News

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar welcomed Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, on his first official visit to Slovenia today. The talks between the two Ministers focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in various fields of common interest.

Entry into the Republic of Slovenia is possible for non-essential travel in accordance with Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction, including amendments thereto. The information was updated on 10 January 2022.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs addressed the participants of the 3rd conference on civil engineering, spatial planning and environment which this year focused on amendments of the legislation pertaining to construction and spatial planning in light of the priorities of the EU recovery and resilience funds. State Secretary presented the investment priorities supported by the European Cohesion Policy funds and the Recovery and Resilience facility in the frame of construction and environment projects.

Today, Prime Minister Janša attended the opening ceremony of APILAB – HOUSE OF THE CARNIOLAN BEE Centre for Innovative Technologies in Višnja Gora. The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek and the Minister competent for Development and European Cohesion Policy Zvone Černač. At the ceremony, which was enriched with a short cultural programme, Prime Minister Janez Janša also delivered an address.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar is visiting Athens today, where he met with his Greek host Nikos Dendias, Minister of Foreign Affairs. They discussed strengthening bilateral, regional and European integration towards a stronger and more resilient Europe. The visit of Minister Logar to Greece in the light of Slovenia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and its recent accession to the EU Med group in September this year is of vital importance for the country.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša convened a working consultation session entitled “The Slovenian energy sector today, in 2033 and beyond”.

Head of the vaccination advisory group Bojana Beović and Maja Bratuša participated at the press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia has nominated the Madagascar-based Missionary Pedro Opeka for the Raoul Wallenberg Prize of the Council of Europe for exceptional humanitarian achievements.

Heads of state and government, including Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, will today conclude their two-day climate summit in Glasgow. The next two weeks of the conference will focus in particular on the climate negotiators who have to finalise the rulebook for implementing the Paris Agreement.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan and Chairwoman of the German-Slovene Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK) Gertrud Rantzen, who is ending her longstanding term of office, welcomed the high level of economic relations between Slovenia and Germany.

Today's press conference to provide an update on COVID-19 was presented by the Director of the National Institute of Public Health, Milan Krek, and Maja Bratuša, who provided the latest epidemiological information regarding COVID-19.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EUR 307,000 in ERDF funding for the Call for proposals for a stronger supportive environment for social enterprises. The call is the latest in a series of projects aiming to foster dynamic and competitive entrepreneurship for green growth.

On the Day of Remembrance for the Dead, the deputy ambassador in Kyiv Blaž Masle laid a memorial wreath on behalf of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Janša on the memorial to the fallen Slovenian soldiers on the Eastern Front during the First World War at the Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv.

Today and tomorrow, Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending the COP26 International Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. The International Climate Conference — Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COP26, is taking place from 31 October to 12 November. Slovenia's and the EU’s global climate action is based on the implementation of the external dimension of the European Green Deal (2019) and the Council conclusions on Climate Diplomacy (2020).

On behalf of Prime Minister Janez Janša, the Slovenian Armed Forces Guard laid wreaths at the Monument to the Fallen in the Slovenian Independence War, the Memorial to the Slovenian Home Guard at Žale Cemetery, the grave of the father of the Slovenian State, Jože Pučnik, and the grave of the former Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Andrej Bajuk, on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Dead. The Slovenian Armed Forces Guard also laid a rose and lit a candle on the grave of the former Prime Minister and President of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Drnovšek.

Minister Jože Podgoršek began his two-day visit to Dubai today with a tour of the Sustainable City. He visited the EXPO 2020 world’s fair, where he was first received at the Slovenian pavilion, which greets visitors at the very entrance to the exhibition venue.

Below is the message delivered by Prime Minister Janez Janša on the occasion of today’s national holiday – Reformation Day.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife Urška Bačovnik Janša attended an event celebrating 100 years of the Skala Mountaineering Club in Slovenia, entitled "Upward like a rock, we go!" ("K višku kot skala, vodi naša pot!"), delivering a speech at a ceremony held at Hotel Lev in Ljubljana.

In his address to the Savica Symposium 2021: Slovenian-American Science Symposium, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan gave an overview of the activities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the field of research and science.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a state ceremony marking Reformation Day, which took place at the Krško Cultural Hall. The keynote speaker at the ceremony was the Minister of Culture, Dr Vasko Simoniti.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan visited Ukraine between 27 and 29 October 2021. He participated in the international conference titled “The Odesa Debate” and held several bilateral meetings on the margins of the conference. In the debate on the vision of peace and prosperity in Ukraine, he commended the progress already made, bringing Ukraine closer to European values and norms, underlining the importance of further strengthening economic and social resilience.

From 31 October to 14 November, the 26th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) will take place in Glasgow, with the participation of delegations of States Parties to the Convention and Parties to the Paris Agreement. As the country holding the presidency of the EU Council, Slovenia and the European Commission will represent the EU in international relations, conduct negotiations with third countries and coordinate EU member states.

Victims of hate speech and hate crime must be empowered, supported and their rights effectively addressed. The internet and online platforms further increase the negative effects of hate speech, as content can instantly spread to a wide range of people. Minister Dikaučič: “What is forbidden in the real world should also be forbidden online.”

Director-General Jernej Müller hosted an informal meeting of political directors of EU member states in Ljubljana on 28 and 29 October.

Mag. Franc Vindišar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, attended today’s press conference and presented the situation in Slovenian hospitals. He pointed out that our health system is currently facing numerous challenges.

The minister visited the Chamber of Commerce and Industry today, where he was briefed by its management on its green and digital projects.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša continued his working visit to Brussels.

On Thursday, 28 October 2021, Minister Mark Boris Andrijanič delivered an opening keynote address via audio-video link at the 9th AmCham EU Transatlantic Conference, entitled "The Power of Data: Fuelling Europe's Digital Decade".

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funds for the project COVID19 – Arrangement of an intermediate care department of Murska SObota General Hospital. The project worth EUR 8.9 million will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and will receive EUR 5 million of European Regional Development Fund contribution under the React-EU initiative. This year Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has already approved EUR 71 million to help strengthen Slovenia’s healthcare system.

On 25 and 26 October 2021, Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces Major General Robert Glavaš, attended a meeting of the EU Military Committee at EU CHOD’s level in Brussels

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan spoke at the third China-EU Discussion Event under the slogan “Shaping the Future of China-EU Relations”.

In the week leading up to Remembrance Day on 1 November, a wreath was laid in Gorlice, Poland, on behalf of Prime Minister Janez Janša at the memorial to the Slovenians who fell on the Galician Front during World War I.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today met with President of the European Council Charles Michel for a working dinner in Brussels.

Today, the State Secretary Peter Geršak attended the meeting of the ministers of the D9+ countries in Luxembourg. In his speech he highlighted the need to reduce the digital gap between the EU Member States.

The Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs chaired the first meeting in the context of international negotiations on the revision of Europol's mandate today in Brussels. Minister Hojs fulfilled this role as the current President of the EU Home Affairs Council on behalf of the Council of the EU.

A regular meeting of Directors-General for territorial cohesion, chaired by Georgi Bangiev, Director-General of the Spatial Planning, Construction and Housing Directorate at the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, took place yesterday as a part of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. At the meeting, the Directors-General were acquainted with the activities connected with communication and implementation of the Territorial Agenda 2030 adopted in December 2020.

At today's session, the Government adopted amendments to the Ordinance on the method of meeting the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which set out the frequency of screening with the rapid antigen self-test or rapid antigen tests every 48 hours, bi-weekly self-testing for all primary and secondary school pupils and students, and the obligation to wear masks despite the fulfilled recovered/vaccinated rule for health, education and social care activities, and in activities and services where there is interpersonal contact.

Today, the Republic of Slovenia, as holder of the Presidency of the Home Affairs Council of the EU and the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice(eu-LISA) held the 8th Eu-LISA Annual Conference entitled Towards the Digital Schengen Area. The participants of the annual conference discussed the progress achieved and shortcomings in the implementation of modern technologies on the external EU borders.

The Minister for Digital Transformation, Mark Boris Andrijanič, paid a working visit to Brussels from 25 to 27 October, during which he also met with representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament. During his visit to Brussels, Minister Andrijanič presented the tasks of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Digital Transformation and exchanged views on the opportunities in digital transformation for the advancement of the economy and the reduction of the digital divide in society.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar participated in the second AU-EU ministerial meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. The meeting was of particular importance as it set the stage for the 6th AU-EU Summit scheduled to be held in 2022. “Slovenia as the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU fully supports our common aspiration for a stronger partnership between the African Union and the European Union. A partnership with a shared long-term vision and with strong day-to-day cooperation,” Minister Logar said in his address.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan participated as one of the key speakers via video conference at the plenary session of the 8th Symposium “China and countries of Central and Eastern Europe”. The focus of the hybrid seminar was to discuss how to steer the 16+1 initiative through a turbulent period of change and adaptation.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs attended the Smart Country Convention 2021. In the panel “Successful Digital Transformation of the Civil Society and the Public Sector: Stories from Female Leaders” she presented the priorities of Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU in the field of digitalisation, best practices and how female leaders view the process of digitalisation.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tehran has handed over six urban beehives to the school for Afghan girls, children of refugees in Karaj, Iran, which will be used by the fostered children for educational purposes and practical training. The purpose of the project, which began in 2019, is to familiarize the most vulnerable parts of the Iranian society, especially street children and children of Afghan refugees, with the opportunities offered by beekeeping and the production of honey and honey-based products.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia and the European Parliament co-organised the ninth meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europol, which was held in Brussels. The meeting was devoted to an overview of Europol's activities in the present year and the presentation of Europol Draft Multiannual Programming Document 2022-2024. Cybercrime in the EU was also discussed, with a focus on online child abuse, financial crime and corruption.

Op-Ed by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Anže Logar, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Heiko Maas, Minister of State and for Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic Dr Augusto Santos Silva and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Today, the Prime Minister Janez Janša took part in a national Sovereignty Day ceremony, which took place in the sports hall of the Koper Primary School. The keynote speaker at the ceremony was the Minister of Defence Matej Tonin.

Today, Prime Minister Janša attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition "The peculiar thing about dreams is they sometimes come true" in the Park of Military History in Pivka. On this occasion, the Prime Minister addressed the participants. The Prime Minister opened his address saying that that today we are celebrating a final act in the Slovene epic of independence, when Slovenes became masters on their own land.

...Brothers! Our spring is rising from the ground,
Clear as a gale, strong as a wave:
It has descended on our homes,
Dispelled the darkness, brought out the sun,
The sun – the day of King Matjaž.
(Rudolf Maister Vojanov, Onward)

On Tuesday, 19 October, the Office of the Military Representative to the European Union organized an informal meeting of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) where topics ranking among the military-related priority contents of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council were presented and discussed.

The United Nations was established on this day 76 years ago. The theme for this year’s General Assembly is Building Resilience through Hope – post-pandemic recovery, rebuilding sustainability, responding to the needs of the planet, respecting the rights of people, and revitalisation of the United Nations.