News

On 25 September 2020 at the 27th Days of Slovenian Public Administration organised by the Faculty of Administration of the University of Ljubljana, the winner of the competition for best improvement in public administration entitled »The Shift Forward 2020« was announced. The title went to the Government Communication Office for their Model of the central call centre for public information and raising awareness in the event of an epidemic.

Today, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Arancha González Laya received Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar on an official visit to the Kingdom of Spain. Slovenia and Spain are two friendly countries and allies, sharing similar views within the EU and NATO but also concern over numerous international issues.

The Government has been briefed on the Assessment of the epidemiological situation in the EU Member States, the Schengen Area countries, the Balkan countries and the selected third countries, the Assessment of the epidemiological situation in countries and the European Commission's recommendation Re-open EU, and the definition of the criterion for a worsening epidemiological situation and the epidemiological trends in the cumulative 14-day incidence per 100,000 people prepared by the National Institute of Public Health. The Government has assessed the expert justification of the restrictions laid down in the Ordinance on imposing and implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the external border crossings and at control points at the internal borders of the Republic of Slovenia and decided that these restrictions will continue to apply.

At today's meeting by correspondence, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued the Ordinance on imposing and implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the external border crossings and at control points at the internal borders of the Republic of Slovenia, which will be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

Metoda Dodič Fikfak, Director of the Institute of Occupational, Traffic and Sports Medicine, and the Government spokesperson, Ambassador Jelko Kacin spoke about the current situation regarding COVID-19 at a press conference.

On Thursday, 24 September 2020, Germany, Portugal and Slovenia organized a joint Trio event, currently presiding the Council of the EU, as a side event of the 75th United Nations General Assembly: “Digital Societies: towards a human-centred, trustworthy and value-based digital transition”.

New York, 24 September 2020 – On the margins of the Climate Week taking place during the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), members of the Green Group (Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Iceland, Singapore, Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates) call for action in combating climate change in their joint statement.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar took part in the virtual ministerial meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI) Member States. He apprised the participants of Slovenia’s successful response to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing out that the general and special measures adopted by the Slovenian government to curb the epidemic remain in effect.

The press conference on the latest situation regarding the Covid-19 disease was attended by the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Janez Cigler Kralj, the deputy head of the Centre for Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Public Health, Nuška Čakš Jager, and Government spokesman Jelko Kacin.

At it's session, the Government discussed the proposal for the Act Determining the Intervention Measures to Mitigate and Remedy the Consequences of the COVID-19 Epidemic for Citizens and the Economy, took note of the Autumn Forecast 2020, and discussed the proposal for the National Demographic Fund Act.

The European Commission has published the latest results of the regular comparative analysis of the development of e-government services in the European Union 2020 ("e-Government Benchmark"), measurements were carried out in 2019. Compared to other European countries, Slovenia still ranks around the European average in terms of development of e-government services. An example of good practice is the IT solution of electronic sick leave, which was established with the cooperation of the Health Insurance Institute and the Ministry of Public Administration.

A two-day workshop on internationalization as an important part of smart specialization strategies in the countries of the Adriatic-Ionian Macro-region is being held today and tomorrow as part of the fifth consecutive Mediterranean Coast and Macro-regional Strategies Week.

For the first time in the history of independent Slovenia, a broad-ranging Diplomatic Academy programme was launched at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Academy will provide education for future Slovenian diplomats and permanent training for experienced diplomats. At the beginning of its operation, Minister Dr Anže Logar pointed out the importance of the Academy’s role in Slovenian diplomacy, which must “keep up with the times and be constantly updated”, adding that Slovenia remains a staunch advocate of a stronger, more cohesive, efficient and transparent Union. This ability to keep pace was reaffirmed during the recent pandemic crisis when Slovenian diplomacy performed outstandingly, especially in providing assistance to our citizens, responding quickly and reporting on measures taken in other countries, thus demonstrating perseverance, flexibility and hard work.

Today, on 23 September, State Secretary Tone Kajzer participated in a ministerial meeting of the Global Governance Group held on the margins of the UN General Assembly General Debate. The meeting focused on key global issues, including the post COVID-19 recovery.

Today, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended the General Affairs Council meeting, held in person for the first time since the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Council members focused primarily on the preparations for the special European Council meeting (later postponed to 1 and 2 October) and on the coordination of measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic at the EU level.

Today, Ambassador Milan Predan presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Steve Pendarovski. The ambassador said that the relations between the two countries have been sincere throughout the period of their independence, without hidden agendas and based on mutual trust and understanding of each other, so today they are excellent and practically without open issues.

Due to the deterioration of the epidemiological situation regarding COVID-19 the use of masks is mandatory on all premises of the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia from September 23th, 2020. When handling archival records the use of gloves is also mandatory. Visitors may enter the Archives only by prior appointment and after their date of arrival has been confirmed by the reading room staff.

The Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik met with the European Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton in Brussels today. They talked about the digitalization process in Slovenia, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the country's activities in the digital and telecommunications field, 5G technology, Slovenia's priorities during the EU Council presidency in the field of digitalization and data management and Slovenian activities in the field of artificial intelligence.

Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik is paying a working visit to Brussels today.

Prime Minister Janez Janša: If Slovenia has the capacity to draw European funds, this year’s drop in GDP will be just a brief episode in the country’s fiscal life.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar, as Head of the Slovenian Delegation, addressed in a video message the 64th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna.

For the ninth time in a row the European Cooperation Day is commemorated by a series of events taking place throughout Europe. Today we presented the results and importance of cross-border cooperation projects in the cross-border area of Slovenian and Austrian Carinthia. We marked the 30th anniversary of Interreg programmes by planting two trees on each side of the border in the spirit of sustainability and integration. The event was attended also by State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs who underlined the importance of cross-border cooperation programmes.

At today's session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Janez Janša answered deputies’ questions. Questions concerning the health system and waiting times were addressed by Andrej Rajh (SAB – Party of Alenka Bratušek), and Lidija Divjak Mirnik (LMŠ – List of Marjan Šarec), Zmago Jelinčič (SMS – Slovenian National Party) asked about the status of immigrants from third countries and their eligibility for social transfers, and Jurij Lep (DeSUS - Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia) asked about measures concerning the status of pensioners. Mr Lep asked the Prime Minister to explain in what phase the Government's preparation of the Long-Term Care Act is, what is happening with the legislation on the Demographic Fund, and what the timeline for the adoption of these acts is.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels at which the foreign ministers focused on the situation in Libya and Belarus, and European Union-African Union relations. During the working lunch, the ministers discussed the relations with the Southern Neighbourhood, particularly against the backdrop of the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Janez Janša, accompanied by Simona Kustec, Minister of Education, Science and Sport, and Marjan Dolinšek, State Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for sport, met today with Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee.

At the press conference, Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin provided the latest information on the COVID-19 situation in Slovenia.

Today, the Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik met with Chargé d'Affaires of the British Embassy in Slovenia Paul Jancar. They talked about cooperation between the two countries in the field of digitalization and smart cities, facing the pandemic of the Covid-19 virus and Slovenia's preparations for the presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2021.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar hosted Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on an official visit to Slovenia. The ministers agreed on closer cooperation during the preparations for Slovenia’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2021. Minister Dendias expressed gratitude to Slovenia for showing solidarity by providing material aid after the blaze that swept through the island of Lesbos. Today’s was the first official visit between Slovenian and Greek foreign ministers in the last ten years.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today addressed the participants of a consultation organised by the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia about the 2021–2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and the development of the West Slovenia cohesion region.

On the occasion of the European Cooperation Day Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, in cooperation with project partners of the project Mura Raba Tour, organised the event Following the path of privates of the guard. The event focused on the presentation of the projects implemented under the Interreg cooperation programme Slovenia-Hungary 2014-2020 which have a significant impact of the quality of life in the border area.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Sotla River basin – Municipality of Rogaška Slatina. The 2.3 million euro infrastructure project will receive a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund amounting to over EUR 900,000.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for financial instruments for mitigating the effects of the economic crisis due to the COVID-19 epidemic for the period 2020-2023. The available European Regional Development Fund financing in the amount of EUR 65 million will be managed by SID Bank through the Fund of Funds.

Today, Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar received a farewell call from the Ambassador of Japan to Slovenia, Masaharu Yoshida, at the end of his two-year term of office.

The nature conservation centre has received funding from the European Regional Development Fund under the project Nature Ties. In his address, the minister underlined the importance of cross-border projects for tackling common challenges in border areas and of working across borders to find common solutions.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the project Business incubator network – Commercial building Aurea Gorica pri Slivnici which will be implemented as part of the agreement for the development of the Savinja region. The nearly 1.3 million euro project will receive a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund amounting to over EUR 500,000.

Ivan Simič, chair of the government’s strategic council for reducing bureaucracy, today unveiled the measures proposed in a number of areas.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the 32nd session of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia. The prime minister outlined the government’s position on the EU’s 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and the recovery package.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her first State of the European Union speech at the European Parliament, in which she highlighted the current situation and laid out the concrete plans of the European Commission for the following 12 months. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the priorities and messages set out by the Head of the EU Commission in her address to the Plenary.

At the site of the old Frischauf Lodge at Okrešelj, a foundation stone was laid today for a new lodge. With a design based on local, natural materials, the basic construction work is scheduled for completion this year to make the building ready for winter, with completion of the new lodge expected by 2022. The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone was attended by Prime Minister Janez Janša, who also gave a speech.

A press conference on the current Covid-19 situation was held jointly by Robert Smrdelj, mayor of Pivka, Jelko Kacin, the government spokesperson, and Adolf Lukanovič, a retired doctor who spent two months in a coma on a ventilator at the Infection Clinic in Ljubljana with Covid-19.

Firms will have to adapt in a number of ways to the risks of infection. In today’s press conference about the current Covid-19 situation, Urška Blaznik, who is responsible for public health at work organisations at the National Institute of Public Health, emphasised that all the general preventive measures also apply at firms. These include the use of masks and hand sanitiser, social distancing, and also the highly recommended daily measurement of body temperature on arrival at work.

At Brdo pri Kranju, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar hosted today the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic Austria Alexander Schallenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Tomáš Petříček and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Ivan Korčok. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjárto excused his absence, as he was to attend the signature of the agreement on the normalisation of relations between Israel and UAE at the White House. The unofficial Central 5 initiative of foreign ministers was launched during the new coronavirus disease outbreak in spring to better coordinate containment measures. The third meeting reaffirmed the commitment of ministers to deepen the cooperation and ties among neighbouring countries and in the Central European region, including in other areas of common interest.

The Day of the Return of Primorska to its Homeland is a holiday that unites not only the people of Primorska region, but also the entire Slovenian nation. We are celebrating the survival of a nation that has been put to many difficult tests throughout history. Today's holiday is a holiday of love of our homeland, or as the Slovenian cross-border writer Boris Pahor wrote: "Despite all the ascents of the human mind, despite the acquisitions of the human spirit with which we rise above ethnic boundaries, the national community is still the most noble homeland of the human heart".

The firth traditional Mediterranean Coast and Macro-regional Strategies Week, organised by Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy (GODC) together with Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Municipality of Izola and numerous other partners, will be marked by various events focusing on Slovenia’s international cooperation in three European macro-regional strategies, namely the Adriatic-Ionian, Alpine and Danube.

Today, 15 September, marks the International Day of Democracy, which recalls the importance of democratic values and fundamental elements of democratic governance. It also provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world, as the COVID-19 pandemic has put to the test the important acquisitions of our civilisation, which include democracy and its values.

A record 2758 tests were conducted yesterday, with 108 new infections confirmed, said official spokesman Jelko Kacin at the beginning of today’s press conference.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with the representatives of the Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia (the MRAS).

Condé Nast Traveler, a world-renowned luxury travel magazine dedicated to top experiences for the most demanding travellers, has published its list of the best holiday destinations for 2021. This time Slovenia ranked highest, followed by Yorkshire in England and Melides in Portugal. Placing Slovenia at the very top of such a list is further proof of the quality, uniqueness and reliability of its tourism products and services.

Slovenian Government has submitted the Report on the Implementation of EU Cohesion Policy for the Investment for Growth and Jobs Goal in the Second Quarter of 2020 to the National Assembly.

A record number of tests (as many as 2,560) and a record number of infections marked yesterday – 79 coronavirus infections were confirmed.