Foreign Minister Anže Logar today attended a video conference meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The ministers focused their discussion on the situation in Ethiopia and Ukraine and held an informal talk with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

A joint letter of Slovenian Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Portuguese counterpart Augusto Santos Silva has been published in today’s edition of the Delo newspaper, in which they discuss the objectives of their countries’ EU Council Presidencies. The entire letter is available below.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar addressed the participants at the beginning of the third Latin American and Caribbean Days international conference organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the auspices of the Bled Strategic Forum.

Today, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan participated in the virtual XII EU-LAC Reflection Forum organised by the European Union - Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Foundation in cooperation with the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the LAC Days 2021 international conference.

A press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was held by the head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health Mateja Logar.

In response to some inappropriate reactions related to the presentation of credentials by the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Romania, Lea Stančič, in Moldova, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to make it known that the highest diplomatic representatives of the State may, in accordance with international diplomatic practice and generally accepted and established principles and customs of diplomacy, wear national costume or traditional clothing on special occasions, such as the ceremony of presenting credentials to the President of the receiving State or sovereign of the country. In some countries, this practice is even recommended.

On behalf of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF), the Defence Attaché of the Republic of Slovenia in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colonel Žarko Henigman, handed over protective equipment for coronavirus disease to the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project Cycling connection between Kamnik and Godič. The EUR 1 million cycle project, which will be implemented under the Agreement on the Development of the Osrednjeslovenska region, will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 733,000.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project Cycling connection between Brežice and Dobova. The nearly EUR 2.9 million cycle project, which will be implemented under the Agreement on the Development of the Posavje region, will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 1.8 million.

Today, Minister Andrej Šircelj attended an informal video conference of the economic and finance ministers (ECOFIN Council). As part of the discussions on the economic recovery in the European Union, Minister Šircelj presented the concept of the Slovenian recovery and resilience plan.

Today, as part of preparations for Slovenia’s Presidency, Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs had a meeting with Italy’s Minister of the Interior Luciana Lamorgese through video conferencing. They agreed the levels of cooperation between their countries in the area of home affairs have always been good. Their discussion focused on Slovenia’s preparations for assuming the Council Presidency in the second semester of 2021 and on some topical issues such as irregular migration.

Today’s afternoon press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs.

Vesna Kerstin Petrič, Director-General of Public Health Directorate at the Ministry of Health, attended today’s press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19.

After reviewing the documentation, the Government Communication Office (UKOM) received only one new document from the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), although it was understood from the letter which Bojan Veselinović, Director of the STA, sent on Monday that the entire documentation requested would be delivered.

The epidemic of the novel coronavirus has changed our lives and has spared no one. It has exposed our vulnerability and weakness. It took away our health and, unfortunately, many lives as well. It confronted us with questions from which we shied away for too long.

The 8th Forest Europe Ministerial Conference, which was held over two days by videoconference, concluded today. State Secretary Anton Harej attended the conference yesterday and Minister Dr Jože Podgoršek attended the conference today. The conference was devoted to the adaptation of forests to climate change and sustainable forest management. The participants adopted a declaration on "The Future we want; The Forests we need" and a resolution on "Adapting pan-European Forests to Climate Change".

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan addressed the participants of the 17th Conference of Speakers of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative on behalf of Foreign Minister Anže Logar. The online conference, organised within the framework of Slovenia's AII Chairmanship, was hosted by the President of the National Assembly of Slovenia Igor Zorčič.

Press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Simon Zajc, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Tjaša Žohar Čretnik, Director of the National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate, and Tomaž Pečjak, Deputy Director General of the Police.

At today’s session, the Government adopted the amendments to the Decree on the implementation of screening programmes for the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. The Government also concluded that an exception is permitted in eight orange statistical regions to implement hospitality activities of preparing food and beverages and serving on terraces and summer gardens between 07:00 and 19:00. The Government also adopted the Ordinance on determining the conditions for entry into the Republic of Slovenia for the purpose of containment and control of the infectious disease COVID-19.

Director-General for EU Affairs Barbara Sušnik attended a videoconference of the EU Council Presidency Trio of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.