Due to technical limitations, our consular unit and VFS Global will continue to provide limited services from December 13 until the end of the year. As a result, applications submitted during this period will have longer processing times.

Prime Minister Robert Golob is attending a special European Council meeting in Brussels today. Yesterday, the EU–Western Balkans Summit was held, during which EU and Western Balkan leaders discussed the implementation of the Growth Facility, the region's progress towards the EU and common geopolitical challenges in a rapidly changing world.

On the first day of the 28th Consultation of Slovenian Diplomats, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted Slovenia’s new foreign policy strategy, which sets out the guidelines for achieving and implementing foreign policy goals. The new strategy is based on inclusiveness, responsibility, security, solidarity and knowledge, and is modern, transparent and long-term.

At today's session, the Government adopted a new foreign policy strategy and an amendment to the Labour and Social Security Registers Act, as well as updated the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan. It also discussed an amendment to the Social Assistance Act and issued an amendment to the Decree on the compulsory health insurance service programme, capacities required to implement it and the amount of funding for services for 2024.

Prime Minister Golob: Slovenia's reputation in the international community further enhanced by hard work this year.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon inaugurated the 28th Consultation of Slovenian Diplomats at Brdo pri Kranju. In her address, the Minister highlighted Slovenia’s achievements in 2024, with a particular focus on the country’s role in the UN Security Council, the establishment of new diplomatic and consular missions to enhance partnerships, and the challenges anticipated for 2025..

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food has issued an open call to citizens, legal persons or other organisations for the identification of candidates for the 2025 Golden Bee Award. The call was approved last week at a meeting of the Golden Bee Award Committee, which was appointed by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia in 2021 and chaired by the Minister Mateja Čalušić.

Prime Minister Dr. Robert Golob congratulates the new president of the Constitutional court, Dr. Rok Čeferin.

The SIChain EIPS project that is part of the Important Project of Common European Interest – Next-Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI CIS) demonstrates that Slovenians can also play a key role in Europe's digital breakthrough.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the EU-Albania Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, where she, on behalf of Slovenia, Austria and Spain, commended the Albanian government for the progress in the EU enlargement process achieved within a short timeframe. She underscored that this success represents an important step forward not only for Albania but also for the European Union as a whole. She welcomed Albania’s progress and the opening of negotiations on a new cluster.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the EU-Montenegro Intergovernmental Conference, where Montenegro provisionally closed three negotiating chapters. Speaking on behalf of Slovenia, Austria and Italy, Minister Fajon commended Montenegro's progress on its European path, expressing hope that the country will sustain this momentum and become the next EU member state.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon attended the first meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, chaired by the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. Ministers discussed continued support for Ukraine, the situation in Georgia and the Middle East, with a focus on Syria.

In the run-up to Christmas, Prime Minister Robert Golob visited residents of the Danica Vogrinec Nursing Home in Maribor and later met with the management of the Maribor Inter-Municipal Housing Fund.

On Thursday 19 December 2024, the Reading Room and the Information Room will be open until 12 noon.

On both Fridays, 27 December 2024 and 3 January 2025, the Archives will be closed for collective leave.

December in Slovenia is a time of wonder, where centuries-old traditions weave magic into the holiday season.

In the new episode of the government GOVSI podcast, hosted by Petra Bezjak Cirman, we delved into the world of statistics with guests Apolonija Oblak Flander, Director-General of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS), and Martin Bajželj, Head of the Data Publishing and Communication Sector. They discussed the importance of statistics for everyday decision-making, societal governance, and economic development.

At today's session, the Government adopted a proposal for an amendment to the Municipal Financing Act, which provides systemic solutions for covering additional costs of municipalities and a starting point for the preparation of legislative proposals on Roma issues. It also reviewed the List of Beneficiaries of the Eighth Set of Advance Payments for the Reconstruction of Housing Due to Floods and Landslides from August 2023.

Ljubljana, 12 December 2024 – The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals to co-finance integrated energy-saving renovation of municipality-owned buildings.

On December 10, 2024, the Ambassador hosted a reception for the Slovenian community in Washington on the occasion of the 34th Day of Slovenian Independence and Unity. Photographer Alenka Slavinec organized the opening of a photography exhibition about Lipizzaner horses, whose story is inseparably connected to Operation Cowboy, which enabled some of the horses to return to Lipica.

The delegation of Slovenia, comprising the Director-General for International Law, Dr Marko Rakovec, acting as agent, alongside legal representatives Prof. Dr Vasilka Sancin and Dr Daniel Müller, appeared before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague during the hearing on the request for an advisory opinion regarding the obligations of States in respect of climate change.