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In a video address, Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed participants at the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, taking place virtually from 13 to 15 September , as one of the keynote speakers. The main topic of the session, which will be attended by the representatives of the 53 member states of WHO's European region, is tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and setting the course for further action.

For the tenth time in a row, European Cooperation Day events are taking place across Europe under the auspices of the European Commission. On Friday, 10 September 2021, we presented the achievements and the significance of cross-border cooperation projects in the border area of Gorenjska by hiking to Zelenica.

"Culture and cultural heritage should become the humanist agenda of Europe united by European values," was the main message of the two-day international conference entitled The Right to Heritage as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development, which concluded on 12 September 2021.

On the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that hit the United States of America, Minister Anže Logar and Chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy Susan Falatko honoured the memory of nearly 3,000 innocent victims who lost their lives in a series of criminal acts orchestrated by Al-Qaeda extremists in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Acting Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation Igor Jukič attended the extraordinary meeting of EU directors-general for humanitarian aid on the situation in Afghanistan in preparation for the high-level ministerial meeting to be held in Geneva on 13 September 2021.

Ambassador Lea Stančič, met with the President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Grosu, and with the Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița on 8 September 2021.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs met today with the representatives of the Association of Municipalities of Slovenia. They discussed the implementation of municipal and regional projects in the framework of the Agreements on the Development of Regions, and the allocation of the 2014-2020 EU funding for the already-approved projects. The mayors hope that the mechanism would also be designed for the financial perspective 2021-2027. They also exchanged views regarding the ITI mechanism (Integrated Territorial Investments) and the CLLD mechanism (Community-led Local Development) as well as the future of European Cohesion Policy.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar hosted the Gold Ribbon Slovenia team, a group of children and adolescents who have survived cancer or are still battling it, raising awareness about the disease and offering support to their peers. The group’s representatives handed gold ribbons to the Minister as a symbol of childhood cancer awareness. “I will convey your message to the European house of democracy in Strasbourg next week,” said Minister Logar.

We wish to inform our visitors that following the provisions of the Decree on the Method of Meeting the Condition of Recovery, Vaccination and Testing to Cure the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus, only those who submit proof of meeting Recovered – Vaccinated – Tested (RVT) rule will be allowed entry to the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia.

The RVT rule is not mandatory for persons under the age of 12.

On 8 September 2021, Slovenia, the country holding the EU Council Presidency, organised a virtual event “Publication of the Fourth Report on the EU Guidelines on Promoting Compliance with IHL” in tandem with Portugal. The Report was presented in public for the first time, as recommended by the EU Political and Security Committee, with a view to raising awareness of a number of IHL activities undertaken by the EU and its member states.

The Prime Minister, Janez Janša, attended the 30th Economic Forum in Poland, entitled 'Europe in Search of Leadership'. The Economic Forum in Karpacz is the largest conference in Central and Eastern Europe. The Forum, which is traditionally held in Poland in early September, annually attracts more than 4000 guests (political, economic and social leaders) from over 60 countries in Europe, Asia and America. The purpose of the Forum is to create a favourable environment for the development of political and economic cooperation between EU Member States and their neighbours.

At tonight's closing ceremony of the 30th Economic Forum in Poland, Prime Minister Janez Janša received the Man of the Year 2020 of Central and Eastern Europe award.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan today contributed a video address to a high-level event organised by the United Nations entitled: Anticipatory Action: A Commitment to Act Ahead of Crises.

The renowned mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink and bass baritone Marcos Fink enchanted the audience in yesterday's Songs without Borders concert at the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels. They paid homage to the outstanding achievements of European, including Slovenian, and Argentine musical and poetic creativity.

An informal meeting of EU Forest Directors-General was held yesterday and today. State Secretary Aleš Irgolič attended the plenary session, which took place yesterday in Maribor. Pierre Bascou, Director at the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, and Humberto Delgado-Rosa, Director at the Directorate-General for Environment, attended the session as representatives of the European Commission. Today, foreign delegations went on a field trip to Radlje pri Dravi and its surrounding area.

On the 8th September 2021, the Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (stable)/A (stable)/AA- (stable) reopened its 10-year Benchmark (SLOREP 12 February 2031) by €250mn to bring the new outstanding issue to €2bn size.

As part of the government visit to the region, Minister for Development and European Cohesion Policy Zvone Černač today met with mayor of Brda Franc Muženič and mayor of Vipava Goran Kodelja to discuss the progress and benefits of local and regional projects supported by the EU in the current programming period and the projects coming down the line in the next period. State Secretary Kirbiš Rojs also took part in the government visit to the region to meet with the officials from the municipalities Idrija and Tolmin.

As part of the Government visit to the Goriška region, Prime Minister Janez Janša today visited Hidria and attended an event marking the 50th anniversary of the company. Together with dr. Iztok Seljak, the Executive Director of Hidria, he laid the foundation stone for a new high-tech centre for the development and manufacture of key components for electric motors for electric and hybrid vehicles of the future. The centre is expected to be up and running in mid-2023.

A Slovenian Government delegation visited the Goriška region today. The Goriška region is located in west Slovenia, along the Italian border. The Julian Alps, the Soča River and the fertile Vipava Valley are the most distinctive natural geographical features of the region. Since 1995, 13 municipalities have been established in the Goriška region, of which four have fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. In terms of area, the Goriška statistical region is the third largest in Slovenia, and in terms of population it is the sixth largest. The municipality with the largest population is Nova Gorica (31,845), followed by Ajdovščina (19,704) and Idrija (11,735). The smallest municipality is Bovec (3,245).

The Republic of Slovenia announces the cash tender results of the Euro denominated notes of the tender that expired on 7 September 2021. March 2022 Notes and March 2023 Notes were accepted in the amount of EUR 11,257,000 and EUR 86,848,000, respectively.

The Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (stable) / AA-(stable) / A (stable), has mandated Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and J. P. Morgan to lead manage a reopening of the 10-year SLOREP benchmark due in February 2031 in line with Regulation S transactions in dematerialized registered form. The deal is expected to be launched today.

EU agriculture ministers discussed the role of rural areas in society and rural challenges. They characterised rural areas as spaces where different activities coexist and complement one another. They advocated a new definition of the role of rural areas, which have to be supported in all their diversity.

Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs has attended a high-level videoconference meeting on countering illicit firearms trafficking in South East (SE) Europe on behalf of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, which focused on closer regional cooperation in prevention of illicit firearms trafficking.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan held a videoconference with Cabo Verdean Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Miryan Djamila Sena Vieira and Portuguese Secretary of State Francisco André. As to the COVID-19 pandemic, the officials devoted great attention to the efforts for fair distribution of vaccines and Slovenia’s recent donation of 150,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Cabo Verde.

On 8 September 2021 at 20:00, a gala concert entitled Songs without Borders will be held in Brussels, where the internationally renowned opera singers Bernarda Fink (mezzo-soprano) and Marcos Fink (bass baritone) will perform a repertoire of solo cantatas by European, including Slovenian, and Argentine composers.

As part of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Government Information Security Office, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organised a cybersecurity conference in Bled on 3 September 2021, which was held in a hybrid form.

The Prime Minister, Janez Janša, met with the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell at a working dinner.

The Prime Minister, Janez Janša, was the keynote speaker at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the logistical action to seize the military storage facility in Podstrmec pri Borovnici. Guests were also addressed by the president of the MORiS Kočevska Reka association, Tone Krkovič. The action in Podstrmec pri Borovnici was the logistical action of the century, in which 23 members of the reconnaissance squad of the MORiS Brigade, took place on 28 June 1991, the second day of the armed conflicts in the war for Slovenia. The squad seized the Yugoslav People's Army storage facility in Podstrmec pri Borovnici with no casualties on the Slovenian side.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan received Alexandre Adam, Europe Adviser at the Private Office of the President of the French Republic, today. Their discussion focused on the continuation of enhanced strategic cooperation between Slovenia and France in the context of their successive presidencies of the Council of the EU.

Acting Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation Igor Jukič took part in an extraordinary meeting of EU Directors-General for development cooperation on the situation in Afghanistan.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan met with Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, on the margins of the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich). In the context of current developments, State Secretary Dr Raščan and European Commissioner Urpilainen focused on the situation in Afghanistan, the development aspects of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the equitable distribution of vaccines.

Director-General for EU Affairs Barbara Sušnik hosted a videoconference meeting of the Trio Presidency of Slovenia, Germany and Portugal on 3 September 2021, which reviewed the achievements of the Slovenian Presidency and outlined the plans for the Council’s dossier management until the end of the year.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan, along with Deputy Director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Nitin Natarajan, took part in the final part of the Cybersecurity Conference held from 2 to 3 September 2021 in Bled.

EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs are gathered at an informal meeting at Brdu pri Kranju (Gymnich). The two-day event hosted by Slovenian Foreign Ministers Dr Anže Logar and chaired by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell provided a platform for an open debate on the Union’s future efforts in Afghanistan and the EU-China relationship.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan and Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Teimuraz Janjalia held bilateral political consultations in Ljubljana. They agreed that the bilateral cooperation is characterised by positive dynamics, with many opportunities for further enhancement, especially in tourism. They exchanged views on current foreign policy and security regional issues and discussed Georgia’s cooperation with the EU and NATO.

State Secretary dr. Stanislav Raščan had a courtesy call with General Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union (EUMC).

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on a working visit.

This was the main topic discussed by the participants at the Cybersecurity Conference today in Bled, which was organised by the Government Information Security Office in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration as part of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik and Acting Director of the Government Information Security Office Uroš Svete opened the conference by addressing the participants.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar participated in three panels at the Bled Strategic Forum today. The first panel focused on the possibilities of enhanced cooperation in the North Adriatic and the second discussed the geostrategic role of the Mediterranean, while the third emphasised the possibilities of cooperation between the European Union and India in the Indo-Pacific region.

Minister Anže Logar today hosted Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of the Republic of India. This is the first visit to Slovenia at the level of foreign ministers in 30 years. The Indian Minister is also a guest of this year’s Bled Strategic Forum and will be attending a working lunch on the margins of the informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers (Gymnich) at Brdo pri Kranju.

Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs presented the Slovenian Presidency's priorities to members of the LIBE Committee. The priorities include the current migration situation.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană on the fringes of the Bled Strategic Forum today. In the light of current developments, the two high officials focused on the situation in Afghanistan and condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Kabul.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan today received Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya and Chief Administrative Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ababu Namwamba.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar met with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, on the margins of the Bled Strategic Forum. The talks focused on the current situation in Afghanistan and the future mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the 16th Bled Strategic Forum, which is being held under the title "The Future of Europe".

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the 16th Bled Strategic Forum, which is being held under the title "The Future of Europe".

An international conference on one of the thematic priorities of the Slovenian presidency – missing persons, in particular missing children – is taking place in Ljubljana today and tomorrow. The conference is held under the auspices of the Police Expert Network on Missing Persons, which was officially recognised by the Council’s Law Enforcement Working Party, and in cooperation with AMBER Alert Europe.

One of the flagship events of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the 16th Bled Strategic Forum, started with the opening addresses by its host, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Anže Logar, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Janša and President of the European Council Charles Michel. “It is imperative we identify strategic responses to the challenges facing both our citizens' everyday lives, and those Europe as a continent might yet see. We must identify those policies where the EU is a global example and incorporate the lessons learned from the crises of the past decade,” urged Minister Dr Logar in his opening speech in the Bled Festival Hall.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attends the Bled Strategic Forum, which he opened with an opening address. The unauthorised Prime Minister's speech is published below.

Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending the 16th Bled Strategic Forum, which is being held under the theme "The Future of Europe".