Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar took part in the regular meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels. The ministers focused their discussions on EU-Russia relations and the situation in Hong Kong. The Council also held a video conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on future cooperation with the new US administration regarding the common foreign and security policy.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today took part in the High-Level Segment of the 46th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, which is being held in as a virtual event this year. In his address, the Minister expressed his concern over the consequences brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed that it is imperative that the post-pandemic recovery include measures aimed at achieving greater equality, solidarity, and social protection.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan delivered a video address today at the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament. He also raised the issue of membership expansion, which has remained unresolved for too long, and called for progress in this matter with a view to enhancing universality, transparency, and multilateralism.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a financial support decision for the project “Economic Zone Turnišče”. The project worth a little under EUR 420,000 and implemented by the Municipality Turnišče will receive European Regional Development Fund support in the amount of over EUR 225,000.

The press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Health Alenka Forte and Mojca Kirbiš, Headteacher at Rado Robič Limbuš Primary School.

On 27 June 1991, Zoran Dernovšek, member of the Territorial Defence of the Republic of Slovenia and a skilful operator of the Strela 2M anti-aircraft missile system, shot down the first enemy helicopter during the conflict in former Yugoslavia. Thirty years later, he remembers that fateful day when he shot down the Yugoslav People's Army helicopter. It was undoubtedly one of the most important events of that time, and was crucial to Slovenia gaining independence.

The Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) is taking place in Nairobi, which, as the highest global environmental body, sets priorities for global environmental policy and international environmental law. Due to the pandemic, the assembly will be held in two parts. The first part will be held in the form of a virtual meeting on 22 and 23 February 2021 and the second part is expected to take place as a physical meeting in February 2022 in Kenya. Andrej Vizjak, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, delivered a video address at the assembly.

Today’s press conference on the current situation regarding the COVID-19 virus was held by State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology Simon Zajc, Commander of the Slovenian Civil Protection Force Srečko Šestan and Natalija Bevc, a Slovene who lives in Germany, who spoke about experiences during the epidemic in Germany.

The approval of the investment for the relocation of the Department of Pulmonary Diseases to University Medical Centre Maribor marks the beginning of a large investment cycle in the field of strengthening public health. Over the next few years over half a billion euros in EU grants will be allocated to healthcare system enhancement.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan today held an audio-video conference with the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Paweł Jabłoński.

Today’s press conference on the current situation with regard to COVID-19 was held by Bojana Beović, head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health, Slavko Krištofelc, head of the Occupational Safety and Health Inspection Service at the Labour Inspectorate, Deana Potza of the Health Inspectorate, and Deputy Director General of the Police Tomaž Pečjak.

At an online event on 1 February, the Elan company of Begunje showcased its new innovative product: Elan Voyager, the first fully functional folding all-mountain carving skis in the world. Elan is certain that this is a global innovation. These new skis, which facilitate user access to the slopes, will also change the future of skiing.

At today’s regular session, the Slovenian Government adopted amendments to the Ordinance on temporary restrictions on sports programmes. Those amendments relate primarily to testing. Amendments to the Ordinance determining the conditions for entry into the Republic of Slovenia for the purpose of containment and control of the infectious disease COVID-19 stipulate that printed confirmation is sufficient for entry without quarantine for those who have recovered from COVID-19.

Today, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan held a video call with Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden Anna Hallberg.

Current epidemiological conditions and an update on the progress of vaccinations were presented at today’s press conference by National Institute of Public Health director Milan Krek.

Prime Minister Janez Janša had a working meeting today with Anton Obreht, the president of school directors’ and head teachers’ union SINDIR. The meeting was also attended by Simona Kustec, Minister of Education, Science and Sport.

The directors-general for European affairs of Slovenia and Switzerland, Ambassador Barbara Sušnik and Ambassador Pietro Piffaretti, held video consultations today.

Today, Minister Andrej Šircelj attended the informal video conference of economic and finance ministers (ECOFIN Council). The most important topic of the session was the economic recovery in the European Union.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion policy has issued a funding decision for the project Construction of footpath and Cerknica-Dolenje Jezero cycling path. Total project budget is estimated at EUR 835,000. The project will be implemented by the Municipality Cerkno and will receive contribution from the European Regional Development Fund amounting to EUR 87,000.

Today’s press conference on the latest situation with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic was held by Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Janez Cigler Kralj, State Secretary for Education and Sport Marjan Dolinšek, and Principal of the Škofljica primary school Roman Brunšek.