News

State Secretary Marko Štucin met with Secretary General at the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, Dr Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, in Bled today. They discussed current bilateral and European topics. In particular, they underlined the importance of the enlargement process to the Western Balkans and agreed that the region should remain a geostrategic priority for the EU.

State Secretary Marko Štucin held talks with Vice-President of the European Commission Věra Jourová during her visit to Slovenia. They discussed the rule of law and other institutional matters within her remit. State Secretary Štucin also presented Slovenia's plans for hosting the international MLA diplomatic conference in Ljubljana in May 2023.

The Minister of Culture, Asta Vrečko, hosted a working meeting with Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission. Their talks focused on the European Media Freedom Act, the situation at the Slovenian Press Agency and Radio-Television Slovenia, hate speech, and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).

At today’s meeting, the Government adopted the Strategy for the Development of the Capital Market in Slovenia by 2030 and the Spring Forecast, which projects economic growth to be moderate this year, though higher than predicted in the Autumn Forecast, and a gradual fall in inflation.

2 March 2023 Ambassador Suhadolnik participated at the Gorenje Brand promotion conference in Qingdao. Ambassador was accompanied by Mrs. Mira Lesjak, the head of the Slovenian consulate in Shanghai, and Mr. Jan Sitar, economic counsellor of the Slovenian Embassy in Beijing.

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is the most important global event on the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the development of society.

The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia and the Representation of the European Commission in Slovenia are organising an event EU Economic governance framework reform – finding consensus to ensure sustainability and growth.

At the session of the government committee, the Government included the acquisition of new owned business premises for the needs of the operations of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Bucharest in the applicable Plan of Development Programmes and it also adopted a response in connection with the Action plan regarding the provision of special rights of the autochthonous Italian and Hungarian national communities.

Today, on 28 February 2023, the settlement of the liability management transaction, executed on 21 February 2023, took place which consisted of an additional issue of RS85 bonds in the value of EUR 200 million and buying back of RS83 and RS66 bonds.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government extended the provisional agreement regarding the hours paid for the work of trade union representatives and authorised Minister Poklukar to negotiate about the Collective Agreement for Police Officers. The Government also appointed the Director-General of the Treasury Directorate.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government amended the Decree determining the amount of excise duty on energy products and electricity, with which it changed the excise duty on automotive gas oil (diesel) and heating gas oil (extra light fuel oil – KOEL).

At the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon stressed that Slovenia will always stand for respect for international law, human rights, multilateralism and solidarity. She also participated in the High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, where she announced Slovenia's humanitarian contribution of EUR 300,000.

Today, Minister Marjan Šarec and State Secretary Dr Damir Črnčec attended a ceremony at Congress Square in support of Ukraine on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs organised an event in support of Ukraine and in memory of the victims of Russia's brutal aggression. Acting Secretary-General Renata Cvelbar Bek addressed the Diplomatic Corps and the Ministry's staff on behalf of Minister Tanja Fajon, who is attending the Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly. Andrii Taran, Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia, also addressed the participants. The speeches and a minute's silence for the victims of the aggression against Ukraine were followed by the raising of the Ukrainian flag.

State Secretary Tina Heferle attended the 2nd European Conference on Border Management in Athens. The discussions focused on the effectiveness of European Union's border management and return policies as well as on the issue of EU funding to upgrade member states' operational capacities at the external borders.

Below is a statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, on the first anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"There has never been any doubt in Slovenia that Ukraine is the victim and Russia is the aggressor, and we will continue to help Ukraine in every possible way," said Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob on the anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Last year, Slovenia helped Ukraine with almost €30 million in various forms of aid: from humanitarian and material assistance to direct aid to Ukrainian refugees who have taken refuge in our country. We have also been a strong supporter of Ukraine on the political stage and have been working hard to clearly condemn Russia's aggression and its crimes.

In the following we publish the statement by Prime Minister Robert Golob on the anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit. Their discussion focused on strengthening competitiveness, transforming the labour market to support the green and digital transitions, and on EU-level solutions to labour shortages.

At today's session, the Government adopted proposals for legislation to speed up the green transition, a draft amendment to the Macro-prudential Supervision of the Financial System Act to facilitate and protect minimum wage earners who wish to take out a loan, and amendments to the Decree on self-employed professionals in culture. It approved investments to improve the water supply in Slovenian Istria and the Karst hinterland, and adopted a number of personnel matters in the Ministry of the Interior.

At today's meeting, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia set out the text of the draft Resolution on the overall long-term programme for the development and equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces until 2040 (hereinafter: the Resolution) and sent it to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for consideration and adoption.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman led the third Strategic Dialogue between the two countries in Washington today. Established in 2020, the Dialogue provides a framework for discussions and exchanges of views on bilateral cooperation and current political, security and other issues and challenges in the international community.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon addressed the Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York marking the first anniversary of the start of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Slovenia strongly supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and Member States working towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, hosted the Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, on his official visit to Slovenia. This is the second official visit of a foreign leader at Mr Golob’s invitation.

In December, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food issued an open call to individuals, legal persons or bodies governed by public law for submitting the applications for the 2023 Golden Bee Award. The Republic of Slovenia gives out the Golden Bee Award as the highest national award for the preservation and protection of bees and other pollinators. The call remains open until 1 March 2023. The topic of this year's call is research on bees and other pollinators.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the ceremonial opening of the biggest sporting event in Slovenia’s history – the Nordic World Ski Championships Planica 2023. More than 2,000 athletes and members of support teams from 66 countries are due to take part.

In this difficult situation for the entire European Union, we need our positions to be firm and uniform. Any uncoordinated political action is unnecessary and out of place. On the first anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, we need political unity both at home and at the European level.

On the 21st of February 2023, the Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (stable)/A (stable)/AA- (stable) reopened its 0.4875% October 2050 (Oct-50) by €200mn. The new issue size totalled €1.85bn after reopening.

The newly appointed Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar has taken the office from the Minister of Public Administration and Acting Minister of the Interior Sanja Ajanović Hovnik.

The Republic of Slovenia announces the cash tender results of the Euro denominated notes of the tender that expired on 20 February 2023.

State Secretary Marko Štucin today attended the General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. In the run-up to the March European Council, the agenda of the meeting between Ministers and State Secretaries for European Affairs included Ukraine, competitiveness, the EU's single market and economy, energy and migration.

The Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (stable) / AA-(stable) / A (stable), has this morning mandated Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and Erste Group to lead manage a reopening of the SLOREP benchmark due in October 2050. The transaction will be Regulation S in dematerialized registered form.

Around two million four hundred thousand Slovenians at home and abroad speak Slovene as their first, mother tongue, meaning that Slovene is their language of communication, learning, thinking and creating. People also dream in their mother tongue.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Defence, the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia and the Chair of Defence Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences organised a consultation on "Retention of personnel in the Slovenian Armed Forces: challenges and solutions".

On behalf of the Prime Minister Robert Golob, the State Secretary for National and International Security in the Prime Minister's Office, Andrej Benedejčič, received the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer from the Netherlands.

State Secretary Marko Štucin met with the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer. Their conversation focused on the current security situation in Europe and the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

At the 59th Munich Security Conference, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in the Female Foreign Ministers’ meeting and roundtable discussions on climate change and EU enlargement. She also held a number of bilateral meetings. “I present Slovenia as an open and modern country and an excellent candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2024–2025 term”, the Minister said.

On the margins of the 59th Munich Security Conference, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon, as a member of the Informal Group of Women Foreign Ministers, attended a meeting hosted by German and Canada Foreign Ministers. At the meeting, 10 ministers adopted and signed a joint statement on women and girls rights in Afghanistan and Iran.

On 18 February 2023 the Republic of Slovenia and Mongolia celebrated the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations countries maintain friendly relations and develop cooperation in bilateral and multilateral fields.

This year´s Cleveland Kurentovanje, held for the eleventh time, attracted over 15 thousand visitors from Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, Washington, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. The Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia actively participated in many events, which included culinary, music, sport events, and much more.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted Deputy Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Velislava Petrova. They talked about the ways of enhancing bilateral relations and went on to exchange views on the current European, regional and international issues, including EU enlargement.

Prime Minister Robert Golob hosted the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, for the first official visit to Slovenia. The high-level visit from Spain is the first official visit of a foreign leader at the Prime Minister’s invitation. The first head of the Spanish executive branch to pay an official visit to Slovenia was José María Aznar, who came here 22 years ago.

On 13 and 14 February 2023, the Minister of Culture, Asta Vrečko, was on a working visit to Berlin. During her visit, she met with the Minister of State for Culture and Media of the Federal Republic of Germany, Claudia Roth, attended a concert by the Slovenian Vocal Group Gallina featuring Aldo Kumar to celebrate the Slovenian cultural holiday, visited the Museum Europäischer Kulturen and the Aedes Architekturforum gallery, and met with Slovenian artists living in Berlin.

At today's correspondence session, the Government adopted a proposal to call a public hearing and hear witnesses and experts in the proceedings to review the constitutionality of the Act Amending the Radiotelevizija (RTV) Slovenija Act. The Government will send the proposal to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia.

Today, Minister Luka Mesec, together with State Secretary Dan Juvan, members of the Minister’s Office and the leadership of the Labour Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia, met with representatives of the Trade Union for Catering and Tourism Industry Employees of Slovenia regarding the outsourcing of chambermaids at Sava Turizem.

Slovenian Minister of Defence Marjan Šarec attended the two-day NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Brussels. The discussions focused on the war in Ukraine, strengthening the Alliance's deterrence and defence posture, and the upgrading of the commitment on defence spending to be adopted at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July.

Announcement of the Republic of Slovenia Cash Tender Offer on EUR denominated Notes

This year, the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, together with the implementing organisations and SID Bank, will offer over EUR 634.4 million in new financial incentives to the economy, tourism and sport, of which EUR 304.9 million will come from its own resources. With the planned investment of development funds, the Ministry continues to strengthen the competitiveness and added value of the Slovenian economy.

At today's Correspondence Session, the Government amended the Decree determining the amount of excise duty on energy products and electricity and appointed new employers' representatives to the General Assembly of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia.

At the invitation of the Minister of Defence, Marjan Šarec, the Federal Minister of Defence of the Republic of Austria, Klaudia Tanner, and her delegation paid a one-day official visit to Slovenia. The two ministers advocated further strengthening of good cooperation between the two countries in the defence and military fields, and in the management of natural and other disasters.