The increasing social hardship and uncertain economic conditions caused by high energy prices have made it necessary to pass a new law whose stipulations include emergency measures to reduce import dependency in energy supplies, price controls, and windfall taxes on electricity producers.

The government has adopted the Act Governing Aid to Businesses today to mitigate the consequences of the energy crisis. Aid to businesses includes subsidies due to high prices of electricity, natural gas and technological steam, subsidising two job preserving measures and measures aimed at ensuring the liquidity of companies. The estimated total aid amount of all measures is 1.2 billion euros.

"The construction of the Cirkovce–Pince transmission line could not have been completed at a better time, as Europe is preparing for the the much-awaited green transition, while at the same time such investments provide much-needed energy stability," said Prime Minister Robert Golob at a press conference held together with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after the opening of the 2x400-kV overhead line. The ceremony was also attended by Croatian Economy Minister Davor Filipović.

At today’s session the government determined the draft act on emergency intervention to address high energy prices, and began discussing the draft act on aid to the economy to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis. The government also adopted a response to the report filed by FIDES regarding the violation of the code of ethics by the Deputy Prime Minister Danijel Bešič Loredan.

At today’s correspondence session, the government adopted a regulation that defines the upper threshold of energy product prices for major commercial electricity consumers.

At today's session, the Government adopted decrees on financial aid for the shortage of fodder in 2022 and on financial compensation for beekeepers. It also adopted the starting points for the drafting of normative solutions in relation to the minor offence proceedings conducted during the efforts to contain the infectious disease COVID-19.

Prime Minister Robert Golob, Matjaž Han, Economy Minister and Bojan Kumer, Minister of Infrastructure attended a meeting with businesspeople, which was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia. The Government representatives presented solutions and measures to mitigate the consequences of the energy crisis for the companies not covered so far by electricity and natural gas price regulation.

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.

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.

In today’s session, the Government adopted the initiative to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, and set out the text of the draft Accessibility of products and services to disabled persons Act. It also began a discussion concerning the Draft Act amending the Trade Act.

At today's correspondence meeting, the government amended the draft state budget for 2024, which provides additional funds for investments in road and sports infrastructure, while leaving total revenue and expenditure unchanged. It also adopted its position on the updating of the Energy Charter Treaty.

The Government’s main guiding principle when adopting a series of measures against price increases is concern for everyone. The Government is aware that swift and decisive action is required at this time of high energy costs resulting from the economic recovery after the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Due to distorted price fluctuations in energy markets, the Ministry of Finance advocates for decisive action and all the enforceable measures in the field of financial markets by means of which regulated trading would be ensured in the event of stressful conditions in the market. On this note, we commend the fact that our ideas are also reflected in the proposals of the European Commission.

In today’s session, the Government adopted the draft Act defining urgent measures to increase the income of pensioners and limit the rise in social security costs, and amended the Decree determining the price of natural gas from the system. It also issued a Decree concerning the legal succession of the Bank Asset Management Company and was briefed on the negotiating position concerning the determination and alignment of the minimum wage.

The Government was briefed on points of departure for the preparation of intervention measures to limit the rise in retirement home fees, and the early pension increase. It also laid down the draft text of the Whistleblower Protection Act, and was briefed on the report on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The Naša Super Hrana website published the results of the third survey of basic food products from 10 October 2022. According to this insight into price developments in the consumer food basket, and additional analysis, products of Slovenian origin prevail at all food retailers included in the survey.

The purpose of the Decree on the criteria to define and assess the number of households in energy poverty is to contribute to a high-quality planning and implementing of energy and social policy in the field of energy poverty.

At today’s meeting, the Government adopted a proposal for the Act on Healthcare Emergency Measures to Contain the Spread of the Covid-19 Communicable Disease and Mitigate its Consequences, and issued a Decree on the criteria for determining and assessing the number of households in energy poverty. The Government also took note of the proposal for the Agreement on measures relating to salaries and other labour costs in the public sector for 2022 and 2023.

The National Assembly adopted the Act Determining Intervention Measures in Education, which includes additional measures to mitigate price increases.

Today, the National Assembly is deciding on the adoption of the amendments to the Act determining the aid to the economy due to high electricity and natural gas prices. With the Act, the Government is allocating more than double the aid totalling EUR 86 million to the business sector this year, including a higher level of coverage of eligible costs and an extended circle of beneficiaries.