News

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at Ljubljana Airport and they held a brief bilateral meeting.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Aleksandra Pivec, today attended the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels (AGRIFISH). On the margins of the meeting, the Ministers of Agriculture of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia made a joint declaration in which they presented the programme of work of the future Trio Presidency regarding agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Aleksandra Pivec, today attended the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels (AGRIFISH). At the meeting, the ministers were briefed on the report on progress in consideration of the CAP reform legislative package beyond 2020 and continued to discuss the CAP reform, focusing on green architecture, the farm to fork strategy and a new implementation model.

Today, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dr. Anže Logar and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed a Joint Declaration on 5G Security.

Today, on 13 August 2020, Prime Minister Janez Janša hosts the United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. The purpose of the visit is to reaffirm and foster close relations of friendship, partnership and alliance between Slovenia and the United States, review cooperation between the countries in all key areas of common interest and identify opportunities for enhancing mutual cooperation. During the talks, some topical international issues were also discussed. In the margins of the talks, the Joint Declaration of Slovenia and the United States on 5G Security was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Anže Logar, and Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

Mateja Logar from the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre, and Slovenian Government spokesman, Ambassador Jelko Kacin, took part in a press conference on the status of the COVID-19 disease. The two spoke about the various forms of support treatment, and encouraged those who have recovered from COVID-19 to give blood. Recovering patients may in the coming months be susceptible to various other health issues, even younger patients who recovered from COVID-19 relatively easily.

At today's correspondence session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia decided to earmark EUR 200,000 for emergency humanitarian aid to Lebanon and to send an expert to help coordinate international assistance in Lebanon within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

The Slovenian Government has allocated, through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Caritas Internationalis, a contribution of EUR 200,000 for the people of Beirut. In addition, as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Slovenia today deployed to Beirut a logistics expert, who is part of the EU Civil Protection Team.

On the basis of an expert assessment, the Slovenian Government decided that the restrictions under the Ordinance on the temporary general restriction or prohibition of the gathering of people in the Republic of Slovenia would continue to remain in force. The Czech Republic, Malta, Switzerland, and certain Spanish administrative units, i.e. the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, and Castile and León, were removed from the green list, whereas Belgium was added to the red list.

At today's correspondence meeting, the Government decided that the Ordinance on temporary measures in implementing compulsory health insurance to control and manage the COVID-19 epidemic would cease to be in force. It also adopted the consolidated balance sheet of the state and municipalities which in 2019 increased by 2.8% or EUR 1.36 billion.

US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will be visiting Slovenia next week. The purpose of the visit is to intensify the high-level relations, which have stalled during the past few years, and to deepen the close friendly relations between the two allies and partner states, Slovenia and the USA. Another aim of the visit is to enhance the high-level bilateral political dialogue and strengthen cooperation in business and other areas.

On 6 August 2020, some changes to the lists of countries were introduced. Among other, the Slovenian Government decided to take the Czech Republic, Malta, Switzerland and some administrative units of Spain off the green list (entry without a quarantine) and to add Belgium to the red list (14-day quarantine).

On behalf of the Slovenian government, Prime Minister Janez Janša sent a cable of condolences to the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Hassan Diab, expressing his shock at the loss of lives and offered support and help after the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut on Tuesday, 4 August 2020, in late afternoon hours.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issues a grant decision for the project “Construction of secondary circuit of wastewater discharge in the Vuzenica industrial zone”. The project worth EUR 319,000 will be realised by the municipality of Vuzenica and will receive European Regional Development Fund support in the amount of EUR 236,000.

One of the staff members of the Prime Minister’s Office was tested for COVID-19 yesterday as he was not feeling well. Since the test was positive, a testing for all employees who had been in contact with the staff member concerned was organised in accordance with the guidelines and epidemiological recommendations of the NIJZ (National Institute of Public Health).

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the project “Zasavje business incubator”. The project worth EUR over EUR 2 million will receive European Regional Development Fund support in the amount of EUR 1.2 million.

Based on the German version, the application has already been adapted to Slovenian conditions and is undergoing a testing phase. It was presented at a press conference by Peter Geršak, State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration, Primož Cigoj, Director of the RSteam company, and Špela Horjak, Deputy Government Spokesperson.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the project Restoration of wetland habitats along the Mura river and Vision Pohorje 2030 – Improving the conservation status of grasslands, water habitats and forest habitats and setting up quiet zones in Pohorje. The two projects, whose total budget will amount to over EUR 6.7 million, will be supported by the European Regional Development Fund with the support totaling more than EUR 5.3 million.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the project “Taking an entrepreneurial approach to addressing the challenges in the Primorsko-notranjska development region” and “Taking an entrepreneurial approach to addressing the challenges in the Pomurje development region”. The projects worth over EUR 1.4 million will receive European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) support in the amount of over EUR 1 million. The projects represent two of the eight projects that make up the project “Taking an entrepreneurial approach to addressing challenges” that is to be implemented throughout Slovenia. The goal of the project is entrepreneurial training for people trying to realise their entrepreneurial idea.

The news report, which was published on a fraudulent website and is making the rounds on social media, is an online scam. There are statements on the website that were not made or written by Prime Minister Janez Janša and were falsely attributed to him, moreover, the photos were published without authorisation from the authors.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Anže Logar met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Dr Gordan Grlić Radman.

On Monday, 874 tests were carried out and 14 new cases were confirmed, including one in the Hrastnik Care Home. The Head of the Expert Group on the containment and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, Dr Bojana Beović, and Deputy Government Spokesperson, Ms Špela Horjak, discussed the current situation regarding the COVID-19 disease at a press conference.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the project “Deinstitutionalisation of the Centre for Training, Work and Care in Črna na Koroškem”. The project worth a little less than EUR 2.4 million will receive European Social Fund support in the amount of over EUR 1.9 million.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the project “Construction of wastewater infrastructure for Garant Polzela area”. The value of the project, which will be implemented by the Municipality of Polzela, amounts to more than EUR 703,000, of which the European Regional Development Fund will contribute EUR 337,500.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the call for proposals Co-financing of costs of digitalising sales processes and producing promotional and marketing materials for foreign markets - JPTT2020-COVID19. The call will be published by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and will make EUR 800,000 available from the European Regional Development Fund.

Slovenian minister of the interior Aleš Hojs participated at a two-day ministerial summit in Vienna on efficient combat against current challenges of migration on the eastern Mediterranean route. Austrian federal minister of the interior Karl Nehammer called the conference due to increasing migration flows on the eastern Mediterranean migration route. The purpose of the meeting was to overview the overall situation regarding irregular migrations and agree on closer operational cooperation in addressing irregular migration with particular attention on border management.

The press conference on the COVID-19 situation following Thursday's regular Government session focused on controlling the spread of the virus at the Hrastnik Care Home. The main speakers were the Minister of Health, Tomaž Gantar, the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Janez Cigler Kralj, and the deputy government spokesperson, Špela Horjak.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Dr Jacek Czaputowicz and Minister for European Affairs Konrad Szymánski in Warsaw. The working visit confirmed the outstanding relations between the two partner countries in the EU and NATO allies, which also work together successfully within regional initiatives in Central Europe and other international forums.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia finalised the text of the proposed Energy Efficiency Act, adopted the Guidelines for the drawing up of the draft revised budget of the Republic of Slovenia for 2020, the proposed amendments to the budget of the Republic of Slovenia for 2021 and the proposed budget of the Republic of Slovenia for 2022, and decided to extend the measure of partial reimbursement of salary compensation for temporarily laid-off workers until 31 August 2020. The Government revoked the minimum trading hours of shops and lifted the ban on the operation of shops on Sundays.

On the occasion of the official visit by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, to Slovakia, a business forum organised by SPIRIT Slovenia and the Slovak partner institution SARIO, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was held on 22 July 2020.

After successfully concluding negotiations and securing EUR 10.5 billion in funds for Slovenia, the Government today held a working consultation on the absorption of funding. The Government first took note of Slovenia's absorption of funds from the 2014–2020 EU budget, which stands at a low rate of 39%.

On Monday, July 20, Shamaa military base in Lebanon was the venue of a handover ceremony between the 27th and 28th Slovenian UNIFIL contingents.

Today, after several days of negotiations, the European Council reached an agreement on a multiannual financial framework and a recovery instrument totalling EUR 1,824 billion. The agreement brings extensive additional funds for Slovenia, which will facilitate the recovery after the COVID-19 crisis and encourage investments in the green transition and digital transformation.

The press conference on the COVID-19 situation focused on the epidemiological situation in the country and the region, as well as the presentation of an application for the protection of people's health and lives during the pandemic. The main speakers were the Minister of Public Administration, Boštjan Koritnik, the deputy head of the Communicable Disease Centre at the National Institute of Public Health, Nuška Čakš Jager, and the deputy government spokesperson, Špela Horjak.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar held a videoconference with Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Among the topics for discussion were the rule of law and the new EU mechanism for monitoring the state of the rule of law in all EU Member States, under which the first annual rule of law report is being drafted by the Commission. This is a preventive tool aimed at deepening dialogue between Member States and EU institutions, and increasing awareness of the rule of law principle, including in relation to candidate countries.

European leaders are continuing their negotiations in Brussels today on the EU recovery package related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Janez Janša, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, held a video conference in Brussels with Richard Saynor, the Chief Executive Officer of Sandoz, the generic pharmaceuticals division of Novartis International AG.

Today’s conference in Brdo pri Kranju marked tomorrow’s tenth anniversary of Slovenia's membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Among others, the event was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Anže Logar, and the Secretary-General of the OECD, José Ángel Gurría. Minister Dr Logar stressed that by joining the OECD, Slovenia has fulfilled its ambitions, but still has a great deal more to achieve.

Last edited: 21 July 2020.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša held a video conference call with OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria, who congratulated the Prime Minister on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in a very effective and timely manner.

During a telephone conversation today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar and Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi discussed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and the Middle East Peace Process.

On the 10th anniversary of Slovenia’s membership in the OECD, government representatives in Brdo pri Kranju discuss opportunities and challenges faced by members. Attendees of the event were addressed by the Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anže Logar, and the Secretary-General of the OECD, José Ángel Gurría. Prime Minister Janez Janša also spoke to Secretary-General Gurría in a videoconference. In their talks they focused on the topic of the demographic challenges Slovenia will face in upcoming years. The Secretary-General congratulated the Prime Minister on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in a very effective and timely manner.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the projects “Entrepreneurial approach to addressing the challenges in the region Jugovzodna Slovenija – PONI JV”, “Entrepreneurial approach to addressing the challenges in the region Gorenjska - PONI Gorenjska” and “Entrepreneurial approach to addressing the challenges in the region Obalno-kraška development region”. For projects worth just under EUR 2.4 million, the European Regional Development Fund will contribute EUR 1.7 million. These are the next three in a row of eight projects within the project “Entrepreneurial approach to addressing challenges”, which will be implemented throughout Slovenia. Its purpose is entrepreneurial training of people who want to realize their entrepreneurial idea.

The leaders of the EU Member States are continuing with negotiations today on the EU recovery package in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša pointed out yesterday on Twitter, Saturday marked the second day of attempts to reach an agreement on the budget and the recovery fund. According to the prime minister, the EU is once again showing itself in all its complexity of differences, smallness and greatness, selfishness and solidarity. “For some, a given; for others, something fought for. A test of perseverance,” wrote Prime Minister Janez Janša on Twitter yesterday.

On Friday, 17 July 2020, Fitch Ratings affirmed Slovenia's credit rating at 'A' with a stable outlook.

The leaders of the EU Member States met yesterday at an extraordinary meeting of the European Council in Brussels, where they held a 14-hour discussion on the EU coronavirus recovery package in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. European Council President Charles Michel adjourned the meeting just before midnight and leaders resumed talks today.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the call for proposals Incentives for SMEs to develop and roll out new wood industry 4.0 products. Total funding from the European Regional Development Fund available under the call for proposals amounts to EUR 6.2 million. The call for proposals has been published by the Slovene Enterprise Fund.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the project Promotion of activities to prevent work related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks. The EUR 250 million project will receive a contribution from the European Social Fund totaling EUR 200,000 and will be implemented by the National Institute of Public Health.

Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC) mandated to the prosecution of perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. Slovenia is committed to respecting the principles and values of the Rome Statute and to supporting the independence and impartiality of the ICC, and encourages other countries to do the same. Past atrocities have been preserved in the collective memory and give rise to the determination to prevent conflicts and genocide more effectively in the future.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the project COVID-19 – medical and protective equipment against epidemic. The project, worth a total of EUR 38.65 million, will be fully funded by the European Social Fund. The cohesion region Vzhodna Slovenija will receive EUR 23.19 million from the project, whereas the remaining EUR 15.46 million will go to cohesion region Zahodna Slovenija.