Draft amendments to the urgent amendment to the Foreigners Act

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia agrees with the draft amendments to the proposed Act Amending the Foreigners Act (urgent procedure), which have been prepared by the Ministry of the Interior and partly follow the comments of the Legislative and Legal Service of the National Assembly.

They provide for a transitional period of 18 months for the application of the provisions on the extension of the residence permit for the purpose of family reunification (participation in an entry-level programme for learning the Slovenian language and familiarising themselves with Slovenian society or an entry-level single programme or an examination in the knowledge of the Slovenian language at A1 entry level) and the issuance of a permanent residence permit (an examination in the knowledge of the Slovenian language at A2 basic level). The new date of application is 1 November 2024 (instead of 27 April 2023).

The Government shall adopt a strategy for the integration of non-EU nationals into the cultural, economic and social life of the Republic of Slovenia. The strategy shall be adopted within six months of the entry into force of this urgent amendment to the Foreigners Act.

In procedures for the renewal of family reunification permits, applications submitted before the adoption of the Government’s strategy shall be subject to a regulation which does not impose either a language proficiency requirement or an obligation to submit a certificate of attendance at a course. After the adoption of the Government’s strategy on the integration of foreigners, i.e. after six months and until the entry into force of the examination condition (1 November 2024), a new condition shall be introduced for the renewal of the temporary residence permit for family members. They will have to submit a certificate of participation in an entry-level programme for learning the Slovenian language and familiarising themselves with Slovenian society when applying for renewal.

The possibility of providing the Slovenian language exam shall be extended to all providers of the publicly valid “Slovene as a second foreign language” education programme. The Government shall adopt a regulation setting out the criteria for the educational programme based on which the compulsory Slovenian language test will be conducted at the entry level.

Priority treatment of applications for residence permits shall be extended to applications for employment with public sector employers engaged in educational activities. This will also enable the education sector to recruit more quickly in case of staffing needs.

Source: Ministry of the Interior

Nearly €400 million to help the economy in the wake of the energy crisis

The Government has included 162 projects for 1938 beneficiaries in the Development Programme Plan for 2023–2026, totalling €381.1 million, granted under the Act Determining the Aid to the Economy to Mitigate the Consequences of the Energy Crisis.

Under the Act, funds totalling almost €400 million will be allocated to the economy to mitigate the high prices of electricity, natural gas and process steam. The government thus supported 1965 beneficiaries.

In 2023, Slovenia still faces an extremely difficult energy price situation. The increase in energy prices has a significant impact on the competitiveness of the economy. Given the growing difficulties in the economy due to the crisis, the Act Determining the Aid to the Economy to Mitigate the Consequences of the Energy Crisis has been adopted with urgent measures to cushion the impact on the economy.

The Government included 162 projects for 1938 beneficiaries in the Development Programme Plan, totalling €381.1 million. An additional 27 projects, with a total value of less than €600,000 and the same number of beneficiaries, are not subject to a decision by the Government to be included in the Development Programme Plan, but are also beneficiaries under the act. In total, therefore, 189 projects have been included in the Development Programme Plan and 1965 beneficiaries will receive assistance.

Source: Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport

Government appoints new patients’ rights representatives

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has appointed Vlasta Cafnik as patients’ rights representative for the area of the Maribor Regional Unit of the National Institute of Public Health, Dušan Žorž as patients’ rights representative for the area of the Nova Gorica Regional Unit of the National Institute of Public Health and Robert Cer as patients’ rights representative for the area of the Ljubljana Regional Unit of the National Institute of Public Health.

The proposed candidates meet all the legal conditions for appointment (citizen of the Republic of Slovenia, proficiency in an official language, no final conviction for an unconditional prison sentence, at least a higher education degree and at least 10 years of professional experience in law, health, consumer protection or patients’ rights).

Source: Ministry of Health