At a regular meeting of the Committee on the Economy, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia approved amendments to the General conditions governing the activities of the Slovenian Regional Development Fund.

Minister Dr Jevšek and Federal Councillor for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Dr Ignazio Cassis signed today in Ljubljana the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Swiss Federal Council on the implementation of the second Swiss Contribution to reduce economic and social disparities in the European Union. Slovenia is eligible to 16 million Swiss Franks under the second Swiss Contribution.

State Secretary mag. Marko Koprivc gave an address at the opening of a new interpretive circular trail in the Ljubljansko barje marshes. In his address, the State Secretary underlined the importance of greening people's living environments, which has a significant impact on the quality of life on the one hand, and on improving the state of biodiversity on the other, also taking into account, of course, climate change adaptation.

At today's government session, Minister Dr Aleksander Jevšek reported about the progress of the ongoing activities concerning the preparation of the application for the EU Solidarity Fund and about other activities for a fast and efficient post-flood recovery.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has adopted the initiative to conclude the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Swiss Federal Council on the implementation of the second Swiss Contribution to selected member states of the European Union to reduce economic and social disparities in the European Union. Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek has been authorised by Slovenian Government to sign the Framework Agreement.

On the eve of the Day of the Unification of the Prekmurje Slovenians with the Mother Nation, a ceremony was held at the Prekmurje trg square in Ljubljana. The keynote speaker, Minister Dr Aleksander Jevšek, emphasised that the unification of the Prekmurje Slovenians with the mother nation was a bright moment in the history of the Slovenian nation and that a united Slovenia is a strong Slovenia.

Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek today visited Prevalje to thank the German THW team (German Federal Agency for Technical Relief) that started building a pre-fabricated temporary bridge across the Meža River in Prevalje. Ensuring transport links is currently one of the government's priorities for flood relief efforts.

Minister Dr Aleksander Jevšek today spoke over the phone with European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira about the scale of devastation caused by the floods that recently hit Slovenia. The Minister thanked the European Commission and EU member states for their fast response and support. He invited the Commissioner to Slovenia to see first-hand the damage caused by the floods.

After the Government yesterday established the inter-ministerial task force that will coordinate the preparation of the application for the EU Solidarity Fund, its members met today for the first time. The task force brings together state secretaries and experts from the ministries who agreed on the timeline and way of working.

Minister Tanja Fajon today hosted Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman. They visited areas hit by the flooding, accompanied by Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Aleksander Jevšek.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has been taking all measures to prepare and timely submit the application for assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund in the wake of the devastating floods that hit Slovenia this weekend.

Minister Dr Aleksander Jevšek and Minister Sanja Ajanović Hovnik met in Ljubljana with Edin Đerlek, Serbian Minister without portfolio in charge of balanced regional development. The meeting focused on the presentation of the area of local self-government, regional development and EU Cohesion Policy from Slovenia’s accession to the European Union to today.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development continues to issue support decisions under the EU Cohesion Policy 2021–2027 Programme. This time, it approved EUR 7 million in EU funding for the project “Upgrading and operation of the Slovenian business point (SPOT Global+)”. The funding will be targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises.

At the opening of the four-day Regional Studies Association scientific conference that took place in Ljubljana Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek stressed Slovenia’s commitment to harmonious regional development.

Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has issued the first grant decision under Slovenia’s Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027 approving 13 million euros for the project “Project learning for young adults” (PUM-O+), which will be implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. The first funds will be allocated to young people aged 15-29.

The University Medical Centre Maribor (UKC Maribor) hosted a presentation of a project to introduce the recycling of rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 with the support of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. “In addition to innovation, the added value of this project is that it brings together the University of Maribor, the local medical centre and companies,” said Aleksander Jevšek, Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development.

Slovenian parliament has confirmed nine new ministers, completing the government reshuffle. As part of the reshuffle, the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has been transformed into the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development. The new ministry will also be responsible for the policy area of regional development. It will be headed by Dr Aleksander Jevšek, who has been sworn in as Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development.

A special ceremony was held at the National Gallery of Slovenia this evening to mark the adoption of Slovenia's Cohesion Policy Programme for the period 2021-2027. Minister for Development and European Cohesion Policy, Dr Aleksander Jevšek, head of the government office that was responsible for the preparation and coordination of the programme thanked all Slovenian partners and the European Commission for the excellent work done, underlining that the efficient and effective implementation of the programme now fell on the shoulders of all stakeholders.

On the occasion of the special ceremony marking the adoption of Slovenia’s Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027, a delegation from the European Commission, led by Ms Sofia Alves, the Director at the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, visited Slovenia. The European Commission delegation and the representatives of the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, led by its State Secretary mag. Marko Koprivc, visited the Savinjsko-šaleška region.

At the Interreg Programme Slovenia-Austria 2021-2027 workshop, which took place in Ptuj, State Secretary at the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy mag. Marko Koprivc underlined the relevance of cross-border programmes that “build trust between the neighbouring partners”.