News

The Communication Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia received a professional accolade in the field of public relations, the Prizma 2024 Award. The Office was awarded for its comprehensively designed and implemented national campaign aimed at raising public awareness of the dangers of disinformation and promoting critical thinking.

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič attended the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in its Development configuration, focusing on financing for development, EU-Africa relations and the EU's external action post-2027. She called highlighted a joint letter by 16 EU Member States addressed to the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, calling for an enhanced role for SMEs within the Global Gateway strategy.

Today marks two years since the adoption of the Ljubljana-the Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes, and other International Crimes. The adoption of the Convention was the result of a shared commitment to strengthening international cooperation and ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes under international law.

Prime Minister Golob presented two Levstik Awards for Lifetime Achievement on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Mladinska knjiga Publishing House.

In a ministerial meeting of the extended Madrid Group of the Global Alliance, Minister Tanja Fajon called for immediate action, stressing that words alone cannot bring peace to Gaza, where civilians are dying by the minute. She once again urged countries that still hesitate to recognise Palestine, as Slovenia did a year ago, to take this step.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Mateja Čalušić met with European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen. One of the main topics of the discussion was the payment of emergency financial aid to farmers because of frost damage in 2024. The European Commission will provide Slovenia with EUR 2.9 million for this purpose.

The May issue of the Diplomatic Bulletin focuses on food security and the vital role that bees play in ensuring it. It also covers Slovenian Diplomacy Day and the Ministry’s first Lifetime Achievement in Diplomacy Award, which was presented to Dr Boris Frlec. Read about the opening of the Slovenian Embassy in Manila, and how the Ministry’s team participated in the three-runner race under the ‘Slovenia – Aid & Partnerships’ banner.

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič addressed members of the UN Security Council during the open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, with a particular focus on emerging threats, safeguarding civilian populations and strengthening accountability mechanisms.

On Slovenian Diplomacy Day, Minister Tanja Fajon presented the Lifetime Achievement in Diplomacy Award to Ambassador Dr Boris Frlec. "The award is an expression of special respect and gratitude to individuals who, through their many years of work, achievements and efforts, have left an indelible mark on Slovenian diplomacy," said Minister Fajon at the ceremony.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who was on an official visit to the Republic of Slovenia.

At today’s session, the Government adopted the proposed new amendments to the Parental Protection and Family Benefits Act, the Forest Act, the Insurance Act and the Public Passenger Transport Management Act. It also adopted the draft Resolution on the National Programme of Sport of the Republic of Slovenia 2026–2035 and took note of the reasons for the extension of the temporary reintroduction of border controls at the internal Schengen borders with Croatia and Hungary.

In a video address at the 5th Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in Rabat, Morocco, Minister Tanja Fajon drew attention to the catastrophic situation in Gaza and called for concrete measures to be taken against Israel, which must be held accountable for its actions.

Minister Tanja Fajon participated in the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting. In the discussion on peace, security and governance, she highlighted: "Stability and peace can only be achieved by working together – through coordinated action and a united voice. In Slovenia, we are actively working on strengthening cooperation with African countries." The Ministerial Meeting is held for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek attended the Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Urban Matters, held in Warsaw between 20 and 21 May 2025. The Ministers signed a joint declaration calling for a more coordinated and territorially sensitive response to global challenges, promoting cohesion across the EU and ensuring that no city or town is left behind.

As part of the Latin America and Caribbean Days 2025 cultural programme, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs held a soirée dedicated to the life and work of Branislava Sušnik, a Slovenian anthropologist who worked in Paraguay. The event was organised in cooperation with the Embassy of Paraguay, the Slovenian Cinematheque, the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum and the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana.

At the regular meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Minister Tanja Fajon emphasized that "business as usual" with the Israeli government, which is bombing hospitals, destroying schools and turning refugee camps into dust, is no longer possible: "As humans, we must ask ourselves how long we will continue to watch the catastrophe in Gaza unfold before our eyes." The ministers also discussed the peace negotiations in Ukraine and the situation in Syria.

In celebration of World Bee Day, the fifth Golden Bee Award was presented this year. The winner was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Mateja Čalušić, and the golden award was presented by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Nataša Pirc Musar. This year, the Golden Bee was awarded to the Polish company Osima Future.

Ministers and high-level representatives from OECD countries and beyond convened in Warsaw, Poland, for the ministerial meeting on regional development policy. They discussed ways to strengthen resilience, cohesion, and prosperity by harnessing regional opportunities.

Prime Minister Robert Golob hosted a meeting of social and humanitarian organisations. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Luka Mesec, and the State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Andrej Sotošek.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the fourth European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels. In her speech, she emphasized that Slovenia has tripled its humanitarian aid since 2021 and that the EU must remain a leader in this field. She welcomed the joint announcement by the EU and its Member States to disburse EUR 5.5 billion in humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable in 2025

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with representatives of the Association of Social Institutions of Slovenia, an organisation that brings together providers of institutional care for the elderly and specific groups of adults.

Slovenian bee diplomacy continues to implement projects that promote social and environmental resilience. This year, Slovenian diplomatic missions and consular posts will once again carry out more than 30 projects worldwide in cooperation with local partners.

Whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid, Israel blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza for over two months. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted. The population faces starvation. Gaza’s people must receive the aid they desperately need.

Minister Tanja Fajon met with Xavier Bettel, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs. The counterparts agreed that Slovenia and Luxembourg enjoy excellent bilateral relations, without any outstanding issues, underpinned by shared European values and similar views on various European and international challenges.

Prime Minister Robert Golob joined young athletes at the opening ceremony of this year’s Youth Sports Games.

Engineering Day was organised by the National Association of Consulting Engineers of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia. At the event, Peter Japelj, Acting Director General for Economic and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, emphasized that engineering is one of the priority industries the Ministry actively supports in the internationalisation of the Slovenian economy.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Integrated Territorial Investment project of the Urban Municipality of Ljubljana (ITI Urban Municipality LJ Linhartova) and the Integrated Territorial Investment project of the Urban Municipality of Slovenj Gradec – city centre (ITI Urban Municipality SG city centre).

State Secretary Melita Gabrič addressed participants at a round table titled ‘Reflection on the 50th Anniversary of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe’, co-organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Slovenian Political Science Association.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the European Political Community Summit in Tirana, hosted by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. The summit brought together the highest representatives of EU institutions, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and NATO, as well as the leaders of many European countries, including all EU Member States.

On the occasion of signing contracts for emergency humanitarian response, State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič met with Secretary General of Caritas Slovenia Peter Tomažič to discuss the projects to be implemented by Caritas Slovenia in 2025 with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

On 13 and 14 May, leading representatives of the regulatory bodies of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Finland, Poland and Slovenia gathered in Portorož for their regular annual meeting to learn about important developments in the field of nuclear safety in these countries.

At today's session, the Government adopted a series of proposals relating to judicial legislation. It approved the new amendments to the General Administrative Procedure Act, a proposal for the Act Regulating the Financing and Promotion of the Construction of Public Rental Housing, and proposals for new amendments to the Long-Term Care Act and the Housing Act. It also initiated the procedure for drafting the 2026 and 2027 budgets.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Eurostars 3 call for proposals, under the Eureka Initiative for the period 2025-2029.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon attended an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Antalya, focused on an in-depth discussion on key issues and elements of the June NATO Summit in The Hague. Ministers reviewed guidelines on the key ambitious priorities of the Summit aimed at maintaining the Alliance’s unity and enhancing its strength.

Seventy years have passed since the signing of the Austrian State Treaty (ADP), which re-established an independent and democratic Austria. The treaty was also of fundamental importance in setting-up relations with neighbouring Slovenia. Article 7, in particular, is of major importance for Slovenia as it guarantees respect for the rights of the Slovenian minority in Austrian Carinthia and Styria.

Prime Minister Robert Golob was the main guest at the 20th Crafts and Entrepreneurship Forum where he took part in a discussion with the Director General of the Chamber of Craft and Small Business, Danijel Lamperger. The event was organised by the Chamber of Craft and Small Business that also presented this year's demands from Slovenian crafts and entrepreneurship.

The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Sajovic, attended a two-day ministerial meeting of the United Nations (UN) member states on peacekeeping in Berlin on May 13 and 14. The meeting discussed the future of UN peacekeeping operations.

Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, led by Prime Minister Robert Golob, has consistently and resolutely advocated for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, immediate access to humanitarian aid, and the establishment of a lasting solution to the conflict in the form of two states – Israel and Palestine.

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič attended the 134th meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which discussed the role of the organisation in the new geopolitical context as a guardian of democratic security, in particular its actions in support of Ukraine and the New Democratic Pact for Europe. They also took stock of the Reykjavik Declaration implementation.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project ITI Urban Municipality of Novo mesto Seidlova cesta road.

The Slovenian public will be presented with the results of a study on workers' exposure to

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, today met with the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who is on an official visit to Slovenia.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Slovenians Abroad, Matej Arčon, has spent the last two days with the Slovenian minority in Porabje, Hungary.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a state ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, where he delivered a keynote address. The ceremony was dedicated to remembering the past, expressing gratitude and reflecting on the values that continue to unite us today.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a ceremonial session of the City Council of the City of Ljubljana. He was accompanied by his partner, Ms Tina Gaber.

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center (WB3C) is proud to announce its collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to host the region’s first Cyber Capacity Building Workshop on 19-20 May 2025 in Podgorica. This high-level gathering will convene global experts and regional stakeholders to strengthen the Western Balkans’ cybersecurity resilience through two critical streams: addressing the cyber talent shortage and enhancing collaborative strategies against cybercrime.

On 9 May 2025, State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič participated in the informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers held in Lviv, Ukraine. She also took part in the meeting of the Core Group on the Establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

On the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and in celebration of Europe Day, the Government Communication Office presents a new episode of the GOVSI podcast featuring Dr. Aleš Gabrič, a renowned historian and president of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. In conversation with host Zoran Potič, they reflect on the meaning of May 9—once and today—as a day of victory, liberation, and European unity.

Every year on Europe Day, we commemorate the signing of the historic Schuman Declaration which, on 9 May 1950, laid the foundations for today's European Union. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War – a milestone that should serve as a reminder that peace is worth every effort.

Foreign ministers and their guests met in Warsaw during Poland's six-month presidency of the EU. There was ample opportunity for frank discussions on the world's key challenges, including the importance of closer foreign and security policy cooperation with the UK, efforts to achieve an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine and further dialogue with the US in the light of the first 100 days of America First.