News

The Design Austria Gallery in Vienna’s Museum Quarter is hosting an exhibition of contemporary Slovenian design entitled The Future of Living, which brings together products of local origin and adheres to sustainable principles. It presents Slovenian creativity, highlighting the role of the cultural and creative industries as a driver of sustainable development. Its focus is also on the internationalisation of Slovenian design and on the search for entrepreneurial opportunities and international cooperation.

This afternoon’s press conference on the latest situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Aleš Hojs, Minister of the Interior and Simon Zajc, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology.

A press conference on the current situation regarding the COVID-19 virus was held by Minister of Education, Science and Sport Simona Kustec, Tjaša Žohar Čretnik, Director of the National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food, Deana Potza of the Health Inspectorate, and the head of the Department for General Security and Security Planning at the Uniformed Police Administration of the Slovenian Police, Alojz Sladič.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the project COVID-19 – Hospital renovation to extend capacities of Ljubljana Intermediate Care Department. The EUR 5.6 million project will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and supported by the European Regional Development Fund, with the contribution standing at EUR 4.5 million. This is already the second investment in a series of REACT-EU investments made under the massive NextGenerationEU instrument which helps EU countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sophie In 't Veld (Renew / D66), who heads the Group for Monitoring Respect for Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights within the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Rights, Justice and Home Affairs, has sent an invitation letter to the Prime Minister Janez Janša and Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti for in camera exchange of views on the latest development in Slovenia in relation to Democracy, Rule of law and Fundamental Rights".

The Strategic Council for Foreign Affairs, headed by Foreign Minister Anže Logar, held its first meeting in its new composition today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the update of the current Slovenian Foreign Policy Strategy.

At the end of 2013, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3 March as UN World Wildlife Day. It has thus become the world’s most important annual event dedicated to wildlife and plant species. This year, World Wildlife Day will be celebrated under the theme "Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Plane"’.

At the government press conference, Minister of Health Janez Poklukar presented the second version of the national COVID-19 vaccination strategy.

Minister Zdravko Počivalšek attended a virtual meeting of EU ministers responsible for trade, where they discussed the new medium-term trade strategy, which was published on 18 February. It sets out the political direction of the EU trade and investment policy for the upcoming years in estimating the contribution of the trade policy to a fast and sustainable recovery and to open strategic autonomy.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government adopted the second version of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy. The strategy was updated due to new circumstances relating to the course of vaccination. Priority vaccination groups were defined anew or in more detail in the strategy, including certain new vaccination locations. Furthermore, the possibility of storing vaccines, currently waiting on the completion of the registration procedure at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), was also defined.

On Monday, 1 March 2021, Prime Minister Janez Janša met the representatives of the company, Lek, d. d. Robert Ljoljo, President of the Management Board and President of Novartis AG in Slovenia, and Gregor Makuc, Head of Communications and External Engagement at Sandoz Slovenia, attended the meeting on behalf of the company, Lek, d. d.

At today’s 63rd extraordinary session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Janez Janša responded to questions from deputies mag. Alenka Bratušek from SAB, Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti from SNS, Marjan Šarec from LMŠ and Anja Bah Žibert from SDS about the effects of the adopted anti-crisis measures, reopening of catering establishments, government measures in the field of public finances, the national vaccination strategy, and measures for containing the spread of COVID-19 and mitigating the consequences of the epidemic.

At the invitation of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan today represented Slovenia in an international High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Situation in Yemen, in his capacity as Minister for Development Cooperation. He announced Slovenia’s additional contribution for humanitarian aid to the affected population in Yemen.

Minister Zdravko Počivalšek attended a video session of the Informal Ministerial Conference on European Tourism, a top-level debate. The Portuguese EU Council presidency convened a meeting at the initiative of some Mediterranean countries whose economies depend on tourism to improve the free movement of people within the EU's internal and external borders, as well as possible additional EU tools to help launch the EU tourism industry in the short and medium term.

At the press conference, Sanja Vuzem of the Maribor regional unit of the National Institute of Public Health spoke about the current confirmed case of the South African coronavirus strain in Slovenia.

In cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Ministry of Public Administration will hold the Regional Forum for Europe on Meaningful Connectivity on 8 and 9 March 2021. At the event, Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik, who wrote a blog post for ITU News prior to this event, will hold the opening address. He expressed his thoughts on the development and progress of digitalisation in Slovenia and described how and where digital technology is used in Slovenia to combat the COVID-19 epidemic.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Promotion of entrepreneurship in the Goričko Natural Park. The EUR 1.2 million development project will be carried out by municipality Šalovci and will receive support from the European Regional Development Fund in the amount of EUR 570,000.

At Brdo pri Kranju today, Foreign Minister Anže Logar hosted the ministers of foreign affairs of the Central 5 initiative, namely, the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tomáš Petříček, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjárto, and the Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Ivan Korčok.

At today's press conference, Minister of Health Janez Poklukar said that Slovenia has confirmed the first case of the South African coronavirus variant, detected in the Maribor area in a person who has returned from Africa. The Epidemiological Service traced all high-risk contacts and sent them into quarantine.

EU ministers responsible for research discussed today the links between recovery and resilience plans (RRF) and the European Research Area at an informal videoconference.

A press conference on the current situation regarding the Covid-19 virus was held by Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs, Director of the National Institute of Public Health Milan Krek, Head of the Consulate Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andrej Šter and Slovene living in Argentina Mariana Poznič.

State Secretary Raščan held a video call today with the Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional Office for the European Economic Area, the European Union and NATO Ola Henrikson.

We are publishing the letter of Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Mr. Janez Janša to the president of the European Comission Ursula von der Leyen.

Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek participated in an informal videoconference of ministers of EU Member States responsible for the internal market and industry. The morning session was dedicated to a political discussion of the European Semester in the context of the Union’s recovery process and national recovery and resilience plans as an instrument for the implementation of industrial strategy, strengthening the internal market, the twin transition and strategic autonomy, and a discussion of the new consumer agenda. The afternoon session featured a discussion of the draft directive on the public disclosure of certain tax information by undertakings (i.e. the Country-By-Country Reporting or CbCR Directive).

Today, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan delivered the opening address at the “E-Mobility: Slovenia–Germany” web conference organised by the Slovenian E-mobility Association. In his address, he emphasised the great importance of economic cooperation between the two countries, above all in the automotive industry, which accounts for more than a quarter of total bilateral trade.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved additional EU funding for the “Call for proposals for financing of initiatives to restart business in problematic border areas – COVID 19” implemented by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology. The total funding made available under the call for proposals amounts to over EUR 14.2 million of which the European Regional Development Fund contribution represents over EUR 10.5 million.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs today participated in a video conference featuring high-level officials from the Visegrad Group, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Slovenia to share experience in the preparation of national recovery and resilience plans. The video conference was organised by the Polish Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy under the auspices of the Polish Presidency of the Visegrad Group.

Today’s press conference on the current situation with regard to Covid-19 was attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology Simon Zajc, State Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure Blaž Košorok, Deana Potza of the Health Inspectorate, and Deputy Director General of the Police Tomaž Pečjak.

On 27 January 2021, the Communication Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia (GCO) fulfilled all of its obligations to the Slovenian Press Agency (SPA) arising from the public service contract.

Prime Minster and leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party Janez Janša attended a meeting today with the leaders of the parliamentary parties, hosted by Slovenian President Borut Pahor. The meeting was attended by leader of the Modern Centre Party (SMC) Zdravko Počivalšek, leader of the New Slovenia Party (NSI) Matej Tonin, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SD) Tanja Fajon, leader of the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) Alenka Bratušek, leader of the Slovenian Nationalist Party (SNS) Zmago Jelinčič and leader of the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia (DeSUS) Karl Erjavec.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar is visiting the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg today, where he was welcomed by his host, Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Minister for Immigration and Asylum, and Fernand Etgen, President of the Chamber of Deputies. The Minister also visited the European Investment Bank, where he met with its president, Werner Hoyer.

A press conference on the current situation regarding the COVID-19 virus was held by Director of the National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food Tjaša Žohar Čretnik and Ada Hočevar Grom of the National Institute of Public Health.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan today held a video conference with the State Secretary for Global Affairs and Diplomatic strategies of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Romania, Cornel Feruţa.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a financial support decision for the “Call for proposals for co-financing district heating using renewable energy sources (code: JR DO OVE 2021)”. The total funding available under the call for proposals is fully contributed by the Cohesion Fund and amounts to EUR 16 million.

The Office of Prime Minister Janez Janša has communicated to all leaders of parliamentary parties (List of Marjan Šarec, Social Democrats, Party of Modern Centre, The Left, New Slovenia – Christian Democrats, Party of Alenka Bratušek, Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia, Slovenian National Party) and to the deputies of the national communities a proposal for an agreement between all political parties and the representatives of the national communities in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for cooperation in formulating responses to the fundamental development challenges in the 2021–2022 period.

At today's 62th extraordinary session, the National Assembly considered the proposal of the candidacy of Janez Poklukar for the post of Minister of Health. He was proposed for this function by Prime Minister Janša pursuant to the first paragraph of Article 112 of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, and Articles 229 and 234 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan took part in a videoconference meeting of members of the General Affairs Council today. Ministers and state secretaries responsible for European affairs focused on the preparations for the European Council meeting, the European Democracy Action Plan, the state of play of preparations for the Conference on the Future of Europe, and EU-UK relations.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a financial support decision for the “Call for proposals for co-financing the purchase of mobile units (cars) used to perform the tasks of the coordinator for community mental health care and the tasks of the coordinator for the provision of protection of people with disabilities”. The available funding under the call for proposals amounts to EUR 400,000 of which the European Regional Development Fund contribution stands at EUR 320,000.

Today, the EU Ministers competent for fisheries met on the second current year’s meeting of the EU Council under the Portuguese Presidency, which took place in the audio-visual form. This time, the Agenda included topics on fisheries. On exit of the United Kingdom from the EU, the Ministers familiarised themselves with the state of play of bilateral consultations between the EU and the UK on fishing opportunities for 2021 and on deep-sea fish stocks for 2021 and 2022. Slovenia was represented by the acting Directress General of the MAFF Food and Fisheries Directorate, Ms Ana Le Marechal Kolar.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar took part in the regular meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels. The ministers focused their discussions on EU-Russia relations and the situation in Hong Kong. The Council also held a video conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on future cooperation with the new US administration regarding the common foreign and security policy.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today took part in the High-Level Segment of the 46th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, which is being held in as a virtual event this year. In his address, the Minister expressed his concern over the consequences brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed that it is imperative that the post-pandemic recovery include measures aimed at achieving greater equality, solidarity, and social protection.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan delivered a video address today at the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament. He also raised the issue of membership expansion, which has remained unresolved for too long, and called for progress in this matter with a view to enhancing universality, transparency, and multilateralism.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a financial support decision for the project “Economic Zone Turnišče”. The project worth a little under EUR 420,000 and implemented by the Municipality Turnišče will receive European Regional Development Fund support in the amount of over EUR 225,000.

The press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Health Alenka Forte and Mojca Kirbiš, Headteacher at Rado Robič Limbuš Primary School.

The Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) is taking place in Nairobi, which, as the highest global environmental body, sets priorities for global environmental policy and international environmental law. Due to the pandemic, the assembly will be held in two parts. The first part will be held in the form of a virtual meeting on 22 and 23 February 2021 and the second part is expected to take place as a physical meeting in February 2022 in Kenya. Andrej Vizjak, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, delivered a video address at the assembly.

Today’s press conference on the current situation regarding the COVID-19 virus was held by State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology Simon Zajc, Commander of the Slovenian Civil Protection Force Srečko Šestan and Natalija Bevc, a Slovene who lives in Germany, who spoke about experiences during the epidemic in Germany.

The approval of the investment for the relocation of the Department of Pulmonary Diseases to University Medical Centre Maribor marks the beginning of a large investment cycle in the field of strengthening public health. Over the next few years over half a billion euros in EU grants will be allocated to healthcare system enhancement.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan today held an audio-video conference with the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Paweł Jabłoński.

Today’s press conference on the current situation with regard to COVID-19 was held by Bojana Beović, head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health, Slavko Krištofelc, head of the Occupational Safety and Health Inspection Service at the Labour Inspectorate, Deana Potza of the Health Inspectorate, and Deputy Director General of the Police Tomaž Pečjak.

At today’s regular session, the Slovenian Government adopted amendments to the Ordinance on temporary restrictions on sports programmes. Those amendments relate primarily to testing. Amendments to the Ordinance determining the conditions for entry into the Republic of Slovenia for the purpose of containment and control of the infectious disease COVID-19 stipulate that printed confirmation is sufficient for entry without quarantine for those who have recovered from COVID-19.