News

Concluding her visit to Tanzania, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon met with Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation. The interlocutors exchanged views on a range of current global and regional challenges and committed to strengthening political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Ljubljana hosted political consultations between Slovenia and Mongolia, which were headed by of State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Samuel Žbogar and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Ankhbayar Nyamdorj.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Irena Šinko, met with the Croatian Minister of Agriculture, Marija Vučković, at a farm in Sela pri Ratežu.

At today's correspondence meeting, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued a Decree setting the maximum price of the complementary health insurance premium. It also adopted several replies to parliamentary questions.

The Government extended electricity price regulation for households and small business customers until the end of the year. It also extended the validity of the decree setting the maximum allowable electricity price for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

In the first three months of this year, the Ljubljana Administrative Unit has made significant progress in resolving pending cases in the Civil Registers, Aliens and Nationality Division, Aliens Departments, with more cases being resolved each month than were received. Thus, since January this year, we have reduced the number of pending cases by almost eight thousand.

Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar met with his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi in Rome today.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon concludes her visit to Ethiopia. Today she met with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed. They discussed the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the opening of Slovenian embassies in Africa, migration and other current topics.

Slovenia increased its ODA by 48.7% in 2022 compared to the year before. This significant increase is mainly due to Slovenia's exceptional contributions to Ukraine, the care of Ukrainian refugees in Slovenia, the cancellation of the clearing debt of the Republic of Angola and the increased development aid from the EU budget.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the 33rd plenary session of the national Children’s Parliament held at the National Assembly.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon is visiting Addis Ababa, where she is hosted by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen. This is the first visit at foreign minister level and an important step in strengthening bilateral relations between Slovenia and Ethiopia, as well as in the light of the forthcoming opening of the Slovenian Embassy in Addis Ababa.

The Government has adopted decree designating 411.36 hectares of the Češeniške and Prevojske gmajne area as the Češeniško Prevojske gmajne Landscape Park.

From April 2023, citizens aged 12 and over will only need to present their new biometric ID card when visiting doctors, pharmacies, opticians and other healthcare providers and suppliers of medicines and medical devices. This means that citizens are now able to use just one document, as the photo on the identity card also removes the need for additional verification of the insured person’s identity.

At today’s session, the Government adopted the framework for the preparation of general government budgets for the 2024–2026 period. The Government also approved the proposed amendment to the State Border Control Act and the Resolution on the National Programme in the Field of Illicit Drugs for the 2023–2030 period.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar visited Gaborone to meet with Botswana’s Foreign Minister Dr Lemogang Kwape. The visit was aimed at strengthening Slovenia's partnerships in the international community and exchanging views on challenges in the region and in the international community.

At today's correspondence meeting, the Government adopted a motion to disqualify Constitutional Court judge Dr Dr Klemen Jaklič from ruling on the case of reviewing the constitutionality of the Radiotelevizija Slovenija Act, and at the same time sent the motion to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tehran will be closed for Easter on Sunday, 9 April, and Monday, 10 April 2023.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in the two-day Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels, which coincided with the 74th anniversary of the signing of NATO's founding document in 1949, and she also officially welcomed Finland as NATO's 31st member.

Today, the Ministry of the Interior hosted representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for the Care and Integration of Migrants, and NGOs, in order to develop an integration strategy.

Dr Igor Papič, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, met with Matjaz Gruden, Director for Democratic Participation at the Council of Europe. They discussed current issues and activities planned by the Council of Europe.

In March, the Government adopted the starting points for the preparation of proposed adjustments to the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which will, among other things, address the objectives of the REPowerEU plan to reduce dependence on Russian energy. Government representatives today discussed the starting points for the new chapter of the Slovenian Recovery and Resilience Plan with the interested public at a public consultation.

The 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council adopted two important initiatives in which Slovenia is participating. The key UN body responsible for human rights approved the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues and confirmed that the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment represents a link between the environment and human rights.

On the basis of the Act on Aid to Ensure Enhanced Air Connectivity, a Public Tender for Enhanced Aviation Connectivity was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia on 04/04/2023. In accordance with Article 10 of the law, the tender documentation is publicly published, however, the English translation is merely an information aid for foreign air carriers when preparing applications for the grant of aid.

The application for aid must be submitted in Slovene language. Submission deadline is 4. 5. 2023.

On 4 April, the Alliance marks its 74th anniversary. On 29 March 2004, the Republic of Slovenia becomes part of the Alliance with the overwhelming support of its citizens.

Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar hosted the 11th informal meeting of the Ministers of the Interior of the Brdo Process countries in Portorož.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar held consultations with Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of Namibia Jenelly Matundu in Namibia from 3 to 4 April 2023. Their discussion focused on enhancing political dialogue and exchanging views on the situation and challenges in the region, with an emphasis on the work of international organisations.

Prime Minister Robert Golob hosted the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovačevski on an official visit.

The new Transnational Provision of Services Act (ZČmIS-1) was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia. The Ministry drew up the Act in order to comprehensively address the position of posted workers when carrying out transnational services provided by Slovenian companies and self-employed persons, economic operators, for clients in other EU member states.

At today's correspondence session, the Government decided to include the registered project "Greater Air Connectivity of Slovenia" in the current Development Programmes Plan 2023-2026.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Alenka Bratušek, hosted the Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, on a working visit. They have agreed to propose the establishment of a joint standing committee with Croatia, Austria, and Italy, in order accelerate rail transport.

On Friday, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia sent the National Assembly a reply to the interpellation on its work and the accountability of its work, in which it completely dismissed as unfounded all of the SDS party’s accusations regarding the alleged inadequacy of its conduct.

Following the visit of Prime Minister Robert Golob to Kyiv yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Slovenian nation for its support.

In the second part of his visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk.

Acting Director-General of the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Edvin Skrt participated in the meeting of EU Directors-General for development cooperation, which took place within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Prime Minister Robert Golob on a bilateral visit to Ukraine at the personal invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Wopke Hoekstra, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in an online “talk show” event "Media Freedom as a Cornerstone of Democracy". Held in the framework of the second Summit for Democracy, the event started yesterday and featured a video message by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar.

At today’s session, the Government adopted several proposals for amendments to the acts and approved a project to provide drinking water for Slovenian Istria and the Karst hinterland. It also adopted a reply to the interpellation on the work and responsibilities of the Government, in which it rejects in their entirety all the allegations made in the interpellation as unfounded.

State Secretary Marko Štucin met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Fatmire Isaki. They were pleased to note the intensive political dialogue and the very good relations between the two countries.

The Prime Minister, Dr Robert Golob, hosted the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, in a working visit at Brdo pri Kranju. In the second meeting of the prime ministers in Slovenia, they talked about cooperation in the areas of energy, migration and economy. The two leaders agreed to sign a solidarity agreement on gas supply and also expressed their support for the construction of a second unit of the nuclear power plant in Krško.

Members of parliament have approved the bill on amendments and additions to the Employment, Self-employment and Work of Foreigners Act (amendment to the law).

On 28 March 2023, the President of the National Assembly, mag. Urška Klakočar Zupančič met with the President of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Belgium, Eliane Tillieux.

At an EU Energy Council meeting, EU ministers discuss the reduction of gas consumption, changes in the electricity market and the green transition.

State Secretary for National and International Security Dr. Andrej Benedejčič paid a visit today in Bratislava to the Director of the Office of the Security Council of the Slovak Republic Mr. Pavel Franko.

State Secretary for National and International Security Andrej Benedejčič has met today with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană at NATO Headquarters.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob has received representatives of the Glas ljudstva (Voice of the People) network, who have informed him of their proposals for measures to reform the healthcare system.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted Tiago Antunes, Secretary of State for European Affairs at the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their consultations focused on current European and international issues, and they also discussed bilateral cooperation.

On 20 March 2023, the Republic of Slovenia ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents, becoming the 14th State Party to the Convention. The Convention will officially enter into force for Slovenia on 1 July 2023.

Prime Minister Robert Golob took part in the volunteer tree-planting campaign Rejuvenate Forests 2023, which took place near Renče in the Goriška Karst region.

Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning Uroš Brežan actively participated in the UN 2023 Water Conference, which took place in New York from 22 to 24 March 2023.

The adoption of the Scientific Research and Innovation Activities Act allows for more effective and consistent implementation of scientific research and innovation policy measures.