Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning Andrej Vizjak attended the two-day virtual ministerial meeting "12th Petersberg Climate Dialogue", hosted by the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in close cooperation with the United Kingdom, which is presiding over the upcoming COP26 (Conference of the Parties, UN Climate Change Conference). The purpose of the dialogue, in which the participants were addressed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was to exchange views on the key topics of COP26.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “Arrangement of community and road infrastructure in Lepovče”. The project implemented by the municipality Ribnica under the Agreement on the Development of the Jugovzhodna Slovenija Region is worth EUR 388 thousand with the European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at EUR 175 thousand.

Today, Minister of the Interior, Aleš HOJS, attended the Ministerial conference in Lisbon on the Management of Migration Flows, organised by the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council to strengthen partnerships between the EU and countries of origin and transit and promote legal migration and integration of migrants.

Today, Minister Jože Podgoršek held a meeting by video conference with the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides. They discussed Slovenia's priorities during the Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Minister for Development and the EU Cohesion Policy Zvone Černač addressed the participants of the 6th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) under the slogan “Along the coasts of the shared sea” via an audio-video link. The Forum is the closing event of the Slovenian Presidency of the EUSAIR Strategy which Slovenia took over in June 2020 and will close at the end of May 2021.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy is pleased to announce the upcoming ‘Call for proposals for co-financing of projects under the programme Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation’, a programme supported and implemented under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 and the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021. The call is to be published on 14 May 2021 in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia. The available funding under the call will amount to over EUR 15.5 million. The project grant rate will be up to 100% of total eligible expenditures of a project.

Today, Minister Anže Logar opened the 6th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), which represents the final act of the one-year Slovenian Presidency of EUSAIR and the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative. In his address, Minister Logar explained that despite the challenges thrown up by the COVID-19 pandemic, Slovenia has managed to achieve all its goals and introduce some innovations. “Only by being connected and responsible for the environment can we contribute to the green and smart development and recovery of the Union,” stressed Minister Logar.

Prime Minister Janez Janša, in an interview for the Spanish newspaper El Correo, spoke about his appearance in the European Parliament, where the MEP Sophie in 't Veld, ironically through the very Group that is supposedly the stronghold defending the freedom of speech, grossly censored his address; in the interview, the Prime Minister also discussed the developments in the European People's Party, as well as the communist era in Slovenia and the spread of communist ideas in Spain, and Slovenia's recent history.

Following Friday’s EU Social Summit, an informal meeting of EU leaders was held in the Portugal city of Porto today, and was also attended by Prime Minister Janez Janša. At today’s meeting, the leaders concentrated on how to best ensure an inclusive recovery, with education and skills at the heart of the EU's political action. They also focused on how to create jobs and improve their quality, and on how to combat poverty and social exclusion.

Europe Day is celebrated every year on 9 May. The date marks the anniversary of the historic Schuman Declaration of 1950, in which the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented a central idea to set up transnational economic cooperation in Europe. The core motive of this proposal was to create the conditions for lasting peace and enhanced cooperation in Europe. His ideas set into motion the process of European integration and a year later, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was created, the predecessor of the European Economic Community and the European Union.

An informal meeting of the members of the European Council is taking place today in Porto, where EU leaders, including Prime Minister Janez Janša, will continue the debate launched at the Social Summit, in particular on how to give political impetus to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the Porto Social Summit, a high-level conference organised by the Portuguese presidency.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Agreement on the development of region – Cycling network Turnišče-Dobrovnik-Lendava. The EUR 477,000 cycle project that will be jointly implemented by municipalities Dobrovnik and Turnišče under the Agreement on the development of the Pomurje region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 305,000.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Agreement on the development of region – Cycling connection between Lendava, Dobrovnik and Kobilje. The EUR 1.2 million cycle project that will be implemented jointly by municipalities Lendava, Dobrovnik and Kobilje under the Agreement on the development of the Pomurje region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 490,000.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Cycling connection between school centre and industrial zone Muta and the settlements Muta, Vuzenica and Gortina. The EUR 1,1 million cycle project that will be implemented by the Slovenian Infrastructure Agency under the Agreement on the development of the Koroška region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 482,000.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar paid a visit to Austrian Carinthia on Friday, 7 May 2021. As part of the visit, he met with Governor of Carinthia Peter Kaiser and separately with the Mayor and Vice Mayor of Klagenfurt, Christian Scheider and Lojze Dolinar, respectively.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project “Arrangement of the small business zone – Phase 4”. The project worth EUR 600 thousand will be implemented by the municipality Markovci in the framework of the Agreement on the Development of the Podravje Region and will receive EUR 259 thousand of European Regional Development Fund support.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project “Drinking water supply in the Dravinja River basin – lot 4 – the Ormož area”. The project worth EUR 8.4 million will be implemented by the municipality Ormož, municipality Središče ob Dravi and municipality Sveti Tomaž in the framework of the Agreement on the Development of the Podravje Region and will receive a good EUR 4 million of Cohesion Fund support.

Yesterday, Minister of Defence Matej Tonin, MSc, attended a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers’ configuration. The main topic of the ministers' discussion was the current state of preparation of the Strategic Compass, with an emphasis on its first pillar - crisis management.

A press conference on the state of play on COVID-19 brought together Minister of Health Mr Janez Poklukar, Ms Deana Potza from Health Inspectorate and Mr Tomaž Pečjak, Deputy Director-General of the Police.

At the press conference led by the director of the Slovenian Government Communication Office, Uroš Urbanija, the decisions adopted by the government at its session yesterday were discussed by the Minister of Finance, Andrej Šircelj, and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Jože Podgoršek.

Minister for Development and EU Cohesion Policy Zvone Černač today gave opening remarks at the event Slovenian Regional Days. This year's symposium marked the 50th anniversary of regional policy in Slovenia. Minister Černač underlined that the anniversary was an important milestone offering an opportunity to reflect on past lessons and achievements in the area of regional development.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with his Polish counterpart Mariusz Kamiński earlier today as part of the preparations for the Slovenian EU Council Presidency. They discussed the priorities of the forthcoming Presidency, in particular migration.

On Friday, 7 May, Prime Minister Janez Janša will attend the Porto Social Summit. The event is organised by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union and includes a high-level conference with social partners and an informal meeting of the EU heads of state or government.

In two weeks' time, on 20 May, Slovenia and the rest of the world will celebrate World Bee Day for the fourth time. The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Bee Day on 20 December 2017 as the result of cooperation between the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association as the initiator, the Republic of Slovenia and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and as the result of the widespread European and wider international support of countries and organisations, including Apimondia (International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations).

Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with the Lithuanian Minister of the Interior, Agnë Bilotaitë, this morning in Vilnius, as part of preparations for Slovenia's presidency of the EU Council. In the afternoon, the Minister met with the Latvian Minister of the Interior, Sandis Ģirģens, in Riga.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a consultation via video conference with Carsten Grønbech-Jensen, the Danish State Secretary for European Affairs and the Arctic of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, ahead of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

The press conference on the current issues regarding the COVID-19 disease was attended by the state secretary Jelko Kacin, the national coordinator for the logistics part of the mass vaccination against COVID-19.

Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation Anita Pipan attended the audio-video conference of EU directors-general for development cooperation. There, the directors-general discussed the second set of Team Europe initiatives as well as sustainable funding.

Prime Minister Janez Janša meets Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with Minister of Defence Matej Tonin, Minister of Health Janez Poklukar and Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs at a working meeting.

The press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Nuška Čakš Jager, the deputy head of the Communicable Diseases Centre of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), and Doroteja Štruc, the head of the healthcare programme and vaccination coordinator in the vaccination centre of the Celje Community Health Centre.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan held a video conference with Slovak State Secretary Ingrid Brocková, in which he presented the priority topics of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency concerning development cooperation. They also briefly discussed regional partnership and relations with key economic powers.

Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar hosted the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Turkey, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, on an official visit.

Director-General for EU Affairs Barbara Sušnik held bilateral consultations via video conference with David Cvach, Director for European Affairs at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Savinja River basin – Municipality Laško. The EUR 4.3 million environmental infrastructure project that will be implemented by Municipality Laško under the Agreement on the development of the Savinjska region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at over EUR 2.1 million.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša exchanged views on the situation in Belarus with Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in an informal working meeting.

The press conference on the current situation regarding Covid-19 featured Mateja Logar, the head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health, with government spokesperson Maja Bratuša first presenting the epidemiological situation in the country.

Minister for Development and the EU Cohesion Policy Zvone Černač continues his visits to Slovenian municipalities. Today he met with the Mayor of the Municipality of Šmartno pri Litiji, Rajko Meserko, and the Mayor of the Municipality of Litija, Franci Rokavec.

Prime Minister Janez Janša visited the Slovenj Gradec General Hospital today, where he inspected the renovated Covid-19 department areas, which he also formally opened. He also inspected the department for diagnostics and intervention radiology, where the functioning of the angiography imaging device was presented.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project “COVID19 – IT support for making an appointment (to be vaccinated) at primary level”. The project worth EUR 1.5 million will be implemented by the Ministry of Health. Total project funding comes from the European Regional Development Fund. The project is another investment supported by React-EU under the Recovery and Resilience Facility – NextGenerationEU.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar held talks with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. He expressed solidarity, cooperation and support for the Belarusian opposition's peaceful endeavours to establish an inclusive political dialogue between the opposition and the authorities, paving the way for a renewed free and fair presidential election monitored by international electoral observers. Minister Logar went on to emphasise the importance of providing support to civil society in Belarus. He assured Ms Tsikhanouskaya that during Slovenia's EU Council Presidency, he would strive to keep Belarus high on the EU agenda.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “Community infrastructure for the Industrial Zone Šentjur South – 3”. The project worth nearly EUR 3.9 million will be implemented by municipality Šentjur in the framework of the Agreement on the Development of the Savinjska Region and will receive over EUR 2.6 million of European Regional Development Fund support.

Message by Prime Minister Janez Janša for 1 May, International Labour Day and the day celebrating St Joseph the Worker.

After the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the national Recovery and Resilience Plan on Wednesday, the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy today submitted the Plan to the European Commission. ‘The submission of the Recovery and Resilience Plan marks the conclusion of a challenging and comprehensive task. We are in the final stages and I believe that in the next three months the Plan will be approved. After a year of crisis, it is time for action, time to conclude administrative procedures and to start as quickly as possible with activities for the use of funds that will significantly contribute to mitigating the negative economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic’, said Minister Černač.

Today, Director-General for EU Affairs Barbara Sušnik held bilateral consultations with Marika Linntam, Director-General for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. They discussed bilateral relations and the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency in the second half of this year as well as current EU issues.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar hosted his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi on an official visit aimed at strengthening friendly relations and deepening political dialogue between the two countries. The visit also places great emphasis on the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency in the second half of 2021.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Toshimitsu Motegi, who is on an official visit to Slovenia. The visit is aimed at strengthening friendly relations between the two countries and deepening political dialogue.

On 14 April 2021, Prime Minister Janez Janša and the competent ministers met to coordinate the content and financial structure of the Long-Term Care Act for the first time. "Because Slovenians deserve a dignified and safe life throughout their whole live," said the Prime Minister at the first meeting. Today, the second such meeting took place to discuss the content, solutions and financial structure of the Long-Term Care Act, thus bringing Slovenians one step closer to living a dignified and safe life, regardless of their age or financial situation.

Today’s press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Janez Cigler Kralj, the head of the vaccine advisory group Dr Bojana Beovič, Deana Potza of the Health Inspectorate and Deputy General Director of Police Tomaž Pečjak.

The press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by the minister without portfolio responsible for development and European cohesion policy Zvonko Černač, State Secretary at the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy Monika Kirbiš Rojs, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology Simon Zajc and Director of the National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food Tjaša Žohar Čretnik.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša paid a working visit to Paris at the invitation of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron. This visit will contribute significantly to the deepening of the dialogue with the French Republic at the highest political level.

The Government Communication Office (UKOM) is concerned about the situation in which the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) has been placed by individual supervisors of STA and the director Bojan Veselinović. Despite calls for a new contract, with which legal financing of liabilities that STA must carry out in line with the Slovenian Press Agency Act would be ensured, Director Veselinović keeps rejecting the deal with the Government Communication Office as the representative of the founder and continues to send invoices to UKOM. Despite warnings that UKOM has no business relationship with STA as of 1 January 2021, Director Veselinović submitted the invoice for the alleged performance of public service in March to UKOM. Due to the above facts, UKOM rejected the March pay-out.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan participated in an informal video conference of the EU Foreign Affairs Council attended by EU development ministers. They discussed the future of the European financial architecture for development.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the unveiling of the memorial commemorating the 30th anniversary of the DEMOS coalition meeting at which the commitment to realise the plebiscite decision regarding the independent and sovereign Republic of Slovenia was confirmed and it was determined to accelerate the key steps in the process of Slovenian independence.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with Krum Garkov, the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) in Tallinn, Estonia, today, as part of the preparations for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The Government adopted the national Recovery and Resilience Plan and authorised Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy to submit the document to the European Commission by 30 April 2021.

Today's press conference about the current situation related to COVID-19 featured Eva Grilc, an epidemiologist of the National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ), and Aleš Rozman, the director of the University Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases and Allergies Golnik.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project “Hydraulic improvements in municipality Brežice and municipality Bistrica ob Sotli – DRR”. The project worth EUR 8 million will be implemented by municipality Brežice and municipality Bistrica ob Sotli in the framework of the Agreement on the Development of the Posavje Region and will receive a good EUR 4 million of Cohesion Fund support.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project “Reconstruction and new construction for hydraulic improvements of water supply system Mrzlek”. The project worth EUR 2.6 million will be implemented by municipality Renče-Vogrsko in the framework of the Agreement on the Development of the Goriška Region and will receive EUR 1.3 million of Cohesion Fund support.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the state ceremony at Mala gora near Ribnica to mark Slovenia's Day of Uprising against Occupation. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia took this opportunity to lay a wreath at the TIGR monument. The ceremony focused on the purity of thought and spirit expressed through the poetry by the little-known or even somewhat disregarded authors France Balantič and Lojze Grozde, as well as by the established author Karel Destovnik Kajuh.

The Minister of Public Administration, Boštjan Koritnik, delivered a video address this morning at High-level thematic debate on digital cooperation and connectivity, held by the United Nations (UN).

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “Cycling routes Gornja Radgona, Phase I”. The project implemented by municipality Gornja Radgona under the Agreement on the Development of the Pomurje Region is worth EUR 308 thousand with the European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at EUR 96 thousand.

EU Ministers responsible for agriculture met today by videoconference. Agriculture was the main item on the agenda. The key discussion revolved around some questions that remain open in tripartite negotiations on the legislative package for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, namely the elements of green architecture. They have also discussed the international trade in agricultural products and the situation on agricultural markets in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. States Secretaries Aleš Irgolič and Anton Harej attended the meeting on the part of Slovenia.

EU Ministers responsible for agriculture met today by videoconference. Agriculture was the main item on the agenda. The key discussion revolved around some questions that remain open in tripartite negotiations on the legislative package for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, namely the elements of green architecture. They have also discussed the international trade in agricultural products and the situation on agricultural markets in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. States Secretaries Aleš Irgolič and Anton Harej attended the meeting on the part of Slovenia.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a financial support decision for the “Call for proposals to co-finance the construction of new small-scale solar facilities (JR VE OVE 2021)”. The total amount available under the call for proposals is EUR 10 million with the Cohesion Fund contribution standing at EUR 5 million.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Anže Logar is hosting Ann Linde, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), on an official visit. The ministers reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation, the key priorities of the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency, and the main challenges of the Swedish OSCE Chairmanship.

Today, ten years have passed since the conclusion of the Memorandum on bilingual topographical signs, the official language and measures for cooperation with the Slovenian-speaking national community, which was signed on 26 April 2011 by representatives of the Austrian Federal Government, the Provincial Government of Carinthia and three organisations of Carinthian Slovenians in Klagenfurt.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “Equipment of Dobje Industrial Zone”. The project implemented by the municipality Dobje under the Agreement on the Development of the Savinjska Region is worth EUR 573 thousand with the European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at EUR 202 thousand.

At the 1st Session of the Strategic Council for Digitalisation (hereinafter SCD), members discussed the council’s aims, and the timeline and organisation of work. Numerous content suggestions and solutions were also presented.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the first meeting of the Strategic Council for Digitalisation. At the meeting, the members of the Strategic Council for Digitalisation spoke about the goals of the Council, the timeline and the organisation of the work. They also presented some content-related proposals.

The Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Andrej Vizjak, attended the informal videoconference of the EU environment ministers under the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU. The ministers discussed the challenges related to water management in the light of adaptation to climate change. The meeting focused on exchanging good practices and experience in tackling the challenges of water scarcity and droughts, and on improving water management at all levels.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “DRR – regional cycling connection Kamnik-Mengeš-Trzin-Ljubljana”. The project implemented by the municipality Kamnik under the Agreement on the Development of the Osrednjeslovenska Region is worth EUR 3.8 million with the European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at a little under EUR 2.5 million.

Third-country nationals should exercise the utmost caution in all dealings with companies that claim to offer assistance in obtaining Slovenian citizenship or Slovenian passports. Many websites and e-mail scams attempt to mislead individuals into believing the companies are offering to expedite citizenship or passport applications or are acting on behalf of the Slovenian authorities.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar met with European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, who visited Slovenia as part of preparations for the EU Council Presidency. They focused on the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency in the second half of this year.

Andrej Šter, Head of the Consular Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate took part in a press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “Cycling connection between settlements and neighbouring municipalities along the state road R2-438/1307 from the settlement Črnci to the settlement Vratja vas – Phase 1 and continuity”. The project implemented under the Agreement on the Development of the Pomurje Region is worth EUR 700 thousand with the European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at EUR 241 thousand.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “DRR: Establishing cycling connections in municipality Kočevje”. The project implemented by the municipality Kočevje under the Agreement on the Development of the Jugovzhodna Slovenija Region is worth EUR 4 million with the European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at a good EUR 2.5 million.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “Establishing cycling connections and pavements along the reconstruction of the Ptujska cesta road in Miklavž na Dravskem polju”. The project implemented by the municipality Miklavž na Dravskem polju under the Agreement on the Development of the Podravje Region is worth EUR 1.5 million with European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at EUR 492 thousand.

Prime Minister Janez Janša is today on a working visit to Poland. The purpose of the visit is to enhance political and economic cooperation between the countries and exchange views and positions on topical European affairs and foreign policy issues, whereby the discussions will focus on bilateral cooperation and the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project “Hydraulic improvements in the municipality Sevnica - DRR”. The project worth EUR 4.2 million will be implemented in the framework of the Agreement on the Development of the Posavje Region and will receive EUR 2.2 million of Cohesion Fund support.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “DRR – cycling connection between Železniki and Selca”. The project implemented by municipality Železniki under the Agreement on the Development of the Gorenjska Region is worth EUR 1.6 million with the European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at a little over EUR 1 million.

Reading room of the Archives is again opened for visitors. Prior to visit you are kindly asked to contact the reading room service to book an appointment. Admittance without an appointment is currently not possible.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, in Ljubljana earlier today. The meeting focused on Slovenia’s preparations for the Council Presidency in the second semester of 2021.The Minister outlined to the Commissioner the priorities in the area of home affairs. These are integrated migration management, the strengthening of the Schengen area leading to improved security in the EU and Slovenia, and the Western Balkans being a regional priority.

Today's press conference on the current situation regarding the Covid-19 epidemic featured Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs, Economic Development and Technology State Secretary Simon Zajc, head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health Mateja Logar and director of the National Institute for Public Health Milan Krek.

Mr Jernej Vrtovec, Minister of Infrastructure, attended today’s virtual meeting of EU energy ministers, in the course of which, among other things, a political discussion was held on the "Renovation Wave for Europe" strategy, focusing mainly on the opportunities offered by renovating buildings in the period of recovery from the COVID-19 epidemic.

In today's Official Journal, the European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/656 of 21 April 2021 entering a name in the register of Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (Slovenska potica), thereby protecting Slovenska potica as a traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG). The protection under the traditional speciality guaranteed does not limit the production of Slovenska potica to a specific area. It can be produced anywhere, provided that the producer holds a certificate of compliance of the production with the specification of Slovenska potica.

The publication entitled “75 Years of United Nations” is a short and interesting read providing an overview of the wide and profound range of activities undertaken by the United Nations (UN) through time.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project “Improving the level of species and habitat types preservation in the Nature Park Pivka Intermittent Lakes PIVKA.KRAS.PRESIHA”. The project worth over EUR 3 million will receive almost EUR 2.4 million of European Regional Development Fund support.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar addressed the members of the Board of Advisors of the ITF Enhancing Human Security organisation, giving an assurance that the Republic of Slovenia will continue providing financial and diplomatic support to the organisation.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with Dr Peter Gregorčič and Mr Miha Skubic from the civil initiative Enriching Education and Mr Marko Balažic from the civil initiative United Parents.

At today’s session, the Government permitted the implementation of hospitality activities such as preparing food and beverages and serving same on terraces and in the summer gardens of hospitality establishments and the provision of accommodation services at accommodation facilities of up to 30 rooms in nine statistical regions, as envisaged for the orange phase of easing of measures.

The press conference on the current situation regarding Covid-19 was attended by the Minister of Education, Science and Sport, Dr Simona Kustec, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Franc Vindišar, and Director of the National Examinations Centre, Darko Zupanc.

According to the vice-rector of the University of Maribor, Zoran Ren, the Vega supercomputer, which was officially launched at the Institute of Information Sciences in Maribor on Tuesday, places Slovenia in stride with the world's superpowers in terms of computing power, thus enabling Slovenian and European scientists to make extraordinary discoveries.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “Footbridge Lent-Tabor”. The project worth a little under EUR 4.5 million will be implemented by the Urban Municipality of Maribor and will receive EUR 2.6 million of European Regional Development Fund support.

This week, the well-known American television network CNN published on its website an article entitled The Mini Venices around Europe, describing two Slovenian cities, Piran and Koper, as being among the most atmospheric towns that were once part of the Venetian Republic.

At the invitation of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Poland, Mr Grzegorz Puda, Minister Jože Podgoršek (in the first part) and State Secretary Aleš Irgolič (in the second part) have attended the meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of the Visegrad Group extended to Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania (V4+4), which was held by videoconference. The Ministers have discussed the challenges and opportunities for agricultural holdings in light of the Farm to Fork Strategy and exchanged experience in the preparation of strategic plans for the Common Agricultural Policy.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar hosted Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio at a trilateral meeting on 21 April 2021 in Brdo pri Kranju. The ministers assessed the progress of the trilateral cooperation to date and took note of the specific proposals to enhance cooperation in the North Adriatic.

Ministrica prof. dr. Simona Kustec je danes sodelovala na novinarski konferenci, na kateri je bila podrobneje predstavljena izvedba letošnje mature.

Today in Maribor, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the inauguration ceremony of the Vega supercomputer, the largest supercomputer in Slovenia and the first EuroHPC supercomputer delivered.