian origin, Amy Klobuchar and Paul Gosnar.