News

Every year on Europe Day, we commemorate the signing of the historic Schuman Declaration which, on 9 May 1950, laid the foundations for today's European Union. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War – a milestone that should serve as a reminder that peace is worth every effort.

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.

We, the Foreign Ministers of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain express our grave concern about the reported Israeli plans to expand its military operations in Gaza and to establish a prolonged Israeli presence in the Strip. This would mean crossing yet another line, marking a dangerous new escalation and jeopardizing any prospects of a viable Two-State solution.

At the international academic conference titled Responsibility to Protect in Theory and Practice, Minister Tanja Fajon underlined: "There is no alternative to international law. We must all respect it, and Slovenia has consistently defended the same standards for all, without exception." The conference, held at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle.

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.

24 April is the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, declared by the UN General Assembly in 2018. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs marked the day in a particularly special way with a simulation of international negotiations within the framework of the United Nations, conducted by university and secondary school students under the auspices of the United Nations Association of Slovenia.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia fully supports the joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom (E3) on April 23, 2025, regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The theme of this year's International Mother Earth Day, "Our Power, Our Planet", underscores the potential of individuals and communities to shape a sustainable, just and energy-independent future. Slovenia's commitment to sustainable development is also reflected in its foreign policy.

Minister Tanja Fajon hosted Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, on an official visit. This visit, the first of its kind at this level, is a follow-up to the dynamic and in-depth political dialogue between Slovenia and Morocco.

A three-day Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) workshop, co-hosted by Slovenia and the United States of America, successfully concluded yesterday, 16 April.

During her official visit to Azerbaijan, Minister Tanja Fajon met with President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to discuss the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. They also discussed the draft peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On the sidelines of the visit, important contacts were established between representatives of Slovenian and Azerbaijani companies.

In 2024, Slovenia allocated 0.23% of its gross domestic product to official development assistance. Together with funding from the European Union budget, the EU committed EUR 152 million to humanitarian aid and development cooperation projects and programmes, a nominal decrease of just over EUR 700,000 compared to a year before.

Minister Tanja Fajon's first stop on her visit to the South Caucasus region was Armenia, where she encouraged her interlocutors to continue advancing efforts towards the normalisation of relations with neighbouring Azerbaijan. Minister Fajon and her Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, discussed the strengthening of economic cooperation in the fields of pharmaceuticals, sports infrastructure, energy, cancer treatment technologies and tourism.

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.”

In Antalya, State Secretary Melita Gabrič attended the extended format meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation-League of Arab States Gaza Contact Group. The meeting hosted by Türkiye was a follow-up to the meetings of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and is also attended by representatives of Norway, Ireland, Spain and the EU.

During political consultations at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, State Secretary Marko Štucin met with Wael Hamed, Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Abu Bakr Hefny, Deputy Foreign Minister for African and Regional Affairs, and Nabil Habashi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates.

Warsaw hosted an informal meeting of directors-general responsible for development cooperation and humanitarian aid in EU Member States, which was attended by Ambassador Edvin Skrt, Director-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The future global role of the EU as a major donor of ODA was at the centre of the debate.

Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, concluded a three-day visit to Benin and Togo on behalf of the EU High Representative. In the Togolese capital, she assured the country’s senior officials that the EU’s partnership with this West African coastal state remains crucial for ensuring regional security and stability.