News

Political consultations between Slovenia and Qatar took place today, led by Political Director/Director-General Jernej Müller on the Slovenian side. Together with Ahmad Hassen Al-Hammadi, Secretary-General of the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they focused on reviewing bilateral political and economic relations, including identifying ways to upgrade them.

Today at a working lunch, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with the delegation of US senators who are on an official visit to Slovenia.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the ceremony traditionally held for the Slovenian-American Friendship and Alliance Day.

Barbara Sušnik, Director-General for EU Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conducted regular consultations with József Magyar, Deputy State Secretary for the Development of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, via a video conference.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar travelled to Copenhagen on an official visit to meet with Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod. The visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Slovenia and Denmark, reviewing the implementation of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency priorities, and discussing topical international issues and measures to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 25 August, the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic Mr Vladimír Müller, accompanied by Mr Uroš Lampret, the State Secretary of the SVN MOD, paid a visit to the NATO MW COE.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar met a delegation of US senators visiting Slovenia for a working dinner. The delegation is led by Senator Richard Shelby from the State of Alabama, the current vice chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Slovenian representative Marjan Osvald was elected Deputy Director General of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) for the period 2022–2025 at today's elections within the framework of the 27th World Postal Congress in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Today, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan met with Dutch Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita van den Ende. The main topic of conversation was the strengthening of cooperation between Slovenia and the Netherlands in areas of common interest. In her role as Director General for European Cooperation, Deputy Minister van den Ende also held separate talks with the Director General for EU Affairs Barbara Sušnik and met with the State Secretary in the Office of the Slovenian Prime Minister Igor Senčar.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today hosted Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Evarist Bartolo on an official visit to Slovenia. The visit was aimed at deepening political and economic relations and strengthening cooperation at both the European and multilateral level between the two countries, discussing Slovenia’s potential participation in the group of Mediterranean countries, and exchanging views on other topical international issues. Their talks focused on the future of the European Union and the challenges facing the Slovenian EU Council Presidency, particularly in migration and the EU's economic recovery.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with Governor of Lower Austria Johanna Mikl-Leitner at a working lunch. The two discussed the COVID-19 situation on both sides of the border and the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

This year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia is participating for the first time as one of the partners of World Water Week, which is taking place from 23 to 27 August 2021 in Stockholm. At today’s High Level Panel on water diplomacy “Water Diplomacy: Navigating a Resilient Future”, Acting Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation Igor Jukič underlined that discussion on water in the international community requires a comprehensive, cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary, and multistakeholder approach.

Minister Anže Logar met with Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad al-Maliki in Ramallah today. Their talks centred on bilateral cooperation, the situation in Palestine and current events in the region, the European Union's cooperation with Palestine and the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Today in Ljubljana, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the international conference entitled “Illusive Reconciliation: Transitional Processes in Central and Eastern Europe in a Comparative Perspective”, organised by the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Study Centre for National Reconciliation in cooperation with the Platform of European Memory and Conscience.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar met with the Israeli Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid in Jerusalem today. They discussed bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, which has deepened and expanded into new areas in the last year. The high officials also touched upon the resilience and effective response of the international community to various crises. The talks also focused on current events in the region, EU-Israel relations and the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

In light of the chaotic situation in Afghanistan that has been going on in recent days, Europe has been intensively preparing for a potential new wave of migrants. Janez Janša, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, currently holding the presidency of the Council of the EU, wrote on social media that the European Union would not be opening European "humanitarian" or migration corridors for Afghanistan.

The Covid-19 update press conference was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Damir Orehovec, and Maja Bratuša, who opened the press conference by presenting the latest epidemiological data.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Industrial Business Zone Zalog with the Industrijska cesta road. The project implemented by Urban Municipality Ljubljana under the Agreement of the Development of the Osrednjeslovenska Region is worth EUR 5.2 million with European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at EUR 2.4 million.

Minister Anže Logar today hosted a working visit by Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria Alexander Schallenberg. The counterparts agreed that Slovenia and Austria hold a regular partnership dialogue on all bilateral, European, and international issues. The Austrian minister was accompanied by Governor of Styria Hermann Schützenhöfer.

Two weeks after deploying two firefighting teams to North Macedonia who successfully helped put out large wildfires, Slovenia today conveyed firefighting equipment to the area: firefighting backpacks, chainsaws, and fire beaters. State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Stanislav Raščan attended the dispatch at the Roje National Logistics Centre.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Preparation of the documents for stage 2 of the Third Development Axis – South, the section from the Maline access point to the international border crossing Metlika and the Črnomelj South access point. The EUR 8 million project will be implemented by the Motorway Company of the Republic of Slovenia (DARS) in the frame of the Agreement on the Development of the Jugovzhodna Slovenija Region with the European Regional Development Fund contribution standing at nearly EUR 2.2 million.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša spoke with President of the European Council Charles Michel over the phone. They discussed the latest developments and the situation in Afghanistan, the future activities of the EU Council in the light of the changing geopolitical situation, the future of Europe and the Bled Strategic Forum, as well as the agenda of the forthcoming EU-Western Balkans Summit.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan received Ambassador of Mongolia Battungalag Gankhuurai on a farewell visit at the end of her term of office at the Embassy in Vienna accredited to Slovenia.

The human race against the climate crisis clock is the theme of this year’s World Humanitarian Day, which is being marked today. To save our planet from the devastating and lasting effect of climate change, this year’s humanitarian day is dedicated to raising public awareness about humanitarian workers and their efforts aimed at alleviating the effects of climate change and about the victims who lost everything as a consequence.

Today, the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU organised an extraordinary videoconference meeting of interior ministers within the framework of the Council's crisis response mechanism (IPCR), which was chaired by Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs. The ministers expressed solidarity with the affected states - Latvia, Lithuania and Poland - and supported additional assistance to the member states at this section of the external EU border.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today attended an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers on the latest developments in Afghanistan via video conference. The focus was placed on the EU’s coordination in evacuating European citizens and local Afghan staff who supported member states and the EU during their activities in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and Minister of Finance Andrej Šircelj today met with members of the Fiscal Council. On behalf of the Fiscal Council, the meeting was attended by the President of the Fiscal Council, Dr Davorin Kračun, two members of the Fiscal Council, Alenka Jerkič and Tomaž Perše, and the head of the Fiscal Council's Analysis Service, Aleš Delakorda. The discussion focused on the public finance situation and economic policy both in Slovenia and the European Union.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Arrangement of sustainable mobility in the city centre of Urban Municipality Slovenj Gradec. The project worth EUR 1.5 million will be implemented by the Urban Municipality Slovenj Gradec and will receive EU support with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund standing at EUR 633 thousand.

Prekmurje in the heart

"Again I hear the song amid the plains", says a line in the poem by Feri Lainšček, which we read in the middle of the wonderful Prekmurje landscape which is so special, dreamlike and beautiful. A landscape that makes the poet's soul sing and sets his heart to play. It is not only the poet who feels this way but also all the people of Prekmurje, who were cut off from the Slovenian homeland for nearly 900 years. Given this historical fact it is almost unbelievable that throughout those nine long centuries, and under the influence of other nations they preserved the Slovenian language, Slovenian culture and the ideas of a unified state and of Slovenian identity. That they have stood up and remained Slovenians.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife Urška Bačovnik Janša today attended the main ceremony to mark the Day of the Unification of Prekmurje Slovenes with the Mother Nation, which took place in the castle courtyard in Beltinci.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša visited the Žale Cemetery in Ljubljana and laid a wreath at the tomb of Dr Andrej Bajuk, former prime minister, minister, and the president of the Nova Slovenija political party, marking the 10th anniversary of his death.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša and his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenković spoke on the phone about foreign policy issues. They discussed measures to protect the EU's external borders against the rising wave of illegal migrations, the need for rapid expansion of the Schengen zone, the situation in Afghanistan, and the preparations for the Bled Strategic Forum 2021.

Slovenia is introducing the Passenger Locator Form for passengers travelling by airplane and ship on 16 August to facilitate contact tracing. Every passenger will be asked to fill out his or her own form, including passengers travelling together as a family or in a group. Passengers in transit, who will remain in the airport's transit area (unless they should decide to leave the airport area for whatever reason) and airplane or ship crewmembers will not be asked to fill out the form.

The Minister of Digital Transformation, Mark Boris Andrijanič, today attended the opening of the travelling mobile classroom named Simbioza Mobiln@. It is the latest acquisition that will bring, through modern digital educational initiatives, the use of ICT tools closer to senior citizens who want to learn how to use computers and smartphones.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan attended the introductory part of the first virtual European archival symposium entitled Digital Transformation in Archival Science. Dieter Schlenker, Director of the Historical Archives of the European Union, Peter Pavel Klasinc, Head of Archival Sciences Alma Mater Europea, and Bojan Cvelfar from the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia also took part in the introductory part of the meeting.

All passengers entering Slovenia by aircraft or cruise ship will have to fill out a Digital Passenger Locator Form (electronic PLF form - dPLF) from 16 August 2021 before entering the country.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Revitalising part of the coastal area between the outfall of the Badaševica and Žusterna. The project worth EUR 4.5 million will be implemented by Urban Municipality Koper under the Sustainable Urban Strategy of Koper and will receive EU support with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 616 thousand.

Yesterday, in an audio-video conference, the Minister of Digital Transformation Mark Boris Andrijanič met with the Microsoft's regional representatives for services from Central and Eastern Europe. The topic of the conversation was the search for solutions in the field of improving digital skills in the Republic of Slovenia and the use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. These will make it possible to simplify the user experience of citizens in the near future.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan held a video conference with the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Carmen Moreno.

The following is an interview with Prime Minister Janez Janša for the Polish news agency PAP. In the interview, the Prime Minister spoke about the situation in the judiciary, the fact that he was a political prisoner twice, the second time during democracy, the reform of judicial legislation, the need for self-reflection of the judiciary, respect for EU law and the future of the EU.

Japan-Slovenia Relations

Call for Designs Japan - Slovenia 30th Anniversary Logo

Acting as Minister for Development Cooperation, State Secretary Dr. Stanislav Raščan held a telephone conversation with Martin Jäger, the German State Secretary of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

State Secretary Dr. Raščan addressed young people at the 94th International Session of the European Youth Parliament organised by the European Youth Parliament of Slovenia and taking place in Slovenia for the first time between 31 July and 8 August 2021.

On March 7, 1946, members of the Inter-Allied Boundary Commission arrived to Trieste to compile a report and to suggest the drawing of the state border between Yugoslavia and Italy. On March 11, 1946, the commission received the representatives of the Regional National Liberation Committee for the Slovenian Littoral and Trieste and was presented with their memorandum. The memorandum consisted of three parts, all aimed to justify the necessity for the entire Julian March and Trieste to be assigned to Yugoslavia.

The Government Information Security Office, which succeeded the Information Security Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, was established on 20 July 2021 and became operational on 31 July 2021. The Government Information Security Office is the competent national authority in the field of information and cyber security.

State Secretary Dr. Stanislav Raščan attended on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the 105th commemoration at the Russian Chapel below the Vršič Pass.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food has issued an open call to citizens, legal persons or other organisations for identification of the candidates for the 2021 Golden Bee Award.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan today received Vice-President of the French National Assembly Laëtitia Saint-Paul, who is visiting Slovenia together with Sabine Thillaye, the Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly.

Minister of Education, Science and Sport Simona Kustec attended the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Tokyo as Slovenia's representative and the chair of the EU Sport Council.

Today in Brussels, EU finance ministers approved the second batch of national recovery and resilience plans, including Slovenia’s. Minister without portfolio responsible for development and EU cohesion policy Zvonko Černač remarked that there is not much time to realise the investments and reforms, so it will be essential that stakeholders cooperate well and make compromises.

Today The Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Sport dr. Kustec spoke to the Sankei Newspaper in Tokyo.

The Ministry of Finance, Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Recovery and Resilience Slovenia’s Recovery and Resilience Plan was today given the green light in an informal videoconference of economy and finance ministers.

At today's informal video conference, chaired by Minister of Finance Andrej Šircelj, EU finance and economy ministers confirmed the positive assessment for the second batch of national recovery and resilience plans.

Minister of Digital Transformation Mark Boris Andrijanič today had a meeting with President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor.

Upon the invitation of Alok Sharma, President of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention (COP26), Slovenia’s Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning Andrej Vizjak is attending a two-day ministerial meeting which is to prepare and help align the positions of different regional groups and Parties to the Paris Agreement prior to the meeting of Parties in November in Glasgow.

On 25 July 2021 The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo hosted a reception in honour of three Slovenian cyclists, Tadej Pogačar, Jan Polanc and Jan Tratnik, who participated in the road cycling race at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the presence of the Minister of Education, Science and Sport, Dr Kustec, the President of the Slovenian Olympic Committee, Mr Gabrovec, and the Head of the Slovenian National Team, Mr Cerar.

At its meeting by correspondence, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued the Ordinance temporarily restricting the offering and sale of goods and services to consumers in the Republic of Slovenia, which will be in force from 26 July to 1 August 2021 inclusive, and will publish it in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for an additional call for proposals for co-financing social activation projects. The call for proposals worth EUR 893 thousand will be implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and will receive EU support with the contribution from the European Social Fund standing at a little under EUR 715 thousand.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan, President of the EU’s General Affairs Council, hosted an informal meeting of European Affairs ministers at Brdo pri Kranju today. At an informal discussion on strengthening the Union’s resilience, ministers supported the efforts of the Slovenian Presidency towards a more comprehensive response to crises.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment – Municipality Hajdina. The EUR 1.1 million wastewater infrastructure project that will be implemented by Municipality Hajdina under the Agreement on the development of the Podravje region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund amounting to EUR 446 thousand.

At its 87th regular session, the Slovenian Government issued the Ordinance on the establishment and competences of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Digital Transformation.

At today's meeting, the Government extended the validity of most ordinances related to COVID-19, requiring organisers of events, gatherings and sports competitions, providers of services and goods in the field of drivers and vehicles in Slovenia, and cableway operators and associated ski slopes to verify whether participants meet the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule. Cross-border migrant workers residing within 10 kilometres of the border with a neighbouring country were added to the exceptions for entering Slovenia without going into quarantine and without meeting the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule. The Government also founded the Government Office for Digital Transformation.

At the end of April 2021, Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy approved EU funding for the project Hydraulic improvements in the Municipality Sevnica – Agreement on the Development of Regions. Today, the Municipality signed the project contract with the selected contractor. At the invitation of the Mayor of Municipality Sevnica Srečko Ocvirk, State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs delivered an address online.

On the second day of the informal meeting of EU environment and climate change ministers in Slovenia, discussions addressed the new proposal of global targets for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The ministers also discussed the challenges of jointly strengthening pollinator protection and setting up an EU-wide pollinator monitoring framework.

Minister Dikaučič said that the existing rules cannot provide answers to all the challenges brought by artificial intelligence, which is why it is necessary to take further steps in the creation of a legal framework. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia hosted a virtual event focusing on the effective protection of fundamental rights regarding artificial intelligence in Europe and beyond.

Slovenia hosted an informal meeting of environment and climate change ministers. For the first time, they exchanged views on the vital legislative package "Fit for 55", which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. In the afternoon, the ministers exchanged views on the COP26 International Climate Change Conference to be held in Glasgow in November.

The European Commission today published its second annual Rule of Law Report within the European Rule of Law Mechanism set up in 2020. The report aims to elevate the understanding of the founding values and promote the rule of law culture, thereby strengthening this principle in the European Union as a whole.

The Ministry of Infrastructure issued an energy permit for the JEK2 project, based on the adoption of Slovenia's Long-Term Climate Strategy and the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (NEPN), which clears the way for the implementation of administrative procedures and preparation of documentation for investment decision-making on JEK2 (the second nuclear reactor unit in Krško), providing a necessary basis for the final decision on the optimal energy scenario for the future supply of low-carbon Slovenia.

The Communication Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia (UKOM) has sent the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) the final version of the public service contract.

Today's press conference on the current situation regarding COVID 19 was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar and the Director of the National Institute of Public Health, Milan Krek.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar attended a follow-up meeting of foreign affairs ministers of the Central 5 (C5) countries, i.e. Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Expansion of the Ormož business-economic zone. The EUR 2.22 million project will be implemented by Municipality Ormož under the Agreement on the development of the Podravje region and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 1.48 million.

At the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, headed by Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek, ministers discussed items on the agriculture agenda. They unanimously adopted the Council conclusions on the action plan for the development of organic agriculture, which stress the awareness of member states of the importance of organic farming in ensuring the sustainability of future European agriculture and food production. As regards the "End the Cage Age" European Citizens’ Initiative, the Council supported activities aimed at promoting animal welfare.

On 19 July 2021, Minister of Education, Science and Sport Dr Simona Kustec hosted a full-day informal meeting of ministers responsible for research at Brdo pri Kranju.

Today, the Executive Board agreed to allocate more seats in the Conference Plenary to regional and local elected representatives, as well as to social partners.

Minister of Defence Mag. Today, Matej Tonin addressed Chairpersons of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union. The event was organised within the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the Minister addressed the topic of cyber security and the resilience of critical infrastructure.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Lucija agglomeration – Agreement on the Development of Regions. The EUR 2.36 million wastewater infrastructure project that Municipality Piran will implement under the Agreement on the Development of the Obalno-kraška Region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund amounting to almost EUR 843 thousand.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Municipality Sevnica – Agreement on the Development of Regions. The EUR 967 thousand wastewater infrastructure project which Municipality Sevnica will implement under the Agreement on the Development of the Posavje Region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund amounting to almost EUR 466 thousand.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar attended a virtual Conference of Presidents of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union. The meeting was organised by the National Assembly Committee on EU Affairs and the National Council Commission for International Relations and European Affairs, as part of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife Urška Bačovnik spoke about various topics in an exclusive interview for Prijatelji Radia Ognjišče (Friends of Ognjišče Radio) magazine.

Margaritis Schinas, the European Commission vice-president and Commissioner for Promoting the European Way of Life and the Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed a letter to the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach proposing that when the Slovenian team arrives in the parade of nations at the official opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympics, in additional to the Slovenian national flag, it also carries the flag of the European Union.

International Criminal Justice Day is celebrated on 17 July. On that day 23 years ago, the Rome Statute, one of the core pillars of international criminal justice, was adopted.

In accordance with Council Recommendation 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of this restriction, including amendments thereto, the Republic of Slovenia allows entry into the Republic of Slovenia for non-essential travel as well. The information has been updated according to entry conditions applicable as of 15 July 2021.

An informal meeting of Defence Policy Directors took place at Bled today as part of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. In cooperation with the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Directors continued their dialogue on the Strategic Compass with a special emphasis on resilience.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today attended the 80th extraordinary session of the National Assembly, where he provided additional explanation to his proposal to appoint Mark Boris Andrijanič as Minister without portfolio for digital transformation.

From 17 to 22 July, Ljubljana will host the International Choir festival Europa Cantat 2021, which will be held in hybrid form due to the COVID-19 pandemic – with events online and live. The festive opening of the festival will take place on Saturday, 17 July at 21 pm in Cankarjev dom with a musical spectacle directed by Matej Filipčič. The audience will be addressed by the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, who is also the honorary patron of the festival, and the Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti. The event will be broadcast live by TV Slovenija 1 and ARS, Radio Slovenia third channel.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Renovation of the Bus Station in Koper. The project worth a little under EUR 2.5 million and implemented by the Urban Municipality Koper will receive a good EUR 900 thousand of Cohesion Fund support.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, who is in Slovenia on an official visit. Mr Janša and Dr Kluge focused on issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, the vaccination strategy and the measures to limit and contain the spread of the virus.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with former Italian Prime Minister, multi-term European Commissioner and President of the WHO Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development Mario Monti. Mr Janša and Mr Monti discussed current affairs, especially economy and finance, and the health situation in Europe.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan held a meeting with Franck Riester, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness. In addition to a general overview of bilateral cooperation, their talks covered investment opportunities in Slovenia, nuclear energy, space, tourism, air connections, automotive industry and digitalisation. The two high officials also discussed the strategic autonomy and economic diplomacy of the European Union.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Footbridge and Bike Path – Irča vas. The project worth a little under EUR 1.76 million will be implemented by the Urban Municipality Novo mesto and will receive EUR 745 thousand of Cohesion Fund support.

During her three-day working visit to Brussels at the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), Minister Simona Kustec declared: “We will work towards the European vision of knowledge, education and research for a green and digital future.”

At today's press conference held in Ljubljana Prime Minister Janez Janša and Deputy Prime Ministers Zdravko Počivalšek and Matej Tonin discussed the current epidemiological situation and other current topics.

The Ministers of the Interior met for an informal meeting hosted by Slovenian Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs at the Brdo Congress Centre and demonstrated political will in favour of gradual progress in the formulation of the common EU Migration Policy.

At today's press conference in Ljubljana, Prime Minister Janez Janša and Deputy Prime Ministers Zdravko Počivalšek and Matej Tonin discussed the current epidemiological situation and other current topics.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan gave a speech on the Future of Transatlantic Relations – Priorities for Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, organised by the Centre for European Perspective and the European Centre for International Political Economy.

Today, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan received Hungary’s Minister of Justice Judit Varga, who is also in charge of coordination of EU affairs. Minister Varga is in Slovenia to attend the informal meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, which is taking place on 15 and 16 July 2021 in Brdo pri Kranju.

In the meetings of the Committees of the European Parliament, competent for purports within the scope of work of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, the Minister Jože Podgoršek presented the sectoral programme and the priority tasks of the Slovenian Presidency. These fall within the scope of “Resilience, recovery and strategic autonomy of the EU”, focusing on strategic significance of food security within the EU and sustainable agriculture (care for rural areas) and forestry. In fisheries, priority tasks arise from the significance of conservation of coastal communities and of tradition of sustainable fishing.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša today took part in a video conference with the US think tank CEPA. The mission of the Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) is to ensure a strong and enduring transatlantic alliance rooted in democratic values and principles with a strategic vision. Through research, analyses and programmes it provides a new insight into energy, security and defence issues.