For the first time after taking on his duties, Dr Anže Logar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, introduced the guidelines and the vision of Slovenia’s foreign policy to the heads of diplomatic and consular representations. Slovenia strives to be a responsible member of the EU, NATO and the international community, rather than merely a silent observer, thus making a comeback onto the diplomatic spectrum.

In his introductory address, the Minister highlighted four key topics on which the diplomats will focus during this year’s consultation. As the first topic, he emphasised the assessment of the global, particularly security, environment after the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion on the importance of transatlantic integration took place in continuation, which again became one of the key foreign policy priorities and received new impetus in recent months, particularly after the visit of Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, to Slovenia. According to the Minister, the visit will have to be exploited in the fields of security and economy in the future.

Special attention at the consultation was dedicated to Slovenia‘s Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2021. The heads of the Slovenian diplomatic and consular representations were informed of the preparations and priorities of Slovenia’s second presidency. On the second day of the consultation, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will join the discussion on the future of the European Union. His visit and the great intensity of meetings in recent months testify to the revival of Slovenian foreign policy and diplomacy that enhances their visibility in the international sphere after almost a decade of being idle.

The discussion among the ambassadors also involved infrastructural integration in the locality as well as Central Europe. Together with Jernej Vrtovec, the Minister of Infrastructure, the ambassadors addressed the challenge of placing Slovenia in the Central European region in the best possible way and making it energetically independent, and how foreign policy can contribute to enhancing key economic, transport, energy and telecommunication connections that are crucial to Slovenia’s development.

In his address, the Minister particularly stressed the role of the EU and NATO as key pillars of Slovenian foreign policy and diplomacy, and which serve as the most important value, political and security frameworks. The central message of the consultation was the desire to reinstitute Slovenia as an active member of the international community interesting with regard to foreign policy, a reliable partner in the EU and a credible NATO member. A country that will know and be capable of pursuing its interests, which is the objective of foreign policy.