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Before the upcoming meeting of the European Council, Prime Minister Janez Janša took part in a videoconference with Charles Michel, president of the European Council, and Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany and current holder of the presidency of the Council of the EU, discussing the tensions in the eastern Mediterranean and relations with China.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar held his first press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, six months after he took office. He outlined the achievements, goals and vision of Slovenia’s foreign policy, which is seeking to put Slovenia back on the international map as a reliable partner within the EU and a credible member of international organisations while pursuing Slovenia's interests. Minister Logar stressed that Slovenia will follow the Foreign Policy Strategy adopted in 2015 and build “a safe, successful and globally respected” state.

Government speaker Jelko Kacin presented the epidemiological situation in Slovenia and in neighbouring Italian regions at a press conference on COVID-19.

Today, the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Janša, hosted a working visit by the Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, Sebastian Kurz, in Ljubljana. The main subjects of talks related to the COVID situation; the interlocutors also discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and current European issues. The relations between Slovenia and Austria are considered to be excellent.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the programme “Mobility of students from socially-disadvantaged areas for 2019, University of Primorska”. The said programme is one of the several initiatives through which the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport each academic year supports the mobility of students of Slovene universities.

Prime Minister Janez Janša and his wife, Urška Bačovnik Janša, attended a ceremony today at Pristava nad Stično in honour of the 30th anniversary of an event at which the key players in the formation of the defence and security system adopted and formalised the strategic documents that served as the basis for the final phase of the organisation of a joint military and police organisation (the National Defence Manoeuvring Structures, or MSNZ), on which the barely independent Slovenia based its effective and successful armed resistance against the aggression of the Yugoslav People’s Army (JLA). In those documents, the JLA was for the first time clearly defined as a potential aggressor, or a clear and present danger to Slovenian independence.

At the press conference, Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin presented the current data on the epidemiological situation in Slovenia and neighbouring countries.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the 24th Slovenian Diplomatic Consultation, which took place at Brdo pri Kranju, and addressed the assembled diplomats. In his speech he set out views on current topics in the international community, marked principally by Brexit and the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In scope of the HIA project, funded by the European Comission and coordinated by TECOS with the help of SRIP FoF, SRIP FoF is launching an open call for the international expert group, where they invite Industry 4.0 experts to apply. This is the first of the overall three open calls within this project.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the “Call for proposals for the financing of incentives for the start-up of businesses in disadvantaged border areas – COVID 1”. The total amount available under the call for proposals, which was published today by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, is EUR 5 million of which European Regional Development Fund contribution amounts to EUR 3.7 million.

Slovenian designers and companies will present themselves at the Danish annual design event 3daysofdesign held in Copenhagen, Denmark that opened today and will conclude on 5 September 2020, with the exhibition The Circle.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic Jean-Yves Le Drian in Brdo pri Kranju at the margins of the meeting of Slovenian diplomats.

On the second day of the Consultations at Brdo, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is paying an official visit to Slovenia, took part in the event at the invitation of the Slovenian Foreign Minister, Dr Anže Logar. In his opening address, Minister Logar stressed that his French counterpart’s participation in the EU panel confirms the two countries’ shared commitment to a strategic partnership and to the EU core. The French Foreign Minister immediately responded to the invitation to visit Ljubljana and take part in the Consultations of Slovenian Diplomats.

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian is paying an official two-day visit to Slovenia at the invitation of Slovenian Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar.

At today’s Government session, the Government adopted an ordinance temporarily imposing mandatory use of protective masks in enclosed public spaces, which includes public transport. The Government also adopted the Act Amending the Environmental Protection Act.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, met today with representatives of the leadership of the Association of Paraplegics of Slovenia, namely President of the Association Dane Kastelic, Vice-President Damjan Hovnik and Head of Professional Services Špela Šušteršič.

The two-day 24th Consultation of Slovenian Diplomats began at the Brdo Congress Centre today. For the first time since he has taken office, Minister Dr Anže Logar presented to heads of diplomatic missions and consular posts the direction and vision of Slovenian foreign policy. He outlined Slovenia's aspiration to be a responsible member of the EU, NATO, and the international community, not merely a silent observer, and to return to the diplomatic map.

The renewed strategy will represent one of the numerous strategic bases for the 2021-2027 European Cohesion Policy implementation. The workshop organised by the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy (GODC) as the coordinator of Slovenia’s Smart Specialisation Strategy was attended also by the representatives of ministries and 9 strategic research and innovation partnerships (SRIP).

In an extended interview for the Hungarian weekly Figyelo published last Thursday, the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša talked about the country’s struggle against the coronavirus crisis, the economic recovery measures adopted by the government, and further government plans. He also reflected on the cooperation between Hungary and Slovenia, and the European future.

The speakers at the press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 were epidemiologist Mateja Logar from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions at the University Medical Center Ljubljana, Polonca Truden Dobrin from the NIPH, who is an expert on child and adolescent health, and the Government spokesperson, Ambassador Jelko Kacin.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today in Bled met with the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The prime ministers discussed the relations between the two countries and their close and comprehensive cooperation.

Prime Minister Janez Janša was a guest of the show Conversations with the people who fought for our independence on RTV Slovenija. In the interview, he spoke of the events that happened 30 years ago during the time of the independence process, about the victory of Demos, the plebiscite, the unity of the Slovenian people at the time of gaining our independence, about the political division of the time, the destroyed archives, the diving line in Slovenian politics, and the subsequent reinterpretation of the events from 30 years ago.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the 15th Bled Strategic Forum and participated in the introductory European Leaders' Panel on "Europe after Brexit and COVID–19".

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending the 15th Bled Strategic Forum. Eight heads of state from the region, six foreign ministers, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and numerous other esteemed guests will attend this year’s Forum and participate in the discussions.

At the second panel of the 15th Bled Strategic Forum morning programme, Minister Dr Anže Logar hosted his counterparts from Croatia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary, alongside EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and the German Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office. The discussion focused on the role of regional integration within the EU, the establishing of links within the Central European region, especially through traffic and energy infrastructure, and on the importance of awareness of the transatlantic partnership.

Due to technical upgrades of the database the ScopeQuery search engine will be disabled from September 4th, 2020.

Every year, the organisers of the Bled Strategic Forum present the BSF Distinguished Partner Award. In 2020, the award was presented to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

At the 15th Bled Strategic Forum, attention was also paid to the burning issues of cyber security, namely within the panel "Is the Future of Cyberspace Only as a Domain of Conflict?", which was opened by the Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik.

In the margins of the Bled Strategic Forum, Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with Christian Pawlu, Member of the Sandoz Executive Board and the Global Head of Strategy, Portfolio and BD&L, Robert Ljoljo, Novartis President for Slovenia, and Gregor Makuc, the Head of Public Affairs for Slovenia in Novartis.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar opened the 15th Bled Strategic Forum (BSF). In his address in the Bled Festival Hall he expressed his satisfaction that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which has reshaped the world, this year’s edition of the BSF is taking place in person. He commended the large attendance of high representatives of states and institutions, among them eight prime ministers and six foreign ministers, which will present their visions of tackling the challenges after the pandemic during the Forum.

Today, Minister Dr Anže Logar held a separate meeting with the new Foreign Minister of Poland Zbigniew Rau on the sidelines of the 15th Bled Strategic Forum. The ministers advocated for further strengthening of cooperation between Slovenia and Poland both at the bilateral level and within regional and supra-regional initiatives. Slovenia and Poland are EU partners and allies within NATO, sharing numerous positions on major international issues.

At today's correspondence meeting, the Government adopted the draft revised national budget for 2020. It also adopted the Act amending the Implementation of the Republic of Slovenia's Budget for 2020 and 2021 Act, which will enable the implementation of this year’s budget after the revised budget comes into effect.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met tonight with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

At the invitation of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Minister Dr Logar attended an informal two-day meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Berlin. On the second day, the foreign ministers turned to topic of the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey’s activities in the region.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar is attending an informal two-day meeting of EU foreign ministers in Berlin at the invitation of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell and German Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Heiko Maas. On the opening day, the ministers discussed the situation in Belarus and possible EU responses.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today met with the President of the Management Board of NLB d.d., Blaž Brodnjak.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the project “Entrepreneurial approach to addressing the challenges in Podravje - PONI Podravje”. The European Regional Development Fund will contribute a good EUR 1 million for the project which is worth almost EUR 1.4 million. This is the last of eight projects within the overall project “Entrepreneurial approach to addressing challenges”, which will be implemented throughout Slovenia. The project aim is entrepreneurial training of people who want to realise an entrepreneurial idea.

The goal of all of us is to enter the school year healthy and, above all, to stay healthy, said the government spokesman Mr Jelko Kacin at today’s press conference. Currently, all our efforts are focused on the timely detection of new infections. We mostly focus on the prevention of the introduction and spread of infections among pupils and students, and especially among teachers and other school staff.

In a telephone conversation today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar and Argentinian Foreign Minister Felipe Solá reaffirmed the excellent relations between the two countries and expressed their interest in their further strengthening.

At a press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19, Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, and the government spokesman, Jelko Kacin, spoke about Croatia's placement on the list of epidemiologically unsafe countries related to the expiry of the deadline for a timely return without mandatory quarantine.

On Friday, 21 August 2020, credit rating agency DBRS Morningstar confirmed Slovenia's credit rating at A (high) with a stable trend. This is once again proof that the measures implemented by the Government during the COVID-19 epidemic were appropriate and that external observers continue to see Slovenia as trust-worthy despite the difficult situation created by the epidemic.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued the Ordinance on imposing and implementing measures to prevent the spread of epidemic of COVID-19 at border crossing points at the external border, inspection points at the internal border and within the Republic of Slovenia and published it in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

This year, the Study Centre for National Reconciliation marked the Europe-Wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes on Friday, 21 August 2020, by laying flowers in three memorial locations in Ljubljana; in front of the memorial plaque of the American Embassy, in front of the Monument to the Victims of All Wars in Kongresni trg, and in front of prison cells in Beethovnova. The ceremony was adapted to accommodate the current health situation.

Today at the Brdo Congress Centre, Prime Minister Janez Janša held a consultation with municipalities and development agencies on the projects and investments for which Slovenia will earmark funding from the EU coronavirus recovery package, to ensure Slovenia's efficient absorption of the hard-won EU funds. Government ministers also participated in the consultation.

The Government adopted the decision to include Croatia in the red list as the neighbouring country exceeded 40 infections per 100,000 inhabitants on Wednesday. The mandatory quarantine for travellers from Croatia and other related measures were presented by Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs, who attended the press conference following the Government's session together with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Aleksandra Pivec and Government spokesman Jelko Kacin.

Today, we mark World Humanitarian Day under the slogan ‘Real Life Heroes’. With the COVID-19 pandemic posing a grave challenge to all humanitarian operations, this year’s humanitarian day is dedicated to promoting solidarity and cooperation during severe crises.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the project “Wastewater discharge and treatment in the municipality of Koper and Ankaran”. The project worth EUR 15.8 million will receive Cohesion Fund support in the amount of EUR 7.3 million.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended an informal video-conference meeting of the European Council. At the meeting, the members of the European Council exchanged views on the developments in Belarus and took note of incidents in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The #OstaniZdrav (#StayHealthy) mobile app is now available to Android OS users in Google Play. At the press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19, the mobile app was presented by Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik, while Government spokesman, Ambassador Jelko Kacin spoke about controlling the spread of coronavirus, particularly in the light of the situation in Croatia.

The Slovene Enterprise Fund has published a call for proposals »Financial support for the digital transformation of SMEs (P4D-C19)". The total amount of funds available under the call for proposals is EUR 15 million which is contributed by the European Regional Development Fund.