News

At today's session, the Government adopted amendments to the laws governing the state administration, scientific research and innovation and the Slovenian Armed Forces. It also amended the Decree on setting natural gas prices from the system and approved the text of its contract with the Slovenian Press Agency (STA).

The 26th Consultation of Slovenian Diplomacy, which took place at Brdo pri Kranju on 25 and 26 January and was attended by 55 heads of Slovenian diplomatic missions and consular posts, including a number of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, outlined the new guidelines for Slovenia's foreign policy strategy.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon received Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, José Manuel Albares Bueno, who was on an official visit and also participated as the guest of honour at the 26th Consultations of Slovenian Diplomacy. They discussed bilateral relations and the feminist foreign policy that Spain is promoting as a foreign policy concept.

The Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob, attended the 26th Consultation of Slovenian Diplomats at Brdo pri Kranju and addressed the heads of diplomatic and consular missions. He highlighted Slovenia's foreign policy priorities and called for unity in re-establishing Slovenia as a full-fledged country of core Europe. We must turn our foreign policy focus towards the world.

The Nutrition Institute has announced the most innovative foods of 2023, introduced to the market in the last year.

Today’s taking of the oath by ministers in the National Assembly marks the beginning of a new era in the government term of Dr Robert Golob. The establishment of an efficient organisational structure of ministries will ensure better operability and more successful implementation of the Government’s tasks on the basis of the commitments from the Coalition Agreement.

At today’s session, the Government appointed several state secretaries at the newly established ministries.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the third meeting of mayors traditionally organised by the Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia.

Slovenian parliament has confirmed nine new ministers, completing the government reshuffle. As part of the reshuffle, the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has been transformed into the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development. The new ministry will also be responsible for the policy area of regional development. It will be headed by Dr Aleksander Jevšek, who has been sworn in as Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development.

With the confirmation of the reorganisation of the Government, the name of the ministry of the economy is changing today, and this ministry will also be responsible for sport. The new Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport will continue to be led by Minister Matjaž Han.

At today's correspondence session, the Government adopted decrees on the pricing of heat from district heating and on subsidies for the purchase of wood pellets.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in the regular meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, which focused on the war in Ukraine. Ministers also met with Palestinian Prime Minister Shtayyeh, and heard a report from Minister Fajon on her joint visit to Montenegro with Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia took note of the Annex to the Collective Agreement for the Education Sector in the Republic of Slovenia and the Annex to the Collective Agreement for Research Activities.

The fifth International Day of Education will be celebrated on 24 January, this year under the theme “to invest in people, prioritise education”. This is essential if we want to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goals.

Minister Irena Šinko participated in the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) – the 15th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference, titled: “Food Systems Transformation: A Worldwide Response to Multiple Crises”. The Agriculture Ministers’ Conference is attended by over 70 Ministerial Delegations from around the Globe, and representatives of the European Commission, the African Union, agricultural institutions and associations, and other international organisations. The event takes place within the International Green Week (IGW) that was opened for visitors on 20 January.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob, together with Minister of Economic Development and Technology Matjaž Han and Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič, visited the company Hella Saturnus Slovenija, where they were acquainted with the production, investments and new trends in the automotive industry.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ms. Irena Šinko, participated in the official opening ceremony of the Berlin International Green Week (IGW), taking place from 19 to 29 January 2023. At the trade fair, Slovenia is presented as a green and ecological country (ecological + local = ideal).

Minister of Health Danijel Bešič Loredan presented the document “Overview of the situation in Slovenian healthcare”.

From 18 to 20 January 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon attended the 53rd World Economic Forum in Davos, a meeting point for leaders, civil society representatives and top-performing business people.

Last year’s Horizon Europe call for Marie Sklodowska Curie COFUND projects (MSCA COFUND) was one of the most successful calls so far for Slovenian applicants.

The results of the 10th survey of the basic food basket were published on the “Our Superfood” website on 17 January 2023. The results of the analysis show that the price of the average cheapest basket of 15 basic foods is currently at its lowest since monitoring started. Furthermore, a comparison of price trends over the last two weeks shows a decrease in meat prices.

A special ceremony was held at the National Gallery of Slovenia this evening to mark the adoption of Slovenia's Cohesion Policy Programme for the period 2021-2027. Minister for Development and European Cohesion Policy, Dr Aleksander Jevšek, head of the government office that was responsible for the preparation and coordination of the programme thanked all Slovenian partners and the European Commission for the excellent work done, underlining that the efficient and effective implementation of the programme now fell on the shoulders of all stakeholders.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised an international event entitled Humanitarian crisis, protection of critical infrastructure and the environment during armed conflicts and in relation to peacebuilding measures: Legal challenges of the 21st century, which was aimed at seeking solutions that could contribute to enhancing respect for international humanitarian law in practice. This is particularly relevant in the light of the war in Ukraine and the Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure in the country.

On the occasion of the special ceremony marking the adoption of Slovenia’s Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027, a delegation from the European Commission, led by Ms Sofia Alves, the Director at the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, visited Slovenia. The European Commission delegation and the representatives of the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, led by its State Secretary mag. Marko Koprivc, visited the Savinjsko-šaleška region.

On 19 January 2023, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Strategy for the Cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia with the OECD until the end of 2025.

At today's session the Government adopted the Decree on compulsory health insurance service programmes, the capacities required for their implementation and the volume of funds for 2023. It also confirmed the final estimate of the direct damage to property caused by the floods of last September.

From January 17 to January 19, the Slovenian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Samuel Žbogar, was in China for political consultations. On January 18, the state secretary Žbogar visited MOFCOM and had a courtesy meeting with the Deputy Minister of Commerce Mr. Ling Ji. This was followed on January 19, 2023 by had political consultations between the Slovenian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Žbogar and Deng Li, the Vice Foreign Minister in Beijing. The state secretary Žbogar also met with representatives of the Slovenian business community in Shanghai and Beijing.

Prime Minister Robert Golob hosted the third meeting of the government ministers with coalition MPs in Brdo pri Kranju. This time, the meeting was entirely devoted to healthcare reform.

Today, the Government Working Group to prepare the Migration Strategy, which was established by a Government Decision in October 2022, met for the first time at the Ministry of the Interior.

The second Business Forum was held today in Ljubljana, bringing Slovenian and Italian companies together to explore opportunities for cooperation in the space sector. It was preceded by a bilateral meeting between Minister Matjaž Han and the President of the Italian Space Agency, Giorgio Saccoccia.

At the Interreg Programme Slovenia-Austria 2021-2027 workshop, which took place in Ptuj, State Secretary at the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy mag. Marko Koprivc underlined the relevance of cross-border programmes that “build trust between the neighbouring partners”.

On 16 January, a photographic exhibition was opened in the Park of Military History in Pivka and placed on large billboards in front of the administration building. The 38 photographs selected by different authors will be on display until September.

The Government has amended the Decree determining the amount of excise duty on energy products and electricity, with which it changes the excise duty on automotive gas oil and for heating gas oil.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today visited the Celje General Hospital and attended the opening ceremony for a new building with heliport.

The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning was the first institution in Europe to carry out the demanding task of the environmental impact assessment for the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK). The environmental consent for the extension of the life span of the NEK for an additional 20 years (until 2043) was issued on 13 January 2023 and is currently being served to all parties and accessory participants and to the participating countries.

On her first official visit to Pristina, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon met Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz. The meeting was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, with a focus on economic cooperation, the situation in the country and discussion on Kosovo's European perspective.

Prime Minister Robert Golob took part in the National Assembly in a debate called For a Better Future of Animals, which looked to create solutions to improve animal protection and welfare.

During her working visit to Sarajevo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr Bisera Turković, Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, and Presidency members Željko Komšić and Dr Denis Bećirović. This was also the first political visit from Slovenia since BiH was granted candidate status.

On Friday, 13 January 2023, the first session of the Expert council for sustainable development of public administration was held. It is a consultative body bringing together top experts from the private and public sectors to help bring about the changes that public administrations urgently need in their development path.

Today, the interministerial working group for healthcare started its work, which is being coordinated directly by the Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EUR 1.19 million in EU funding for the call for proposals REACT-EU: Information and communication technology for higher education institutions implementing pedagogical study programmes II.

The healthcare digitisation strategy in Slovenia for the 2022–2027 period was presented in the Congress Centre at Brdo pri Kranju.

The Prime Minister Robert Golob and the President of the Republic Nataša Pirc Musar met today for their first working lunch. Both recognise the importance of open and regular dialogue for enhanced future cooperation between the institutions. Direct and continuous dialogue between the highest-ranking state officials can contribute to finding solutions for a better future and solidify the true position of politics in society. They committed themselves to constructive cooperation both in domestic affairs and in the coordination of international activities for the benefit of the Republic of Slovenia.

At today’s session, the Government became acquainted with the initialled agreement on resolving the strike demands of FIDES and authorised the Minister of Health to sign the agreement. It also adopted the proposed amendments to the Act determining aid to the economy to mitigate the consequences of the energy crisis and the proposed Act on the aid to provide greater air connectivity.

A meeting with the representatives of the network of NGOs, the Voice of the People, took place at the Prime Minister's Office today.

Today, Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob received the representatives of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference at the Podrožnik Villa.

Today, Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob attended the session of the Judicial Council of the Republic of Slovenia and the extraordinary session of the annual general meeting of the Slovenian Association of Judges.

The Strategic Council for Nutrition, an advisory body to the Prime Minister, met today at its constitutive session. Its key task is to draft proposals of measures for affordable, safe and high-quality food which will have a minimum negative impact on human health, the environment and climate. The Council will also prepare proposals and expert guidelines for the update of national dietary guidelines, food waste reduction, raising awareness among the public about the need to change dietary habits due to health, environmental and climate aspects, and implement other tasks.

CMEPIUS (Center Republike Slovenije za mobilnost in evropske programe izobraževanja in usposabljanja) has opened the applications for study programmes in Slovenia for the year 2023/24.

According to preliminary data, the state budget recorded approximately EUR 12.3 billion in revenue in 2022, an increase of just under EUR 1.2 billion, or 10.5%, compared to 2021. Expenditure reached around EUR 13.7 billion, down by EUR 544 million or 3.8% compared to the previous year, while the state budget deficit was just under EUR 1.4 billion.