News

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša held a working lunch with the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who is paying an official visit to Slovenia between 31 May and 1 June 2021 at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor. This is the second bilateral visit of a Portuguese president to Slovenia so far (the first such visit was in April 1999 by the then Portuguese president Jorge Sampaio).

A press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 featured the head of the vaccination advisory group, Bojana Beović.

Today, at the invitation of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife, Urška Bačovnik Janša, are attending the ceremony organised by the Republic of Croatia on the occasion of their Statehood Day. On this occasion, the Prime Minister and his wife attended a concert at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša received Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić on a working visit. At the working meeting, the two prime ministers discussed the situation of the pandemic, which is improving in both countries, the relations between the two countries and the EU enlargement process.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today met his host and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov for a working meeting aimed at presenting the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency in the second half of 2021, exchanging views on current international topics, and bilateral cooperation.

It was not possible to reach a political agreement with the European Parliament and the European Commission on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in a super trilogue and the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council. The Portuguese Presidency will continue the negotiations until the end of its Presidency, aiming to reach a final agreement at June's meeting of the EU Council that will be held in Luxembourg. Minister Jože Podgoršek has attended the meeting on behalf of Slovenia. After the suspension of negotiations, Mr Podgoršek said early this morning that, even though we still have different views from the European Parliament and the Commission on some questions and final solutions, we are closer to a final agreement. "It is vital to go through a democratic process to reach important agreements, such as the agreement on the new Common Agricultural Policy. This means that opinions and specific characteristics of numerous stakeholders and Member States are included and taken into account. We obviously have to find some more political will to reach a real compromise and seek solutions that, in the end, will benefit agriculture and rural areas. I believe that the Portuguese Presidency will do everything in its power to conclude the negotiation process in June's Council. If the negotiations are not concluded by then, Slovenia will continue these complex negotiations during its Presidency of the Council of the EU."

The 2nd Session of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation between Slovenia and North Macedonia was held via videoconference today. Slovenia was represented by State Secretary Stanislav Raščan and North Macedonia by State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy, Razmena Cekić-Durović.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, via videoconference today. The meeting was convened at Slovenia’s initiative and focused on the presentation of the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

Today's press conference featured Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Janez Cigler Kralj.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Industrial-Business Zone Steklarna – TKI Hrastnik. The Municipality Hrastnik will implement the EUR 4 million project under the Agreement on the Development of the Zasavje Region. European Regional Development Fund contribution stands at nearly EUR 2.5 million.

In the month that celebrates World Bee Day, an important EU supported project that transcends municipal and state borders is being completed “House of the Carniolan Bee – Centre for Innovative Technologies (ApiLab)”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar attended an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich) in Lisbon. The ministers discussed EU-Africa relations, the unresolved conflicts in the European Eastern Neighbourhood, Belarus and the drafting of the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi joined them for a working lunch and briefed them on the situation in the region and the Middle East Peace Process.

The press conference focused on the decisions taken by the Government at its 77th and 78th sessions; the decisions were presented by Minister of Health Janez Poklukar, Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik, the head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health, Mateja Logar, Inspector Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate, and Deputy Director-General of the Police Tomaž Pečjak.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan met with Roland Schilling, Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for Central Europe. They discussed the priorities of Slovenia's EU Council Presidency, migration, the difficult humanitarian situation of refugees and migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Slovenia's support for the UNHCR.

The Minister of Finance M.Sc. Andrej Šircelj on the basis of the third paragraph of Article 40 of the Slovenian Sovereign Holding Act, issued a Decision on the appointment and tasks of the Expert Commission for the preparation of the candidate proposal for the member of the Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) Supervisory Board.

Today, at the 75th extraordinary session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Janez Janša responded to a proposal for a constitutional indictment filed by opposition parties. His answer outlined the current epidemiological situation and listed the reasons for the situation in Slovenia. He pointed out that the opposition must be moderate in exercising possible instruments, and spoke of an optimistic economic forecast, then gave the latest data about vaccinations, stressing that a year of recovery is ahead, which will be faster than the average of EU member states and will return Slovenia to pre-crisis levels in record time.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a meeting via videoconference with State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. Their conversation focused on the priorities of the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, officially opened the 10th jubilee Africa Day International Conference. Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar, who emphasised that from the very beginning, the Africa Day Conference has been a forum for the exchange of ideas and views between partners, including Slovenian and African companies, also addressed the participants.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project ITI Arrangement of cycling connections in Urban Municipality Murska Sobota – Phase 2 – Cohesion Fund. The project implemented by the Urban Municipality Murska Sobota is worth EUR 1.3 million with the Cohesion Fund contribution standing at EUR 601 thousand.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša, together with Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar, Minister of the Economy Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs, Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti and Minister of Health Janez Poklukar, had a virtual meeting with President of the European Parliament David Sassoli and the leaders of the European Parliament's political groups. After the meeting, President of the European Parliament and Prime Minister Janša issued a joint statement for the media.

The press conference was attended by State Secretary Jelko Kacin, responsible for the logistics of mass vaccination against Covid-19.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Agreement on the development of region: Drinking water supply in the Upper Sava River area – Set 4. The project worth a good EUR 3 million will be implemented by the Municipality Preddvor and the Municipality Naklo in the framework of the Agreement on the Development of the Gorenjska region and will receive EUR 943 thousand of Cohesion Fund support.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Upper Sava River basin – Municipality Tržič. The project implemented by the municipality Tržič under the Agreement on the Development of the Gorenjska region is worth EUR 10.4 million with the Cohesion Fund contribution standing at EUR 2.5 million.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar is hosting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković on an official visit to Slovenia. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, supporting Serbia on its path towards EU membership and exchanging views on the situation in the Western Balkans in the light of Slovenia's upcoming EU Council Presidency.

Director-General for European Affairs Barbara Sušnik held bilateral consultations with Pilvi-Sisko Vierros-Villeneuve, Director-General at the Department for Europe at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs via videoconference today. They exchanged views on current bilateral European and international topics.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with the Maltese Minister for Home Affairs, Byron Camilleri, in Malta today, as part of preparations for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The press conference was attended by Irena Grmek Košnik, a representative from the Kranj Regional Unit of the National Institute of Public Health. Maja Bratuša presented the epidemiological situation in the country.

Prime Minister Janez Janša is participating at a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels. The leaders will focus on the current status regarding the harmonisation of the EU response to COVID-19 and the reform of the Fit for 55 climate and energy legislative package.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša is in Brussels where he met Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Eduard Heger, prior to the special meeting of the European Council. During their talks, the discussion partners spoke about the management of the COVID-19 situation and the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with the Greek Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, and the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Notis A. Mitarachi, in Athens today, as part of preparations for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan today held a consultation with Msgr Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski, the Under-Secretary of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Pameče 3 Business Zone expansion. The project worth EUR 2.3 million will be implemented by the Urban Municipality Slovenj Gradec under the Agreement on the development of the Koroška region and will receive nearly EUR 1.3 million of European Regional Development Fund support.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar, together with his Austrian and Czech counterparts Alexander Schallenberg and Jakub Kulhánek, visited Tirana and met with Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka, Prime Minister Edi Rama, President Ilir Meta and President of the largest opposition Democratic Party Lulzim Basha. The three ministers travelled to the Albanian capital in the context of a two-day working visit to Skopje and Tirana.

This evening, Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife Urška Bačovnik Janša attended a concert by the Big Band of the Slovenian Armed Forces Orchestra on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Pekre events. The concert took place outside the Kadetnica military facility in Maribor. On this occasion, Prime Minister Janez Janša also gave an official address.

Minister Andrej Šircelj attended the informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers in Lisbon on 21 and 22 May. The recovery following the COVID 19 pandemic remains a key priority of the EU Member States. It is important for the European Union that an inclusive and balanced recovery process ensures resilience and stimulates green and digital transitions at the same time.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, was the guest on a TV Slovenija 3 talk show hosted by Igor Pirkovič. He spoke about vaccination, those who have recovered from COVID-19, curbing the epidemic, vaccination coverage, the current political situation, the balance of political powers, the upcoming presidency of the Council of the EU and the planned priorities.

Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated this year's landmark Slovenian Diplomacy Day. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence and in the run-up to its EU Council presidency, the Ministry commemorated prominent personalities of Slovenian diplomacy, who have opened new doors in the international arena during the last few decades. This year, the special occasion was dedicated to Štefan Falež, the first Slovenian Ambassador to the Holy See.

In 2019, the world honey yield was 173% higher than in 1961. In 2019, 10,145 beekeepers in Slovenia were taking care of 208,000 hives (3,245 organic), each an average of 21 hives. In 2019, Slovenian beekeepers produced 650 tons of honey, 63% less than in 2018.

The District Court in Ljubljana annulled the enforcement orders for the recovery of EUR 169,000.00 for January 2021 and EUR 169,000.00 for February 2021, issued by the District Court in Ljubljana against the Government Communication Office (UKOM) on the basis of the motion for enforcement filed by Slovenska tiskovna agencija, d.o.o., represented by Bojan Veselinović through the law firm Kozinc and Partners o.p., d.o.o. They also added that the court will decide on the claim and costs in civil proceedings before the District Court in Ljubljana.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project Agreement on the development of region: Medvode-Pirniče-Vikrče cycling connection. The project worth EUR 2.2 million will be implemented by the Municipality of Medvode under the Agreement on the development of the Osrednjeslovenska region and will receive EUR 912 thousand of European Regional Development Fund support.

Today at Brdo pri Kranju, Prime Minister Janez Janša held the first introductory debate on the future of Europe entitled “The Future of Europe – Discussion on Strategic Challenges at the Beginning of a pan-European debate”. The participants in the debate were also President of Slovenia Borut Pahor, Adviser to the President Dr Ernest Petrič (through video call), former Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitrij Rupel, lawyer Dr Matej Avbelj, lawyer Dr Jurij Toplak and former Member of the European Parliament Zofija Mazej Kukovič.

On Europe day, 9 May, the work on the Conference on the Future of Europe has started. This unique and democratic project will enable Europeans to exchange views and try to find answers regarding the direction of the future development of our continent, the role and positioning of the Union in the changed geopolitical relations and, last but not least, our own existence. What are the foundations that will unite and connect the Europeans in the present as well as in the future? The Council of the EU, which will be chaired by Slovenia for the most of the time during which the conference will be held, the European Parliament, and the European commission will be jointly responsible for the implementation of this major project. In its role as the country holding the presidency, Slovenia will coordinate and represent the positions of the Member States when conducting the conference.

At the press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 Franc Vindišar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Damir Orehovec, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate, and Alojz Sladič, Head of the General Safety and Security Planning Section from the General Police Division of the General Police Directorate were present.

On the second and concluding day of his working visit to Berlin, Foreign Minister Anže Logar met with President of the German Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble. He highlighted the excellent cooperation between the two parliaments and outlined the priority tasks of Slovenia's EU Council presidency. He exchanged views with the German side on topical issues and gave an overview of the European perspective of the Western Balkans.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša attended training demonstrations as part of the Defender Europe 2021 military exercise. Part of the exercise is also taking place in Slovenia between 1 May and 15 June under the command of the Slovenian Armed Forces Major General Miha Škerbinc. The demonstrations took place at the main training ground of the Slovenian Armed Forces at Poček.

Today is World Bee Day. We welcome you to read an Interview with minister Podgoršek on World Bee Day.

Today we celebrate World Bee Day. On the initiative of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, the Republic of Slovenia proposed that the United Nations Organisation proclaim 20 May as World Bee Day. Numerous events have taken place today. On the occasion of this year's World Bee Day, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) addresses the general public under the slogan Bee Engaged: Building Back Better for Bees.

On the second day of the two-day official visit to Brussels, Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik met with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager and the Director-General for Transport, Energy, Environment and Education (DG TREE) Peter Javorčik. The purpose of the two-day visit is part of Slovenia’s preparations for the Presidency to the Council of EU and present priorities in the field of digitisation or digital technologies, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The protection of bees and other pollinators is closely linked with raising the awareness of the wider public on the adverse effects of human activities on pollinators and the devastating consequences these activities might have for life and food. The cultural and creative sectors have a significant impact on raising awareness and changing habits by underlining the problematic and promoting alternative, pollinator-friendly ways of living, consuming, farming, and others.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Business infrastructure in the Industrial and Small Business Zone Neverke. The project worth a good EUR 1 million will be implemented by the Municipality of Pivka under the Agreement on the development of the Primorsko-notranjska region and will receive EUR 709 thousand of European Regional Development Fund support.