News

At yesterday's event, experts from the Boards of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) presented to the Slovenian public novelties and practical examples of how to deal with trade mark and design appeals.

Prime Minister dr. Robert Golob and ministers attended the GREMO Mission strategic development conference, which the Prime Minister described as one of the key development projects for the Slovenian economy.

At the correspondence meeting, the government issued an amendment to the Decree on programmes of compulsory health insurance services, the capacities required for their implementation, and the amount of funds for 2023. The government supports the establishment of a register of damage caused by the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine, and the adoption of a declaration to honour the memory of the victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine.

On the occasion of today's municipality holiday of Ljubljana – Hero City, the Prime Minister, Robert Golob, attended a formal session of the Ljubljana Municipality Council, where the highest awards of the City of Ljubljana were presented, including the titles of Honorary Citizen of the City of Ljubljana.

It is now 73 years since French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman drafted the declaration establishing the European Coal and Steel Community. The basic aim of this idea, which was conceived only a few years after the end of the Second World War, was to establish closer cooperation between countries in such a way that war between them would no longer be not only unacceptable, but also unfeasible.

The Government has issued a Decree amending the Decree on the environmental tax on air pollution caused by carbon dioxide emissions.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a commemorative ceremony on the 78th anniversary of the final battles for the liberation of Ljubljana at Orle and the anniversary of the liberation of the Hero City and its holiday, 9 May.

The sixth World Bee Day will be celebrated on 20 May. The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Bee Day on 20 December 2017. Our aim is to raise awareness of the general public about the importance of bees and other pollinators for our survival on this planet.

On 5 May 2023, the Fitch agency affirmed Slovenia's A credit rating with a stable outlook.

At a correspondence meeting, the government formally decided that the artillery platoon of the Slovenian Armed Forces is to participate in Howitzer 2023 training held between 8 and 12 May at the Evgen Kvaternik training range in Slunj, Croatia.

At today's session, the government determined the text of the draft Act on specific matters relating to certain offences committed during the period of validity of the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. Moreover, it adopted the 2023 Development Report and approved the annual plan for the financing and co-financing of investments in sports infrastructure for 2023.

Prime Minister Robert Golob and Slovenian Government ministers support the public and free expression of opinions and the right to peaceful protest.

The Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs hosted bilateral political consultations between Slovenia and Azerbaijan, chaired by State Secretary Samuel Žbogar and Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov.

Dear residents of Slovenia, citizens and all others who are building the future together with us, Congratulations on the occasion of Labour Day. To all of us.

During the EU Macro-Regional Strategies Week (EU MRS Week), which took place in Brussels from 24 to 28 April 2023, the Slovenian Presidency of the EUSDR chaired the 7th Meeting of Trio Presidencies of Macro-Regional Strategies and the European Commission. The central topic for discussion was the common challenges of the MRS and their further cooperation in the framework of the Trio Presidencies.

Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Warsaw is organizing a thematic art workshop on bees.

The Embassy of Slovenia in Tirana will be closed on 1 and 2 May due to the May Day holiday.

Message by Prime Minister Robert Golob on the occasion of the Day of Uprising Against Occupation

At the opening panel of the 4th EU Macro-Regional Strategies Week in Brussels, State Secretary Marko Štucin presented Slovenia's perspective, as the country holding the Presidency of the Strategy for the Danube Region, on the role of macro-regional strategies in addressing current challenges in Europe. The panel was attended by representatives of the four countries holding presidencies of the strategies and Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform.

Today, the Government adopted the Stability Programme 2023 which must be submitted to the European Commission by the end of April each year as part of the European Semester process, as well as a number of other documents.

On 26 April, the member countries of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), including Slovenia, mark World Intellectual Property Day. On this day, a campaign is launched to raise public awareness about intellectual property and its role in fostering innovation and creativity.

Minister Irena Šinko has attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council to discuss agricultural topics together with her EU counterparts. An important discussion was held on the situation on agricultural markets, in particular in light of the war in Ukraine, and export limitations for Ukrainian grain imposed by some EU member states. Ministers also exchanged their experience in implementing the strategic plans for the common agricultural policy and discussed the regulative framework for the certification of carbon removals. Slovenia recalled, in the EU Council, the importance of labelling the origin of honey in light of the planned revision of the Honey Directive.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted Dr Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate at the German Federal Foreign Office, for consultations. Their meeting was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in the context of the strategic partnership between the two countries and at enhancing their bilateral cooperation on European affairs.

Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon attended a trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Slovenia, Croatia and Austria in Rijeka. Together with the Croatian Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, who hosted the meeting, and the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, they discussed the possibilities to deepen cooperation between the countries and common challenges.

At a ceremony held in the Radovljica Manor Baroque Hall on Saturday, 22 April 2023, Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko presented the President of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association Boštjan Noč with a certificate on the entry of beekeeping on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

As part of the new EU legislation to be adopted on the sustainable use of plant protection products, a European Commission delegation headed by Deputy Director-General for Health and Food Safety Claire Bury visited Slovenia at the invitation of Minister Irena Šinko.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted Daniela Gîtman, Secretary of State for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. The talks were aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and exchanging views on current European, regional and international topics and EU enlargement.

The reading room and information room of the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia at Zvezdarska 1 Street will be closed on Wednesday, April 26, due to an event. On Friday, April 28, the archive will be closed due to a collective leave day.

The 12th Africa Day International Conference, held under the theme "Africa and Europe: Climate Security for the Future – Global Challenges, Local Actions", brought to Slovenia the largest ever number of participants. At the Brdo pri Kranju Congress Centre, around 350 participants from 50 countries, of which 24 are on the African continent, discussed climate security and possible solutions.

Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration (SNSA), in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), organized and participated in a National Training Course on Tools and Techniques for Computer Security Incident Response from April 11 to 14, 2023.

The Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob was the guest of honour at the Gala Celebration at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the publication of the Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the 70th anniversary of the Electrotechnical Association of Slovenia.

Prime Minister Robert Golob received the EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, Mr Thierry Breton. The main topics discussed over a working lunch were the defence industry and the competitiveness of the European economy, with an emphasis on the automotive and energy industries.

Following the European Commission’s preliminary positive assessment of the first payment request for a grant from the Recovery and Resilience Facility in early March, Slovenia has today received a transfer of just under €50 million. “The relevant European institutions have positively assessed the fulfilment of all 12 milestones linked to the first instalment of the grant. The Ministry of Finance, together with the Recovery and Resilience Office, will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the plan and the achievement of the milestones and targets, which are a condition for the payment of the funds from Brussels,” emphasised Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič.

In a month's time, on 20 May, Slovenia and the world will celebrate World Bee Day for the sixth time. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed World Bee Day on 20 December 2017. The main purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness among the international public about the importance of bees and other pollinators for humanity in light of food security, the global elimination of hunger and care for the environment and biodiversity.

At today’s session, the Government confirmed the draft revised state budget for 2023, following the Government reorganisation and the reduction in expenditure by EUR 609 million. It also adopted the draft amendment to the Financial Operations, Insolvency Proceedings and Compulsory Dissolution Act, which is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of proceedings.

At Brdo pri Kranju, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon opened the 12th International Africa Day Conference themed “Africa and Europe: Climate Security for the Future – Global Challenges, Local Action”. More than 350 participants from Slovenia and Africa will attend the two-day conference, which will include a rich cultural programme in addition to the political and economic sessions.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today gave a statement of his response to the interpellation in the National Assembly.

At the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, Prime Minister Robert Golob ceremoniously signed an agreement between business, science and politics entitled "For a smart, sustainable and competitive Slovenia".

Prime Minister Robert Golob, accompanied by the Minister of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, Matjaž Han, visited Celje and officially opened the 17th International Industrial Fair and Fair Lestech, a wood-processing industry fair.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon, together with State Secretary Samuel Žbogar, welcomed the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India, Meenakshi Lekhi.

At sessions of government committees, the government, among other things, reallocated EUR 48 million from the general budgetary provisioning to the financial plan of the Ministry of Infrastructure to finance price increases.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon held talks with the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and President and CEO of Kia Motors Corporation, Ho Sung Song. Their discussion focused on strengthening political and economic cooperation between the two countries and on Korea’s bid to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan.

The contract for the construction of an aerial firefighting capability – the purchase of smaller aircraft – was signed by the Minister of Defence, Marjan Šarec, the Acting Director General of the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, Leon Behin, and the CEO of Air Tractor Europe SL, Rafael Selma Beltrán.

The Ministry of Finance Delegation, headed by Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič, attended the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, held between 11 April and 15 April 2023 in Washington. In the discussions, considerable importance was attached to economic growth, inflation and financial stability.

Concluding her visit to Tanzania, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon met with Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation. The interlocutors exchanged views on a range of current global and regional challenges and committed to strengthening political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Ljubljana hosted political consultations between Slovenia and Mongolia, which were headed by of State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Samuel Žbogar and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Ankhbayar Nyamdorj.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Irena Šinko, met with the Croatian Minister of Agriculture, Marija Vučković, at a farm in Sela pri Ratežu.

At today's correspondence meeting, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued a Decree setting the maximum price of the complementary health insurance premium. It also adopted several replies to parliamentary questions.

The Government extended electricity price regulation for households and small business customers until the end of the year. It also extended the validity of the decree setting the maximum allowable electricity price for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

In the first three months of this year, the Ljubljana Administrative Unit has made significant progress in resolving pending cases in the Civil Registers, Aliens and Nationality Division, Aliens Departments, with more cases being resolved each month than were received. Thus, since January this year, we have reduced the number of pending cases by almost eight thousand.