At its two last sessions, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted two flood recovery programmes to repair the damage caused by the August 2023 floods, with the development incentives measures programme also being drafted. After successfully preparing and submitting the application for financial assistance from the European Union Solidarity Fund, Slovenia received the maximum possible advance payment from the EU Solidarity Fund of EUR 100 million already in December 2023.

At today's session, the Government adopted the Decree on the compulsory health insurance service programme for 2024, the relief programme for damage caused in primary agricultural production and the relief programme for damage caused to businesses in the floods of August 2023.

The Government adopted a decree on the establishment and provision of a public information and alert system via public mobile networks, took note of information on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and issued the Ordinance temporarily reintroducing controls at internal borders of the Republic of Slovenia with the Republic of Croatia and Hungary.

Slovenian Regional Development Fund has published two calls on its website (BIZI liquidity floods and BIZI liquidity energy). The two financial products target micro enterprises and SMEs and are designed to support flood recovery projects in the aftermath of the devastating floods in early August 2023 and/or projects aiming to reduce energy consumption amid energy crisis and price increases.

Prime Minister Robert Golob and his ministers visited the Savinjska region today, where they met with mayors, business owners and representatives, and others driving development in the region.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia agreed the text of the application form for financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund for recovery measures in the wake of the devastating floods that hit the country in early August. The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development that coordinated the preparation process will submit the application on behalf of the Republic of Slovenia to Brussels, presumably tomorrow.

It has been two months since the catastrophic floods that took place on 4 August. Floods and landslides affected 183 of Slovenia's 212 municipalities, with 104 municipalities severely impacted. The total area affected is estimated at 17,203 square kilometres. To date, the Slovenian Government has provided EUR 515.9 million to help people, municipalities and the economy.

The Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport paid €31.77 million in advance payments to compensate for damage to the economy caused by August’s floods and landslides. Advances were made to all eligible businesses that submitted a damage assessment to the Ministry by 1 September, requesting an advance payment of 10% of the estimated damage.

Prime Minister Robert Golob and his ministers today visited Koroška, the region worst affected by the August floods, where they met with mayors, business representatives, entrepreneurs and others.

“It is the enormous scale of the damage that requires us to tackle these floods and their consequences, not only with a new act, but with a completely renewed approach,” the Prime Minister explained in the National Assembly when discussing the draft act on intervention measures to address the consequences of floods and landslides.

Presenting the draft revised state budget for this year in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Robert Golob stressed that the Government would give priority to helping the most affected people and business sectors before dealing with the rest.

In early August, parts of Slovenia were hit by widespread flooding, which also caused great damage to part of the economy. Most of the Slovenian economy is functioning completely normally after the floods, it is safe and open for business.

At the invitation of the Prime Minister, Robert Golob, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, arrived in Slovenia to attend the Bled Strategic Forum. Before that, he and the Prime Minister visited some of the areas affected by the natural disaster in Kamnik. President Michel pledged continued support for Slovenia.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has set out the text of the draft Act Determining Intervention Measures for Flood and Landslide Recovery of August 2023 and is sending it to the National Assembly for consideration under the urgent procedure. The adoption of the draft Act will allow for the taking of urgent and effective measures to deal with the consequences of floods and landslides.

The State Secretary at the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, Matevž Frangež met with representatives of the international chambers of commerce and industry in Slovenia. He presented the measures taken so far by the Government to help the business sector recover from the floods. He also called on the chambers of commerce to communicate to their industries and businesses that Slovenia is, for the most part, an economically viable and safe country.