News

At the invitation of the Slovene Dutch Business Platform (SDBP), Minister Irena Šinko participated via video conference in the Agro-Horti-Digitalisation event dedicated to digitalisation in agriculture and horticulture. The aim of the event is to improve business cooperation between the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Slovenia. SDBP is an important supporter and catalyst of international success and Slovenian economic breakthrough, which has been active in the Netherlands since 2003.

Following the 30th anniversary celebration of Slovenia’s membership to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller and the Slovenian Minister of Economic Development and Technology Matjaž Han signed a Roadmap for Cooperation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in the NATO Summit in Madrid, accompanied by Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, and Minister of Defence Marjan Šarec. Minister Fajon participated in the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers and in the roundtable discussion of women foreign and defence ministers from allied countries on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

Consul General Alenka Jerak met with the Ohio Governor DeWine and Mrs. DeWine at their Residence near Columbus. Also present were the Director for Development/Economy Lidya Mihalik and Members of the Consular Corps in Ohio.

Prime Minister Robert Golob is attending the NATO Summit in Madrid, where the NATO Heads of State and Government will discuss the most pressing security issues with the key partners and approve a new strategic concept of the Alliance for the next decade and beyond with the aim of ensuring that NATO continues to implement its most important mission and responsibility – to ensure the collective defence of the Alliance's members and the security of one billion people.

We would like to inform our clients that consular operations and services of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Cairo will be severely limited between 30 June and 30 July 2022 due to absence of the Consul.

With today’s agreement by environment ministers on the Fit for 55 legislative package, Slovenia will become a beneficiary of the Modernisation Fund, an EU instrument to support green recovery in Europe. Negotiations with the European Parliament will follow, led by the incoming Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government adopted initiatives to conclude the Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of Kingdom of Sweden and Republic of Finland and sent them for approval to the Foreign Policy Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia.

The Minister for Digital Transformation, Dr Emilija Stojmenova Duh, met with the Director of the National and University Library (NUK), Mr. Vili Leban.

Acting Director-General of the Migration Directorate Nataša Potočnik attended a videoconference of the Salzburg Forum convened by Poland currently holding the Forum presidency.

After a meeting with non-governmental organisations, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob pointed out that today’s meeting was the first step towards fruitful cooperation with civil society and emphasised that government structures actually need an active civil society, because non-governmental organisations work in the field and are in contact with people, which means that they not only are aware of the challenges and problems but can also address and resolve them quickly, avoiding long-lasting procedures.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo, together with the Celje Regional Museum, the German Cultural Centre OAG Haus, the Embassy of Austria in Tokyo and the Austrian Cultural Forum Tokyo, opened an exhibition on Alma M. Karlin entitled "Japan At Last!".

Today we celebrated Slovenian Statehood Day at Slovenska Pristava in Harpersfield as part of the event "I am proud to be a Slovenian", and awarded commemorative medals of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to individuals who 31 years ago actively contributed to the American recognition of independent Slovenia.

The French presidency of the Council of the European Union rounded up their activities in the digital sector with Digital Assembly. An event that took place in Toulouse on June 21st and 22nd, 2022, was focused around the theme "Looking to the Digital Future". The event explored issues related to EU sovereignty and autonomy. Minister Dr. Emilija Stojmenova Duh attended the event and actively participated at the panel “Investing in Immersive Technologies in Europe”.

The Strategic Council for Foreign Affairs, chaired by Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, held its first meeting in its new composition at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia to debate current foreign policy issues. In their discussion on the war in Ukraine, the Council members were joined by invited guests – that is, authors of open letters on Ukraine.

Nina Ukmar, until recently director of Kosovelov dom Sežana, became the head of Minister’s Office on 24 June. She is joining the team of the Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko as an experienced leader and an expert in the field of culture.

On 22 June 2022, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo organised a reception for the diplomatic community, Slovenian citizens and representatives of Japanese institutions on the occasion of the Slovenian National Day and the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Slovenia and Japan. Around 90 people attended the event.

Following the meeting of the leaders of the EU Member States and the Western Balkans and ahead of the meeting of the European Council, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob stressed that both Slovenia and Austria are committed to granting candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina as quickly as today and without any additional conditions.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob had his first telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Ministry of the Interior, in cooperation with the Austrian Ministry of the Interior, is organising a two-day international conference about cooperation on return, focusing on the Western Balkans.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended a joint meeting of the National Assembly’s Committee on Foreign Policy and EU Affairs to present his views for the upcoming meeting of the European Council.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon attended the EU General Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. Ministers prepared the agenda for the next European Council on 23–24 June 2022, when EU leaders will discuss the situation in Ukraine, the economic situation and the next steps for the Conference on the Future of Europe, and hold a strategic debate on the EU's relations with its partners in Europe.

Copenhagen,20.June 2022 - we held a reception on the occasion of the upcoming National Day of Slovenia and the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Slovenia and Denmark. The reception also presented an opportunity for Ambassador Edvin Skrt to bid farewell to Denmark after a four-year stay in Copenhagen.

Yesterday, Minister Irena Šinko attended, via video conference, the informal ministerial conference of the 4Forests group. Ministers discussed forestry topics common to the four highly forested countries – Slovenia, Finland, Sweden and Austria.

Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon attended a regular meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. The main topics on the agenda were the Russian aggression against Ukraine and its impact on food security, Egypt and the Horn of Africa. Prior to the EU Council meeting, at the invitation of Italy and Finland, ministers held an informal meeting with Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Below is the message delivered by the Minister of the Interior, Tatjana Bobnar, on the occasion of World Refugee Day on 20 June, and statistics on international protection in Slovenia.

Yesterday the Slovenian public were saddened to hear the news of the death of Borut Šuklje, the former minister and diplomat. Part of his long and fascinating political career was spent as culture minister in 1992 and 1993. The Ministry of Culture expresses its deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Artist and illustrator Marlenka Stupica provided the artwork for more than 100 children’s books and picture books over her career of more than 70 years. As culture minister Dr Asta Vrečko wrote following her death, Marlenka Stupica was one of the most important and recognisable artists in Slovenia, whose work is celebrated even outside the country’s borders.

On the second day of his visit, Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the two interlocutors paid most attention to the war in Ukraine and to the Western Balkans.

Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon today paid his first official visit to the autochthonous Slovenian national community in Italy. The minister was accompanied by the state secretary at the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad, Vesna Humar, and the consul at the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Trieste, Peter Golob.

Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič today attended the Economic and Financial Affairs Council configuration meeting in Luxembourg, on the margins of which three other events took place over the course of two days: a meeting of finance ministers in their capacity as Members of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Board of Governors, the Eurogroup meeting, and the meeting of finance ministers in their capacity as Members of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Board of Governors.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project ITI Velenje Refurbishment of bus stops and cycle shelters. The project aims to foster urban mobility and contribute to improvement of urban air quality. It is supported by the European Union with over EUR 180,000 coming from the European Regional Development Fund.

Today we celebrated the Slovenian Statehood Day with Slovenian and American flag raising ceremony at the City Hall in Bethlehem, PA and speeches by representatives of the cities of Bethlehem and Murska Sobota, Ambassador Kajzer and Consul General Jerak, as well as a reception for members of the delegations of both cities and the Prekmurje Slovenian community.

On the first day of his working visit to Brussels, Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob met European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. Their talks focused on current European topics that will be on the agenda at the June European Council meeting.

Špela Spanžel, an art historian, curator and cultural heritage expert, became the new head of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage on 17 June of this year.

On Monday, 27th of June we switch to summer opening times.

Acting Director-General Ksenija Škrilec took part in an informal meeting of directors-general for EU Affairs in Paris hosted by France as the current Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

At today’s press conference following the Government session, Prime Minister Robert Golob outlined the first step in a strategy to tackle soaring food and energy costs. The Government discussed measures relating to oil and petroleum products.

Today, diplomats and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs paid tribute to the late Boris Pahor. Many had the honour to meet and work with Mr Pahor in Slovenia, abroad and in European capitals. He presented and shared his testimonies in cooperation with the entire diplomatic network and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is why, as of today, one of the conference rooms at the Ministry will bear his name.

Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon hosted the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Minister of Immigration and Asylum of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn. Their talks focused on enhancing the excellent and friendly relations between the two countries, strengthening cooperation between the core countries of the EU, enlargement to the Western Balkan countries and the European perspective of Ukraine.

At today’s session of the Government Committee for State Organisation and Public Affairs, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia opened a new budget item with the budget user, the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, for the payment of redeemed digital vouchers, to which funds in the amount of EUR 28.8 million will be transferred from the financial plan of the Government Office for Digital Transformation.

The Roadpol Operation “Truck & Bus” taking place between 13th and 19th of June 2022: Inspections on European roads. In the framework of the "Truck & Bus Action Weeks: inspections on European roads” and in cooperation with European Labour Authority, on the 13th of June in Vicenza, Italy organized a road transport inspection with road checks in the highway A4 Torino-Trieste (exit Vicenza Ovest), with the participation of Slovenia.

Today, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, paid a working visit to Maribor with the Minister of Digital Transformation, Emilija Stojmenova Duh, and the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Irena Šinko.

At today’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Slovenia was represented by Deputy Permanent Representative in Brussels Tamara Weingerl Požar and Head of the Special Committee on Agriculture at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia in Brussels Simona Vrevc. Ministers focused in particular on the situation on agricultural markets in view of the war in Ukraine. The Council took note of the European Commission's communication on the state of implementation of the EU’s common fisheries policy and consultations for fishing opportunities for 2023.

Gastronomy of Slovenia, a collection of four books by prof. dr. Janez Bogataj, won two prestigious Best in the World awards at the renowned Gourmand Cookbook Awards 2022 ceremony in Sweden. One award was given to the entire collection of four books and the other to the Gastronomy of Mediterranean Slovenia in the category of Mediterranean books.

The 50th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHR), which will run from 13 June to 8 July 2022, is getting under way in Geneva. Among the topics in the focus of the session, Slovenia will pay particular attention to issues related to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, human rights, and the environment, and will also react to the worrying human rights situation in individual countries.

Minister of the Interior, Tatjana Bobnar, attended the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg today.

The Ministry of Culture is flying the rainbow Pride flag during the month of June as a sign of its support for the LGBTQI+ community. The minister Dr Asta Vrečko took part in Ljubljana’s pride parade on 11 June 2022.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in the Ministerial Meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Thessaloniki and held several bilateral meetings on the margins of the event.