Initial estimates suggest that between EUR 6.7 and EUR 7 billion will be needed for recovery from the August floods. Damage to municipal infrastructure alone is estimated at well over EUR 1 billion, according to a preliminary assessment of 123 municipalities. To repair the damage, the Government needs to amend the budget documents for the next two years, which it already approved in July. The Ministry of Finance has asked all budget users to give up 4% of their budget funds to raise EUR 1.1 billion. By the end of the month, our country will send a proposal to Brussels to amend the operational programme to provide cohesion funding for intervention measures. Slovenia will redirect EUR 50 million to the reconstruction fund and EUR 20.5 million to intervention measures.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen did not leave out any important area in her speech on the state of the European Union. She gave an overview of the work done, the current situation, but also a vision for the future. The state of the Union address outlines the European Commission’s plans for the coming year and has a direct impact on Slovenia’s engagement within the Union. "The EU’s responses to global events such as the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have shown that it stands united and will always stand in solidarity with people in need. The EU should engage more with the world, extend its reach to the Western Balkans and our eastern partners, and develop decision-making processes to be more effective,” said Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon in response to the speech by President von der Leyen.

The European Parliament approved a ninth parliamentary seat for Slovenia. The additional seat in the European Parliament increases the opportunities to influence the decision-making process and co-design EU policies, which has a tremendous impact on the daily lives of Slovenians. It is important to strengthen Slovenia’s voice within the EU.