News

This year, Slovenian Bee diplomacy is entering a new phase with projects primarily supporting social and environmental resilience. In cooperation with local partners, Slovenian diplomatic missions and consular posts will again carry out more than 30 projects around the world. The two most important celebrations will take place in Rome and New York.

This year's theme for the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, "Together always: united in diversity", reminds us that all people, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, are born free and are equal in dignity and rights.

Minister Tanja Fajon was in Koper today for talks with the Mayor of Koper, Aleš Bržan, and the management of the Port of Koper. The visit took place just a few days ahead of her departure for Vietnam (21–23 May) in the company of a ten-strong business delegation that includes the Port of Koper, and for Indonesia. She will also visit the Republic of Korea in June.

State Secretary Samuel Žbogar hosted Pablo Anselmo Tettamanti, Secretary of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Argentine Republic, for bilateral political consultations. Their talks focused on strengthening political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Under the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), the first meeting of the Strategy's National Coordinators took place today, bringing together for the first time delegations from all 14 EUSDR Member States and members of the Danube Youth Council (DYC).

After more than a decade of efforts by Slovenia, Argentina, Belgium, Mongolia, the Netherlands and Senegal, an international diplomatic conference has opened in Ljubljana to adopt the text of a convention on international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of the most serious crimes. The Conference will run until 26 May. Upon adoption, the convention will be called the Ljubljana-Hague Convention.

On 10 and 11 May, State Secretary Samuel Žbogar visited Brasilia for political consultations with Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, Secretary General of Foreign Affairs of Brazil.

State Secretary Marko Štucin held consultations with Secretary General of Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jonatan Vseviov and Undersecretary for Political Affairs Kyllike Sillaste-Elling in Tallinn. In addition to bilateral relations, the talks focused on current issues at the EU and international levels, including the war in Ukraine.

Under the patronage of President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar, the Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana has organised the 6th Biennial Academic Conference "Responsibility to Protect in Theory and Practice" in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to mark the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the first conference of this kind in Slovenia.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon held a series of meetings with representatives of UN regional groups and senior UN officials in New York from 8 to 10 May.

The Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs hosted bilateral political consultations between Slovenia and Azerbaijan, chaired by State Secretary Samuel Žbogar and Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov.

During the EU Macro-Regional Strategies Week (EU MRS Week), which took place in Brussels from 24 to 28 April 2023, the Slovenian Presidency of the EUSDR chaired the 7th Meeting of Trio Presidencies of Macro-Regional Strategies and the European Commission. The central topic for discussion was the common challenges of the MRS and their further cooperation in the framework of the Trio Presidencies.

At the opening panel of the 4th EU Macro-Regional Strategies Week in Brussels, State Secretary Marko Štucin presented Slovenia's perspective, as the country holding the Presidency of the Strategy for the Danube Region, on the role of macro-regional strategies in addressing current challenges in Europe. The panel was attended by representatives of the four countries holding presidencies of the strategies and Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted Dr Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate at the German Federal Foreign Office, for consultations. Their meeting was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in the context of the strategic partnership between the two countries and at enhancing their bilateral cooperation on European affairs.

Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon attended a trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Slovenia, Croatia and Austria in Rijeka. Together with the Croatian Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, who hosted the meeting, and the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, they discussed the possibilities to deepen cooperation between the countries and common challenges.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted Daniela Gîtman, Secretary of State for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. The talks were aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and exchanging views on current European, regional and international topics and EU enlargement.

The 12th Africa Day International Conference, held under the theme "Africa and Europe: Climate Security for the Future – Global Challenges, Local Actions", brought to Slovenia the largest ever number of participants. At the Brdo pri Kranju Congress Centre, around 350 participants from 50 countries, of which 24 are on the African continent, discussed climate security and possible solutions.

At Brdo pri Kranju, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon opened the 12th International Africa Day Conference themed “Africa and Europe: Climate Security for the Future – Global Challenges, Local Action”. More than 350 participants from Slovenia and Africa will attend the two-day conference, which will include a rich cultural programme in addition to the political and economic sessions.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon, together with State Secretary Samuel Žbogar, welcomed the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India, Meenakshi Lekhi.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon held talks with the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and President and CEO of Kia Motors Corporation, Ho Sung Song. Their discussion focused on strengthening political and economic cooperation between the two countries and on Korea’s bid to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan.