In his statement, Minister Jevšek underlined that, by the signing of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Swiss Federal Council on the implementation of the second Swiss Contribution, Slovenia and Switzerland continue to support the conservation and the development of the Alpine ecosystem in the spirit of ambitious innovations that focus on sustainable and green strategies.      

“Climate change and its impacts are a challenge for the whole world. The Alpine ecosystem is even more sensitive and vulnerable to the increase in temperature and the changing rainfall patterns that result in more frequent extreme weather events and changes in the ecosystem. Being part of the Alpine Space and the Alpine Convention, Slovenia and Switzerland are actively engaged in combating climate change. In August, Slovenia was affected by catastrophic floods, which reiterates the need for the Alpine region to be included in actions for climate change mitigation and adaptation that could slow down the negative process and enable adaptation to a new reality,” underlined Minister Jevšek at the occasion of signing the Agreement.  

The second Swiss Contribution makes 16 million Swiss Franks available to Slovenia for energy efficiency and renewable energy. The second Swiss Contribution will support realising climate neutrality goals that impact the entire Alpine Space.

“Together with the competent Swiss institutions, we have designed a programme aiming to optimise energy efficiency planning and the use of renewable energy sources by digitalising local energy concepts; to promote energy production from renewable sources and to promote the use of shallow geothermal energy as well as to introduce agrophotovoltaics,” said the Minister as a summary of the main programme areas.   

In his address, the Minister underlined that Slovenia and Switzerland have established solid friendly ties and fruitful economic cooperation. He concluded that Slovenia and Switzerland could further enhance their cooperation in the field of digitalisation of the economy, logistics, e-mobility, artificial intelligence and in the field of renewable energy sources, which are all areas that are eligible to the support available under the signed Agreement.  

In his address, Federal Councillor for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Dr Ignazio Cassis underlined that the Alps are a joint value for Slovenia and Switzerland and that cooperation and addressing environment-related issues is crucial. He said that Slovenia and Switzerland have established excellent ties, which is demonstrated by the fact that the economic exchange has reached enviable growth, which is, in his words, a result of numerous areas, including the geography-related, that the countries have in common.