News

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for an additional call for proposals for co-financing social activation projects. The call for proposals worth EUR 893 thousand will be implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and will receive EU support with the contribution from the European Social Fund standing at a little under EUR 715 thousand.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan, President of the EU’s General Affairs Council, hosted an informal meeting of European Affairs ministers at Brdo pri Kranju today. At an informal discussion on strengthening the Union’s resilience, ministers supported the efforts of the Slovenian Presidency towards a more comprehensive response to crises.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment – Municipality Hajdina. The EUR 1.1 million wastewater infrastructure project that will be implemented by Municipality Hajdina under the Agreement on the development of the Podravje region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund amounting to EUR 446 thousand.

At its 87th regular session, the Slovenian Government issued the Ordinance on the establishment and competences of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Digital Transformation.

At today's meeting, the Government extended the validity of most ordinances related to COVID-19, requiring organisers of events, gatherings and sports competitions, providers of services and goods in the field of drivers and vehicles in Slovenia, and cableway operators and associated ski slopes to verify whether participants meet the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule. Cross-border migrant workers residing within 10 kilometres of the border with a neighbouring country were added to the exceptions for entering Slovenia without going into quarantine and without meeting the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule. The Government also founded the Government Office for Digital Transformation.

At the end of April 2021, Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy approved EU funding for the project Hydraulic improvements in the Municipality Sevnica – Agreement on the Development of Regions. Today, the Municipality signed the project contract with the selected contractor. At the invitation of the Mayor of Municipality Sevnica Srečko Ocvirk, State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs delivered an address online.

On the second day of the informal meeting of EU environment and climate change ministers in Slovenia, discussions addressed the new proposal of global targets for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The ministers also discussed the challenges of jointly strengthening pollinator protection and setting up an EU-wide pollinator monitoring framework.

Minister Dikaučič said that the existing rules cannot provide answers to all the challenges brought by artificial intelligence, which is why it is necessary to take further steps in the creation of a legal framework. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia hosted a virtual event focusing on the effective protection of fundamental rights regarding artificial intelligence in Europe and beyond.

Slovenia hosted an informal meeting of environment and climate change ministers. For the first time, they exchanged views on the vital legislative package "Fit for 55", which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. In the afternoon, the ministers exchanged views on the COP26 International Climate Change Conference to be held in Glasgow in November.

The European Commission today published its second annual Rule of Law Report within the European Rule of Law Mechanism set up in 2020. The report aims to elevate the understanding of the founding values and promote the rule of law culture, thereby strengthening this principle in the European Union as a whole.

The Ministry of Infrastructure issued an energy permit for the JEK2 project, based on the adoption of Slovenia's Long-Term Climate Strategy and the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (NEPN), which clears the way for the implementation of administrative procedures and preparation of documentation for investment decision-making on JEK2 (the second nuclear reactor unit in Krško), providing a necessary basis for the final decision on the optimal energy scenario for the future supply of low-carbon Slovenia.

The Communication Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia (UKOM) has sent the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) the final version of the public service contract.

Today's press conference on the current situation regarding COVID 19 was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar and the Director of the National Institute of Public Health, Milan Krek.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar attended a follow-up meeting of foreign affairs ministers of the Central 5 (C5) countries, i.e. Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Expansion of the Ormož business-economic zone. The EUR 2.22 million project will be implemented by Municipality Ormož under the Agreement on the development of the Podravje region and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 1.48 million.

At the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, headed by Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek, ministers discussed items on the agriculture agenda. They unanimously adopted the Council conclusions on the action plan for the development of organic agriculture, which stress the awareness of member states of the importance of organic farming in ensuring the sustainability of future European agriculture and food production. As regards the "End the Cage Age" European Citizens’ Initiative, the Council supported activities aimed at promoting animal welfare.

On 19 July 2021, Minister of Education, Science and Sport Dr Simona Kustec hosted a full-day informal meeting of ministers responsible for research at Brdo pri Kranju.

Today, the Executive Board agreed to allocate more seats in the Conference Plenary to regional and local elected representatives, as well as to social partners.

Minister of Defence Mag. Today, Matej Tonin addressed Chairpersons of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union. The event was organised within the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the Minister addressed the topic of cyber security and the resilience of critical infrastructure.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Lucija agglomeration – Agreement on the Development of Regions. The EUR 2.36 million wastewater infrastructure project that Municipality Piran will implement under the Agreement on the Development of the Obalno-kraška Region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund amounting to almost EUR 843 thousand.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Municipality Sevnica – Agreement on the Development of Regions. The EUR 967 thousand wastewater infrastructure project which Municipality Sevnica will implement under the Agreement on the Development of the Posavje Region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund amounting to almost EUR 466 thousand.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar attended a virtual Conference of Presidents of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union. The meeting was organised by the National Assembly Committee on EU Affairs and the National Council Commission for International Relations and European Affairs, as part of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife Urška Bačovnik spoke about various topics in an exclusive interview for Prijatelji Radia Ognjišče (Friends of Ognjišče Radio) magazine.

Margaritis Schinas, the European Commission vice-president and Commissioner for Promoting the European Way of Life and the Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed a letter to the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach proposing that when the Slovenian team arrives in the parade of nations at the official opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympics, in additional to the Slovenian national flag, it also carries the flag of the European Union.

International Criminal Justice Day is celebrated on 17 July. On that day 23 years ago, the Rome Statute, one of the core pillars of international criminal justice, was adopted.

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 for non-essential travel as well. The information has been updated according to entry conditions applicable as of 15 July 2021.

An informal meeting of Defence Policy Directors took place at Bled today as part of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. In cooperation with the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Directors continued their dialogue on the Strategic Compass with a special emphasis on resilience.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today attended the 80th extraordinary session of the National Assembly, where he provided additional explanation to his proposal to appoint Mark Boris Andrijanič as Minister without portfolio for digital transformation.

From 17 to 22 July, Ljubljana will host the International Choir festival Europa Cantat 2021, which will be held in hybrid form due to the COVID-19 pandemic – with events online and live. The festive opening of the festival will take place on Saturday, 17 July at 21 pm in Cankarjev dom with a musical spectacle directed by Matej Filipčič. The audience will be addressed by the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, who is also the honorary patron of the festival, and the Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti. The event will be broadcast live by TV Slovenija 1 and ARS, Radio Slovenia third channel.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Renovation of the Bus Station in Koper. The project worth a little under EUR 2.5 million and implemented by the Urban Municipality Koper will receive a good EUR 900 thousand of Cohesion Fund support.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, who is in Slovenia on an official visit. Mr Janša and Dr Kluge focused on issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, the vaccination strategy and the measures to limit and contain the spread of the virus.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with former Italian Prime Minister, multi-term European Commissioner and President of the WHO Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development Mario Monti. Mr Janša and Mr Monti discussed current affairs, especially economy and finance, and the health situation in Europe.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan held a meeting with Franck Riester, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness. In addition to a general overview of bilateral cooperation, their talks covered investment opportunities in Slovenia, nuclear energy, space, tourism, air connections, automotive industry and digitalisation. The two high officials also discussed the strategic autonomy and economic diplomacy of the European Union.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Footbridge and Bike Path – Irča vas. The project worth a little under EUR 1.76 million will be implemented by the Urban Municipality Novo mesto and will receive EUR 745 thousand of Cohesion Fund support.

During her three-day working visit to Brussels at the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), Minister Simona Kustec declared: “We will work towards the European vision of knowledge, education and research for a green and digital future.”

At today's press conference held in Ljubljana Prime Minister Janez Janša and Deputy Prime Ministers Zdravko Počivalšek and Matej Tonin discussed the current epidemiological situation and other current topics.

The Ministers of the Interior met for an informal meeting hosted by Slovenian Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs at the Brdo Congress Centre and demonstrated political will in favour of gradual progress in the formulation of the common EU Migration Policy.

At today's press conference in Ljubljana, Prime Minister Janez Janša and Deputy Prime Ministers Zdravko Počivalšek and Matej Tonin discussed the current epidemiological situation and other current topics.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan gave a speech on the Future of Transatlantic Relations – Priorities for Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, organised by the Centre for European Perspective and the European Centre for International Political Economy.

Today, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan received Hungary’s Minister of Justice Judit Varga, who is also in charge of coordination of EU affairs. Minister Varga is in Slovenia to attend the informal meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, which is taking place on 15 and 16 July 2021 in Brdo pri Kranju.

In the meetings of the Committees of the European Parliament, competent for purports within the scope of work of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, the Minister Jože Podgoršek presented the sectoral programme and the priority tasks of the Slovenian Presidency. These fall within the scope of “Resilience, recovery and strategic autonomy of the EU”, focusing on strategic significance of food security within the EU and sustainable agriculture (care for rural areas) and forestry. In fisheries, priority tasks arise from the significance of conservation of coastal communities and of tradition of sustainable fishing.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša today took part in a video conference with the US think tank CEPA. The mission of the Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) is to ensure a strong and enduring transatlantic alliance rooted in democratic values and principles with a strategic vision. Through research, analyses and programmes it provides a new insight into energy, security and defence issues.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Agglomeration 10991 Zgornja Vižinga – Municipality Radlje ob Dravi. The project worth a little under EUR 3.4 million will receive nearly EUR 871 thousand of European Regional Development Fund support and will be implemented by the Municipality Radlje ob Dravi in the frame of the Agreement on the Development of the Koroška region.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Dravinja River basin – Municipality Zreče. The EUR 5 million project will be implemented by Municipality Zreče under the Agreement on the development of the Savinjska region and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund standing at a good EUR 1.3 million.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the project Measures to reduce flood risk in Kostanjevica na Krki. The project worth EUR 6.75 million will be implemented by the Slovenian Water Agency and will receive support from the Cohesion Fund in the amount of a little under EUR 2 million.

An informal meeting of EU justice ministers will take place in Brdo pri Kranju on 16 July. The central topic of the meeting will be the judicial aspects of the draft act on artificial intelligence and child-friendly justice. The discussions will be chaired by Minister Marjan Dikaučič in the capacity of the President of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council.

A political agreement with the European Parliament on the amendment of the Aarhus Regulation was reached as one of the first achievements of the Slovenian Presidency, which would not have been possible without the positive cooperation of the trio presidencies, as Germany reached an agreement at the Council, Portugal started negotiations with the European Parliament (EP) and Slovenia successfully concluded negotiations.

On the sidelines of this year’s United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), Zvone Černač, Minister without Portfolio for Development and EU Cohesion Policy, addressed the participants of an online event by underlining the relevance of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals for faster recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The side event, organised under the auspices of the European Commission and the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, was also attended by Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina Mohammed, European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni, and European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen.

At the meeting of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning Andrej Vizjak presented the Slovenian Presidency programme and priorities pertaining to the environment and climate change. He highlighted two key priorities – the Fit for 55 legislative package (a 55-percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030) and the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties to be held in Glasgow in November.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar presented the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency at the Committee on Constitutional Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament.

Today the European Commission unveiled the 'Fit for 55' package of climate and energy laws. The Slovenian Presidency welcomes the unveiled project, which is also a priority of the Presidency in the field of the environment and climate change. Given the importance of this legislative package, the first informal political exchange of views of the member states will already take place next week, on 20 July, at an informal meeting of environment ministers in Slovenia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar inaugurated the flagship cultural and promotional project of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency together with David Sassoli, the President of the European Parliament, and Gitte Zschoch, the Director of the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), in the Citizens’ Garden in Brussels. “The Slovenian Presidency is placing culture and creativity high on the European agenda,” declared Minister Logar in his introductory address.

Today, the Government Communication Office (UKOM) sent the second draft of the contract to the Slovenian Press Agency that provides for the financing of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), a public service, as defined by the Slovenian Press Agency Act. Numerous details were coordinated at yesterday’s coordination meeting. Currently, there are two elements that have yet to be coordinated. In the Slovenian Press Agency Act, it is stated that all content created as part of a public service must be freely accessible to all under equal conditions. Irrespective of this legal provision, the STA’s director Bojan Veselinović insists on continuing to sell certain services on the free market that are part of a public service and, in doing so, is in clear violation of the law, because those paying for the service would have different access to these services than those not paying for it.

The 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva comes to an end today. At the initiative of the European Union, the Council discussed the human rights situation in Belarus, Eritrea and the Tigray region of Ethiopia. As the country presiding the Council of the EU, Slovenia presented the three initiatives that seek to improve the respective human rights situations and call on the authorities to respect their international human rights commitments.

The Government issued the Ordinance amending the Ordinance determining the conditions of entry into the Republic of Slovenia to contain and control the COVID-19 communicable disease and published it in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

On 13 July, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended via video conferencing the 6th Enlargement Day organised by the European Committee of Regions in cooperation with the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. He presented the Presidency’s key topics and plans to the high-level audience which included Maciej Popowski, Acting Director-General of the DG for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, and Nikola Dobroslavić, Rapporteur of the Committee of Regions for the Enlargement Package 2020.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan attended a meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Development (DEVE) via video conference and briefed the attendants on key priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union on international development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Water and gender equality are the main priorities of the Presidency, which are common to both policy areas. He announced Slovenia’s financial contribution of 500,000 euros to the Advanced Market Commitment (COVAX) mechanism, which aims to ensure the distribution of vaccines and address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries. He also announced a donation of 48,000 doses of the vaccine to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a donation of 250,000 doses of vaccine to Egypt.

A retrospective exhibition of works from the rich oeuvre by Slovenian costume designer Alan Hranitelj who has been working in the field of opera, theatre and film for over 30 years, opened today, 13 July 2021, in the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels.

Zvone Černač, Minister without Portfolio for Development and EU Cohesion Policy, attended the European Parliament Committee on Regional Development meeting. He presented the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU in the field of Cohesion Policy. Slovenian Presidency will continue with the discussions and activities for building a resilient European Union.

As the current holder of presidency of the EU Council of Home Affairs Ministers, Slovenian Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs took part in the online Seminar on the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security organised by the European Commission and the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator. Participants of the seminar examined and discussed how to take better advantage of the existing research and using it to drive innovation and improve EU’s internal security. They also exchanged views on the Innovation Hub, which will facilitate synergies and cooperation in the framework of EU’s internal security and discussed the potential for increasing EU’s testing capacities and their guidance.

The Slovenian contemporary fine art exhibition entitled We Live in Interesting Times opened yesterday, 12 July 2021, at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Today's press conference was attended by deputy head of the Communicable Disease Centre at the National Institute of Public Health Ms Nuška Čakš Jager. Ms Maja Bratuša presented the current epidemiological situation.

On behalf of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council, the Minister Dr Jože Podgoršek participated today in a 2-day high level event, a video conference of the EU promotion policy stakeholders. The conference addresses the question of such policy as a possibility of transition to a more sustainable EU food system, of improving the healthy alimentary habits, and of fostering the competitiveness of this sector in the global markets. The organiser of the conference is the European Commission (General Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development). In the opening part, the participants were addressed by the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Janusz Wojciechowski.

Today, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Resolution on Long-Term Climate Strategy until 2050. A clear goal of Slovenia’s climate strategy is to transition to net-zero emissions and become climate neutral by 2050.

Today the Council of the European Union adopted a regulation on establishing the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC). The regulation paves the way for the development within Europe of the next generation of supercomputers.

New rules of entry to Slovenia will apply as of July 15 2021.

On Thursday, 8 July, Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Major General Robert Glavaš, hosted a reception at the beginning of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Pursuant to paragraph one 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, Prime Minister Janez Janša today submitted to the National Assembly a proposal for a minister without portfolio. In accordance with paragraph three of Article 8 of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia Act, the Government may have a minister without portfolio to assist the Prime Minister in coordinating work and performing the duties of their office within the given powers.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar today attended the regular meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, which focused on the geopolitics of new technologies, the Strategic Compass and Ethiopia.

Mr Boštjan Koritnik, Minister of Public Administration, will present the Slovenian Presidency’s sectoral programme and priorities in the areas of digitalisation, cybersecurity and better regulation at the July meetings of the European Parliament’s committees. Today he appeared before the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) to present priorities in the areas of artificial intelligence and digital services.

The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia Vasko Simoniti opened an exhibition of contemporary Slovenian fine art, titled "We are living in exciting times" in the European Parliament in Brussels. The Slovene curator of the exhibition Marko Košan has prepared a selection of works by thirteen Slovene artists who, in the midst of a modern flood of visual images propagated through mass media, are looking for new ways of painting, sculptural and photographic expression aimed at new utopias. In addition to the Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti the attendees were also addressed by Chair of the Artistic Committee of the European Parliament, Prof. Karol Karski.

In a telephone conversation, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan briefed the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Olta Xhaçka, on the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. He assured her of efforts to keep the Western Balkans high on the Union’s agenda, with the EU-Western Balkans Summit contributing to this as well. At the same time, State Secretary Dovžan expressed strong support for Albania's approximation to the European Union as it implements the necessary commitments and reforms.

A Japanese translation of the "Our Rights" project material was presented in Tokyo today, serving as a teaching resource for teachers and children and aimed at educating children about their rights. It is a project conceived by Slovenian experts based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2005, when the World Programme for Human Rights Education was established.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, in Brussels ahead of Monday's session of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council.

Srebrenica Memorial Day on 11 July is a day to remember and preserve the memory of the victims of the massacre in Srebrenica and the horrors that took place during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We will not and must not ever forget Srebrenica – reconciliation is only possible if we remember and acknowledge the suffering and pain of the people. Any denial or relativisation of these tragic events is unacceptable. The Western Balkans region is still heavily burdened with these memories and the painful historical experience. The processes of reconciliation must be accelerated, since this is the only way for all generations to realise their potential and contribute to the region’s well-being, stability and security.

At the invitation of the Croatian Foreign Minister, Gordan Grlić-Radman, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar attended the traditional Dubrovnik Forum held on 9–10 July 2021. Attended by numerous eminent guests, this year’s Forum focused on the future of geopolitics in a world transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular emphasis on the geopolitical situation of the Western Balkans.

The Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs attended the High-Level Resettlement Forum today. The event was organised by the European Commission to discuss ways of resuming global resettlement efforts disrupted by the Covid 19 pandemic.

In BTC City Ljubljana, the Slovenian Digital Center – Technology for the people, a juncture of Slovenian progress and economic advancement, officially opened its doors. By the end of this year, the broader public will be provided with access to the most advanced technologies, products, services and educational programmes from the field of new technologies. The central economic event of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU is a unique European example of encouraging economy during the entire period of the presidency.

For healthy drinking water, greater environmental protection and improved flood safety. Water must be treated with respect in every part of the water cycle. That is why the amended Water Act, which will unfortunately be the subject of a referendum, limits activities affecting waterside land and completely prohibits the construction of private and potentially dangerous buildings near water. Contrary to certain interpretations, the Act's stricter rules provide greater protection of waterside land and ensure the necessary funds for watercourse maintenance and flood control.

Today, the prime ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4) were on a working visit to Slovenia as the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU. On this occasion, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš met with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša in Ljubljana. The main topics of the plenary session of the Visegrad Four with the Prime Minister of Slovenia were the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Conference on the Future of Europe, the situation in Western Balkans and other current European topics.

Minister Jože Podgoršek has attended the high-level video conference of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) entitled A new vision for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan today spoke with the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Sadović, via video conference. He briefed his counterpart on the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with a special emphasis on the Western Balkans. He also updated him on the planned EU-Western Balkans Summit scheduled for October this year.

The Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Andrej Vizjak, addressed the participants of the two-day informal online meeting of the Climate Change Working Group. The purpose of the event was to present the work programme of the Working Group on International Environmental Issues in the area of climate change in the second half of 2021. Important items on the agenda included climate change adaptation, strengthening climate finance and finalising the Paris Rulebook.

The press conference was attended by the Director of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), Milan Krek, and the head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health, Mateja Logar. Ms Maja Bratuša presented the current epidemiological situation as well as the latest Government decisions.

State Secretary Raščan addressed, via a video conference, the participants of the 4th international Ukraine Reform Conference that was held in Vilnius this year.

In his capacity as High Representative representing the Council of the European Union in relations with the European Parliament, Foreign Minister Anže Logar attended the Plenary Session of the European Parliament, which took place in Strasbourg from 5 to 8 July 2021.

Today, the Ministry of Public Administration organised a conference of senior officials from the Member States of the European Union and the candidate countries of the Western Balkans entitled ‘The European Union as a community of people’. It is the first in a series of events organised by the Ministry under the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Boštjan Koritnik, Minister of Public Administration, initially addressed the participants.

Today, Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs took part in online colloquium on EU's achievements and challenges in combating terrorism twenty years after the terrorist attacks in the United States, which united top counter-terrorism experts, who discussed and analysed the most serious challenges we are currently facing in fight against terrorism.

Jože Senica, Assistant Director-General of the Police and Slovenia’s national COSI delegate, hosted an informal meeting of COSI (Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation) in Portorož on 7 and 8 July 2021.

As current holder of the presidency of the Council of the European Union, Slovenia hosted an informal meeting of the Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA) on 7 and 8 July 2021 in Portorož. The main topics of the meeting chaired by Matej Torkar, the Internal Affairs Adviser at the Permanent Representation to the European Union Brussels and national delegate to SCIFA, were a proposal on the asylum procedures regulation and the role of EU agencies in the management of external EU borders, and assistance they are able to provide to EU Member States in this field.

In his role of high representative in relations with the European Parliament, Minister Logar presented the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency during the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee held in July 2021. “The European Union’s resilience, economic recovery and the Conference on the Future of Europe will be the focus of our Presidency. Only the constructive cooperation of all stakeholders can lead to progress in these areas,” stressed Minister Logar.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the Holy Mass in St. Nicholas' Cathedral in Ljubljana today marking the end of armed conflicts and the victory in the war for Slovenia.

Today, the Lighthouse Park in Izola saw the opening of the “My Reading Room” art installation, through which Slovenia participates in the Europe Readr project. “Europe Readr invites us to read the European Union in all its diversity and interconnectedness. It is also an invitation to encourage reading as a way to improve our understanding of who we are, where we come from and where we are headed, while facing various social changes,” underlined Gašper Dovžan, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan presented the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU at a virtual event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union. The Brussels-based business association traditionally organises such events when an EU member state assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

During today's video conference call, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of North Macedonia Nikola Dimitrov assessed the development of bilateral relations as very positive. Against the backdrop of the recent Slovenian EU Council Presidency take-over, the pair discussed the European perspective of North Macedonia.

Acting Director-General Igor Jukič held consultations with the French Director-General for Global Affairs, Culture, Education and International Development, Michel Miraillet, via video conference.

Prime Minister Janša met today in Brdo pri Kranju with mayors of Slovenian municipalities. During the working consultation, they discussed measures to control the spread of COVID-19 in the coming months and public finance and development issues with the ministers.

Representatives of Member States of European union (EU) and European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission (EC),the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Executive of ESA met at the European Space Traffic Management Conference »Fostering a European approach on Space Traffic Management« on July 7, 2021.

Today, State Secretary Uroš Lampret was the keynote speaker at the webinar titled The Strategic Compass and the Western Balkans: Towards a tailor-made and strategic approach to partnerships?

Today in the European Parliament, Prime Minister Janez Janša presented the six-month programme and the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2021. This traditional presentation of priorities is held at the beginning of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The presentation took place at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg after which the Slovenian Prime Minister attended a press conference together with President of the European Parliament David Sassoli and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.