Following the opening address by Prime Minister Janez Janša and the parliamentary debate, the National Assembly has confirmed at its plenary session the Government's proposal for the Declaration on the Activities of the Republic of Slovenia in the Institutions of the European Union for the Period 2021–2024.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended a video conference meeting of ministers and state secretaries for European affairs, focusing on the preparations for a video conference of the European Council members at the end of the week. The officials exchanged views on a joint response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly regarding vaccine supply, the efforts to jointly and gradually remove restrictions as soon as the situation allows, the digital green pass, and global vaccine supply.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar today attended a regular meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. In an informal video conference with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the ministers addressed issues related to the protection and promotion of human rights and focused on the Southern Neighbourhood and EU-Turkey relations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs marks this year’s World Water Day with the theme “Valuing Water” by launching a series of videos from different stakeholders about what water means to them. State Secretary Stanislav Raščan contributed an article on water for “EurActiv”. The Members of the Green Group, established on Slovenia’s initiative, have issued a joint statement. On 18 March, a high-level meeting on the “Implementation of the water-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda” was convened by the President of the United Nations General Assembly, which was also attended by President Borut Pahor.

This year, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination focuses on young people in the fight against racism. Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, intolerance, and hate speech are unfortunately still present all around the world. In the last year, in particular, young people have demonstrated that they play an important role in combatting these harmful practices, for example by showing support for the “Black Lives Matter” movement, within which they have been actively pointing out the injustices based on race or colour.

At its session on 18 March 2021, the Government appointed Gašper Dovžan, State Secretary at the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a member of the Conference on the Future of Europe Executive Board.

Today, at the invitation of Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar is on a working visit in Kiev. In addition to his meeting with his host, Minister Kuleba, and in light of the preparations for Slovenia’s EU Council Presidency and the Eastern Partnership Summit, Minister Logar also met with Prime Minister Denys Shmygal, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov, and Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Yaşar Halit Çevik. During all these talks, the Minister expressed his full support for Ukraine’s reform endeavours on its path towards the European Union and NATO.

Today saw the third session of the Slovenian-Brazilian joint Commission for Economic Cooperation, held this time in virtual form. The Slovenian side of the Joint Commission was chaired by the Director-General for Economic and Public Diplomacy at the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Iztok Grmek, and the Brazilian side by Ambassador Kenneth Félix Haczynski da Nóbrega, Secretary of Bilateral Negotiations in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar and Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs today attended a joint virtual meeting of EU Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Ministers. The purpose of the session was to make progress in negotiating the pact on migration and asylum in the context of external aspects of migration, which is an important pillar of the European Union’s comprehensive migration policy. The ministers were in firm agreement that the underlying causes of migration should be addressed and partnership with third countries should be established. Progress is also needed with regard to the return and readmission of migrants.

Today, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Anže Logar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain Arancha González Laya travelled to Slovenia for a working visit. The visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two Mediterranean European countries and exchanging views, which will play a vital role both before and during Slovenia's EU Council presidency in the second half of this year.

Today, a Joint Declaration on the Conference on the Future of Europe was signed by European Parliament President David Sassoli, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council. This paves the way to launching a series of debates and discussions that will enable people from every corner of Europe to share their ideas to help shape Europe’s future. The Conference’s first plenary session is scheduled for Europe Day on 9 May and closes next spring.

Today, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan held a videoconference call with European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen. Their talks took place in the context of preparations for Slovenia's EU Council Presidency in the second half of this year and were aimed at presenting the priority tasks in development cooperation and exchanging views on the development consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pair advocated for regular dialogue and common action in the spirit of “Team Europe”, which is a key element of the EU's global response to the pandemic.

In today's phone conversation held on the initiative of the Algerian party, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Sabri Boukadoum discussed the possibilities of reinforcing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan today held a video call with US Deputy Assistant Secretary Molly Montgomery, who is responsible for relations with Western Europe and the European Union. In the context of the preparations for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will take place in the second half of 2021, the talks establish the basis for continuing the strategic dialogue between the countries

The Design Austria Gallery in Vienna’s Museum Quarter is hosting an exhibition of contemporary Slovenian design entitled The Future of Living, which brings together products of local origin and adheres to sustainable principles. It presents Slovenian creativity, highlighting the role of the cultural and creative industries as a driver of sustainable development. Its focus is also on the internationalisation of Slovenian design and on the search for entrepreneurial opportunities and international cooperation.

The Strategic Council for Foreign Affairs, headed by Foreign Minister Anže Logar, held its first meeting in its new composition today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the update of the current Slovenian Foreign Policy Strategy.

At the invitation of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan today represented Slovenia in an international High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Situation in Yemen, in his capacity as Minister for Development Cooperation. He announced Slovenia’s additional contribution for humanitarian aid to the affected population in Yemen.

At Brdo pri Kranju today, Foreign Minister Anže Logar hosted the ministers of foreign affairs of the Central 5 initiative, namely, the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tomáš Petříček, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjárto, and the Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Ivan Korčok.

State Secretary Raščan held a video call today with the Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional Office for the European Economic Area, the European Union and NATO Ola Henrikson.

Today, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan delivered the opening address at the “E-Mobility: Slovenia–Germany” web conference organised by the Slovenian E-mobility Association. In his address, he emphasised the great importance of economic cooperation between the two countries, above all in the automotive industry, which accounts for more than a quarter of total bilateral trade.