News

The guest of the 2nd episode of the GOVSI government podcast is Dr Janez Potočnik: during the preparations for Slovenia's accession to the EU, he was the head of the EU Accession Negotiating Group, then European Commissioner for two terms, and today he is a member and co-chair of the UN's International Panel on Resources. The discussion was moderated by Petra Bezjak Cirman, Director of the Government Communications Office.

At today's session, the Government adopted the Decree on the compulsory health insurance service programme for 2024, the relief programme for damage caused in primary agricultural production and the relief programme for damage caused to businesses in the floods of August 2023.

“The EU has allocated a lot of money to Slovenia for a healthy and clean environment under the European Cohesion Policy for the period 2021-2027. In total, almost 800 million euros is earmarked for the objective A greener, low-carbon Slovenia, with the Savinjsko- Šaleška region being eligible also for the funding under the Just Transition Fund,” said Minister Jevšek in his address at the international conference on green space management in Velenje.

Minister Tanja Fajon held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Hanke Bruins Slot. Their talks focused on activities aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. They also exchanged views on current European and international issues.

Minister Tanja Fajon, representing one of 34 countries, signed the Ljubljana-The Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and Other International Crimes. The Convention was adopted in Ljubljana in May 2023 after a decade of effort and hard work by Slovenian diplomats and international law experts.

On the last day of his visit to Slovenia, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu visited Slovenian Istria together with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Mateja Čalušić. They toured the InnoRenew CoE independent research institute and a farm engaged in wine-growing, olive-growing and complementary activities.

State Secretary Štiglic took part in the UN Security Council's high-level open debate in New York on the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security. In her speech, she stressed the importance of timely detection of processes related to climate change and food security that could lead to conflict.

ector-Genreal of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations QU Dongyu visited Slovenia at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar. As part of his visit to Slovenia, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Mateja Čalušić will host the Director-General today and tomorrow. Today, they visited two farms in the vicinity of Ljubljana and the Municipality of Dol pri Ljubljani.

On February 12, 2024, a tourist presentation of Slovenia took place at the embassy of RS in Washington. The Luxury Slovenia company presented Slovenian tourism and opportunities for business cooperation in the tourism field to American travel agents in Washington.

The European Space Education Resource Office in Slovenia, ESERO Slovenia, was officially opened today at Center Noordung. ESERO Slovenia is run by the Centre for School and Outdoor Education (CŠOD) in partnership with Center Noordung. By integrating space technology content into primary and secondary education, we aim to increase young people's interest in science careers.

EU development ministers held an informal meeting in Brussels under the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council to discuss EU development cooperation for the coming years, human rights mainstreaming and the situation in Gaza. Edvin Skrt, Director-General for development cooperation, attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended the opening ceremony of the new intensive care units at Jesenice General Hospital.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the President of the Judicial Council of the Republic of Slovenia, Vladimir Horvat, and its member, Emil Zakonjšek.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon received her Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry for an official visit. The two officials spent a great deal of time discussing the current situation in the world, with a focus on the Middle East. The Slovenian-Egyptian Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation examined the possibilities for further strengthening cooperation.

A ceremony marking the official opening of a renovated research laboratory at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Maribor primarily dedicated to process and environmental engineering was attended by Dr Aleksander Jevšek, Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development. The Minister underlined the importance of cooperation between educational institutions and the economic sector.

In these days when Italy commemorates the victims of the foibe and the exodus from Istria, Rijeka and Dalmatia, the Ministry reiterates the importance of comprehensive and respectful remembrance and dignity for all the victims of the tragic events of the 20th century war and post-war period. Every community keeps the memory of its painful experiences alive, but it must also ensure that this pain does not breed more resentment or fear.

In Sarajevo, State Secretary Marko Štucin met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković and held consultations with Deputy Foreign Minister Josip Brkić.

State Secretary Tina Heferle and the Director of the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants Katarina Šturkelj have attended the Ministerial Conference on the integration of newcomers by EU member states held under the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union in Mechelen, Belgium.

An exhibition by Slovenian painter Katja Bednařik Sudec was held at the Council of Europe in January.

Message from Prime Minister Robert Golob on the occasion of Slovenian Cultural Holiday on 8 February.

During the Tuesday afternoon session of the second day of the Global Forum on the Ethics of AI, and before the official evening closing, five panel discussions took place, addressing the many benefits of using inclusive and trustworthy AI, the pathways to it, and the possibilities of making AI a reality.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob called an informal meeting before the continuation of health pillar negotiations, inviting the representatives of major healthcare unions to discuss the situation and speed up negotiations.

Today, Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob met with President of Supreme Court of Slovenia, Dr Miodrag Đorđević.

Instead of artificial intelligence, we could use the term virtual intelligence, as powerful machines are still far from being intelligent, and instead of an ethics of artificial intelligence, we could talk about the ethics of those who use modern technologies, said Igor Papič, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, in his opening remarks on the second day of the Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.

"We are aware that AI can improve our lives, but it can also pose certain dangers," said dr. Emilija Stojmenova Duh, Minister for Digital Transformation, at a press conference in the middle of the first day of the Global Forum on the Ethics of AI.

The European Commission Representation in Slovenia and the Recovery and Resilience Office today hosted the annual event of the Recovery and Resilience Plan in Slovenia. At the conference entitled Double Transition for Sustainable Economic Growth, the participants discussed the competitiveness of the Slovenian economy in light of the green and digital transition.

At the informal meeting of ministers responsible for cohesion policy, held in Mons, Belgium, Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek pointed out that Slovenia is closing the 2014-2020 programming period as one of the most successful members in terms of EU Cohesion Policy funds absorption. The Minister also underlined that in the future, more support should be given to regions.

On the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, high-tech companies, centres of excellence and research institutes, the Slovenian Science Foundation, together with the Jožef Stefan Institute and the Embassy of India in Ljubljana, organised the first Slovenian-Indian Day of Science and Innovations at the Jožef Stefan Institute.

Please be informed that on 1 February 2024 the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia moved to Rruga ˝Skënderbej˝, number 21/1, Tirana.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Nationwide awareness-raising campaign on social inclusion of people with disabilities.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay.

In Rome, State Secretary Štucin met with Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Edmondo Cirielli to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations between Slovenia and Italy. He also participated in a meeting of the Friends of the Western Balkans and presented a joint Slovenian-German initiative to improve the efficiency of decision-making in the enlargement process.

In Brussels, Minister Fajon took part in an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers hosted by Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib under the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council. The meeting was chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell and focused on the EU's relations with Africa and Türkiye, as well as on further assistance to Ukraine and humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Ambassador Dr Andrej Benedejčič, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to NATO, took part in the visit of the North Atlantic Council to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1-2 February 2024. Led by Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană, Allied Ambassadors and Invitee Sweden met with members of the Presidency, the Chairwoman and members of the Council of Ministers, the Foreign and Defence Ministers as well as members of the Collegium of House of Peoples and the House of Representatives of BiH. The programme included discussions with international community actors and civil society.

As part of the scheduled visits to regional chambers of commerce and industry, State Secretary Marko Štucin joined the plenary part of the visit of the economic diplomacy delegation of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to the Zasavje region. During the visit organised by the Zasavje Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he met with representatives of the region’s companies and the heads of the Zasavje Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Minister Tanja Fajon attended the EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum and the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brussels. In her remarks, she underlined Slovenia's commitment to strengthening EU cooperation with Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asian countries, given their great economic and geostrategic importance.

On 2 January 2024, the flag of Slovenia was officially raised in front of the Security Council Chamber together with other four new non-permanent members of the UN Security Council (Algeria, Guyana, Republic of Korea and Sierra Leone). During the ceremony the Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar stated: "The work of Slovenia in the Council will be guided by the UN Charter, international law, and our foreign policy of peace. We pledge to act in good will and transparency. We trust in the multilateral system with the UN at its core as the only way to find solutions to the most serious crisis." Slovenia will base its activities on four thematic priorities: prevention of conflicts, protection of populations in armed conflicts, women, peace and security and climate, peace and security.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Non-formal education and training.

Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in the United States hosted a presentation and degustation of Slovenian wines on January 31st 2024. Representatives of Klet Krško and Ptujska klet were personally present at the event, organized by Marq Wine Group and was part of the Wines of Slovenia promotion tour in Chicago, Dallas, New York and Washington D.C..

On January 26, Ambassador Iztok Mirošič had the honor of presenting the Letter of Credence from Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar to the esteemed First Vice President Brunner in Costa Rica. Subsequently, Ambassador Mirošič participated in substantive discussions with President Chaves and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship, André Tinoco.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a special European Council meeting in Brussels. The EU leaders were unanimous in their position on the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021–2027, in particular as it relates to the envisaged financial support for Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon met Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib in Brussels to discuss the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the signing of the Ljubljana – The Hague Convention, feminist foreign policy, Slovenia's membership of the UN Security Council and other current European and foreign policy issues.

Slovenia celebrated the official launch of its Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) with an opening event in Postojna, attended by around 100 national and international representatives. The event presented the programme of the Slovenian Presidency and the main upcoming activities of EUSALP in 2024.

On Tuesday, February 6th, the Archive, the reading room will be closed due to a cultural event.

Today, the UN Security Council convened an open briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The meeting followed the 26 January order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case of South Africa against Israel, indicating provisional measures. Slovenia voiced its clear and strong support to the ICJ’s work and underlined that UNRWA is playing an indispensable role in the midst of the current crisis.

The Embassy of Slovenia in the Hague is looking for an experienced driver for a full time position of Embassy Driver/Caretaker.

Interested in joining our team? Apply by March 15.

A political agreement was reached between the EU Council and the European Parliament on Tuesday, 30 January 2024, regarding the European Commission's proposals for greater transparency in the labelling of the origin of honey blends.

At today's session, the Government adopted a proposal for amendments to the Promotion of Digital Inclusion Act, which determine who is eligible to access computer equipment in more detail. It also approved the call for applications for enrolment in undergraduate and integrated master study programmes in the 2024/2025 academic year.

Slovenia's energy self-sufficiency and the long-term use of nuclear energy warrant the broadest possible national and political consensus.