News

Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has issued the first grant decision under Slovenia’s Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027 approving 13 million euros for the project “Project learning for young adults” (PUM-O+), which will be implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. The first funds will be allocated to young people aged 15-29.

The Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob, hosted the first meeting of mayors of Slovenian municipalities with the aim of strengthening constructive dialogue and partnership between municipalities and the Government.

The Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob, attended a ceremony to award membership certificates to new full, associate, and affiliate members of the Slovenian Academy of Engineering. The membership certificates were awarded to 31 distinguished Slovenian and foreign engineers who contribute to the progress of society with their knowledge.

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Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Irena Šinko met today with the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food.

In Chișinău, Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the second meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), hosted by the President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar attended the informal meeting of NATO ministers of foreign affairs in Oslo. On the first day, State Secretary Žbogar, together with ministers of foreign affairs, attended the ceremony for the victims of the terrorist attack that happened in Norway on 22 July 2011. On the second day, he represented Slovenia at the informal ministerial meeting.

State Secretary Marko Štucin and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Josip Brkić held bilateral political consultations in Ljubljana. The consultations focused on Bosnia and Herzegovina's path towards Europe and the necessity to implement reforms to open accession negotiations with the EU.

At yesterday's session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia approved the proposals of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs for contributions to international organisations for development cooperation and humanitarian aid (2023–2025).

As of June 1st, 2023, the management of the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia is taken over by Dr Andrej Nared. Upon his personal request Dr Bojan Cvelfar, who managed the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia for the last decade, steps down from his role as the director. The Government of the Republic of Slovenia dismissed Dr Cvelfar from his position and appointed Dr Andrej Nared as the new acting director of the Archives.

The Government has agreed on the text of the proposed Act Amending the Higher Vocational Education Act and submitted it to the National Assembly for consideration under the shortened procedure. The Government also adopted the Medium-Term Defence Programme of the Republic of Slovenia 2023–2028.

"Our main promise we gave to the people when we were elected was that we would live in a normal country again. That means a functioning rule of law, democracy and an open society. We have delivered on that promise," Prime Minister Robert Golob said on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the Government. Together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Tanja Fajon and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Luka Mesec, they summarised the work of the Government so far.

Minister Irena Šinko attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. The presidency informed the ministers on the proposed regulation on packaging and packaging waste and the ministers discussed the situation of the market for agricultural products following the war in Ukraine. There was also a discussion on current practices related to the marketing of frozen products and the need for enhancing tools and strategies for a systemic management and response to the growing risks in agricultural markets.

The May meeting of the EU General Affairs Council focused on preparations for the European Council meeting to be held in Brussels on 29 and 30 June and, under the Article 7 TEU procedure, on the state of the rule of law in Poland and Hungary.

The celebration of World Bee Day in Kalmthout Arboretum was co-organised by the Slovenian Embassy in Belgium with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. State Secretary Tatjana Buzeti and Ambassador Barbara Sušnik attended the event along with other guests. A bee tree was planted on the occasion.

After two weeks of intensive negotiations between nearly 300 experts in public international law and international criminal law, the MLA Conference adopted the Ljubljana-Hague Convention, which will enable countries to cooperate internationally in the investigation and prosecution of the most serious international crimes. It is also the first major treaty in the field of international criminal law since the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Prime Minister dr. Robert Golob visited the Ministry of Defence, where he was greeted with military honours.

On the margins of the diplomatic conference for the adoption of the MLA Convention, which ends today in Ljubljana, State Secretary Marko Štucin met with the Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Iryna Mudra. Their discussions focused on the importance of ensuring accountability for war crimes.

Today, Prime Minister dr. Robert Golob received the European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, who is currently visiting member states.

Prime Minister Robert Golob and deputies of the Italian and Hungarian national communities, Felice Žiža and Ferenc Horváth, today formalised their cooperation by signing an agreement.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of North Macedonia Bojan Maricikj. They discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries and Slovenia's continued support for North Macedonia's European integration path.

The government adopted a proposal for the amendment to the Pension and Disability Insurance Act and a resolution on pension indexation. It decided that the eligible costs of interventions during windstorms in north-eastern Slovenia are to be reimbursed to the municipalities.

The Slovenian Embassy in Addis Ababa is now open and is headed by the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Vesna Dolinšek. This is Slovenia’s second resident embassy in Africa, which will significantly strengthen Slovenia's political and economic relations with Ethiopia and countries in the wider region. It will also contribute to the accessibility of consular assistance to Slovenian citizens travelling in East African countries.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon paid the first official visit to Indonesia at the level of foreign minister since 2006. In Jakarta, she was received by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, with whom she discussed the strengthening of political and economic relations and EU-ASEAN relations. She also met with Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, and Arsjad Rasjid, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Minister Irena Šinko attended the 2023 Golden Bee Award ceremony. Dr Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, presented the award to the winner. The third Golden Bee Award was awarded for research into bees and other pollinators. Among the 12 candidates, the Golden Bee Award Committee selected Dr Slobodan Davidović from Serbia.

Prime Minister Robert Golob addressed participants at today's opening of the Days of Intergenerational Coexistence. He said that the Government would adopt a package of measures to alleviate the hardships of pensioners.

The Minister of the Economy, Tourism, and Sports Matjaž Han, together with State Secretaries, mag. Dejan Židan and Vesna Humar from the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad, visited the Slovenian national community in the Porabje region in Hungary. He was briefed on the state of the economy in the Porabje region and presented the substantive and financial support of the Ministry of the Economy for the economic and tourism activities of Slovenians in the Porabje region. Within a month, the Ministry will publish two calls for tenders with a total value of EUR 1.168 million.

At the meetings of the government committees, the Government, among other things, took a position on the tabled amendments to the draft revised budget for 2023, adopted positions on the opinions of the National Council on this year’s draft revised budget and on the proposal of the amendment to the Implementation of the Republic of Slovenia Budget for 2023 and 2024 Act, and included three new bilateral development cooperation projects in the current 2023–2026 Development Programme Plan of the Slovenian budget in accordance with the amendment to the financing plan.

Prime Minister Dr. Robert Golob attended the signing of a contract in Maribor on the co-financing of the investment “Construction of an Athletics Warm-up Track with the Reconstruction of the Existing Grandstand”, amounting to EUR 3 million.

In the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, Minister Fajon met with her host, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Prime Minister Phan Minh Chinh and Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien. It was the first visit at the level of foreign minister and deputy prime minister in 17 years.

From 21 to 22 May the Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon payed a visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Fajon met with her host, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Prime Minister Phan Minh Chinh and Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar took part in a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, with Ministers and State Secretaries discussing the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Horn of Africa. They also met with Western Balkans’ Foreign Ministers.

At the request of the Republic of Italy, a temporary civil protection unit was deployed to provide assistance in the affected area of Emilia Romagna.

Today, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre and the International Telecommunication Union signed a joint declaration on cooperation in cyber capacity building and gender mainstreaming in cybersecurity in the Western Balkans.

At today’s correspondence meeting, the government adopted an opinion on the proposal of the amendment to the Animal Protection Act and appointed the Director of the Farmland and Forest Fund of the Republic of Slovenia and the Director-General of the Forestry and Hunting Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food.

Minister Fajon, accompanied by a Slovenian business delegation, visited Ho Chi Minh City, the economic centre of Vietnam, where she opened a business forum. The visit reflects the desire of Slovenian businesspeople to seek new opportunities and cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region.

Four important days dedicated to nature conservation will be celebrated shortly, i.e. World Bee Day (20 May), European Natura 2000 Day (21 May), International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May) and European Day of Parks (24 May).

On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, the reading room of the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

At the correspondence session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia has decided to immediately provide rescue assistance to the Republic of Italy through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in response to their request, due to the floods that have affected several provinces in the central part of the country.

On Saturday, 20 May 2023, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo celebrated the 6th World Bee Day. In partnership with the Minato Municipality and the Minato International Association, the Embassy organised the "World Bee Day Festival 2023", a day-long festival in the local centre of the Takanawa district of Tokyo.

On 14 May 2023, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia, together with the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Slovenia in Ulaan Baatar, Dr. Bolormaa Batbayar, set up a tent for Europe Day at the main Sukhbaatar square.

In the week ahead of the World Bee Day (20 May), the International Geneva celebrates this day aiming to boost collective pollinator protection through awareness raising and educational activities. This is the sixth celebration in Geneva after the day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2017 at Slovenia’s initiative with support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob was the guest of honour at the event celebrating 50 years of women’s volleyball in Nova Gorica. Addressing the crowd at Bevk Square in the centre of Nova Gorica, the Prime Minister highlighted the added value of sports and the importance of youth participation.

Today, Slovenia and the world celebrate World Bee Day. The main national celebration of World Bee Day was held in Celje as part of the 20th Beekeepers' Festival. Minister Irena Šinko addressed the numerous beekeepers and other guests, highlighting the situation in the world today and the need for food security where pollinators play a very important role.

This year, Slovenia is once again at the forefront of World Bee Day celebrations. President Pirc Musar was present at the main event at the Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters in Rome, calling for responsible agriculture that respects and supports the vital role of pollinators in nature. Slovenia draws attention to their importance through more than 30 other projects and events around the world.

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob today visited areas threatened by landslides in the municipality of Šentilj due to the recent heavy rainfall.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar, PhD, attended the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe under the Icelandic Presidency of the Committee of Ministers in Reykjavik from 16 to 17 May 2023. Discussions focused on accountability for Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the promotion and protection of the Council of Europe's core values.

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob today attended the international conference titled From Doomsday to New Optimism, where international political and economic representatives addressed the most pressing global challenges in business, finance and politic and presented their views on how to tackle them.

For his significant contribution to the deepening of relations between Slovenia and Ukraine, and for Slovenia's support and assistance to Ukraine's successful defence against Russian aggression, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia, Andriy Taran, on behalf of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, presented the Badge of Honour to the Minister of Defence, Marjan Šarec, and the Medal for Assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Damir Črnčec.

Tomorrow, the attention of all the World is going to be dedicated to honeybees and other pollinators, with an increasingly important role in seeking solutions for food security, global hunger elimination, and protection of the environment and biodiversity.