Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob hosted Milena Zupančič at a lunch and congratulated her on the Metod Badjura Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cinema, which she received at this year’s Festival of Slovenian Film.

The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from 6 to 18 November. The aim of the conference is to re-energise the global ambition to scale up climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts and to mobilise adequate financing for climate action.

Yesterday and today, Danijel Bešič Loredan, the Minister of Health, is on a working visit to Brussels, during which he met the representatives of the European institutions.

State Secretary Marko Štucin paid a bilateral visit to Budapest during which he met Minister of Justice of Hungary Dr Judit Varga, State Secretary for EU Affairs at the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Justice Dr János Bóka and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Levente Magyar.

Data from the latest European Patent Office survey highlights the gender gap in innovation, with women accounting for only 13.2% of European inventors listed in patent applications. At 17.4%, Slovenia ranks slightly above the European average.

At the sessions of both government committees, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the decision to increase the scope of funds available in the Slovenian Regional Development Fund, opened new budget items to mitigate the consequences of price increases, agreed to the amendments to the proposed Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act and integrated several projects in the applicable Plan of Development Programmes for the 2022–2025 Period.

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob visited Iskraemeco, a global technological company in Kranj, which offers smart solutions in energy and water management.

Matjaž Han, the Minister of Economic Development and Technology, received the delegation of the Republic of Korea led by the Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea, Park Byeong-Seug. The meeting was intended to enhance economic cooperation between the countries and introduce the candidature of the Republic of Korea to organise World Expo 2030 in Busan.

On 11 October 2022, the Republic of Austria announced to the European Commission, the Parliament and the Member States that it would extend the border control at the internal Schengen border with Slovenia for the period from 12 November 2022 to 11 May 2023. The reasons cited include an increase in migration flows, including due to visa policies in the Western Balkans, and an increase in secondary migration due to the current situation at the EU's external border, as well as due to the activities of organised groups of smugglers.

The new issue of the News from Nuclear Slovenia is published.

State Secretary Marko Štucin took part in the Ministerial Meeting of the Central European Initiative hosted by the Bulgarian CEI Presidency in Sofia. The meeting focused on Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and the broader consequences of the war, which is having a profound negative impact on all CEI Member States. The ministers and state secretaries expressed their continued support for Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon met with Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea Park Byeong-seug. The meeting was devoted to discussions on ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Korea.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon met with representatives of the Slovenian national community in Austria as part of her regular contacts with Slovenians abroad. The discussion focused on outstanding issues concerning the situation of the Slovenian national community in Austria.

At today's correspondence meeting, the government amended the draft state budget for 2024, which provides additional funds for investments in road and sports infrastructure, while leaving total revenue and expenditure unchanged. It also adopted its position on the updating of the Energy Charter Treaty.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon met with representatives of the Slovenian national community in Italy. The meeting, which was aimed at exchanging views on current issues concerning the situation of the Slovenian national community in Italy, is part of the Minister’s regular dialogue with Slovenians living abroad.

At the end of October, the Government Office for Digital Transformation started implementing three projects intended to raise the level of digital competences among the young and older generations. The projects implemented together with partner organisations focused on primary and secondary school students and older residents of rural areas of Slovenia.

According to preliminary data, the state budget recorded approximately EUR 10.3 billion in revenue in the first ten months of the year, which is EUR 1.3 billion or 14.2% more than in the same period last year. Expenditure decreased by EUR 779 million or 7.3% year-on-year to approximately EUR 10.6 billion, with the budget recording a total deficit of approximately EUR 283 million in the first ten months.

During his visit to Japan from 26 to 31 October 2022, Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič met with Secretary of State Takahiro Inoue, with whom he discussed further cooperation between the two countries on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Slovenia and Japan.

Minister of Culture Asta Vrečko today paid a visit to the region of Kozjansko. As part of the visit, the minister and the mayors of the municipalities of Šmarje pri Jelšah, Podčetrtek and Kozje signed contracts on the co-funding of castle renovation projects worth more than EUR 3.6 million, which are included in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).

In Montevideo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon met with Carolina Ache Batlle, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. During their talks, the two high officials expressed interest in strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Nominations related to the traditions of Lipizzan horse breeding and beekeeping in Slovenia have received a positive assessment by the Evaluation Body of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A decision on inscription on the list will be made at the end of November.

We, Slovenians, are who we are because of our language. Without the Slovenian language, there would be no Slovenians. Without it, there would be no Slovenia. We celebrate Reformation Day to remind ourselves that the standard Slovenian language is the foundation of our statehood. And we owe this, above all, to Primož Trubar, the Protestant priest from Rašica, who founded our language with the first Slovenian book, the Catechism (Katekizem), and the Abecedarium (Abecednik), which was dedicated »to all young and ordinary people«.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon met Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Argentine Republic Santiago Cafiero in Buenos Aires. They discussed the strengthening and development of bilateral relations, cooperation in the framework of international organisations, topical global and regional issues and the strengthening of relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Due to the Reformation day the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia will be closed on 31 October.

Transgender persons are no longer to be exposed to involuntary disclosure of transgender identity in the local environment.

On October 21, 2022, the Office for Slovenes Abroad published a Public Tender for tender area B in 2023 - financial support for Slovenes around the world.

At today’s meeting by correspondence, the Government adopted the amended Decree on the salaries and other earnings of public employees working abroad and the amended Decree on salaries and other remuneration of service members of the Slovenian Armed Forces deployed abroad. The Government also adopted the opinion opposing the proposal for a consultative referendum on amending the Personal Income Tax Act.

European Commission endorsed today the Slovenian 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan (SN SKP 2023–2027). This is the key agricultural policy strategic document, on which basis in the next programming period Slovenia is going to provide for long-term food security, green breakthrough, sustainable development of Slovenian agriculture, forestry, food industry, and sustainable rural development.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today visited the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the country's largest power plant. As the Prime Minister pointed out after visiting the worksite – the Krško NPP is undergoing an overhaul – the Krško NPP is the first nuclear power plant in Europe to complete a 10-year investment cycle on this scale, following the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.

The Government’s main guiding principle when adopting a series of measures against price increases is concern for everyone. The Government is aware that swift and decisive action is required at this time of high energy costs resulting from the economic recovery after the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Due to distorted price fluctuations in energy markets, the Ministry of Finance advocates for decisive action and all the enforceable measures in the field of financial markets by means of which regulated trading would be ensured in the event of stressful conditions in the market. On this note, we commend the fact that our ideas are also reflected in the proposals of the European Commission.

Between 25 and 26 October 2022, the 15th European Platform for Roma Inclusion took place in Prague. The event was attended by mag. Stanko Baluh, the Director of the Government Office for National Minorities, and two of his colleagues, as the Office also performs the tasks of the national Roma contact point.

Today, the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy officially submitted Slovenia's Cohesion Policy Programme for the period 2021-2027 to the European Commission. ''Today marks the close of an important chapter for our Government. Now, we need to make sure that the projects are up and running as soon as possible,'' said Minister Jevšek.

From 4 to 20 November, Celje and Ljubljana will be hosting the largest women’s sports event in Slovenia since the country gained its independence, together with Skopje and Podgorica – the 15th European Women’s Handball Championship.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved a little under €2.2 million in EU funding for a call for proposals for 2023 for providing integrated services to potential entrepreneurs and companies through supported institutions.

The second day of this year's edition of Slovenian Regional Days in Ptuj featured Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Matjaž Han, and Minister for Development and European Cohesion Policy, dr Aleksander Jevšek.

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob today met Marijan Papež, general director of the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute, and Janez Sušnik, president of the Slovenian Federation of Pensioners’ Associations (ZDUS).

The cross-border project Right Profession and the Interreg Programme Slovenia-Hungary received a special award of the European Commission at the Interreg SLAM 2022 contest. Live performances of short-listed finalists and the award ceremony took place in Brussels today.

Minister Tanja Fajon attended the third meeting of foreign ministers of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Buenos Aires. Ministers stressed the importance of regular high-level dialogue between the EU and CELAC, and discussed matters ranging from innovations, climate change, digitalisation and security to the strengthening of democracy, the protection of human rights, and sustainable development in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In today’s session, the Government adopted the draft Act defining urgent measures to increase the income of pensioners and limit the rise in social security costs, and amended the Decree determining the price of natural gas from the system. It also issued a Decree concerning the legal succession of the Bank Asset Management Company and was briefed on the negotiating position concerning the determination and alignment of the minimum wage.

Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob received an invitation on Monday, 24 October 2022 to take part in TV Slovenija’s Tarča programme.

We hereby publish the Slovenian Government’s response to a public letter from NGOs concerning the resolution of the housing issue.

The Republic of Croatia joining the Schengen Area is supported in principle by the Republic of Slovenia and is in our common European interest.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government agreed with the proposed amendments to the draft Urgent measures to prevent the spread and mitigate the consequences of the infectious disease COVID-19 in healthcare Act.

On 25 October 2022, a joint event of the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office and the Boards of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) was held in Ljubljana, for intellectual property (IP) attorneys, judges and other IP professionals.

Minister for Development and European Cohesion Policy dr Aleksander Jevšek attended a session of the Development Council of the Posavje Region at the Sevnica Castle. The discussion with the mayors of the Posavje region mainly focused on EU funding options under the next programming period.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar, together with the newly appointed Honorary Consul of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Tetsuji Shindo, and senior representatives of national, regional and local authorities, addressed the participants at the opening ceremony of the Consulate of the Republic of Slovenia in Fukui, Japan. The Consulate will be headed by Mr Shindo. During his visit, he also participated in a business seminar on IT solutions and space technologies.

"Radioactive waste in Slovenia is stored safely and is under supervision. It is not used for making of any dirty bombs".
Sandi Viršek, Director, Slovenian Radioactive Waste Management Agency (ARAO)

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with the President of the People's National Assembly of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Ibrahim Boughali, who is on an official visit to Slovenia. The meeting focused on energy cooperation and the establishment of strategic cooperation between the two countries, which share a historical friendship.

On 19 and 20 October 2022, Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration hosted the 24th meeting of the Working Group on Emergencies (WGE) established by the Heads of European Radiological Protection Competent Authorities (HERCA).

Today, the Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob, held a consultation with the representatives of coalition and opposition parties and the leaders of deputy groups regarding possible amendments to the electoral legislation and other constitutional amendments for which suitable political will exists during this term of office. It was determined that the five parties could agree on certain issues.

At the invitation of Prof. Dr Franz Schausberger, former Landeshauptmann (Governor) of Salzburg, State Secretary Marko Štucin took part in a debate as part of the 18th Salzburg Europe Summit taking place on 23–25 October 2022 in Salzburg under the title "Visions for Europe: Expectations and Reality".

The election of the President of the Republic of Slovenia took place on Sunday, 23 October. The Government Communication Office participated in organising the event.

At the invitation of the Austrian Patent Office, a bilateral visit to Vienna took place on 20 October 2022, where we explored opportunities for mutual cooperation, exchanged examples of good practice and views on current developments in the field of intellectual property rights.

The ratings agency Moody's confirmed Slovenia’s credit rating as A3 and maintained its outlook at stable on Friday, 21 October 2022.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the European Council meeting held in Brussels on 20 and 21 October.

At the invitation of German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon took part in the Foreign Ministers’ meeting of the Berlin Process. The focus was on energy security, the green agenda, the Common Regional Market, reconciliation in the region, and a positive perspective for young people in the Western Balkans.

One year after the confirmation of Slovenia’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Representation of the European Commission in Slovenia, the Slovenian Recovery and Resilience Office, and the Ministry of Infrastructure together with the Slovenian Infrastructure Agency, held the plan’s first annual event, entitled On the Road to a Green Transition. In the morning, the conference participants discussed sustainable mobility and effective energy use, while in the afternoon they had a look at the first results of the project to upgrade the Ljubljana-Divača railway line, which is being financed as part of the plan. The event was also attended by the Head of the Recovery and Resilience Task Force at the European Commission, Céline Gauer, the Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič, and Minister of Infrastructure Bojan Kumer.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar addressed the participants at the opening ceremony of the Consulate of the Republic of Slovenia in Fukui, Japan, along with Honorary Consul of the Republic of Slovenia Tetsuji Shindo and senior representatives of national, regional and local authorities. During his visit, the State Secretary participated in a business seminar on IT solutions and space technologies.

In recent months Slovenia has called upon the European Commission and partner countries in the Western Balkans several times to align the visa regimes of countries in the region – especially Serbia – with the EU visa policy. Large numbers of illegal border crossings are now being made by nationals of third countries who have not been part of previous migration flows. These are above all being made by citizens of India, Burundi and Cuba, who entered Serbia legally and then illegally entered EU countries, including Slovenia.

Images from today's last event, dancing to the sounds of the Eddy Rodick Orchestra, organized by the Cleveland- style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum in the now already sold Slovenian Society Home in Euclid/Recher Hall, which will close its doors on October 24.

At today's correspondence session the Government adopted the draft Prevention Of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act, and agreed with the proposed amendments to the draft Slovenian Sovereign Holding Company Act. It also adopted amendments to the Act governing the foundation of Slovenski državni gozdovi d.o.o. (SiDG).

State Secretary Dr Branko Lobnikar attended a Berlin Process meeting of interior ministers, hosted by German Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser in Berlin.

As announced yesterday by the Minister of Finance, Klemen Boštjančič, at the press conference following the session of the Government, the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Recovery and Resilience, a body within the Ministry of Finance, today forwarded to the European Commission a request for the payment of the first instalment of grants from the European Resilience and Recovery Facility.

"I am exceptionally pleased to be here on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and the Republic of Slovenia to announce Slovenia as the next Guest of Honour here at the Frankfurt Book Fair," said Minister of Culture, Dr Asta Vrečko, on today’s occasion of Slovenia’s official announcement as the Guest of Honour. The official acceptance of the title will be on Sunday, 23 October.

Before filing its first request for the payment of Recovery and Resilience Facility grants, the Government was briefed on the report on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The Government was briefed on points of departure for the preparation of intervention measures to limit the rise in retirement home fees, and the early pension increase. It also laid down the draft text of the Whistleblower Protection Act, and was briefed on the report on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

On 18th October 2022 a panel discussion took place in Zagreb, Croatia, within the European project Safe and Equal in EMErgencies –“SEE ME”.

Today, Slovakia hosted the Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon took part in the event, where she underlined the importance of enhancing cooperation between all countries and regions and of involving young people in the Strategy.

As part of his visit to Japan, State Secretary Samuel Žbogar held political consultations with Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada and Director-General Masashi Nakagome. During the talks, the two sides discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation between Slovenia and Japan, talked about EU-Japan relations and exchanged views on the situation in the two regions.

On 18th ob October 2022, within the european project Safe and Equal in EMErgencies - ˝SEE ME" panel discussion took place in Zagreb, Croatia.

"The adoption of the amended Family Code places Slovenia alongside tolerant and inclusive European countries such as Austria, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Scandinavian countries that are open to all members of society.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon paid an official visit to Skopje and met with Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani. They discussed the excellent bilateral relations between their two countries and Slovenia's continued support for North Macedonia's European path.

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the regular meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Luxembourg, which focused on the preparations for the October European Council, the follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe, the state of the rule of law in Poland and the European Commission's report on the enforcement of EU law.

More than EUR 1 million in incentives to the economy for nearly zero-energy buildings

Today, we celebrated Plecnik's year 2022 with the opening of the exhibition "Plecnik's Ljubljana" of the Museum of Architecture and Design Ljubljana at the Cleveland Public Library - as part of the Cleveland Sister Cities Conference.

In Luxembourg, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon attended the regular meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, chaired by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. The main topics on the agenda were the Russian aggression against Ukraine and relations with China.

The Minister, Ms. Irena Šinko, participated today in the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting. The EU Ministers exchanged information on conditions in agricultural markets in particular due to the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine.

The plenary part of the 68th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which will take place until 21 October 2022, this year under Slovenia's chairmanship, has started. High-level participants, including a number of delegates from the Contracting Governments and representatives of non-governmental delegations, were addressed by State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Samuel Žbogar, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning Uroš Brežan, and Mayor of the Municipality of Piran Đenjo Zadković.

On 18 October this year, European Anti-Trafficking Day, the National Working Group on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings focuses on raising awareness about the exposure to trafficking in human beings of people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The Minister Irena Šinko, participated today in the ‘For Forests Group’ meeting. The Member State Ministers, cooperating in the Group, signed the Guidelines and principles on closer cooperation in forestry within the European Union. The meeting was held in the margins of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting.

The Minister of Defence of the Republic of North Macedonia, Slavjanka Petrovska, is paying a two-day official visit to Slovenia at the invitation of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, Marjan Šarec. Her visit is a continuation of the meetings at the highest political levels between the two friendly countries, and an opportunity to further strengthen the cooperation between Slovenia and the Republic of North Macedonia in the field of defence and military affairs.

At the upcoming Cleveland Sister Cities Conference 2022 (October 18-20), Ljubljana, a long-time partner of Cleveland, will present itself during several events.

Today we started setting up the exhibition about Plecnik´s Ljubljana.

Klemen Boštjančič, the finance minister, has attended the annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank Group, which took place from 11 to 15 October 2022 in Washington. The primary focus of the discussions was on developments in the global economy and on the international financial markets, the consequences of the war in Ukraine, the food and energy crisis, and possible responses.

Prime Minister Robert Golob addressed attendants at the official opening of Intra Lighting's new factory today, 14 October 2022. The company, which is active in sixty-five countries worldwide, has moved from Mirna to its new premises in Šempeter pri Gorici. The construction of the new, sophisticated factory followed the policy for green transformation that is friendly both to the environment and the community.

Following the adoption of the Healthcare Emergency Measures Act in the summer, a rulebook and two additional decrees to help stabilise the healthcare system and shorten waiting times are due to be published today.

At today's correspondence session, the Government adopted an opinion on the request for a reconsideration of the amendments to the Family Code and proposes that the National Assembly adopt the law in the reconsideration. It also concluded that the proposer's request to suspend two articles of the Decree amending the Decree on Packaging and Packaging Waste Handling is unfounded.

Uroš Brežan, minister of the environment and spatial planning, today made a field visit to Vintgar Gorge together with the mayor of Gorje, and also met the mayors and other representatives of the municipalities of Bled, Bohinj, Jesenice, Kranjska Gora, Bovec and Kobarid, and those responsible for managing natural resources in Triglav National Park (TNP).

Interior minister Tatjana Bobnar attended the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.

The ministry has received the final report on research into the minimum cost of living. Before determining the size of the adjustment to the minimum wage, and drawing up the basis for raising the minimum basic income, we will coordinate with the government and the social partners. The latter were today briefed on the report within the framework of the Economic and Social Council.

The Naša Super Hrana website published the results of the third survey of basic food products from 10 October 2022. According to this insight into price developments in the consumer food basket, and additional analysis, products of Slovenian origin prevail at all food retailers included in the survey.

The purpose of the Decree on the criteria to define and assess the number of households in energy poverty is to contribute to a high-quality planning and implementing of energy and social policy in the field of energy poverty.

At today’s meeting by correspondence, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the amended Organisation and Financing of Education Act and the amended Public Sector Salary System Act.

The Government and public sector unions signed the Agreement regulating measures relating to salaries and other labour costs in the public sector for 2022 and 2023. The Agreement will increase salaries and meals allowance of public sector employees, including the adjustment of annual holiday pay for those working in salary grade 50 and below.

The Government adopted the Decree on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. The Decree governs individual objectives and measures for certain plastic products and waste generated from these products.

At the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, the ministers of justice discussed current activities regarding war crimes in Ukraine. Minister Dr Dominika Švarc Pipan condemned Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, especially the attacks on civilians.

At today’s session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the draft act on emergency actions to contain the spread and mitigate the consequences of the infectious COVID-19 disease in healthcare and submitted it to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia to be discussed in an urgent procedure. After the Government’s session, Minister of Health Danijel Bešič Loredan stated that the draft act "sets the legal bases for COVID-19 to become an endemic disease by spring."

Slovenian Press Agency journalist Luka Tetičkovič spoke to Slovenian Defence Minister Marjan Šarec about the defence budget, investments in the defence sector, the manning levels in the Slovenian Armed Forces, and the planned changes in the protection and disaster relief system. We are hereby providing a summary of the interview, published by the Slovenian Press Agency on Wednesday, 12 October.

At today’s meeting, the Government adopted a proposal for the Act on Healthcare Emergency Measures to Contain the Spread of the Covid-19 Communicable Disease and Mitigate its Consequences, and issued a Decree on the criteria for determining and assessing the number of households in energy poverty. The Government also took note of the proposal for the Agreement on measures relating to salaries and other labour costs in the public sector for 2022 and 2023.

Marjan Šarec, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, attended the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence in Brussels. The war in Ukraine, strengthening the deterrence and defence of the Alliance, investing in defence and incentives to increase stocks of military equipment and industrial capacities were at the forefront of the ministers’ discussions. On the margins of the meeting, Minister Šarec signed a declaration on strengthening bilateral cooperation with Christine Lambrecht, the German Federal Minister of Defence.