News

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EUR 627,000 from the Cohesion Fund for the project Deep energy renovation of Building 14 in the Baron Andrej Čehovin Barracks. The project is the latest in a series of projects aiming to improve energy efficiency in the public sector with the help of EU funding. In the current programming period, over EUR 107 million have been dedicated to energy renovation of public buildings.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar participated at the 6th ministerial meeting of the Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial Meeting in Barcelona. In his speeches, Minister Logar emphasised Slovenia’s Mediterranean character and called for closer cooperation in the region.

The Prime Minister Janez Janša and the Minister of Health Janez Poklukar today met with representatives of young doctors; The State Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, Jelka Godec, also attended the meeting. The discussion with the young doctors was followed by a meeting with Konrad Kuštrin, president of the FIDES healthcare trade union. The meetings were devoted to discussions on the situation in the healthcare sector and the functioning of healthcare given the COVID-19 situation.

Within the UNIDO international development cooperation project "Development of Innovation Ecosystem and Support Infrastructure" we hosted a study delegation of experts from the Agency for Innovation and Start - up of the institutional environment from Azerbaijan. The aim of the visit was to gain experience in Slovenia and exchange of good practices.

All UK citizens and their family members residing in the Republic of Slovenia are invited to apply in due time for a new biometric temporary residence permit or for an exchange with a new biometric permanent residence permit.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan took part in the opening session of the 31st Conference International Archives Day and the 15th International Archival School.

The Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti will chair a meeting of ministers of culture, audiovisual affairs and the media in Brussels on 30 November. Agenda of the meeting includes adoptions of the decisions on high-quality architecture and the New European Bauhaus initiative, as well as European audiovisual and media content. Several other discussions and presentations are also on the agenda.

The Retrospective of Slovenian Film opens on Thursday, 2 December, at 19:00 in Brussels. Between 2 and 22 December 2021, ten feature-length classics from the Slovenian film treasury – from the silent beginnings to present day productions – will be shown on the big screen of the Royal Belgian Film Archive in Brussels. The retrospective will open with a showing of the first Slovenian silent feature-length film In the Kingdom of Goldenhorn (V kraljestvu Zlatoroga) accompanied by live original music.

On this day, on 28 November, we are celebrating the first Mediterranean Day, which was declared in 2020 at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean. “It is my wish that the Mediterranean becomes a region of security and stability, progress and prosperity that will ensure a bright future for all of its young people,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar on Mediterranean Day.

The Slovenian Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Andrej Vizjak, chaired the virtual informal meeting of ministers responsible for urban development. With the adoption of the Ljubljana Agreement, the ministers supported further implementation of the Urban Agenda for the EU. Slovenia's initiative to involve small and medium-sized cities more in cooperation and the policy-making processes, alongside large cities was therefore successful.

On 25 and 26 November 2021, the thirteenth Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit was held in virtual form. The key theme of this summit of the leaders of European and Asian member states was the promotion of effective multilateralism for common growth and a collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister attended the event in his capacity as President of the EU Council and Coordinator for the European Group.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan met with Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, with whom he exchanged views on the forthcoming Eastern Partnership Summit and discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today held a long telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the situation in the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood, the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border, the EU's united stance on migrant pressure and the build-up of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine.

From 23 to 25 November, Minister Anže Logar attended the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg as Slovenia's high representative for relations between the Council and the Parliament.

State Secretary Kirbiš Rojs today participated in the Vanguard Initiative Annual Political Meeting. The Vanguard Initiative is a network of over 30 European regions that made a political commitment to use their smart specialisation strategies to advance technological developments and stimulate industrial modernisation through interregional collaboration.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EUR 11 million from European Regional Development Fund for the project Drafting documents for the construction of the highway for section 2 of Third Development Axis – North from junction Velenje South to junction Slovenj Gradec South. The investment is the latest in a series of investments supported by EU funding that aim to connect Slovenia.

Slovenian Minister for Education, Science and Sport, Simona Kustec, will present the Ljubljana Declaration on Gender Equality in Research and Innovation at the Competitiveness Council meeting in Brussels on Friday, 26 November.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EUR 1.67 million from European Regional Development Fund for the project Arrangement of the city centre – the Rozmanova ulica Street and the Prešernov trg Square. The project is the latest in a series of projects which use EU funding for promoting efficient use of space in urban areas.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša was a guest on the show "Pogovor o" (Talk about) on Radio Ognjišče, moderated by Marta Jerebič and Tanja Dominko. The interview focused on the COVID-19 epidemic, the current work of the Government, relations within the coalition and the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The press conference on the current situation with COVID-19 was attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, mag. Franc Vindišar, and Martina Gašperlin, acting director of the Market Inspectorate.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša hosted a working lunch with the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, followed by a joint press conference.

At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan attended the ministerial meeting of the Adriatic Charter under the Croatian Chairmanship. This regional initiative is uniting the Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and North Macedonia) and the United States of America, with the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia participating as observers.

This conference concludes the Three Presidencies for Climate (Three4Climate) project. Climate activities took place in towns and schools in Germany, Portugal and Slovenia to support the Trio Presidency under the motto "Think European – Act Local".

“Empowered young people are the key to strong democracy, responsible politics, the protection of human rights and building resilience,” stressed Minister Logar in his opening address of the 5th Eastern Partnership Youth Forum. The Forum entitled “Youth participation in democratic processes” took place from 23 to 24 November 2021.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs was invited by the Director of the Bank Association of Slovenia to attend an online event Slovenian Bankers’ Day to discuss the role of banks in the post-pandemic economic recovery. She outlined priority intervention areas identified in the national Recovery and Resilience Plan and for the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027.

Accompanied by the representatives of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Minister Mark Boris Andrijanič visited the Pomurje region. As part of his visit, the Minister met with secondary school students of computer science and the management of the Murska Sobota Secondary Vocational and Technical School. He became acquainted with the activities of the Pomurje Technology Park and examined the production of the high-tech VIRS company.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia today visited the region of Pomurje, which consists of the municipalities of Apače, Beltinci, Cankova, Črenšovci, Dobrovnik, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Hodoš, Kobilje, Križevci, Kuzma, Lendava, Ljutomer, Moravske Toplice, Murska Sobota, Odranci, Puconci, Radenci, Razkrižje, Rogašovci, Sveti Jurij ob Ščavnici, Šalovci, Tišina, Turnišče, Velika Polana and Veržej.

On completion of today's visit to the Pomurje region, the government members attended a public forum and answered questions posed by mayors, businessmen and other development actors in the region.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan chaired today’s regular session of the General Affairs Council in Brussels. The discussion focused on the preparations for the December European Council meeting, the rule of law in five member states, with the cases considered in alphabetical order, and EU enlargement. Ministers and state secretaries for European affairs also took note of the state of EU-UK relations and the European Commission’s work programme for the next year.

In the framework of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, water and marine directors met online for their regular twice-yearly informal meeting. The meeting was attended by around 115 participants, including European Commission representatives, EU water and marine directors and their colleagues, as well as representatives of other European countries, the European Environment Agency and several other organisations. The meeting opened with a welcome address by Dr Metka Gorišek, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning.

In the frame of the Government visit to Southeast Slovenia Minister for Development and EU Cohesion Policy Zvone Černač met with the mayors of the municipality of Moravske Toplice and Turnišče. In Lendava the Minister tried out the electric bike renting system by taking a bicycle ride to visit the transnational cooperation project IronCurtainCycling and the location where new housing units will be built in Lendava.

The Management Board of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) held its seventh virtual meeting today.

As part of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the meeting of the Atlas Commanders Forum was held in Ljubljana today and was attended by representatives of the special police units from all EU member states.

The ministers responsible for urban matters will meet online on Friday, 26 November. The main topic of the meeting will be the Urban Agenda for the EU and the adoption of the Ljubljana Agreement. The informal meeting, which will also be attended by the European Commissioner for cohesion and reforms, Elisa Ferreira, will be chaired by the Slovenian Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Andrej Vizjak.

Slovenian delegation, led by State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs, today participated in the first South East Europe (SEE) 2030 Strategy Monitoring Committee meeting which was held online. The Monitoring Committee consists of delegations from the countries covered by the SEE 2030 Strategy, i.e. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Republic of North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Turkey and a representative of the Regional Cooperation Council secretariat.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today had a meeting at Otočec with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković.

The Medical Director of the University Medical Centre Maribor (UKC), izr. prof. dr. Matjaž Vogrin and School Chief Inspector dr. Simon Slokan took part in the press conference on the current situation regarding the Covid-19 epidemic, while the current epidemiological situation in the country was presented by Maja Bratuša.

Minister Dr Logar participated in the international conference on Belarus organised in an online format by Austrian Federal Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and Austrian Federal Foreign Minister Michael Linhart.

State Secretaries Gašper Dovžan and Stanislav Raščan held separate talks with Special Envoy for the European Union and Europe and Ambassador of Canada to Germany, Stéphane Dion, Ambassador of Canada to the EU Ailish Campbell and non-resident Ambassador of Canada to Slovenia Caroline Charette via video conference.

European Forest Week will be marked next week (22 – 28 November 2021). The week, which was first marked in 2008, offers a unique opportunity to raise the profile of the forestry sector and impact on Europe-wide and global debates on forests. The week is jointly organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The theme of this year's European Forest Week is The Future of Forests.

On 19 and 20 November 2021, the Foreign Minister, Anže Logar, attended the High-Level Forum on Resisting Authoritarianism – “The Future of Democracy” organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. High-level representatives ranging from political decision-makers and academics to human rights defenders and international organisations addressed the most current challenges in the debates related to the shrinking of the democratic space, the consolidation of authoritarianism and the path towards a democratic renaissance.

As part of a two-day meeting, the EU Nature Directors discussed the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the new EU Forest Strategy and wild pollinators. They began by emphasising that, in order to address the loss of biodiversity and climate change, it was imperative to intensify nature-related efforts at all levels.

In the format of ministers for development cooperation, the EU Foreign Affairs Council confirmed the conclusions on water in the EU’s external action, which is one of the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU in development cooperation. The EU will strengthen its reputation as the largest development assistance donor and confirm its impact as the key global actor in this field, also in the light of the UN Conference on the Water Action Decade scheduled for March 2023.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan attended the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in the composition of development ministers (FAC DEV). The meeting endorsed two conclusions, including conclusions on water in the EU’s external action, which represents an important milestone in EU water diplomacy and important achievement of Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan took part in a seminar on the Western Balkans in Madrid, which was organised by the Slovenian Embassy in Madrid, the Bled Strategic Forum, and the Elcano Royal Institute. On this occasion, he also met with State Secretary for the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain Juan González-Barba Pera. In a separate meeting, the two state secretaries reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on topical European, regional, and global issues. Slovenia and Spain are both focusing their efforts towards strengthening the EU's resilience to crises of all kinds with a view to putting the slogan of the Slovenian Presidency “Together. Resilient. Europe.” into action.

The Meeting of the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee of the UN General Assembly, also referred to as the Third Committee, has concluded in New York. The Committee, which opened its meeting on 30 September, adopted more than 60 resolutions. In addition to the Council Presidency, Slovenia is focusing on its priorities in its work within the Third Committee, particularly on the rights of women, the rights of older persons, the rights of the child, human rights and the environment, the human rights situation around the world and issues concerning civil society but is also actively involved in other topics.

At the meeting of the General Affairs Council, the ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy underlined the contribution of Cohesion Policy to reducing and eliminating development gaps, to the green transformation and digital transition and to the economic, social and territorial cohesion. The ministers gave green light to the inclusion of San Marino in the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region.

The Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs today attended a regional ministerial conference entitled "Sarajevo Migration Dialogue" in Sarajevo. The Minister focused on strengthening cooperation and partnership in the region in managing migration and maintaining security.

Minister Jože Podgoršek took part in an interparliamentary meeting of the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (COMAGRI) via video link. The participants were also addressed by the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Norbert Lins and the European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski. The event focused on the drafting of strategic plans for a reform of the common agricultural policy in the Member States.

Today, 18th November 2021, we are celebrating European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. Slovenia is one of the initiating countries, which together with Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco and San Marino prepared a statement to mark this day for the 7th year in a row. This year, the biggest number of countries have joint the statement – all 47 member states of the Council of Europe, the European Union and Tunisia.