News

Deputy Director-General for European Affairs Jure Vršnak hosted the Director-General for European Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Heleen Bakker, for EU consultations in Ljubljana. During her visit, Director-General Bakker also paid a courtesy call on State Secretary Marko Štucin.

Wrapping up the second year of the Diplomatic Bulletin, the July issue addresses topical matters, including the behind-the-scenes preparations for the 20th Bled Strategic Forum international conference. It also provides information on the successful 2025 Africa Day international conference, the Fourth national conference on artificial intelligence and this year's Economic Diplomacy Consultation.

The European Commission's sixth annual report on the rule of law for the European Union and its Member States for 2025, published today, confirms that Slovenia has made significant progress across all key areas over the past year. According to the European Commission, the majority of the recommendations from the previous report have already been implemented or are nearing completion.

In June, Guyana assumed the presidency of the UN Security Council. This month's agenda was dominated by the situation in the Middle East dominated, particularly the military escalation that followed Israel's attack on targets in Iran. The Council held an open debate on poverty, underdevelopment and conflict, as well as its regular annual debate on children and armed conflict.

At the 34th session of the Permanent Slovenian-Bavarian Mixed Commission, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, and the Bavarian State Minister for European and International Relations, Eric Beißvenger, signed a joint declaration. It confirms the traditionally excellent cooperation between Slovenia and Bavaria, paving the way for further strengthening the partnership with concrete projects in various fields.

Today, we mark the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, one of the most important documents of international law. In 1945, representatives of 50 countries gathered at a conference in San Francisco to sign a document, which lay the foundations for a post-war international community and binds all UN member states to an active participation and a moral obligation to protect the world from the horrors of war.

Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, is attending the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in The Hague as part of the Slovenian delegation led by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Robert Golob. She participated in the NATO-Ukraine Council Working Dinner in Foreign Ministers’ Session, which focused on the Allies' efforts for peace in Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in an extraordinary informal EU foreign ministers meeting by video conference to discuss the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, particularly in light of the recent escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran.
"Together, we must call for an immediate end to military conflict and for the protection of civilians. Respect for the UN Charter is an absolute obligation for all States."

On Saturday, 14 June 2025, Minister Tanja Fajon attended a celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, at the invitation of Luxembourg’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel. The agreement was signed in Luxembourg on 14 June 1985. The Schengen area currently comprises 29 countries, four of which are non-EU members.

On this day, Slovenia, by recognising Palestine as an independent and sovereign state, sent a clear signal about the need to reinstate peace in the Middle East and implement the two-state solution, in the hope that other countries would follow suit. A responsible member of the EU and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Slovenia strives for immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid in the region.

During her visit, Minister Fajon held talks with Minister Juraj Blanár, focusing primarily on opportunities for strengthening economic cooperation and the need for EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, as well as accelerating the enlargement process. Current international issues and Slovenia's experience as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council were also discussed.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon attended an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Antalya, focused on an in-depth discussion on key issues and elements of the June NATO Summit in The Hague. Ministers reviewed guidelines on the key ambitious priorities of the Summit aimed at maintaining the Alliance’s unity and enhancing its strength.

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center (WB3C) is proud to announce its collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to host the region’s first Cyber Capacity Building Workshop on 19-20 May 2025 in Podgorica. This high-level gathering will convene global experts and regional stakeholders to strengthen the Western Balkans’ cybersecurity resilience through two critical streams: addressing the cyber talent shortage and enhancing collaborative strategies against cybercrime.

On 9 May 2025, State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič participated in the informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers held in Lviv, Ukraine. She also took part in the meeting of the Core Group on the Establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

Foreign ministers and their guests met in Warsaw during Poland's six-month presidency of the EU. There was ample opportunity for frank discussions on the world's key challenges, including the importance of closer foreign and security policy cooperation with the UK, efforts to achieve an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine and further dialogue with the US in the light of the first 100 days of America First.

Slovenia presented its statement before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, emphasising Israel's obligation to facilitate emergency humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, grounded in the principles of respect for human rights, adherence to international humanitarian law and its obligations as a UN Member State.

The National Assembly has adopted the Declaration on the Activities of the Republic of Slovenia in EU Institutions for the period until June 2026.

During a visit to Austria, Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon met with the new Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Beate Meinl-Reisinger. The visit was aimed at developing good neighbourly relations between the two countries and discussing current foreign policy and EU issues, including the Western Balkans and the EU enlargement.

At the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Minister Tanja Fajon called for more decisive action to bring about a ceasefire and a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, and for the return of more than 19,000 abducted Ukrainian children: “These are war crimes and clear violations of international law. This must remain a humanitarian priority and part of the peace negotiations.”

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon concluded her Asian tour in India, where she participated in the Raisina Dialogue international conference and the Young Raisina Leaders event. She also met with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and visited an education centre in Kolkata founded 17 years ago by a Slovenian woman and her husband.