News

A new book entitled International Humanitarian Law has been added to the International Law Series, published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Faculty of Social Science of the University of Ljubljana. The newest addition to the series features a collection of papers by 21 authors discussing war and the related ethical, moral and legal issues, and international humanitarian law and related issues, as well as Slovenia's views and positions on this topic. The publication also includes references to older Slovenian literature on the law of war, including Professor Ivan Tomšič’s book on the law of war, the first Slovenian book on the subject.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar attended a virtual meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia, which form the unofficial regional group Central5. The ministers focused on COVID-19 coordination, especially the cross-border movement of persons, goods, and services.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a financial support decision for the project “Infrastructural modernisation of the craft and industrial zone Nasipi”. The project worth over EUR 2.8 million will be implemented by the Municipality of Trbovlje and will receive nearly EUR 1.74 million of European Regional Development Fund support.

The Slovenian Government took note of the assessment carried out by the expert group for the containment and control of the COVID-19 epidemic at the Ministry of Health as regards the expert justification of measures for the containment and control of COVID-19, and decided to extend the measures and restrictions under the ordinances.

The press conference on the current COVID-19 situation was attended by the Minister of Education, Science and Sport, Simona Kustec, the Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Ajda Cuderman, and the Government's spokesperson, Jelko Kacin.

Today, the Director-General for EU Affairs, Barbara Sušnik, held bilateral consultations with the Director-General for EU Affairs at the Portuguese Foreign Ministry, Rui Vinhas. Due to the current situation related to the pandemic, consultations were held via videoconferencing. The topics of discussion covered bilateral relations, current European issues and preparations for the EU Council presidency. The two countries are participating in the current trio of presidencies together with Germany.

At a time when Slovenia is once again facing an epidemic, the importance of local self-sufficiency and short supply chains is particularly highlighted. Every third Friday in November we celebrate Slovenian Food Day, in whose context the Traditional Slovenian Breakfast project, consisting of locally produced and processed foods, will be carried out this year for the tenth consecutive year.

Today, State Secretary Tone Kajzer took part in the 130th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which on this occasion was held in a virtual format, under the auspices of the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.

As part of the ongoing preparations for Slovenia’s Presidency of the EU Council, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan today held a virtual meeting with full and alternate members of the Slovenian delegation to the Committee.

Address to the nation by Janez Janša, Slovenian Prime Minister

This morning, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dr Jože Podgoršek, participated in the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) High-level Conference, taking place in the form of an audio-video conference. The topics of the Conference included the preparation of a new strategy for fisheries and fish farming in the Mediterranean and in the Black Sea.

On 22 October 2020, the Government of Slovenia endorsed the 7th National Report under the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management and sent it to the International Atomic Energy Agency. With this Slovenia fulfilled one of the obligations under the Joint Convention on time.

Psychologist Eva Kovač spoke at the press conference about distress during this time of epidemic.

Dr Matjaž Vogrin, Medical Director of Maribor University Medical Centre, Dr Irena Grmek Košnik, epidemiologist from Kranj Regional Unit of the National Institute of Public Health, and Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin attended the press conference on the current COVID-19 situation.

At the initiative of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, a copy of the Bible with full title, Biblia, tu ie, vse Svetu pismu, Stariga inu Noviga testamenta, which has thus far been kept at the castle in Brdo pri Kranju was handed over to the National and University Library for safekeeping.

Dr Daniel Grabar, Medical Director of Murska Sobota General Hospital, Robert Masten from the Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana and Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin attended the afternoon press conference on the current COVID-19 situation.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia decided to extend the validity of the ordinances on measures and restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on the basis of the expert assessment of the Expert Group for the Containment and Management of the COVID-19 Epidemic. It also adopted information on negotiations with representative public sector unions about the reimbursement of transport costs to and from work.

The press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Dr Simona Kustec, Minister Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Dr Tina Bregant, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, and the Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin.

After an evening consultation of the core government team and the expert advisory group, Prime Minister Janez Janša communicated via Twitter that the number of people infected with COVID-19 will unfortunately still increase for some time according to projections. "The measures will thus be extended for a week," he forecast.

The International Law Week has traditionally been the highlight of the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee in New York, the primary focus of which is to encourage the progressive development of international law and its codification.

Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate, Tomaž Pečjak, Deputy Director General of the Police, psychologist Barbara Čibej Žagar and Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin attended the press conference on the current situation regarding the COVID-19 epidemic.

After visiting Ljubljana University Medical Centre yesterday, Prime Minister Janša visited Golnik Hospital today where he met Director Aleš Rozman and viewed the hospital’s capacities.

State Secretary Tone Kajzer today took part in the OECD’s virtual annual Ministerial Council Meeting.

In the last month of their deployment, three members of the 15th Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) contingent in the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) continue to perform their duties. Their deployment was also marked by measures to curb the spread of the new coronavirus and the consequent hibernation period of the mission.

Janez Cigler Kralj, the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Nuška Čakš Jager, Deputy Head of the Centre for Communicable Diseases at the National Institute of Public Health, Dr Mateja Logar from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses of Ljubljana University Medical Centre and Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin attended the press conference on the current situation of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Together with other EU leaders, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the video conference of the European Council. The topic of the discussion was the fight against coronavirus. The urgency of the situation in the Member States results in the need to enhance joint efforts.

Dr Bojana Beović, Head of the Expert Group at the Ministry of Health, was the first to speak at the morning press conference presenting the current COVID-19 situation. She emphasised that the number of severely ill persons requiring hospital treatment is the key data in the epidemic situation.

Msgr. Stanislav Zore OFM, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ljubljana, Dr Aleš Rozman, Director of the University Clinic of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Golnik, and Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin attended the press conference on the current COVID-19 situation.

Today, Prime Minister Janša visited Ljubljana University Medical Centre, where he met General Manager Janez Poklukar with whom he visited the still unfinished section of Ljubljana University Medical Centre.

Today, the WHO Regional Office for Europe published the results of the vote by secret ballot of the new members of the WHO Executive Board for the period 2021–2024. In view of the current epidemiological situation, the elections took place in the form of a postal ballot. Slovenia was nominated with its candidate, Ms Vesna Kerstin Petrič.

The situation concerning COVID-19 was discussed at a press conference by Mateja Logar from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Matej Tušak from the Faculty of Sport and Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin.

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

The speakers at today's press conference on the current situation concerning the COVID-19 epidemic were Prof. Mojca Matičič from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, who is also a professional mentor to students at the government call centre, and government spokesperson Ambassador Jelko Kacin.

Today, 26 October 2020, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology published a public tender for the promotion of the re-establishment of Slovenia's air connectivity. The aim of the tender is to maintain existing international airlines, encourage the re-establishment of scheduled airlines that have already stopped flying to Slovenia due to the consequences of the pandemic, and encourage new airlines to fly in Slovenia.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a financial support decision for the project “Izola cycle route”. The project worth a little under EUR 1.9 million will be implemented by the Municipality Izola and will receive EUR 763,000 of European Regional Development Fund support.

The Archives of the Republic of Slovenia will be closed to all visitors and users of archival records from 26 October 2020 until further notice. To obtain information or data from archival records, contact the archive in writing by regular mail or e-mail or during office hours by telephone.

The Archives of the Republic of Slovenia - the central and largest archival institution in Slovenia - is currently celebrating its 75th birthday. Namely, on October 31, 1945, the National Government of Slovenia issued a decree establishing the Central State Archives of Slovenia and Archival Council.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued the Ordinance on temporary partial restriction of the movement of people and the restriction or prohibition of public gatherings in order to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections and published it in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

On the social network Twitter, Prime Minister Janez Janša wrote that the Government is taking new measures due to the growing number of infected people. The restriction of movement to municipalities will thus be introduced on Tuesday, whereby the same exceptions will apply as in the spring. This restriction will initially be in place for a week for the whole of Slovenia and will be lifted gradually, starting with the regions that first limit the spread of the epidemic.

Nothing in the life of a person or a nation should be taken for granted. Especially events as glorious as birth and the successful defence of an independent country. The Sovereignty Day is a national holiday when we commemorate one of the crucial events in Slovenia’s process of gaining independence. In October 1991, the last soldier of the occupying Yugoslav People’s Army left Slovenia. Slovenia thus not only formally, but de facto became a sovereign country.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at a working meeting.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a financial support decision for the project “Co-financing of operating costs for companies in tourism and hospitality sector during the COVID-19 epidemic”. The project worth EUR 10 million will be implemented by the public agency SPIRIT and will receive over EUR 7.2 million of European Regional Development Fund support.

At its correspondence session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued the Ordinance of imposing and implementing measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic at border crossing points at the external border and inspection posts within national borders of the Republic of Slovenia and published it in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

Slovenia and Ukraine held virtual consultations on cybersecurity. The Slovenian delegation was led by State Secretary Tone Kajzer, and the Ukrainian side was headed by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vasyl Bodnar.

Today’s press conference on the current situation regarding the coronavirus was attended by Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Janez Cigler Kralj, Minister of Education, Science and Sport Simona Kustec, Acting Director-General of the Public Health Directorate at the Ministry of Health Vesna-Kerstin Petrič, and Government spokesman Jelko Kacin.

Early this morning, the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council reached agreement on the general approach to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform beyond 2020 legislative package. This is an important achievement as the agreement facilitates opening the negotiations with the European Parliament. On behalf of Slovenia, the meeting was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dr Jože Podgoršek, who earmarked the compromise as extremely important achievement within the EU for the entire agricultural sector. “It is most important that we, the ministers, have come to an agreement that facilitates the continuation of the demanding CAP reform process and its subsequent timely implementation. In negotiations, Slovenia succeeded in ensuring the essential elements for the development of agriculture in Slovenia, while simultaneously following the environmental protection guidelines. Particular attention has been on small farmers in terms of reducing the administrative burdens.” At the meeting that commenced on Monday, the ministers discussed certain other topics in agriculture and fisheries.

What is the future that we want? Are we on the right track to reach it? What must be done to overcome the differences?

At today's press conference Prime Minister Janez Janša presented an overall assessment of the situation after adoption of some additional measures for the containment of the coronavirus in the last days. "We believe that we are able to cope with the situation and this is mainly because we are now dealing with the virus as it is. Namely as a threat which is symmetrical and does not select by any other criteria than those applicable to the virus," the Prime Minister began his address.

Prime Minister Janez Janša held a videoconference today with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Their discussions focused on the serious spread of the coronavirus.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar concluded his three-day visit to the Baltic countries in the Republic of Lithuania, where he met with his host, Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius. The foreign ministers discussed opportunities for further strengthening cooperation between the two countries, both on the European and multilateral level. They also found time to touch on the challenges the EU is facing in coordinating measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Also high on the agenda were the latest developments in Belarus and in this context, Minister Logar met Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in Vilnius.

The press conference on the current Covid-19 situation was attended by the Head of the intensive care unit at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Matjaž Jereb, and the government spokesman, Ambassador Jelko Kacin.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan took part in the Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), which was held as a virtual event based in Zagreb. He stressed the importance of good governance of macro-regional strategies and a more visible role of the European Commission.

The Government and the Ministers have adopted additional measures to contain the COVID-19 epidemic. Minister of Health Tomaž Gantar presented the work of the Ministry of Health, while Minister of Education Simona Kustec presented the Ordinance on temporary restrictions for sport activities.

Slovenian Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek, Head of the Infectious Diseases Clinic at the Ljubljana University Medical Centre Dr Tatjana Lejko Zupanc and government spokesman Jelko Kacin spoke today at a press conference about the current situation regarding Covid-19.

In October 2020, during Germany’s Chairmanship, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) – on the basis of prolonged discussions and proposals put forth by experts on Roma issues – adopted a non-legally binding working definition of antigypsyism. The definition was prepared with the participation of Slovenian experts, members of the Slovenian delegation to IHRA, and the Roma community in Slovenia. The text of the working definition is provided below.

Head of the expert group for the containment and control of the COVID-19 epidemic at the Ministry of Health Bojana Beović said that around 1% of the population is infected, i.e. 20,000 people, which is more than the official number of 7,103 active cases.

The Government has issued an Ordinance on the temporary partial restriction of movement and the restriction or prohibition of public gatherings in order to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections, and published it in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

On Sunday, 2637 coronavirus tests were conducted and 537 new cases were confirmed, which is a 20.4% positivity rate. A total of 289 patients with COVID-19 are currently in hospital, of whom 55 are in intensive care units. Two persons died. On Sunday, Slovenia reached a 14-day incidence of 339 cases per 100,000 population.

An epidemic has been declared throughout Slovenian territory as of today. At the correspondence session on 18 October 2020, the Government adopted the Order on the Declaration of a COVID-19 Epidemic based on the Communicable Diseases Act.

Prime Minister Janez Janša posted on Twitter that an epidemic has been declared for the whole of Slovenia for 30 days, as of Monday. He posted this message on Sunday evening when a section of the Government, together with the advisory group of the Ministry of Health, discussed the current situation.

Address of the Prime Minister Janez Janša to the people of Slovenia.

Today, Foreign Minister Anže Logar held meetings in Trieste and Gorizia with representatives of the Slovenian minority in Italy. This was his first official visit to the Slovenian minority in Italy, after he briefly met with Slovenians in Italy at the ceremony on the return of the National Hall into Slovenian hands on 13 July.

Today, at the conclusion of the European Council meeting, Prime Minister Janez Janša, in his statement to the press, spoke of today’s agenda, which included Brexit negotiations, the assessment of the epidemiologic situation, discussions on climate change, EU relations with Africa, and the main conclusions reached by European leaders

On 15 October, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and Ambassador of Mongolia Gankhuurai Battungalag signed the Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports, the first agreement signed between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

In 2007, the European Commission declared 18 October to be the EU Anti-Trafficking Day. This year, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia will use this day to raise awareness of human trafficking and the prevention of this phenomenon.

In 2007, the European Commission declared 18 October to be the EU Anti-Trafficking Day. This year, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia will use this day to raise awareness of human trafficking and the prevention of this phenomenon.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending a European Council meeting in Brussels. Yesterday's agenda for the leaders of the EU Member States primarily included topics related to relations with the UK and Brexit negotiations. The leaders assessed the epidemiologic situation and also discussed climate change, while today's focus will be on other aspects of foreign policy, particularly on EU relations with Africa.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Ljubljana, Msgr Stanislav Zore, infectious disease and intensive care specialist Tomaž Vovko, and the government spokesperson Jelko Kacin spoke about the current situation regarding COVID-19.

Yesterday, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan met with Ambassador Zef Mazi, chief Albanian negotiator for accession to the EU, State Minister and member of the Albanian Government. State Secretary Dovžan expressed support for Albania's rapprochement with the European Union and welcomed the EU's decision to open accession negotiations with Albania.

On his working visit to Slovakia, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar met with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Ivan Korčok today. The ministers principally focused on the measures being taken by Slovenia and Slovakia to limit the spread of COVID-19, agreeing that it was paramount to coordinate these measures to successfully curb the epidemic and relaunch the European economy.

Today, the Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik attended an informal meeting of ministers of EU Member States responsible for telecommunications and digitalisation. The meeting took the form of a video conference.

Today, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending a regular European Council meeting in Brussels. EU leaders will discuss the epidemiological situation, relations with the United Kingdom, climate change and relations with Africa.

On Wednesday in the evening session, the government took several measures to contain the spread of the disease COVID -19. The measures were presented at today’s press conference by the Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Mr Zdravko Počivalšek, the Minister of Education Science and Sport, Ms Simona Kustec, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Aleš Hojs, the State Secretary, Ms Tina Bregant, and the Government Spokesperson, Mr Jelko Kacin.

At today’s session that started at 17:00 in Brdo pri Kranju, the Government examined and adopted new measures from the third phase of the orange package. After the session, Prime Minister Janez Janša made a press statement in Ljubljana.

Head of the intensive care unit at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases Matjaž Jereb, acting director of the Health Care Directorate at the Ministry of Health Marija Magajne, and government spokesperson Jelko Kacin took part in the press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 in Slovenia.

Prime Minister Janez Janša participated in the opening ceremony marking the start of the construction of the 2 x 400 kV Cirkovce–Pince transmission line. The ceremony was held in a marquee on the lawn next to Sternthal Mansion in Kidričevo, where the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia addressed the participants.

On his working visit to the Czech Republic, Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his host, Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček, talked about the importance of coordinating measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 and facilitate European economic recovery. They also discussed the strengthening of regional cooperation.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the project “Wastewater discharge and treatment in the Kolpa river basin – Municipality Črnomelj”. Total project funding amounts to nearly EUR 3.6 million of which a little less than EUR 1.6 million is Cohesion Fund contribution. Cohesion Fund support has recently also been awarded to Municipality Metlika for wastewater discharge and treatment in the Kolpa river basin.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended today’s General Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. The Council discussed preparations for the European Council meeting to be held at the weekend in Brussels. Ministers took note of the state of play in the EU-UK negotiations. They also held a general debate on the first annual report on the situation regarding the rule of law in the EU and endorsed recommendations for COVID-19 coordination

On the 13th of October 2020, the Republic of Slovenia successfully priced a new €1bn 30 year issuance, shortly after receiving a credit rating update from Moody’s.

Slovenian minister of the interior Aleš Hojs has met with Austrian colleague Karl Nehammer. The bilateral meeting is a confirmation of exceptionally good cooperation between the countries and their police forces.

The Republic of Slovenia announces the cash tender results of the Euro denominated notes of the tender that expired on 12 October 2020. January 2021 Notes and April 2021 Notes were accepted in the amount of EUR 98,130,000 and EUR 74,850,000, respectively.

The Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin spoke about the current situation regarding COVID-19 at the press conference.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a meeting of the highest representatives of all three branches of government on the topic of "The principle of the separation of powers: (self)restriction, mutual supervision and mutual cooperation" at the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana.

Minister for Development and EU Cohesion Policy Zvone Černač today met with mayors from the Obsotelje, Kozjansko and Haloze regions to take stock of the progress made in the implementation of 2014-2020 projects and discuss the preparations for the 2021-2027 programming period.

A Update on the Republic of Slovenia Tender Offer and a potential launch of a new 30 year Republic of Slovenia bond

Mateja Logar, infectologist from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, and Jelko Kacin, the Government spokesperson, provided the latest information on the COVID-19 situation in Slovenia.

Today marks 100 years of the Carinthian referendum, after which the southern part of Carinthia and the Slovenian population living there became part of the Republic of Austria. On this anniversary, the two countries are drawing attention to the elements of their shared history and, inevitably, also to the current situation and expectations of the Slovenian ethnic minority in the provinces of Carinthia and Styria about improving their regulatory and material position in accordance with the obligations of the Republic of Austria under international law. These obligations are set out in Article 7 of the 1955 State Treaty on the Establishment of an Independent and Democratic Austria, which guarantees the Slovenian ethnic minority the right to education in its mother tongue, the right to use Slovenian as an official language, and the right to Slovenian or bilingual topographical inscriptions in administrative and judicial districts with Slovenian and mixed populations. It also guarantees the Slovenian ethnic minority the right to participate in cultural, administrative and judicial institutions on equal terms with other Austrian nationals. In 2011, considerable progress was made with the agreement on the erection of 168 bilingual inscriptions. The atmosphere in Carinthia has improved and the majority and the minority groups have coexisted side by side. Nevertheless, certain commitments remain unfulfilled.

Today marks 100 years of the Carinthian plebiscite by which the southern part of Carinthia, together with the Slovenian population living there, was to become an integral part of the Republic of Austria. This anniversary opens up an opportunity for both nations to reflect upon the past and lift the historical burdens.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša gave an opening speech at the third Skills Summit entitled Skills Strategies for a World in Recovery. This years' summit, organised by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), is held virtually and hosted by Slovenia. The Prime Minister greeted the participants in a video address. In addition to Mr Janša, Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, also spoke at the opening of the event, which was attended by the Minister of Education, Simona Kustec, the Minister of Labour, Janez Cigler Kralj, the Minister of Health, Tomaž Gantar, and the Minister of Public Administration, Boštjan Koritnik.

Ministers and senior officials of international organizations responsible for skills, including education, employment, the economy, technology, innovation and other, met at the Skills Summit 2020, this time hosted by Slovenia and held in Brdo pri Kranju. The 2020 Skills Summit was held as a virtual event.

Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate and government spokesman Jelko Kacin provided the latest information on the COVID-19 situation in Slovenia.

At today’s correspondence session, the Slovenian government adopted an Ordinance on the temporary limitation or prohibition of public gatherings in the Republic of Slovenia, and the prohibition on the transport of certain types of goods and products during public gatherings. At the same session, the government also confirmed the draft national recovery and resilience plan.

Today, 8 October 2020, Slovenian Foreign Ministry State Secretary Tone Kajzer held talks with Virginia Gamba, United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.

At today’s session Government of the Republic of Slovenia took note of and approved draft National Recovery and Resilience Plan that shall serve as the basis for drawing on the funding available under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Slovenia is eligible to EUR 5.2 billion of which EUR 1.6 billion is available as grants and EUR 3.6 billion as loans.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its pleasure on the news of the appointment of Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Canada Dr Melita Gabrič as the new Head of the European Union Delegation in Ottawa. The appointment will be formally confirmed once the receiving state issues an agrément. It is the most prominent appointment of a Slovenian official in the European diplomacy during the sixteen years of Slovenian EU membership.

Minister Hojs has participated in the videoconference summit of the Council of Ministers of the interior.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia concluded its first visit to the Carinthia region with a talk with the mayors and actors of development in the region.

Today, 7 October 2020, State Secretary Tone Kajzer represented Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar on a visit of the Slovenian Government to the Koroška region.

In the framework of the Government visit to the Koroška region Zvone Černač, Minister for Development and EU Cohesion Policy, met with the representatives of the Koroška region municipalities, namely the municipality of Vuzenica, Ravne na Koroškem Prevalje, Črna na Koroškem and Mežica. In Mežica Minister Černač and Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Zdravko Počivalšek, opened the access road the Museum Peca Underground. At the end of the regional visit Minister Černač attended the public Government gathering.