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On Wednesday, 23rd June 2021, the Republic of Slovenia successfully entered the markets with its debut Sustainability Bond – a 10-year (July-31) benchmark issuance of EUR 1bn. This landmark transaction makes the Republic of Slovenia the first Sovereign in the CEE and second in the European Union to issue a Sustainability Bond. The success of the transaction, with more than EUR 8.4bn of demand, is a strong testimony of the confidence institutional investors have in the Republic of Slovenia, and particularly in its role in financing environmental and social transition.

Andrej Šter, Head of the Consular Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Tomaž Pečjak, Deputy Director General of the Police, took part in today's press conference.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs today attended the 2nd regular meeting of the development council of cohesion region Vzhodna Slovenija in Zagorje ob Savi. Ms Kirbiš Rojs spoke about the progress made in implementing cohesion policy in the current period, the developments concerning the national Recovery and Resilience Plan and the progress made so far in preparing the 2021-2027 documents.

In accordance with Council Recommendation 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of this restriction, including amendments thereto, the Republic of Slovenia allows entry into the Republic of Slovenia as of 14 June 2021 for non-essential travel as well. The information has been updated according to entry conditions applicable as of 19 June 2021.

Today, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan took part in the ministerial meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI) Member States. The meeting was held in a virtual format under the Montenegrin chairmanship and was marked by the strong interest the Executive Board has shown in seeking solutions to overcome the crisis in the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project ''Upgrade of the water supply system B. The EUR 36 million environmental infrastructure project will be implemented by Municipality Rogašovci as the project promoter together with municipalities Beltinci, Cankova, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Hodoš, Kuzma, Moravske Toplice, Murska Sobota, Puconci, Šalovci and Tišina under the Agreement on the development of the Pomurje region. The project will receive a contribution from the Cohesion Fund amounting to nearly EUR 22 million.

As part of the ministerial meeting of the Informal Network of Public Administrations of the EU Member States (EUPAN) in Lisbon, today, Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik met with Alexandra Leitão, Portuguese Minister for the Modernisation of the State Administration. They talked about the EU Leadership Exchange Programme. Minister Koritnik also presented the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

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 Gorje. The EUR 1 million project will be implemented by Municipality Gorje under the Agreement on the development of the Gorenjska region and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund totalling EUR 320,000.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Road and cycling infrastructure in Grosuplje. The EUR 8.8 million project will be implemented by Municipality Grosuplje under the Agreement on the development of the Osrednjeslovenska region and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 1.4 million.

Following the General Affairs Council meeting, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan also took part in the Intergovernmental Conferences at the ministerial level on the accession of Montenegro and Serbia to the EU. The Conferences confirmed the political guidelines on the continuation of the enlargement negotiations for these two candidate countries.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the official celebrations to mark the municipal holiday of Grosuplje and the Statehood Day, at which he was also the main speaker. In his address, the Prime Minister spoke about the events of 30 years ago, the road travelled and the situation today, which – despite some missed opportunities – should fill us with joy. The event took place at Kucelj, the highest peak of the Municipality of Grosuplje.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar visited Munich today, where he met with Bavarian Minister for European and International Affairs Melanie Huml. They discussed the activities for enhancing political and economic relations between Slovenia and Bavaria in the light of the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

Members of the General Affairs Council discussed the preparations for the June European Council, EU enlargement, and the stabilisation and association process, and took note of the Conference on the Future of Europe. Under “any other business”, they held a debate on the rule of law in Poland and Hungary under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union.

Interior Minister Aleš Hojs attended the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting in Lisbon today. At the meeting, he presented the priorities of the upcoming Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU in the field of justice and home affairs.

Republic of Slovenia - Debut Sustainability 10-year EUR 1bn (no-grow) Bond Offering

Minister Zvone Černač attended the opening ceremony of the Youth Community Housing Gerbičeva in Ljubljana at the invitation of the Housing Fund of the Republic of Slovenia.

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 Duplek. The EUR 2.5 million wastewater infrastructure project, which Municipality Duplek will implement under the Agreement on the Development of the Podravje Region, will receive EUR 1.1 million of Cohesion Fund support.

Today, Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik attended the meeting of Ministers of the Informal Network of Public Administrations of the EU Member States (EUPAN) in Lisbon. He appeared as a keynote speaker on the panel discussing skills, leadership and mobility in public administration.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan held a videoconference call with Colm Brophy, the Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland. The pair discussed development cooperation, including the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, now just a matter of days away.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in Ljubljanica River basin – Municipality Brezovica – Agreement on the development of region. The nearly EUR 11 million environmental infrastructure project will be implemented by Municipality Brezovica under the Agreement on the development of the Osrednjeslovenska region and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund amounting to EUR 3.7 million.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Senior day care centre – Planina. The EUR 1 million project will be implemented by Urban Municipality Kranj under the Agreement on the development of the Gorenjska region and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 280,000.

Prime Minister Janez Janša spoke today on Televizija Slovenija about the 30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence, preparations for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU and other current political issues.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a ceremony marking the end of the BOR Operation, at which he delivered a welcome address, and the keynote speaker was Stane Praprotnik, a member of the National Emergency Coordination Group, which led the country's defence against the Yugoslav People's Army. In front of the memorial to the fallen police officers in the war for Slovenia, the Prime Minister laid a wreath in the Tacen Memorial Park together with the key actors of the time: Igor Bavčar, Brigadier General Anton Krkovič and Dimitrij Rupel.

On the eve of the meeting of the General Affairs Council, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held talks with the Dutch representative in the General Affairs Council and Foreign Minister, Sigrid Kaag.
He also visited the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Auditors with headquarters in Luxembourg.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar attended a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Belarus, Iraq and Latin America. The Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tihanovska joined the ministers for an informal breakfast before the Council meeting, presenting the current situation and expectations following the activities undertaken by the European Union aimed at the democratisation of Belarus.

The Republic of Slovenia - Global Investor Call with ESG investors

The 47th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council begins in Geneva and is to take place from 21 June to 13 July 2021. As regards the topics in the focus of the Session, Slovenia will be particularly interested in gender equality and the empowerment of women, human rights and the environment, the impact of new technologies on the enjoyment of human rights, and the human rights situation in individual countries.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša gave an interview for the Indian television. He spoke about Slovenia's preparation for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the priorities during the presidency, the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, the importance of vaccination in creating a 'new normal', the importance of integration between democratic and sovereign countries and the role of India in this process, the attitude towards China and the atmosphere in Slovenia after the end of the epidemic.

Today, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended the first plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe in the European Parliament in Strasbourg via videoconference. In his address, he emphasised that the Conference must strive to raise awareness of the historical achievements and the importance of the integration process in Europe. "It simply should not be taken for granted. It is the foundation of our coexistence and peace, security, and prosperity. Therefore, we must spread this awareness, especially among young people," stressed State Secretary Dovžan.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today, at the invitation of Mayor Ivan Žagar, attended the municipal ceremony in Slovenska Bistrica to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Slovenia's independence and the seizing of the military storage facility in Zgornja Ložnica, where he also delivered a keynote address. As part of the ceremony, the busts of Dr Jože Pučnik and Ivan Pučnik made by the sculptor and restorer Viktor Gojkovič were unveiled in the park near the municipal building.

Foreign Minister Logar visited Paris and met with his host, French Foreign Minister Le Drian, with whom he exchanged views on the priorities of the Slovenian EU Presidency. Minister Logar also met with French National Assembly Vice-President Laëtitia Saint-Paul. They confirmed the excellent relations, pointing out that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the conclusion of the strategic partnership, which significantly stimulated bilateral relations and put them at the highest level. In addition to membership of the European Union and NATO, Slovenia and France also share Alpine and Mediterranean identities.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended the Quadrilateral meeting between Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Slovenia, this time in Vaduz, at the invitation of Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs Martin Frick. Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland share closely aligned values, face numerous challenges and promote a common approach in a demanding international environment.

Today, on 18 June 2021, Minister Andrej Šircelj attended the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting in Luxembourg. Ministers took stock in particular on recovery and resilience plans, economic recovery in the European Union, the European Semester and value-added tax.

State Secretary Raščan addressed a virtual conference on security challenges in the Balkan region, emphasising the importance of Western Balkans’ EU and NATO accession to bolster stability and improve the reform process in the countries of the region.

As Slovenia prepares to hold the Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2021, Slovenian Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs and delegation made a two-day visit to Cyprus and held talks with Cypriot Minister of the Interior Nicos Nouris and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulides, focusing on the preparations for the upcoming Slovenian Presidency.

At the virtual Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan announced Slovenia's humanitarian contribution in the amount of 60,000 euros. The contribution will be directed to efforts to provide support to Venezuelan refugees in Brazil through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in two parts, this year and next.

In view of the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency, Director-General for European Union Affairs Barbara Sušnik held talks with Mārtiņš Klīve, the Director of the European Union Coordination and Policies Department of the Latvian Foreign Ministry, via videoconference.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar attended a ministerial meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Antalya.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs addressed the participants of the conference Tourism Development 4.0 hosted by the company Arctur, d.o.o. on the closure of the project Tourism 4.0 TRL 3-6. She presented the opportunities for the tourism sector under Slovenia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).

Director-General for European Affairs Barbara Sušnik participated in a videoconference meeting of the EU Council Presidency Trio of Slovenia, Germany and Portugal, presenting the priorities Slovenia will pursue during its Presidency.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and State Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister of Czechia Milena Hrdinková confirmed the excellent cooperation between Slovenia and Czechia through a videoconference. They expressed satisfaction that the two countries are working closely together in many areas, sharing many similar views on European and international issues.

Ahead of the fast-approaching Slovenian EU Council Presidency, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held talks with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Rumen Alexandrov, via videoconference. The central topic of conversation was the priorities of Slovenia's Presidency.

Today Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, the National Focal Point, officially launched the implementation of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021 in Slovenia. The online event Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe was attended by around 300 participants with opening addresses delivered by State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs and Ambassador of Norway H.E. Trine Skymoen. After the launching event the applicant workshop provided the potential applicants with an overview of the calls for proposals under the programmes Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Education – Enhancing Human Capital.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar participated in the 16th Bratislava Forum as part of GLOBSEC. Taking place from 15 to 17 June, the Forum is one of the most prominent conferences in Central and Eastern Europe addressing current strategic issues. This year, it focused on post-pandemic recovery, both from an economic and technological point of view, as well as from the aspect of building trust and strengthening the global role of the European Union.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the opening ceremony of the new passenger terminal at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, where he was also the main speaker. Before the ceremony, the Prime Minister met with representatives of Fraport AG – Dr Pierre Dominique Prümm, Member of the Executive Board of Fraport AG and Executive Director for Aviation and Infrastructure, Holger Schaefers, Head of Investor Committee, and Zmago Skobir, Managing Director of Fraport Slovenia –, followed by a tour of the new terminal.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs participated in an online expert consultation “Who will be eligible to the billions of EU funding?” where she presented the opportunities for companies and municipalities in the frame of Slovenia’s Recovery and Resilience Plan as well as the implementation of the 2021-2027 EU Cohesion Policy. The online consultation that was organised by the company Tiko Pro had around 700 participants.

Today marks the beginning of a two-day virtual UN International Procurement Seminar, with Slovenia participating for the second time, this time in partnership with the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Poland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, and the public agency SPIRIT Slovenia supported Slovenia’s participation in terms of organisation and finances.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended a working meeting with G7 ambassadors following on from the recently-concluded G7 summit of the seven largest advanced economies.

Minister Jože Podgoršek has attended an informal meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers. The meeting was important in view of the possible continuation of the ministerial discussion on key remaining questions about the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, taking into account that the Council of the EU, the European Commission and the European Parliament did not reach an agreement at the last meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council. The ministers have also discussed the topics of "Food systems, innovation and management of natural resources" and "Future of the Common Fisheries Policy". The meeting was important in light of the preparation for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The press conference on the COVID-19 situation was attended byState Secretary at the Ministry of Health Franc Vindišar and State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Mateja Ribič.