Food waste is not just morally and ethically problematic. In the EU we discard as much as 20% of all food that has been produced to feed people, and waste food is also the third largest cause of greenhouse gases.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, spoke today with the US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken. In their talks, State Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Janša stressed the need to continue supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity through robust security assistance. They condemned the horrific atrocities committed by Russian forces in its unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine and stressed the need to hold Moscow accountable.

In a month's time, on 20 May, Slovenia and the rest of the world will celebrate World Bee Day for the fifth time. Since 2022 is the European Year of Youth, the main topic of this year's celebration is youth and beekeeping. The main purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness among the international public about the importance of bees and other pollinators for humanity in the light of food security, the global elimination of hunger, and care for the environment and biodiversity.

World Earth Day, which is celebrated on 22 April, is taking place this year with an emphasis on investing in and enriching our planet. The Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning implements a range of measures to preserve the environment by investing in the planet and development opportunities. World Earth Day is intended to raise awareness and show how each of us can make an important contribution towards a more environmentally and climate friendly planet.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Multipurpose Roma centers as innovative learning environments. The project will foster flexible forms of learning; it will also support the provision of quality career guidance for students across all education levels.

Prime Minister Janez Janša was today a live guest on a Euronews TV programme, where he spoke with Anelise Borges about the situation in Ukraine and the European response to the crisis.

A joint press conference of the Slovenian and Polish Prime Ministers, Janez Janša and Mateusz Morawiecki, was held today to announce that Slovenia and Poland will organise the Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2022. Russia cannot host this event due to the current circumstances and its aggression against Ukraine.

Minister Jože Podgoršek handed a beehive symbolising hope for peace to the Ukrainian Ambassador to Slovenia Mykhailo Brodovych as a sign of strong support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar attended the regular EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. The main topics on the agenda were the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the Global Gateway strategy.

The Slovenian Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, and the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Notis Mitarachi, met today in Bled. They focused on the war in Ukraine, the gradual approach to the Pact on Migration and Asylum and the political governance of the Schengen area.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended via video conference the 7th Delphi Economic Forum, which took place in Athens. It is the flagship event and annual conference of the organisation of the same name engaging leaders from different countries committed to deliver and promote innovative ideas for sustainable and competitive growth for Europe and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today participated in the global pledging campaign "Stand up for Ukraine" by delivering a video address, thus supporting global efforts for helping Ukraine. The Prime Minister has thus joined many other leaders, artists and citizens in the #StandUpForUkraine campaign aimed at helping refugees and internally displaced persons.

This evening, Prime Minister Janez Janša was a guest on the Sky News' The News Hour, talking to host Nick Quraishi about the efforts to stop the war in Ukraine and strengthen the security in Europe.

Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs met with Nicos Nouris, Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Cyprus, in Ljubljana today. The main topics of the discussion were the war in Ukraine and its consequences and the Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar telephoned Carlos Alberto Franco França, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil. Minister Logar recalled the 30th anniversary of Brazil's recognition of Slovenia and of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which will be marked this year.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the inauguration of the country's largest solar power plant in Prapretno near Hrastnik. On the former degraded site, 6,748 solar modules will generate more than three gigawatt hours of electricity per year. In the coming years, the plant will be expanded to a total capacity of 15 MW. In this way, a point of just energy transition is being created in Prapretno near Hrastnik.

Prime Minister Janez Janša had a working dinner this evening with the British Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Sir Stuart Peach.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with the Saudi Minister of the Economy and Planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, who is on a working visit to Slovenia.

State Secretary Aleš Irgolič has attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg. Ministers exchanged views on the "Fit for 55" package, in particular on agricultural aspects of the revision of the land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) regulation. The European Commission reported on the situation on agricultural markets in light of the war in Ukraine and presented its communication on safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems. Under AOB items, the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation on geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, while the French Presidency provided information on the health situation and work at the Council with regard to highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project COVID-19 – Energy-saving renovation of the URI Soča facilities Orhideja and Vrtnica, and the project Energy-saving renovation of two buildings of the Novo mesto General Hospital (Mostek and Kamen). Both projects will contribute to improving patient experience and staff work environment.