Minister Černač met with mayors of Kozje, Rogatec, Rogaška Slatina, Podčetrtek, Šmarje pri Jelšah, Šentjur and Dobje at Strmol Castle to discuss the preparation of the national recovery and resilience plan in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic. The document will allow the country to address the immediate challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic and restart Slovenian economy on a new, more sustainable basis. The minister also touched on the ongoing programming process as the country is gearing up for the new programming period beyond 2020.

''There is a significant senior care gap in Slovenia. We need to turn the tide, taking better care of our elders. To this end, a considerable chunk of the funding under the EU’s recovery package and under the 2021-2027 programmes will be ring-fenced for long-term care, and for boosting health system resilience and building hospital capacities. It is important for your regions that the capacities of the country's second largest health centre – University Medical Centre Maribor – as well as of other regional hospitals are strengthened,'' underlined minister Černač.

Minister Černač continued his working visit in Haloze to meet with mayors of Majšperk, Žetale, Videm, Podlehnik, Kidričevo, Cirkulane and Zavrč. The mayors voiced a unanimous plea for national and EU funding to support a series of municipal projects, including road and environmental infrastructure projects, tourism projects and projects aiming to improve health and senior care services in local communities. The minister said that the local communities’ voices would be heard and their needs integrated in the relevant programming documents. ‘’Rest assured we will defend your interests as we negotiate with EU institutions,’’ he concluded.