Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar and Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs today attended a joint virtual meeting of EU Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Ministers. The purpose of the session was to make progress in negotiating the pact on migration and asylum in the context of external aspects of migration, which is an important pillar of the European Union’s comprehensive migration policy. The ministers were in firm agreement that the underlying causes of migration should be addressed and partnership with third countries should be established. Progress is also needed with regard to the return and readmission of migrants.

The Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Andrej Vizjak, received on a courtesy visit H. E. Tiffany Sadler, Ambassador of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland to the Republic of Slovenia.

Today we celebrate the World Consumer Rights Day. The following text presents consumer rights that fall under the remit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, and the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection (a body within the Ministry).

Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a service to commemorate the deceased during the COVID-19 epidemic and express sympathy to their families. On 14 March 2020, the first flame of life expired due to COVID-19 in Slovenia. A mourning ceremony was held on the occasion of the first anniversary during which Slovenia paid tribute to the memory of all those who have died due to COVID-19 and expressed condolences and sympathy to their relatives.

Prime Minister Janez Janša was the guest of a talk show on Planet TV, in which he discussed the first anniversary of the current Slovenian government, the fight against the epidemic, the division in the Slovenian society, and the current political issues.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed a letter to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council Charles Michel concerning the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.

Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs, accompanied by the delegation, participated at the informal videoconference of Home Affairs Ministers.

At today’s press conference at Brdo pri Kranju, Prime Minister Janez Janša, Deputy Prime Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, Matej Tonin, and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Jože Podgoršek presented the achievements at the occasion of the first anniversary of this administration of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the priorities of work for the coming period.

At today’s press conference at Brdo pri Kranju, Prime Minister Janez Janša, Deputy Prime Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, Matej Tonin, and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Jože Podgoršek presented the achievements on the occasion of the first anniversary of this administration of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the priorities of work for the coming period.

Prime Minister Janez Janša had a meeting today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, Arancha González Laya, who is on an official visit to Slovenia. The two discussed bilateral relations, which they assessed as very good, cooperative and amicable. They also discussed the current pandemic situation, the measures to curb the pandemic, the course of vaccination and efforts for a common approach to vaccination certificates.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today met with two representatives of OTB Bank, Chairman of OTP Bank’s Board of Directors Dr. Sándor Csányi and member of the Board of Directors László Wolf. The Prime Minister and the representatives discussed the state of the Slovenian and European economy, particularly the banking sector.

A press conference on the current situation regarding the COVID-19 virus was held today by Director of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), Milan Krek, Acting Director-General of the Public Health Directorate at the Ministry of Health, Vesna Kerstin Petrič, Director of the National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food, Tjaša Žohar Čretnik, Deana Potza of the Health Inspectorate, and the head of the Department for General Security and Security Planning at the Uniformed Police Administration of the Slovenian Police, Alojz Sladič.

Today, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Anže Logar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain Arancha González Laya travelled to Slovenia for a working visit. The visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two Mediterranean European countries and exchanging views, which will play a vital role both before and during Slovenia's EU Council presidency in the second half of this year.

The government has decided to extend the state of epidemic by another 30 days effective as of 18 March. The government also adopted the Ordinance amending the Ordinance determining the conditions for entry into the Republic of Slovenia for the purpose of containment and control of the COVID-19 infectious disease.

Today, a Joint Declaration on the Conference on the Future of Europe was signed by European Parliament President David Sassoli, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council. This paves the way to launching a series of debates and discussions that will enable people from every corner of Europe to share their ideas to help shape Europe’s future. The Conference’s first plenary session is scheduled for Europe Day on 9 May and closes next spring.

The epidemiological situation in Slovenia and abroad was presented by the deputy head of the Centre for Infectious Diseases at NIJZ, Nuška Čakš Jager.

Today, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan held a videoconference call with European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen. Their talks took place in the context of preparations for Slovenia's EU Council Presidency in the second half of this year and were aimed at presenting the priority tasks in development cooperation and exchanging views on the development consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pair advocated for regular dialogue and common action in the spirit of “Team Europe”, which is a key element of the EU's global response to the pandemic.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the project Southern cycle route in municipalities Beltinci and Črenšovci. The project budget stands at nearly EUR 1.1 million, of which half, i.e. almost EUR 550,000 comes from the European Regional Development Fund.

In today's phone conversation held on the initiative of the Algerian party, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Sabri Boukadoum discussed the possibilities of reinforcing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the Call for proposals for co-financing residential care facilities for seniors under the age of 65. The amount of funding made available under the call stands at nearly EUR 7 million, of which over EUR 5.5 million comes from the European Regional Development Fund.