News

In the following we publish the statement by Prime Minister Robert Golob on the anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit. Their discussion focused on strengthening competitiveness, transforming the labour market to support the green and digital transitions, and on EU-level solutions to labour shortages.

At today's session, the Government adopted proposals for legislation to speed up the green transition, a draft amendment to the Macro-prudential Supervision of the Financial System Act to facilitate and protect minimum wage earners who wish to take out a loan, and amendments to the Decree on self-employed professionals in culture. It approved investments to improve the water supply in Slovenian Istria and the Karst hinterland, and adopted a number of personnel matters in the Ministry of the Interior.

At today's meeting, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia set out the text of the draft Resolution on the overall long-term programme for the development and equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces until 2040 (hereinafter: the Resolution) and sent it to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for consideration and adoption.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman led the third Strategic Dialogue between the two countries in Washington today. Established in 2020, the Dialogue provides a framework for discussions and exchanges of views on bilateral cooperation and current political, security and other issues and challenges in the international community.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon addressed the Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York marking the first anniversary of the start of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Slovenia strongly supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and Member States working towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, hosted the Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, on his official visit to Slovenia. This is the second official visit of a foreign leader at Mr Golob’s invitation.

In December, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food issued an open call to individuals, legal persons or bodies governed by public law for submitting the applications for the 2023 Golden Bee Award. The Republic of Slovenia gives out the Golden Bee Award as the highest national award for the preservation and protection of bees and other pollinators. The call remains open until 1 March 2023. The topic of this year's call is research on bees and other pollinators.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the ceremonial opening of the biggest sporting event in Slovenia’s history – the Nordic World Ski Championships Planica 2023. More than 2,000 athletes and members of support teams from 66 countries are due to take part.

In this difficult situation for the entire European Union, we need our positions to be firm and uniform. Any uncoordinated political action is unnecessary and out of place. On the first anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, we need political unity both at home and at the European level.

On the 21st of February 2023, the Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (stable)/A (stable)/AA- (stable) reopened its 0.4875% October 2050 (Oct-50) by €200mn. The new issue size totalled €1.85bn after reopening.

The newly appointed Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar has taken the office from the Minister of Public Administration and Acting Minister of the Interior Sanja Ajanović Hovnik.

The Republic of Slovenia announces the cash tender results of the Euro denominated notes of the tender that expired on 20 February 2023.

State Secretary Marko Štucin today attended the General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. In the run-up to the March European Council, the agenda of the meeting between Ministers and State Secretaries for European Affairs included Ukraine, competitiveness, the EU's single market and economy, energy and migration.

The Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (stable) / AA-(stable) / A (stable), has this morning mandated Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and Erste Group to lead manage a reopening of the SLOREP benchmark due in October 2050. The transaction will be Regulation S in dematerialized registered form.

Around two million four hundred thousand Slovenians at home and abroad speak Slovene as their first, mother tongue, meaning that Slovene is their language of communication, learning, thinking and creating. People also dream in their mother tongue.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Defence, the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia and the Chair of Defence Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences organised a consultation on "Retention of personnel in the Slovenian Armed Forces: challenges and solutions".

On behalf of the Prime Minister Robert Golob, the State Secretary for National and International Security in the Prime Minister's Office, Andrej Benedejčič, received the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer from the Netherlands.

State Secretary Marko Štucin met with the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer. Their conversation focused on the current security situation in Europe and the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

At the 59th Munich Security Conference, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in the Female Foreign Ministers’ meeting and roundtable discussions on climate change and EU enlargement. She also held a number of bilateral meetings. “I present Slovenia as an open and modern country and an excellent candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2024–2025 term”, the Minister said.

On the margins of the 59th Munich Security Conference, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon, as a member of the Informal Group of Women Foreign Ministers, attended a meeting hosted by German and Canada Foreign Ministers. At the meeting, 10 ministers adopted and signed a joint statement on women and girls rights in Afghanistan and Iran.

On 18 February 2023 the Republic of Slovenia and Mongolia celebrated the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations countries maintain friendly relations and develop cooperation in bilateral and multilateral fields.

This year´s Cleveland Kurentovanje, held for the eleventh time, attracted over 15 thousand visitors from Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, Washington, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. The Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia actively participated in many events, which included culinary, music, sport events, and much more.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted Deputy Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Velislava Petrova. They talked about the ways of enhancing bilateral relations and went on to exchange views on the current European, regional and international issues, including EU enlargement.

Prime Minister Robert Golob hosted the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, for the first official visit to Slovenia. The high-level visit from Spain is the first official visit of a foreign leader at the Prime Minister’s invitation. The first head of the Spanish executive branch to pay an official visit to Slovenia was José María Aznar, who came here 22 years ago.

On 13 and 14 February 2023, the Minister of Culture, Asta Vrečko, was on a working visit to Berlin. During her visit, she met with the Minister of State for Culture and Media of the Federal Republic of Germany, Claudia Roth, attended a concert by the Slovenian Vocal Group Gallina featuring Aldo Kumar to celebrate the Slovenian cultural holiday, visited the Museum Europäischer Kulturen and the Aedes Architekturforum gallery, and met with Slovenian artists living in Berlin.

At today's correspondence session, the Government adopted a proposal to call a public hearing and hear witnesses and experts in the proceedings to review the constitutionality of the Act Amending the Radiotelevizija (RTV) Slovenija Act. The Government will send the proposal to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia.

Today, Minister Luka Mesec, together with State Secretary Dan Juvan, members of the Minister’s Office and the leadership of the Labour Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia, met with representatives of the Trade Union for Catering and Tourism Industry Employees of Slovenia regarding the outsourcing of chambermaids at Sava Turizem.

Slovenian Minister of Defence Marjan Šarec attended the two-day NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Brussels. The discussions focused on the war in Ukraine, strengthening the Alliance's deterrence and defence posture, and the upgrading of the commitment on defence spending to be adopted at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July.

Announcement of the Republic of Slovenia Cash Tender Offer on EUR denominated Notes

This year, the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, together with the implementing organisations and SID Bank, will offer over EUR 634.4 million in new financial incentives to the economy, tourism and sport, of which EUR 304.9 million will come from its own resources. With the planned investment of development funds, the Ministry continues to strengthen the competitiveness and added value of the Slovenian economy.

At today's Correspondence Session, the Government amended the Decree determining the amount of excise duty on energy products and electricity and appointed new employers' representatives to the General Assembly of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia.

At the invitation of the Minister of Defence, Marjan Šarec, the Federal Minister of Defence of the Republic of Austria, Klaudia Tanner, and her delegation paid a one-day official visit to Slovenia. The two ministers advocated further strengthening of good cooperation between the two countries in the defence and military fields, and in the management of natural and other disasters.

State Secretary Tatjana Buzeti attended the two-day Balkan Conference on Regional Food Security in Times of Crisis in Bulgaria. The aim of the conference was to improve cooperation in the fields of agriculture and rural development.

All information for undergraduate students: Information days, Online session and Q&A session.

Vlada je na današnji dopisni seji sklenila, da bo Siriji zagotovila materialno pomoč za blažitev posledic potresa. Seznanila se je tudi s parafiranim sporazumom o reševanju stavkovnih zahtev in odložitvi stavke zaposlenih v Finančni upravi Republike Slovenije.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon paid an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic to strengthen economic cooperation, political dialogue, and the bilateral and multilateral partnership.

On 9 February 2023, Prime Minister Robert Golob attended the special meeting of the European Council in Brussels. The leaders’ agenda included the situation in Ukraine and possibilities for further EU support, the economy and migration. They also discussed the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was the main guest of the first part of the meeting.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has released half a million euros in emergency humanitarian aid to help mitigate the consequences of the earthquake that struck the Republic of Türkiye and the Syrian Arab Republic on 6 February 2023. Of this amount, EUR 100,000 was contributed through the Slovenian Caritas, the strategic partner of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in emergency humanitarian response, for the purchase of blankets, clothes and food packages.

At today’s correspondence meeting, the government adopted a draft amendment to the Insurance Act and a regulation on direct payments under the strategic plan of the Common Agricultural Policy and on the implementation of interventions in the apiculture products sector. It also confirmed emergency temporary support for farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

An informal meeting of the Competitiveness Council (COMPET) has concluded in Stockholm, where ministers responsible for research discussed open science and research infrastructures. The meeting was also attended by Minister Dr Igor Papič.

At the correspondence meeting, the government agreed to provide humanitarian aid to the people of the Republic of Turkey and the Syrian Arab Republic in the wake the earthquake.

On 8 February 2023, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo organised a celebration of the Slovenian Cultural Day at the Embassy's premises.

At today's correspondence meeting, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia approved a motion to provide material assistance to the Republic of Turkey in the aftermath of the earthquake through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, in accordance with the request. The total value of the material assistance is 451,400 EUR.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon is on a working visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan. She is accompanied by a business delegation composed of representatives of twelve Slovenian companies and of the Slovenian agency SPIRIT.

Below is the message by Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob on Slovenian Culture Day.

In today’s press statement, the Minister for Solidarity-Based Future, Simon Maljevac, presented a detailed analysis of the situation and outlined the ministry’s plans in the housing sector.

Minister Irena Šinko participated via video link in a conference entitled "Which sustainable livestock farming and meat consumption systems should the European Union promote and preserve by 2050" at the invitation of the French Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Marc Fesneau.

An informal meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council was held today in Stockholm. At the opening session, ministers discussed the measures needed to improve the competitiveness of the European economy for an effective green transition. They endorsed the European Commission’s communication on the Green Deal Industrial Plan, which aims to provide targeted support to accelerate the decarbonisation of European industry, and thus European economic leadership in the new technologies and industries of the future.

Slovenia will award one scholarship for nationals of Nepal for master degree programme in Slovenia for the academic year 2023/2024.