News

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has issued two grant decisions for boosting employment, namely for the project Boosting employment – Zaposli.me+ and for the Call for proposals to co-finance social activation+ projects.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, today welcomed the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli.

Slovenia will appear as Guest of Honour at the prestigious Bologna International Book Fair next month, cementing its place on the world stage as a nation rich in imaginative children's and youth literature and with an exceptional illustration heritage.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tirana will be closed on Monday 1 April (Easter Monday).

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon received an official visit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Filip Ivanović. They confirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in the economy. They focused on Montenegro's progress towards EU accession and the current situation in the Western Balkans.

Minister Mateja Čalušić has attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, where ministers continued the discussion on the necessary measures to tackle the crisis in agriculture. The European Commission presented a new package of measures to enhance farmers' position in the agri-food chain. The ministers discussed the market situation following the invasion of Ukraine. In early afternoon, Minister Čalušić met with Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, today hosted the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, on a working visit. The meeting was aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and exchanging views on current European and foreign policy issues.

The Government has adopted a decision on increasing the earmarked assets and capital of the Slovenian Regional Development Fund for soft lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, adopted an opinion on a draft amendment to the Pension and Disability Insurance Act, included two new projects in the current Development Programme Plan 2024–2027, and adopted several decisions on the reallocation of state budget funds.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon hosted a meeting of the foreign ministers of the informal Central 5 group, with the participation of Alexander Schallenberg, Minister of European and International Affairs of Austria, Jan Lipavský, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Péter Szijjárto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, and Juraj Blanár Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, met today with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsolo. They addressed topical issues ranging from the upcoming European elections to the situation in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis, as well as European agricultural policy and migration.

Prime Minister's statement: "Finally some good news from New York. The UN Security Council has agreed on a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Slovenia, together with the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, played a key role in proposing the resolution.

During her working visit to Sarajevo, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon expressed contentment with the European Council's decision to initiate accession negotiations between Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the EU. She reaffirmed Slovenia's steadfast support for BiH's reform efforts.

State Secretary Eva Knez has attended the informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for fisheries. The main topic of the informal meeting was the "Future of the EU fisheries and aquaculture". The discussion focused on the impact of external factors such as climate change, energy and input prices, and geopolitical situation. Examples of good practice in fisheries were presented.

The Slovenian Regional Development Fund has published the call for proposals BIZI Liquidity Energy. The call for proposals, published on the Fund’s website, aims to ensure business entities' liquidity in light of the energy crisis and improve their competitiveness, productivity, and technological equipment by implementing measures to control energy consumption and energy loss.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a regular two-day European Council meeting in Brussels. The leaders discussed further support for Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression, security and defence, the situation in the Middle East, EU enlargement, migration and current challenges in agriculture.

The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, co-chaired the 5th session of the Slovenia-Friuli Venezia Giulia Joint Committee in Trieste, together with the President of the Region, Massimiliano Fedriga. Minister Fajon underlined that this type of cooperation contributes to the improvement and diversification of bilateral relations between Slovenia and Italy and is also of great importance for the two minorities.

An event marking the official opening of the revamped nursing home, the largest of its kind in the Pomurje region, was held in Rakičan. The renovation of the nursing home’s central unit was co-funded by the European Union. In his welcoming remarks, Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development dr. Aleksander Jevšek underscored that the renovated and modernised nursing home makes an important contribution to improving the quality of life of seniors and of the elderly care in the region.

The 5th session of the Slovenia-Friuli Venezia Giulia Joint Committee that was co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Tanja Fajon and the President of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia Massimiliano Fedriga was held in Trieste. The State Secretary at the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development also participated in the meeting.

Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar has hosted a conference of the Brdo Process. The conference was attended by the Ministers of the Interior and ministerial delegations from the Western Balkan partners, Austria, Italy and Hungary, the representatives of EU institutions, international and regional organisations and other partners involved.

On February 28, 2024, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Athens, together with the Honorary Consulate General and the Municipal University Library in Limassol, organized the opening of the exhibition of the private art collection of the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of the Slovenia in Limassol, dr. Evros Alexandrou with the title "The touch of a Slovenian painter."

At a trilateral meeting in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, the Ministers of the Interior of Slovenia, Croatia and Italy, Boštjan Poklukar, Dr Davor Božinović and Matteo Piantedosi, committed to strengthening police cooperation between their countries.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended the first Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels. In his address, Mr Golob presented Slovenia’s positive experience with nuclear energy and highlighted the necessary elements for further development.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today met with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.

At the invitation of Landry Riba Mandicó, Secretary of State for European Affairs of the Principality of Andorra, State Secretary Marko Štucin held the first political consultations in the history of the two countries in Andorra la Vella. The discussions focused on bilateral relations and current European and foreign policy issues.

Prime Minister Robert Golob received the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda. The main topics of discussion were the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

At the 96th regular meeting, the Government adopted a draft amendment to the Medical Services Act and the starting points for the development of normative solutions to the right to be forgotten. It also issued a Decree amending the Decree on administrative operations and a Decree on the one-off compensation to municipalities to promote the deployment of wind power generation installations.

The last working day of the Consular section of the Embassy of the Republic in Slovenia in Cairo before the holiday season will be Tuesday, 30 April 2024.

On the 12th International Francophonie Day, Ljubljana will host the 12th Francophone Film Festival showcasing the films produced in Slovenia, Belgium, France, Canada and Switzerland. In addition to promoting the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity, member states of the International Organisation of La Francophonie share a commitment to peace, human rights, democracy and sustainable development.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon visited the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, where she gave a lecture on diplomacy in an increasingly complex world and met with the Rector of the College, Federica Mogherini, and two Slovenian students currently studying there.

The General Affairs Council focused on preparing conclusions for the European Council, where EU leaders will discuss Russian aggression in Ukraine, necessary security and defence measures and the EU's response to the alarming situation in the Middle East. A follow-up to the European Commission's latest report on enlargement, which is crucial for Slovenia, is also planned.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon addressed MEPs at the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) during a debate on EU enlargement. She stressed that EU enlargement is a geostrategic imperative and that both the countries aspiring to become part of the EU family and the EU Member States should prepare for this important step.

On Tuesday, March 26th, the Archive, the reading room will be closed due to a cultural event.

The Government adopted the opinion on the initiative of the FIDES union and Milenko Stanković to instigate a procedure for a review of the constitutionality and legality of the Ordinance on the provision of medical services during a strike. The Government gave a positive opinion on the awarding of Polish state decorations, i.e. the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland and the Gold Cross of Merit of the Republic of Poland, to two Slovenian citizens.

Minister Tanja Fajon took part in a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels to discuss the alarming situation in the Middle East, Russian aggression against Ukraine and the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus. She also participated in the third edition of the European Humanitarian Forum, where she presented Slovenia's humanitarian response to the growing number of crises around the world.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with Mayor of the Municipality of Maribor Saša Arsenovič.

At today's regular meeting, Prime Minister Robert Golob and President Nataša Pirc Musar exchanged views on current domestic and foreign policy issues.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government read the document on the protest demands of Slovenian farmers and the announced nationwide protest by farmers involving the Farmers’ Union of Slovenia, the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia, the Cooperative Union of Slovenia, the Slovenian Rural Youth Association, the Association of Hill and Mountain Farmers of Slovenia, and the Women Farmers Association of Slovenia.

Prime Minister Golob attended the ceremony marking the breakthrough of the second tube of the Karavanke motorway tunnel. Today's event marked the symbolic breakthrough of the second tunnel tube at the junction with Austria, although the actual breakthrough took place on 5 March.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Strengthening the network of offices for employers. The project will receive support from the European Social Fund Plus.

Ambassador Mirošič attended an informal coffee reception hosted by Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, Ambassador Michele Sison at the U.S. Department of State on March 15, 2024.

State Secretary Marko Štucin held political consultations in Athens at the invitation of the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Alexandra Papadopoulou. The two officials also participated as speakers at an event on the Western Balkans, co-organised by the Bled Strategic Forum and the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), which was attended by more than 130 participants.

The Russian Defence Ministry claims, in a statement posted on Telegram, that there are five Slovenians among foreign mercenaries fighting in Ukraine.

Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs presented economic diplomacy to Slovenian craftspeople. The promotion of diplomatic support for craftspeople is part of a series of events aimed at systematically promoting the internationalisation of Slovenian companies through the network of the Chamber of Craft and Small Business and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, particularly in the framework of the Strategic Research and Innovation Partnerships between Slovenian companies and research institutions (SRIP).

State Secretary Marko Štucin discussed topical European and international issues and bilateral cooperation with Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary at the Maltese Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, and Glenn Micallef, Head of Secretariat in the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta, in Valletta.

Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Ukraine Mateja Prevolšek handed over a modern C-type ambulance, equipped with an incubator for the transportation of new-born and premature babies, to Olena Yaroschuk, Acting Director of Maternity Hospital No. 5 in Kyiv, in the presence of Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine Ihor Kopach.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Content support to accelerate the global and sustainable growth of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – DevelopmentPlus Programme.

At today's meeting, the Government adopted an amendment to the Act on the Provision of Funds for Investment in Sports Infrastructure and the starting points for the preparation of the Act on Quality in Health Care. It also set the starting points for the conclusion of an agreement on mediation to resolve the strike demands of the FIDES Main Strike Committee and appointed Minister Matej Arčon as Deputy Prime Minister.

Minister Jevšek presented the report on the implementation of the European Cohesion Policy (ECP) for 2014–2020 and 2021–2027: “Slovenia concluded the 2014-2020 ECP as one of the more successful EU Member States. We have utilised all the available funds intended for people, the economy and balanced regional development. In 2023, we started implementing the 2021-2027 ECP, and have already issued decisions on support worth EUR 334 million.”

On Wednesday, 13 March 2024, the Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (stable) / AA- (stable) / A (stable), successfully increased the 3% Notes due 10 March 2034 (ISIN SI0002104576) by EUR 500mio, bringing the total outstanding size to EUR 2bn. The success of this transaction is also underpinned by a strong final orderbook in excess of EUR 3.1bn.

The Prime Minister, Robert Golob, received representatives of the National Council of Disability Organisations of Slovenia (NSIOS). At the meeting, they discussed the solutions needed to regulate the situation of persons with disabilities in society and reviewed the work of the focus group so far in the period 2022–2023.