News

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EUR 890,000 in EU funding for the project Integrated Territorial Investments Kranj: Planina overpass – Hrastje business zone.

At the request of the Ukrainian side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide 370,000 euros in humanitarian aid for the purchase of an ambulance for the transport of premature babies and mothers. The donation agreement was signed today by the Acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Renata Cvelbar Bek, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia, Mr Andrii Taran.

Minister of the Interior Tatjana Bobnar attended an extraordinary meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels. Ministers discussed the situation on the main migration routes.

In the wake of the global food crisis, which has deepened since the start of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed that Slovenia join Ukrainian President Zelenskiy's 'Grain from Ukraine' initiative, in which Ukraine donates grain while donor countries, including Slovenia, finance shipping to the least developed countries in Africa and Asia, where people are at risk of starvation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has supported a project to complete the renovation of a rehabilitation home in Ukraine. With the project, which will be implemented by the Ministry’s strategic partner for humanitarian aid, Slovenian Caritas, Slovenia will help ensure facilities for the proper care and rehabilitation of 90 children, people with disabilities and young people with special needs, who are increasing in number as a consequence of the bombing.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs joins the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Violence against women remains one of the most common human rights violations around the world. For many years, the global average of one in three women experiencing violence in their lifetime has remained unchanged.

The proposed mechanism for limiting natural gas price presented this week by the European Commission will need substantial corrections, stated Bojan Kumer, Slovenian Minister of Infrastructure, after today’s meeting of energy ministers.

In Iran, we are increasingly witnessing the disproportionate use of force against peaceful protestors, which is why today's Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council on the state of human rights in Iran is extremely important.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon attended the 7th Regional Forum Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial Meeting held in Barcelona. The ministers discussed the impact of the current situation in the region on younger generations and its improvement, solidarity, and cooperation, and outlined the way forward for the work of the UfM.

At today's session, the Government adopted decrees on financial aid for the shortage of fodder in 2022 and on financial compensation for beekeepers. It also adopted the starting points for the drafting of normative solutions in relation to the minor offence proceedings conducted during the efforts to contain the infectious disease COVID-19.

The European Commission has approved the new Programme for the elimination of material deprivation in the Republic of Slovenia for the 2021–2027 period. A total of EUR 32.6 million has thus been secured until 2029 to help the most vulnerable population groups and eliminate their material deprivation, of which the EU will contribute EUR 29.4 million.

State Secretary Žbogar and Omani Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalifa Al-Harthy held the first political consultations between Slovenia and Oman in Muscat. These are the first consultations since the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of Political Consultations in December 2021, which forms the basis for further regular contacts at this level.

The two-day CM22 session of the ESA Council, which was attended by the State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology Matevž Frangež, has concluded in Paris. He also participated in the OECD Green Growth and Sustainable Development Forum entitled Green Innovation and the Impact of Economic Shocks.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today visited the Ljubljana Institute of Oncology and the Ljubljana University Medical Centre (LUMC).

There are many soldiers. And there are many poets. But there are few soldiers who are also poets. General Rudolf Maister would deserve to be remembered for this fact alone. But he was so much more. Just as he knew how to write – signing his works with his pen name Vojanov – he also knew how to wield a sword. So he was not only a man of words, but above all a man of actions. Without him our northern border would not be where it is today – if there would be a border at all.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar, accompanied by a Slovenian business delegation, attended a Saudi-Slovenian business forum, organised at the Association of Saudi Chambers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He met with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Adel bin Ahmed Al Jubeir.

At today's sessions of government committees, the Government adopted, inter alia, its opinion regarding the proposers' request for constitutional review of the Decision on the inadmissibility of the call for a legislative referendum on the Act Amending the Family Code and the opinion on the proposal to call a consultative referendum on the adoption of an amendment to the Personal Income Tax Act, and included several projects in the current Development Programme Plan 2022-2025.

Minister Irena Šinko participated in the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting. European Commission informed the EU Ministers on implementing the new EU forest strategy for 2030, and on ensuring the availability and affordability of fertilisers. They dealt with the agricultural aspect of the proposal for a Regulation on nature restoration, on two points concerning fisheries, on energy transition of the EU fishing fleet and aquaculture, and on the algae sector development activities. In bilateral meetings, the Minister met with the European Commissioner for the Environment, Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Mr Virginijus Sinkevičius, and with Mr Peter Kullgren, the Minister for Rural Development of Sweden, which in 2023 begins the Presidency over the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

Minister Fajon presented to the students of the Faculty of Social Sciences the role of Slovenia in addressing current challenges and the multilateral aspect of Slovenia's foreign policy. In her presentation titled "Confidence in the Future: Slovenia in the United Nations Security Council," she spoke about Slovenia's candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2024–2025 term.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon addressed the participants of the 4th Latin America and Caribbean Days conference (LAC Days 2022). The event was held in a virtual format under the theme "Water-related disaster risk management in a changing climate" and focused on climate change, water, and digital solutions to address the current challenges facing both regions.

Prime Minister Robert Golob, Matjaž Han, Economy Minister and Bojan Kumer, Minister of Infrastructure attended a meeting with businesspeople, which was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia. The Government representatives presented solutions and measures to mitigate the consequences of the energy crisis for the companies not covered so far by electricity and natural gas price regulation.

The ministers in charge of Cohesion Policy met in Brussels to exchange views on the long-term impacts of Cohesion Policy on EU regions. The ministers agreed that the fundamental role of Cohesion Policy should continue to be to reduce disparities in the level of development of the various member states and regions, despite recent crises.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met the newly elected Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar.

Speaking at the press conference after the conclusion of the annual IMF Mission to Slovenia’s consultations, Minister Klemen Boštjančič expressed his agreement with its findings.

On Saturday, 19 November, ahead of the finals of the European Women's Handball Championship, the Government Communication Office hosted a promotional event called Slovenia - the Land of Top Sporting Achievements, at which former world-class Alpine skier and I Feel Slovenia brand ambassador Tina Maze was the guest of honour.

The Ministry of Health today prepared a conference for healthcare providers at Brdo pri Kranju. The main focus was on the novelties brought by the Urgent Measures to Maintain the stability of the health system Act (ZNUZSZS), and the Urgent measures to prevent the spread and mitigate the consequences of the infectious disease COVID-19 in healthcare Act (ZNUNBZ).

The Government adopted the new version of the Criminal Code and took a position on the amendments to the draft budgets for the next two year at today’s correspondence session.

This year, the World Fisheries Day, celebrated on 21 November, is dedicated to highlighting the importance of healthy marine ecosystems and to ensuring sustainable fisheries stocks and social protection of workers in the fishing industry.

European Commission published today in the Official Journal of the European Union the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2267 of 14 November 2022 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (“Meso istarskog goveda – boškarina / Meso istrskega goveda – boškarina” (PDO)).

Between 18 and 20 November, Minister of Defence Marjan Šarec attended the International Security Forum in Halifax, Canada. He was a speaker on the panel on trends in the use of modern versus traditional weapons systems, entitled "Tanks or Tech? The 21st Century Battlefield".

On this day we commemorate the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and remember all those killed and injured in road traffic accidents together with their families and friends. Prime Minister Robert Golob yesterday, 19 November 2022, attended the traditional commemoration organised by Zavod Varna pot.

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended a regular meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels. The focus was on the preparations for the December European Council meeting and on the hearing of Hungary on the state of the rule of law under Article 7 of the EU treaty.

As part of its regular annual programme, the Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) paid a two-day visit to Slovenia to meet with representatives of NGOs, social partners and civil society.

Police Chiefs met at the international conference in Portorož on 17 and 18 November 2022, and discussed the stepping-up of information exchange and police cooperation in the region for the purpose of prevention of organised crime and dismantling of the highly profitable illicit business model of the criminal networks.

Yesterday at COP27, Slovenia presented itself as a green, creative and smart country, active in the field of climate change and oriented towards a green transition, supported by advanced digital technologies. The government of Slovenia demonstrated excellent mutual cooperation of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, MEST, MEDT, MFA with climate and economic diplomacy, Spirit Agency and STO.

18th November 2022 we are celebrating European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. Slovenia together with initiating countries Andorra, Belgium, Monaco and San Marino prepared a statement to mark this day for the 8th year in a row. This year, another 40 European countries, plus Mexico, have backed a joint statement.

Today, the Volčji Potok Arboretum played host to an event within the framework of the regular Business to Diplomacy (B2D) meetings organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the auspices of Minister Tanja Fajon. The events are aimed at the internationalisation of the Slovenian economy and represent an excellent opportunity for Slovenian companies to present their know-how, products and services to the diplomatic corps in Slovenia.

State Secretary Marko Štucin paid a bilateral visit to Vienna and met with Austrian Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution Karoline Edtstadler and Secretary General of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Dr Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal.

At today’s session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia took note of information on the escalation of Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure and on an incident on the Polish-Ukrainian border. The government strongly condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which has resulted, among other things, in systematic attacks against civilians and the destruction of critical infrastructure. The government calls on the Russian Federation to cease such actions immediately. It will also offer additional assistance to Ukraine in the reconstruction of critical infrastructure. Apart from that, it adopted a decision instructing the relevant ministries to prepare measures to compensate electricity and natural gas suppliers.

Minister for Development and European Cohesion Policy dr Aleksander Jevšek attended the cross-border economic forum of entrepreneurs in Lenti, Hungary, where he met with his Hungarian colleague Tibor Navracsics.

Science is of vital importance for society, and one of the key generators of progress. This is why Prime Minister Golob today visited the country’s most senior national institution for science and art – the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU). He met with the Academy’s leadership and was briefed on its history, activities and current initiatives.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon hosted the second meeting of the Strategic Council for Foreign Affairs, which was dedicated to discussions about China and its role in the changing political and social global order. The debate revolved around the question of whether China, with its position as a superpower and its relationship with the US, is an adversary, a rival or partner to the European Union.

Following today’s informal consultations with the National Security Council (NSC), Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob has said that based on all the information that the government has about the incident in Poland, there is no need for any rise in the level of alert, as there has been no increase in the threat assessment level.

A trilateral Letter of Intent was signed in Podgorica between the ministries of foreign affairs of Slovenia, France and Montenegro on the establishment of a regional Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C; Centre de développement des Capacités Cyber des Balkans Occidentaux - 3CBO) at the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, which is part of the University of Montenegro in Podgorica.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EUR 1.5 million for a call for proposals Developing new organisational forms of treating people who require short-term institutional care after an injury or illness. The total funding comes from the European Social Fund and React-EU.

State Secretary, Dr Branko Lobnikar, attended the two-day ministerial meeting of the member states of the Salzburg Forum in Bucharest.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved nearly EUR 650 thousand in EU funding for the project Integrated Territorial Investments Kranj cycling routes: Zlato polje – Kranj railway station.

In the face of the uncertain situation on the energy markets, the Slovenian Government is working with various stakeholders, including suppliers, to exchange information and find the best solutions to make it through this challenging period

The President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, Alojz Kovšca, paid an official visit to Japan from 6 to 11 November 2022, upon the invitation of the Speaker of the Senate of Japan, Hidehisa Otsuji. President of the National Council Alojz Kovšca was accompanied by the State Councillors, Bojan Kekec and Mitja Gorenšček.