Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, Managing Authority for ESIF and Cohesion Fund, has issued a grant decision for the project “Energy-saving renovation of the Gradišče Residential Care Home” in Dornberk. The project is worth over EUR 1.3 million and will receive EUR 364,000 of Cohesion Fund support.

We have set up a special email address to provide advice to people who have questions concerning the new measures being implemented to contain COVID-19 and associated movement restrictions.

The Government is also drafting a second anti-corona package, the purpose of which will be in particular to resolve the issue of liquidity in the Slovenian economy, and a third package in which the legislator will outline the exit strategy for the period following the end of the epidemic.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar attended the regular meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers today. Due to the changed circumstances following the spread of the COVID-19 disease, NATO Foreign Ministers met via a secure video conference, for the first time in the history of NATO, with the COVID-19 crisis at the top of the agenda. They assessed further measures NATO and the allies can take to enhance the collective fight against the virus.

Following a political crisis in Slovenia, at the session of the National Assembly on 3 March 2020, Janez Janša was elected as the 14th President of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. We interviewed him on the health emergency in Europe, the respnses of the European Union and the migrant crisis.

As of 6am Thursday, 2 April 2020, the following two border points are open at the Slovenian-Hungarian border: Čepinci - Verica and Hodoš – Bajasenjye.

As a member of the Core Group of the MLA Initiative, which also includes Argentina, Belgium, Mongolia, the Netherlands and Senegal, we regret to inform that after careful consideration and in response to the continuing developments surrounding COVID-19 pandemic, the Diplomatic Conference for the negotiation of the Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes, which was scheduled for 8–19 June 2020 in Ljubljana, is postponed until further notice.

Austria has put in place new restrictions on the border with Slovenia. As of 2 April 2020, the checkpoints (former BCPs) at Holmec, Jurij, Šentilj (that is on the main road) and Korensko sedlo will close down. Nine border points will continue to remain open on the Slovenian-Austrian border.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar spoke on the phone with his Hungarian counterpart, Péter Szijjárto, today. The ministers agreed to support the initiatives put forward by both national communities and ease the crossings of border residents.

As of 31 March 2020, third-country nationals seeking to enter Slovenia will be checked not only for their fulfilment of regulatory entry conditions but also whether their travel is really essential. This regime will be in operation at all border-crossing points along the external Schengen border.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently undertaking one of the biggest repatriation efforts in the history of both the Ministry and the state. Since the evacuation of Slovenian citizens from the cruise ship quarantined at Yokohama in the beginning of February, the Ministry is constantly and intensively seeking for new ways and solutions to bring home Slovenian citizens.

At yesterday's regular session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the text of the act proposal on the intervention measures to stem and mitigate the consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) communicable disease epidemic for citizens and the economy. The act proposal was presented at today's press conference by Prime Minister Janez Janša, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Aleksandra Pivec, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Matej Tonin and Minister of Finance Andrej Šircelj.

At its 8th regular session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the text of the Act on the intervention measures to mitigate the consequences of the communicable disease SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) for citizens and the economy and submitted it to the National Assembly for consideration and adoption under an emergency procedure, in accordance with Article 143 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Ordinance on the temporary general prohibition of movement and public gathering in public places and areas in the Republic of Slovenia and the prohibition of movement outside the municipality of permanent or temporary residence, to be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia. The Ordinance will enter into force on 30 March 2020 at 00.00 and will remain in force until revoked.

At today's session, the Government adopted the proposal for an act on the intervention measures to mitigate the consequences of the communicable disease SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) for citizens and the economy, known as the #PKP1 #antiCorona legislative package. One of the measures adopted by the Government to contain and control the new coronavirus epidemic was the Ordinance on mandatory disinfection of multi-dwelling buildings. The Government also adopted amendments to the Ordinance on the temporary prohibition of offering and selling goods and services to consumers in the Republic of Slovenia, which dictates that purchases from 8.00 to 10.00 can only be made by vulnerable groups (e.g. persons with disabilities, pensioners, pregnant women). Pensioners can carry out their purchases only in this period.

A video conference of the European Council, called by European Council President Charles Michel, was held today. The heads of state and government and leaders of EU institutions discussed the situation and measures relating to the COVID-19 epidemic. Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša also participated in the video conference.

Minister for Development, Strategic Projects and Cohesion Zvonko Černač today participated in a video conference of Cohesion Policy ministers. The ministers unanimously welcomed rapid response of the European Commission and the joint measures it put forward to help EU Member States tackle the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Slovenia called on the Commission to allow maximum flexibility in developing and implementing Cohesion Policy measures.

In 2020, Slovenia commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Slovenian-Paraguayan anthropologist, Dr Branislava Sušnik, whose life and achievements made an indelible mark on science and established links between Slovenia and the South American cultural area.

A special meeting of four presidents, including the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, Prime Minister Janez Janša, President of the National Assembly Igor Zorčič, and the President of the National Council Alojz Kovšca, was held today. The four presidents discussed the operation of political institutions during the coronavirus crisis, their cooperation, and their joint efforts to achieve political unity in order to take concerted action. In their discussions, they focused especially on making various decisions that need to be effective, democratic, and protected by all democratic standards.

In a joint letter addressed to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, nine leaders of EU Member States, i.e. Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Slovenia, called for action to establish a joint European debt instrument with regard to the fight against the new coronavirus. They stressed that the emergency situation and the coronavirus crisis, which affected all Member States, require coordinated and unified action that is undertaken in the spirit of solidarity and with an intensity corresponding to the scope of the challenge.