News

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tehran will be closed during Persian New Year holidays (Nowrooz) from 23 March to 24 March 2025.

Prime Minister Robert Golob was the keynote speaker at the closing session of the National Consultation on Strengthening the Resilience of the Republic of Slovenia today. The opening address was delivered by Vojko Volk, State Secretary for National and International Security at the Office of the Prime Minister.

At the invitation of the Polish Embassy, Petra Bezjak Cirman, Director of the Government Communication Office of the Republic of Slovenia, attended a meeting of representatives of the diplomatic corps of EU member states (EU HoMS). At the meeting, she presented activities aimed at raising awareness and increasing resilience against disinformation, foreign information manipulation, and interference. Information security is one of the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Robert Golob, hosted a working lunch for the President of the Portuguese Republic, Dr Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who is on an official visit to Slovenia.

The Monitoring Committee for Slovenia's EU Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027 held its regular session and approved Programme amendments. It also took note of the progress made in the implementation of the Programme and discussed key challenges and opportunities of Programme implementation.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the SUPER 8 EPK GO!2025 project.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today hosted a meeting of ministers and deputies of the National Assembly from the parties of the government coalition at Brdo pri Kranju. The Coalition Summit reviewed past and planned activities to implement the following commitments: strengthening public healthcare, a sustainable pension system, housing for young people.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon concluded her Asian tour in India, where she participated in the Raisina Dialogue international conference and the Young Raisina Leaders event. She also met with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and visited an education centre in Kolkata founded 17 years ago by a Slovenian woman and her husband.

Today, State Secretary Marko Štucin participated in the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels. Foreign ministers discussed the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and Syria, relations with Iran and EU-US relations. The FAC meeting was followed by Brussels IX Conference on “Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition”, where Slovenia pledged a contribution of EUR 600,000.

On the basis of the Act on Aid to Ensure Enhanced Air Connectivity (hereinafter reffered as: the Act), a Public Tender for Enhanced Air Connectivity of Slovenia was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia and the Official Journal of the European Union on 14. 3. 2025. In accordance with the first paragraph of Article 10 of the Act, the tender documentation is publicly published, however, the English translation is merely an information aid for foreign air carriers when preparing applications for aid.

The application for aid and Annexes must be submitted in Slovene language. Submission deadline is 14. 4. 2025 at 23.59

Prime Minister Robert Golob today hosted a working meeting on the amendment to the Placement of Children with Special Needs Act (ZUOPP-1). The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, experts in the field of education and representatives of organisations advocating for children with special needs and their families.

At today's session, the government adopted the draft Hospitality Act, which also includes regulations on short-term rentals. It also reviewed a presentation on the Winter Olympic Games, which will be held next year in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy, Bojan Kumer today met with the European European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra. The visit was an opportunity for an in-depth discussion about the new European Commission's priorities in the areas of clean transition, climate policies, and sustainable EU growth and
the Clean Industry Deal and upcoming legislative initiatives, among which the revision of the European Climate Law, announced by the Commission in the first quarter of this year, stands out.

Prime Minister Robert Golob visited the National Institute of Chemistry, where he was briefed on the Institute's activities and its prospects for further development. The presentation of the Centre for the Technologies of Gene and Cell Therapy (CTGCT) was at the forefront.

Ministry of Digital Transformation and Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Slovenia joins the countries that will play a key role in the future of AI in Europe. Under the EU's latest initiative, Slovenia will host one of six new AI factories, backed by a high-performance supercomputer. This is a strategic step towards the development of a state-of-the-art computing infrastructure that will strengthen research, innovation and digital sovereignty of Slovenia and Europe.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon concluded a two-day official visit to Manila, the first visit by a Slovenian foreign minister to the country. On the second day, she was received by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. She also addressed the participants of the Slovenia-Philippines Business Forum and held a lecture and discussion with the students of the Far Eastern University.

The European Commission has today officially announced that Slovenia has achieved the highest possible score in the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking Call for Proposals. This success is due to the high quality of Slovenia's proposal and the expertise of the experienced team behind it.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon is on a two-day official visit to Manila with nearly 40 representatives of Slovenian companies and institutions. The first day was marked by the strengthening of political cooperation between the two countries, including the opening of the Slovenian Embassy in Manila, and the establishment of intergovernmental cooperation in the field of employment.

On the occasion of Slovenia's success in the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking's European call for proposals for a supercomputer and an artificial intelligence factory, we would like to present a statement by Prime Minister Robert Golob:

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals to strengthen social dialogue. The aim of the call is to strengthen the capacity of the social partners to cooperate more effectively in the design and implementation of policies in the fields of labour market, lifelong learning and improving the working environment.

Ambassador Dr Andrej Benedejčič, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to NATO, took part in the visit of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) to KFOR, the NATO-led mission in Kosovo, and the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team (NALT), on 11 March 2025.

During its presidency of MED9, Slovenia will focus on strengthening Europe's resilience and competitiveness, youth empowerment and capacity-building in higher education, digitalisation and culture as well as the EU enlargement and other foreign policy issues. A number of events will be organised during the Presidency, which you can follow on the dedicated MED9 website.

In the latest episode of the government’s GOVSI podcast, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Mateja Čalušić sheds light on the key challenges and opportunities facing Slovenian agriculture, as well as the country’s strategy for the future of food supply.

Slovenia welcomes the decision by Arab countries to adopt a comprehensive plan for Gaza’s reconstruction at the extraordinary Arab summit in Cairo on 4th March 2025. This important step demonstrates a strong and unified Arab commitment, with genuine Arab ownership of the process and a clear focus on safeguarding the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination, to their land, and ultimately to statehood.

On March 6th, 2025 Ambassador Iztok Mirošič and Congressman Paul Gosar met for a meeting, where they discussed about possibilities in strengthening the economic bilateral cooperation between Slovenia and USA & Arizona.

Prime Minister Robert Golob is attending a special European Council meeting in Brussels devoted to strengthening European defence and ensuring a lasting peace in Ukraine.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Copenhagen is seeking to recruit two professionals for the following positions:

1. Public Diplomacy Coordinator
2. Communication Officer and Events Coordinator

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs organised the National Consultation on EU Macro-Regional Strategies, which was held at Brdo pri Kranju and brought together representatives from ministries and other stakeholders involved in the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP), the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), and the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR).

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, today took part in the conference on the subject of “Science is – science can”, which was held at the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar attended the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

At today’s session, the Government adopted amendments to the Scientific Research and Innovation Activity Act, which provides for additional funding for science, and the proposal for the Act Regulating the Partial Reimbursement of Wage Compensation for Reduced Working Hours. It also took note of the guidelines for the drafting of calls for tenders for the allocation of public funds under the Programme of measures to promote entrepreneurship and competitiveness.

On Tuesday, March 4th, 2025 President of the Commission for Relations with Slovenes Abroad, Suzana Lep Šimenko, held an online meeting for the representatives of Slovenian associations from various U.S. states. The Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United States also joined the meeting.

How do global crises affect young people's lives? How can their resilience and creativity contribute to a better world? The European Network for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Training is organising a special video competition addressing these very questions in the context of EXPO 2025, the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, from 13 April to 13 October 2025.

A seminar on business opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) was held at the Centre of Excellence in Finance, organised by the Ministry of Finance in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, as part of the LAC 2025 Days, the public agency SPIRIT and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Model of early vocational and occupational rehabilitation on the process of returning to work in terms of health (ZPZR-2).

Slovenia is gravely concerned about the decision to completely block humanitarian aid access to Gaza. This could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, severely affecting the civilian population already suffering from the conflict. Such actions are in clear violation of international law, particularly international humanitarian law and human rights law.

The 42nd Slovenian Week Against Cancer is taking place under the slogan: "A new breeze in the fight against cancer – developing the LUKA and PETER programmes". The event, organised by the Association of Slovenian Cancer Societies in cooperation with the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, the Ministry of Health, and the National Cancer Control Programme, brought together experts to discuss future cancer screening programmes.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Libertas cultural hub project.

Under this year's theme "Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet", World Wildlife Day (WWD) 2025 highlights the urgent need for innovative and sustainable financial solutions to preserve the planet's biodiversity and secure a prosperous future for both wildlife and humanity.

The Archivalia of the Month March 2025 with the title Donate to Winter Help is published in the Online Column Archivalia of the Month.

In February, the UN Security Council was chaired by China, which organised an open debate on multilateralism. Among other things, the Security Council discussed Syria and other issues relating to the Middle East, the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine.

At today's session, the Government adopted a draft amendment to the Confiscation of Assets of Illicit Origin Act, the Decree on the compulsory health insurance service programmes, the capacities required for their implementation and the amount of funding for 2025. It also adopted measures to speed up the absorption of EU funds.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has approved measures to improve the absorption of the funds available under Slovenia’s EU Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027. The Government also approved amendments to the Programme and issued a supplemented decree regarding Cohesion Policy implementation. The draft measures were prepared by the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, together with the other line ministries.

Ambassador Iztok Mirošič met with Congressman Pete Sessions of Texas in D.C. on February 24, 2025. They discussed the strengthening of the bilateral relations between Slovenia and United States of America, and agreed to work closely together to advance them.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Integrated improvement of the Savska cesta Road.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović. This was Milanović’s first visit abroad since the start of his second term. The Prime Minister and the President confirmed that bilateral relations between the two countries were excellent and exchanged views on current international topics.

On the second day of the high-level segment of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC 58), the Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations in Geneva hosted a high-level side event titled: “Implementing Foreign Policy Goals with A Human Rights Lens: Advancing Equality through Multilateralism”.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the Golden Ambassador for Children with Cancer Award ceremony, organised by the Zlata Pentljica Institute. The Golden Ambassador Award is a token of appreciation for individuals and organisations that contribute with their acts of kindness to the mission of helping children with cancer.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended, via a web lnk, the "Defence and Security Strategy of Unity" Summit, convened by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the third anniversary of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

On 19 February 2025, a joint traffic control under the auspices of the European Labour Authority (ELA) took place at the Tarvisio - Ugovizza rest area, led by the Italian traffic police and involving control authorities from Slovenia, Croatia and Austria. The focus was on monitoring mobile workers, checking postings, working time, rest periods and pay.

"After three years of blatant violations of international law, Russian aggression must come to an end. A ceasefire must be achieved, along with adequate security guarantees for Ukraine. Slovenia remains committed to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and both Ukraine and EU Member States must engage in negotiations," emphasised the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, on the third anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the projects Development of Slovenj Gradec Sports Park, Urban Culture Centre and Langer Villa. The projects that follow urban strategies of respective urban municipalities will receive EUR 9.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund.

Together with the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF), a discussion was organised on strategic foresight and the document of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs entitled Niches and excellence in Slovenian diplomacy 2030/2040. The document is the result of months of work on the strategic foresight project, in which diplomats and external experts have envisaged four possible scenarios for future developments.

At today's session, the Government adopted a proposal for a new Public Employees Act, aimed at enhancing the competence and independence of public employees. It also approved the proposal for the Public Office Holders Act, which sets out the requirements for holding office and the rights of public office holders in state bodies and self-governing local communities.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals Promotion of R&D programmes (TRL 3-6). The call seeks to strengthen collaboration between the research sector and businesses, while fostering innovation in Slovenia. The call is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, its contribution standing at over EUR 31 million.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today took part in an informal meeting of a group of states organised by French President Emmanuel Macron.

In winter, even in seemingly fine weather, snow and ice can form on the roof of a semi-trailer, the cab of a truck or the roof of a bus. A little rain or high humidity during the day and low temperatures at night are enough to cause this.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals that aims to co-finance the network of multi-purpose Roma centres. The call makes a total of EUR 5.5 million available, with over EUR 4.4 million coming from the European Social Fund Plus.

After the successful first retail issue last year, the Ministry of Finance is preparing for the second issue of retail bonds. This is a part of the Ministry’s continued efforts to develop the capital market, disperse the savings of retail investors and improve financial literacy.

Minister Dr Aleksander Jevšek held his first meeting with the newly appointed Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform, Raffaele Fitto. The meeting, which took place in Brussels, focused on the future of Cohesion Policy and measures to improve EU funds absorption.

At the invitation of the Polish Presidency, State Secretary Marko Štucin attended an informal meeting of European affairs ministers in Warsaw. The members of the General Affairs Council discussed the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, the impact of hybrid threats on the enlargement process and the strengthening of Europe's civilian and military preparedness.

On February 13, 2025 Ambassador Mirošič joined as a guest speaker at the webinar 'From Washington to Ljubljana: How Trump's New Policies Will Reshape Business & Opportunity' hosted by the American-Slovenian Club.

The delegation of eight Slovenian space technology companies, which visited Algeria from 11 to 14 February to learn about the Algerian space sector and explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation, has returned to Slovenia. The visit represents an important step in strengthening economic cooperation in the field of space technologies and opens up new opportunities for Slovenian technological solutions on the North African market.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project “Systemic treatment of frailty with a focus on pre-frailty for healthy and quality ageing”, the short title “Frailty treatment”.

"Today's informal meeting of European leaders in Paris is primarily seen as a gathering of influential European NATO members.

In mid-February 2025, the General Office of the Slovenian Prison Administration held an official handover between the new Director-General, Denis Perše, who has taken up the office on 15 February 2025, and the former Head of the Office, mag. Bojan Majcen, who became Deputy Director-General on the same day.

"In recent days, we have seen numerous proposals aimed at achieving lasting peace in Europe. Slovenia has been providing unwavering and heartfelt support to Ukraine since the very first day of Russia's aggression, and we are rightfully proud of this.

Minister Tanja Fajon is attending the 61st Munich Security Conference, where European and global security are at the centre of discussions. "Turbulent times call for respectful dialogue and fresh ideas," Minister Fajon stated in Munich, adding, "Slovenia remains a reliable partner in upholding the rule of law, political dialogue and multilateralism. This is the best way forward for us."

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the representatives of the Slovenian Federation of Pensioners' Organisations.

The digital transformation of the economy and the public sector is essential for the country’s long-term development and competitiveness. The Ministry of the Economy provided support for the 23 digital transformation projects of 108 Slovenian businesses as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). The European Union has co-financed the investment with EUR 43.8 million.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals Incentives for innovative start-ups in 2025.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning organised the fourth consultation with the mayors and other representatives of Slovenian municipalities. The Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Novak, and the Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development, Dr Jevšek, along with their colleagues and representatives of the Government, presented information regarding flood recovery, the analysis of the municipalities’ needs, and EU funds absorption.

The regular NATO defense ministers' meeting took place in Brussels, attended by minister mag. Borut Sajovic and his delegation.

The Minister of economy, tourism and sport, Matjaž Han, is visiting Salzburg today, one of the world’s most renowned tourist destinations. During his visit, he met with representatives from the tourism and business sectors and visited one of the leading companies in the region. The main goal of the visit is to strengthen economic cooperation between Slovenia and Austria and to exchange best practices in tourism and industry.

At today's session, the Government adopted draft amendments to the Organisation and Financing of Education Act and the Fiscal Rule Act. It also extended the exemption of households from the CHP and RES contributions, and adjusted the contribution for consumers with significantly seasonal energy consumption.

The Government has proclaimed 2026 the year of the poet Srečko Kosovel to mark the 100th anniversary of his death. The proclamation was proposed by the Sežana Municipality. The proposal was supported by the Slovenian Writers' Association, while the Ministry of Culture included it among the important national cultural projects.

The Northern Primorska Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised a presentation of economic diplomacy and its services for Slovenian companies from the Goriška region in Nova Gorica, the fifth such presentation after those in the Zasavje, Koroška, Savinjska and Obalno-kraška regions. The gathered business representatives were addressed by Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs.

Paris is this week hosting the world's most influential leaders, visionaries and experts for a crucial meeting on the future of artificial intelligence (AI). The AI Action Summit is shaping the key guidelines for AI development, with the active involvement of the Minister of Digital Transformation, Ksenija Klampfer.

At the informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in the development format, discussions focused on strengthening the Global Gateway strategy, supporting partner countries in building resilience and enhancing financing for development. State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič participated in the meeting on behalf of Slovenia.

As commemorative events for the victims of the Foibe massacres take place in Italy and beyond, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs underscores the importance of an inclusive remembrance of the tragic events of the 20th century and their victims. The memory of such harrowing events must not be misused as a tool for political or ideological purposes.

The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, met with the Deputy Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), Slovenian Marjan Osvald, who is running for a second term.

On this year's Safer Internet Day on 11 February 2025, attention is again drawn to the growing issue of digital addiction and excessive screen use, particularly among children and young people. Together, a friendlier – and most importantly, safer – digital environment can be created for all.

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, emphasised that women are agents of change and progress. Their leadership, expertise, and innovation are shaping the scientific landscape and driving solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

We inform you on the new regulations on sulphur content of fuel oils used on board in the Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter, from 1 May 2025.

State Secretary Melita Gabrič accepted the invitation of Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to participate in the Friends of Western Balkans meeting. The event brought together the foreign ministers of EU member states belonging to the Friends of Western Balkans group, ministers from the Western Balkan countries, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement.

Coordinated controls are essential for effective cooperation between authorities, ensuring safety and compliance with legislation in the transport of persons and goods. This contributes to the fair and safe operation of the transport sector. Today's action is another example of good cooperative practices.

The Commission for Equal Opportunities in Science of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation would like to carry out a special survey to examine the working conditions and career prospects of science employees in Slovenia.

On the margins of the official opening of the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025, Minister of Culture Asta Vrečko hosted a working meeting of the Ministers of Culture of the Western Balkans at Villa Vipolže in Goriška Brda. The meeting was also attended by the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, and the Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef.

Yesterday, on the occasion of the Slovenian Cultural Holiday, the opening ceremony From station to station took place to unite Nova Gorica and Gorizia as the European Capital of Culture for a year. Before the opening ceremony, Minister of Culture Asta Vrečko, together with European Commissioners Marta Kos and Glenn Micallef, addressed local and international journalists in Nova Gorica and hosted a reception for distinguished guests with delegations at Hotel Perla.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended the opening ceremony of the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025 in Nova Gorica, where he was also the keynote speaker at the main artistic performance on the occasion of the event. The Prime Minister was accompanied at the ceremony by Tina Gaber.

Culture extends the borders of our world. Let it be borderless!

On the eve of Prešeren Day, the Slovenian cultural holiday, a State ceremony was held in the Gallus Hall of Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana to award two Prešeren Awards and Prešeren Fund Awards as the highest recognition in the Republic of Slovenia for achievements in artistic creation.

Danijel Levičar, State Secretary for the National Nuclear Programme at the Office of the Prime Minister, met with the representative of Électricité de France (EDF), Anne Falchi, and the French Ambassador to Slovenia, Florence Lévy.

Prime Minister Robert Golob, together with representatives of relevant ministries, hosted a second meeting with representatives of disabled people's organisations.

In the latest episode of the government podcast GOVSI, we present the European Capital of Culture 2025, Nova Gorica, which has invited the cross-border city of Gorizia to cooperate. Polona Prešeren spoke with the director of GO! 2025, Mija Lorbek, and the program director, Dr. Stojan Pelko.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, visited Syria, where she met with Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. This is one of the first foreign visits since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

At 140th session, the Government initiated a discussion on the Amendments of the Organisation and Financing of Education Act. The discussion was suspended and will be continued at the next meeting. The Government earmarked additional funds of EUR 1,500,000 to finance the public cultural project European Capital of Culture 2025.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended a presentation on Slovenia's national and international advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) as part of multilateral cooperation, focusing on the achievements in the scientific research and business sectors. The event was hosted by the Jožef Štefan Institute, where the Prime Minister addressed the audience.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the working consultation meeting on the future of the Slovenian education system, where the new features introduced by the Organisation and Financing of Education Act (the Education Act) were discussed.