18th November 2022 we are celebrating European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. Slovenia together with initiating countries Andorra, Belgium, Monaco and San Marino prepared a statement to mark this day for the 8th year in a row. This year, another 40 European countries, plus Mexico, have backed a joint statement.

Today, the Volčji Potok Arboretum played host to an event within the framework of the regular Business to Diplomacy (B2D) meetings organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the auspices of Minister Tanja Fajon. The events are aimed at the internationalisation of the Slovenian economy and represent an excellent opportunity for Slovenian companies to present their know-how, products and services to the diplomatic corps in Slovenia.

State Secretary Marko Štucin paid a bilateral visit to Vienna and met with Austrian Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution Karoline Edtstadler and Secretary General of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Dr Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal.

At today’s session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia took note of information on the escalation of Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure and on an incident on the Polish-Ukrainian border. The government strongly condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which has resulted, among other things, in systematic attacks against civilians and the destruction of critical infrastructure. The government calls on the Russian Federation to cease such actions immediately. It will also offer additional assistance to Ukraine in the reconstruction of critical infrastructure. Apart from that, it adopted a decision instructing the relevant ministries to prepare measures to compensate electricity and natural gas suppliers.

Minister for Development and European Cohesion Policy dr Aleksander Jevšek attended the cross-border economic forum of entrepreneurs in Lenti, Hungary, where he met with his Hungarian colleague Tibor Navracsics.

Science is of vital importance for society, and one of the key generators of progress. This is why Prime Minister Golob today visited the country’s most senior national institution for science and art – the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU). He met with the Academy’s leadership and was briefed on its history, activities and current initiatives.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon hosted the second meeting of the Strategic Council for Foreign Affairs, which was dedicated to discussions about China and its role in the changing political and social global order. The debate revolved around the question of whether China, with its position as a superpower and its relationship with the US, is an adversary, a rival or partner to the European Union.

Following today’s informal consultations with the National Security Council (NSC), Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob has said that based on all the information that the government has about the incident in Poland, there is no need for any rise in the level of alert, as there has been no increase in the threat assessment level.

A trilateral Letter of Intent was signed in Podgorica between the ministries of foreign affairs of Slovenia, France and Montenegro on the establishment of a regional Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C; Centre de développement des Capacités Cyber des Balkans Occidentaux - 3CBO) at the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, which is part of the University of Montenegro in Podgorica.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EUR 1.5 million for a call for proposals Developing new organisational forms of treating people who require short-term institutional care after an injury or illness. The total funding comes from the European Social Fund and React-EU.

State Secretary, Dr Branko Lobnikar, attended the two-day ministerial meeting of the member states of the Salzburg Forum in Bucharest.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved nearly EUR 650 thousand in EU funding for the project Integrated Territorial Investments Kranj cycling routes: Zlato polje – Kranj railway station.

In the face of the uncertain situation on the energy markets, the Slovenian Government is working with various stakeholders, including suppliers, to exchange information and find the best solutions to make it through this challenging period

The President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, Alojz Kovšca, paid an official visit to Japan from 6 to 11 November 2022, upon the invitation of the Speaker of the Senate of Japan, Hidehisa Otsuji. President of the National Council Alojz Kovšca was accompanied by the State Councillors, Bojan Kekec and Mitja Gorenšček.

Today’s EU Foreign Affairs Council in the defence configuration held in Brussels was attended by State Secretary for Defence Dr Damir Črnčec. The discussion focused on the EU's defence capabilities.

In the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Slovenian delegation headed by Minister of Infrastructure Bojan Kumer and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon concluded a deal on the supply of natural gas to Slovenia.

State Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Uroš Vajgl, and Mag. Tina Sršen, State Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure, addressed the participants in the presentation of the results of the Slovenian Household Energy Efficiency Survey (REUS GOS 2022).

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon attended the regular EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in Brussels. The discussions focused on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Great Lakes region in Africa and the Western Balkans.

Yesterday, Fitch affirmed Slovenia's credit rating at A with a stable outlook.

Even when living abroad, Slovenians do not forget their tradition, and must does have to turn into wine. Here are some images from tonight's Martinovanje in Cleveland!