News

The ministers met in the context of the General Affairs Council to discuss the link between cohesion policy and the new Strategic Agenda 2024-2029. Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira underlined that cohesion policy and Treaty objectives of promoting convergence and reducing disparities must feature prominently in the Council Strategic Agenda for the next five years as cohesion is a public good. Minister Jevšek stressed the importance of tailored, place-based approach to challenges.

Minister Tanja Fajon received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on a working visit to Slovenia to continue the talks they started in Abu Dhabi in May, focusing on strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

At the Prague European Summit, State Secretary Marko Štucin stressed the importance of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and supported the continuation of the enlargement process with Ukraine and Moldova.

In the new episode of the GOVSI podcast, host Zoran Potič interviewed two guests, one from the public sector and one from the non-governmental sector – Director of the Directorate for Nature at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning Dr Katarina Groznik Zeiler and President of the Society for Observation and Study of Birds of Slovenia (BirdLife Slovenia (DOPPS)) Dr Tanja Šumrada. The occasion for the interview was the awarding of a new national award, the Rado Smerdu Award, for contributions to the development of the profession of nature conservation and to nature conservation itself.

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the Ministerial Meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Skopje.

Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar has attended the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the EU in Luxembourg.

At today's meeting, the Government adopted an amendment to the Act on the Arrangement of Certain Issues Arising from the Final Ruling of the Court of Arbitration under the Arbitration Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of the Republic of Croatia. It also approved a draft Aviation Act and an amendment to the Act on the Provision of Air Navigation Services, and issued the Decree on setting prices for certain petroleum products.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia will be closed on 17 June 2024, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice).

On 11 June 2024, the Slovenian Government decided to allocate EUR 2.5 million to alleviate the consequences of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and to protect the Palestinian people.

On 11 June 2024, the Slovenian Government decided to allocate an additional 5 million euros in 2024 for humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Ukraine and to mitigate the impact of the war in the country on global food security.

The Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, together with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organised the first regional conference of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) in Podgorica, Montenegro.

The reading room of the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia at 1 Zvezdarska Street in Ljubljana will be open from June 17th to August 30th, 2024, according to summer working hours, from Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 2 PM.

Slovenia returns from Jordan proud of the strong appreciation of its central Arab partners for Slovenia's determined efforts for peace in the Middle East, and with two humanitarian initiatives to help the Palestinian population.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon is paying an official visit to Rabat on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Slovenia and Morocco. She and her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, reaffirmed the excellent relations between the two countries and signed a joint declaration on further strengthening cooperation in various areas, including at the operational level in the field of irregular migration.

State Secretary Sanja Štiglic is taking part in the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. She underlined Slovenia's support for the recovery and reconstruction process in Ukraine and reaffirmed Slovenia's readiness to work with international partners, the private sector and implementing institutions in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and under the auspices of the President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, organised an international event at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Ljubljana aimed at finding solutions to strengthen the protection of civilians, who are the most numerous and tragic victims of today's complex and recurrent armed conflicts.

Today, an opening event was held at the Novo Mesto School Centre to launch the project ‘Digitalising education in primary schools, secondary schools and adult education (equipment)’. In the framework of this project, co-financed by Next Generation EU funds, 1066 educational institutions will receive various types of equipment.

Prime Minister Robert Golob began today at the international conference "Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza" in Jordan, hosted by the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, with bilateral meetings.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project e-procurement system. The European Regional Development Fund will support the project with 1.6 million euros.

Prime Minister Robert Golob welcomes today’s adoption of a UN Security Council resolution calling for a full, complete, and immediate ceasefire with the unconditional release of hostages, which represents a major diplomatic achievement.

As President of the Government Council for Slovenians in the Neighbouring Countries, Prime Minister Robert Golob convened the Council's first session of the current term. The session focused on the current situation of the autochthonous Slovenian national communities in neighbouring countries, the challenges of cross-border cooperation and the preservation of the Slovenian language

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Scholarships for specialised professions in culture. The European Social Fund Plus contribution stands at EUR 3 million.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Workshops providing training+. The European Social Fund Plus contribution stands at just under EUR 6 million.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the ceremony marking the opening of the newly renovated and energy-efficient nursing hospital at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana (UMCL) and toured the renovated premises. In his address, Prime Minister Golob emphasised the Government's commitment to making healthcare a priority

Prime Minister Golob today attended the annual meeting of the European Network of Science Centres & Museums (ECSITE). This is one of the world's most important meetings of global experts in the popularisation and communication of science, culture and projects related to sustainable development, research and technology.

PRESS RELEASE
Podgorica, Montenegro, 7 June 2024

This year's International Archives Day and Week are marked by the announcement of the relocation of the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia to its new building. On Thursday, June 6, the Director of the Archives of Republic of Slovenia, Dr Andrej Nared, signed the hand-over report on the completed construction and reconstruction works on the building of the former military barracks at Poljanska Street 40 in Ljubljana and officially took over the new facilities, which were designated for the state archives already 30 years ago.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob received Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina, who presented him with the annual report for 2023.

During a government visit to the Posavje region, State Secretary Srečko Đurov presented the current invitation to regional development councils to prepare and sign amendments to the agreements for the development of regions and the planned amendment to the programme of development incentives for border problem areas. In Bistrica ob Sotli, Brežice and Krško, he took note of individual successfully implemented projects in the region.

Today was the first day of the international conference Building Bridges across Languages: Human-Centred AI, organised by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in cooperation with the Anna Lindh Foundation. The conference brings together experts from the cultural sphere and other stakeholders who share a common vision to promote intercultural dialogue through advances in AI and translation.

At today's session, the Government adopted the proposal to increase the earmarked assets of the Slovenian Housing Fund, the starting points for drafting an act regulating the financing of the building of public rental housing and the amendments to the Decree on the compulsory health insurance service programme. It also decided that helicopter transports for emergency medical services are to be carried out as a state activity using police aircraft.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Lastovka outdoor air quality monitoring system providing air quality information and issuing air quality alerts. The Cohesion Fund will support the project with EUR 2.5 million.

The Prime Minister, Robert Golob, attended a ceremony marking the laying of the foundation stone for the repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILRW), which is intended for the permanent disposal of waste of this type generated in the Republic of Slovenia.

At the SCCT’24 event, Slobodan Šešum, Director-General for Economic and Public Diplomacy, presented the levers of economic diplomacy to help businesses enter or operate in foreign markets to the members of the Centre of Excellence for Modern Control Technologies, representatives of the SRIP ToP and members of other SRIPs participating in the Centre of Excellence.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon handed over a note to the Palestinian ambassador, Salah Abdel-Shafi, on the diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state and the simultaneous establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Slovenia and the State of Palestine.

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob today visited the construction of 87 new non-profit housing units in Ljubljana, financed by the Public Housing Fund of the Municipality of Ljubljana. On this occasion, the Prime Minister announced the establishment of a financing system that will provide one billion euros over the next 10 years to finance the construction of public rental housing.

Between June 3 and 4, 2024, the Commission for Relations with Slovenians Abroad and Around the World visited Washington D.C. This visit marked the final leg of a tour through Canada and the USA, which began in Ottawa and included stops in Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

On the first day of the consultations, economic advisers from diplomatic missions and consular posts visited Maribor to participate in the Slovenian Global Forum: 6th Conference on the Internationalisation of the Slovenian Economy. In the afternoon, B2B meetings were held between the advisers and representatives of companies attending the conference who had previously expressed an interest.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Support for businesses for extending working lives (ASI+). The European Social Fund Plus will support the project with nearly EUR 13 million.

On June 3rd the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington and The Wilson Center co-hosted a round table "75 years of NATO and the power of Alliance: NATO's Evolution after the 2004 enlargement, Enlargement, Resilience, Peace". The event was dedicated to the 75th anniversary of NATO and 20th anniversary of membership of Slovenia.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with the management of Dravske elektrarne Maribor. They discussed the energy sector, the new Open Science Data Centre and the investment in a supercomputer.

Prime Minister Robert Golob was the keynote speaker at today’s launch of the modernised Paloma factory. The event marked the completion of investments in state-of-the-art technologies totalling more than EUR 130 million, making Paloma a hub for sustainable production, high-quality products and services.

20 May 2024 is World Metrology Day, a celebration marking 149 years since the signing of the Metre Convention in Paris, France in 1875. This year's theme is 'We measure today for a sustainable tomorrow'.
UNESCO officially recognises 20 May each year as UNESCO International Day. This designation opens new avenues to promote metrology, aligning with UNESCO’s mission to construct a better world through science and education.

On the initiative of the Commission for the management of the public call for proposals for the implementation of development cooperation and humanitarian aid projects (2024–2026) and for a strategic partnership for international humanitarian aid in partner countries for the 2024–2028 term, the Ministry adopted, on 27 May, the decisions to co-finance three projects and to conclude a strategic partnership for international humanitarian aid.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has issued an award decision for the call for proposals Development and piloting of a nursing assistant traineeship programme 2024-2026. The European Social Fund Plus will provide just under EUR 358,000 for the implementation of the call for proposals.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the 1st Green Healthcare Path conference, organised by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy. The Prime Minister also addressed the audience.

The 6th Conference on the internationalisation of the Slovenian economy, organised by the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport together with its partners, took place today in Maribor under a new name: the Slovenian Global Forum. Representatives of three ministries, the academia and entrepreneurs discussed the future development of the Slovenian economy in front of a packed auditorium.

It has been 20 years since the entry into force of the Agreement on Succession Issues, the first binding international legal instrument confirming the break-up of the former SFRY and the emergence of five sovereign and equal successor states on its territory. On this occasion, Minister Tanja Fajon reiterated her call to the successor states "to find the political will and wisdom to resolve the outstanding issues for the benefit of all our citizens."

May, when Mozambique held the presidency of the UN Security Council, was another month dominated by the situation in Gaza. The war in Sudan and the catastrophic humanitarian situation there, especially in Darfur, also came increasingly to the fore.

In Ulaanbaatar, State Secretary Sanja Štiglic held political consultations with the State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Ankhbayar Nyamdorj. They agreed that the bilateral dialogue was dynamic and could be further strengthened through high-level political visits.