News

On 18 May 2022, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Research Infrastructure Roadmap 2030 (NRRI 2030). NRRI 2030 is an implementation document of the Resolution on Research and Innovation Strategy of Slovenia 2030 (ReZrIS30) revising all field segments, i.e. priority international projects as well as national priority areas within research infrastructures. This will be followed by a presentation and definitions of links with the Smart Specialisation Strategy and a presentation of different ways of funding research infrastructures.

On Friday, Slovenia and the entire world will, for the fifth time, commemorate World Bee Day, a celebration declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UN) on 20 December 2017. The main purpose of World Bee Day is to raise the awareness of the global public about the importance of bees and other pollinators for humanity in light of food security, global eradication of hunger and care for the environment and biodiversity.

The Minister of Defence Matej Tonin today attended a session of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels composed of the defence ministers of the European Union. The session was intended for discussion on the implementation of the Strategic Compass, with an emphasis on the future operations and missions of the Common Security and Defence Policy and the military aggression against Ukraine.

Members of the Monitoring Committee for the Operational Programme for the Implementation of the European Cohesion Policy in the Period 2014-2021 (OP) today met in 9th regular session at Brdo pri Kranju.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan took part in the Adriatic and Ionian Council/EUSAIR Ministerial Meeting in Tirana, hosted by the Albanian AII Chairmanship/EUSAIR Presidency in the framework of the 7th EUSAIR Annual Forum. The Meeting was chaired by Megi Fino, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania.

Prime Minister Janša today met with Qatari Emir Tamim Sheikh bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who is on an official visit to Slovenia at the invitation of Slovenian President Borut Pahor.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar attended the regular EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in Brussels. The main topics were the Western Balkans and the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The EU–Canada Joint Ministerial Council meeting took place prior to the Council session.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted last week the strategic starting points for the promotion of the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency in the economy.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar attended a two-day informal meeting of NATO ministers of foreign affairs in Berlin. The ministers discussed the current security challenges resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Invited by the French Consul General Yannick Tagand, the Slovenian Consul General Alenka Jerak appeared on the panel about sustainable development within the framework of the event "Night of Ideas/ Where are we going?" at the Chicago History Museum&Villa Albertina on May 12, 2022.

V skladu s priporočili Strokovne svetovalne skupine ministra za zdravje za zajezitev in obvladovanje epidemije in glede na ugodnejšo epidemiološko sliko in značilnosti različice Omikron, se ukinja pogoj PCT (prebolevnosti, cepljenja oziroma testiranja) za obiskovalce in uporabnike v zdravstveni dejavnosti in socialnem varstvu. Ostajata pa ukrepa obvezno nošenje mask v zdravstveni in socialnovarstveni dejavnosti ter razkuževanje rok ob vstopu v zaprt javni kraj oziroma prostor.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has adopted a decision establishing a public interest in concluding a public–private partnership to implement the "Hybrid Cloud Computing" project. The public–private partnership will be implemented in the form of a contractual partnership.

Igor Jukič, Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation, held regular consultations with Slovakian representatives and outlined priorities related to international organisations and development and humanitarian assistance.

In a week's time, on 20 May, Slovenia and the rest of the world will celebrate World Bee Day for the fifth time. The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Bee Day on 20 December 2017. Since 2022 is the European Year of Youth, the main topic of this year's celebration are young people and beekeeping. The main purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness among the international public about the importance of bees and other pollinators for humanity in the light of food security, the global elimination of hunger and care for the environment and biodiversity.

At 123th regular session, the Slovenian Government issued the Ordinance on temporary measures to prevent and control infections with the COVID-19 infectious disease, which abolishes the RVT (recovered, vaccinated, tested) requirement in all health and social care activities. The Government also adopted decisions relating to Annex 1 to the General Agreement for 2022. The Government also adopted a decree on the basis of the Digital Inclusion Promotion Act, which allows digital vouchers to be used within a month.

On Saturday, 14th May, we shall commemorate the International Migratory Bird Day. The day is meant to raise awareness on migratory birds and the need for an international collaboration for their preservation because this is our common natural heritage. This year’s International Migratory Bird Day is meant to emphasise the importance of raising awareness on light pollution. Light pollution has a significant impact on migratory birds who may lose track of their flight direction and incorrectly assess the time for their migration.

President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory letters on the thirtieth anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the countries.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan attended the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh/ISIS in his capacity as Minister of Development Cooperation. The event was hosted by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Defence minister Matej Tonin, MSc, signed the Memorandum of Understanding to the Boxer Programme in the framework of the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) this afternoon in Munich with the director of OCCAR, Matteo Bisceglio.

Folke Straube has been the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Slovenia in Helsingborg, Sweden for more than 26 years. At his request, he was relieved of his duties in March 2022.

Minister of Digital Transformation Mark Boris Andrijanič paid a working visit to Finland on 4 and 5 May 2022. The main purpose of the visit was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Digital Transformation Cooperation between Slovenia and Finland.

The United Nations have declared 12th May as the International Day of Plant Health, mainly to raise global awareness on how protecting the health of plants contributes to maintaining biodiversity and nature and promotes economic development. Diseases and pests harmful to plants may spread in various ways, even in luggage. Therefore, do not risk bringing plants from abroad and help keep our plants healthy.

Slovenia, together with the European Union, its member states and international partners, condemns in the strongest terms the malicious activity conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukraine targeting the satellite KA-SAT network.

On the basis of the Promotion of Tourism Development Act, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Slovenian Tourism Strategy 2022 – 2028, which represents the basic framework for the development of Slovenian tourism in the next seven years. The strategy responds to the new circumstances and challenges faced by the tourism industry, while developing and promoting the key benefits of Slovenian tourism and our country.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan took part in the 6th Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” organised by the EU. He announced a new humanitarian donation by Slovenia in the amount of EUR 150,000 for the civilian population of Syria. The contribution will be provided to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for projects ensuring access to water and sanitation.

Prime Minister Janez Janša, along with a number of other European leaders, addressed an online parade called "Solidarity for Victory", which was broadcast on Ukrainian national television.

We would like to inform you that the consular hours will be held in Lemont, IL on Saturday, May 14 2022. Consul General Alenka Jerak will be at the Slovenian Catholic Center (14252 Main St., Lemont, IL 60439) from 11 am to 3 pm.

On 9 May we celebrate Europe Day, a symbol of bridging the divisions between the European nations and of peace that our continent has established and must continue to preserve.

Yesterday in the crowded hall of the Slovenian National Home the 70th anniversary of the Slovenian choir from Cleveland Korotan was marked by a magnificent and emotional concert, led by conductor Janez Sršen.

Today, Ohio is planting honey plants again!
This is how lively it was today at the Slovenian school of St. Mary of the Assumption in Colinwood, when we opened the school Bee Garden with students, teachers and parents and Father Kumše, prepared the ground for planting of the wildflowers, and talked about the importance and impact of the bees on our lives!

In two weeks time, on 20 May, Slovenia and the rest of the world will celebrate World Bee Day for the fifth time. The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Bee Day on 20 December 2017. Since 2022 is the European Year of Youth, the main topic of this year's celebration are young people and beekeeping.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan took part in a Quadrilaterale meeting between Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Slovenia in Bern at the invitation of State Secretary at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Livia Leu.

Today, on the margins of the donors’ conference in Warsaw, Prime Minister Janez Janša had an interview at the Polish television TVP World, where he spoke about the achievements of today’s conference.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the donors' conference for Ukraine in Warsaw. The conference was co-hosted by Poland and Sweden, in cooperation with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The United Nations also joined the donors' conference.

On 3 May, Ambassador Kristina Radej completed her term of office as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan based in Tehran.

Matej Tonin, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Major General Robert Glavaš, visited Croatia at the invitation of Mario Banožić, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia.

At today's session of the Government Committee for the Economy, the Government gave its consent to the Ministry of Infrastructure to assume and pay the obligations on dedicated budget items at the level of a group of budget users through the planned spending rights in the adopted state budget for 2022. At the session, the Government included the "Nature Conservation Investments" project in the Development Programme Plan. At the session of the Government Committee for State Organisation and Public Affairs, the Government included an extension and reconstruction of the Kočevje Nursing Home in the current Development Programme Plan.

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the Council of Europe Ambassador Andrej Slapničar hand over today to the Deputy Secretary General of Council of Europe Bjorn Berge the instrument of ratification of two conventions: Council of Europe Convention on counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes involving threats to public health (Medicrime) - CETS No. 211 and Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs – CETS No. 216.

On 3 May, twenty children and the accompanying staff from the Ukrainian Luhansk orphanage arrived by bus organised by the Ukrainian Embassy in Slovenia in the village of Slavina, where they will be accommodated in the local adult education centre.

Slovenian Industrial Strategy 2021 – 2030 is the strategic document of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, that sets out a vision and goals for the development of industry and the economy for the period up to 2030.

At the end of April 2022, the Slovenian Society Simon Gregorčič from Köping, Sweden, celebrated its 50th anniversary. Köping is an industrial city with around 18,000 inhabitants 150 km west of Stockholm, where most Slovenes came in the 1960s.

Such a cheerful dance mood was last Saturday at Slovenska Pristava in Harpersfield, where last year's 60th anniversary of the existence and opening of the new Lobe Hall was celebrated at this year's traditional Pristava Night!

Stay happy and proud, Slovenska Pristava!

Below is the message by Prime Minister Janez Janša for 1 May, International Labour Day and the feast day of St Joseph the Worker

Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia Alenka Jerak helped plant pollinator-friendly plants at the St. Vitus Slovenian School in Cleveland today.

In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which puts the Ukrainian population at risk, the Slovenian government made a decision at today’s correspondence session to provide Ukraine with material assistance in the form of IP phones, computer equipment, gas generators, antennas and cables, and to do so via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan received the Special Representative for 16+1 Cooperation, Ambassador Huo Yuzhen.

At today’s session, the Government adopted the Stability Programme and the 2022 National Reform Programme. It extended the currently applicable Decree on excise duty on energy products and the validity of the Decree fixing the excise duty level for electricity.

Standing in front of the Paediatric Clinic in Ljubljana along with Miroslav Petrovec from the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology and paediatrician and infectious disease specialist Tatjana Mrvič, the Minister of Health Janez Poklukar gave a statement regarding the severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children.

Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar took part in the Raisina Dialogue 2022 conference held in New Delhi on 25–27 April, met with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and held other bilateral talks.

On 26–27 April 2022, State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan took part in the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development in New York, which highlighted the need to deliver on the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on poverty eradication. He also attended the High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on Financing for Peacebuilding and held a number of bilateral meetings.