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.

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.

Today, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Arancha González Laya received Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar on an official visit to the Kingdom of Spain. Slovenia and Spain are two friendly countries and allies, sharing similar views within the EU and NATO but also concern over numerous international issues.

During today's video call, Minister Dr Anže Logar and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain Arancha González Laya confirmed mutual interest in further enhancing friendly cooperation between the two countries, also in view of Slovenia's upcoming EU Council Presidency and combating the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit Spain particularly hard.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Miro Cerar is taking part in the 14th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under the title Asia and Europe: Together for Effective Multilateralism. During the debate on enhancing the multilateral system and consolidating ASEM partnership on global challenges, he outlined Slovenia’s outlook on multilateralism and its efforts relating to climate change, sustainable development and gender equality.

On the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, I spoke with Spanish Foreign Minister and future High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. I was interested in his assessment of the situation in Catalonia – and Spain! Not his assessment of the convictions, but of the next steps, both for proponents of Catalonia’s independence and the Spanish state authorities.

On 10 October, Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar attended the fourth edition of the Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean. The Regional Forum is the annual meeting of foreign ministers from the northern and southern Mediterranean countries, co-chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Jordan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, and Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Josep Borrell.

On the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum, Minister Dr Miro Cerar met with Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation Josep Borrell Fontelles.

Austria, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden attach the utmost importance to the preservation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), signed by Iran and unanimously endorsed by the UN Security Council, as a key instrument for the non-proliferation regime and a major contribution to stability in the region.