Representatives of Slovenia and the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia met today in Koper for the fourth session of the Slovenia–Friuli Venezia Giulia Joint Committee. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Miro Cerar and President of the Autonomous Region Massimiliano Fedriga, co-chairs of the Joint Committee, agreed that the cooperation between Slovenia and its neighbouring region of Friuli Venezia Giulia was very valuable. Agenda items for today’s session present the diversity of dialogue between Slovenia and its neighbouring Italian region, reflecting the needs of people on both sides of the border, explained Minister Cerar.

State Secretary Dobran Božič attended the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels, where the new EU budget, preparations for the December European Council, the rule of law and enlargement were discussed.

The successor states to the former SFRY have jointly sold the premises of the former SFRY embassy in Bonn for more than EUR 3.7 million. As stipulated in Annex B to the Agreement on Succession Issues, Slovenia is eligible to receive 14 percent of the total sale proceeds, which amounts to EUR 0.5 million.

The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) is currently meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, considering the widest possible global radiocommunication strategy.

A special workshop on human resources management was held today as a result of collaboration between the Ministry of Public Administration and the Observatory for Public Sector Innovation (within the OECD). The focus of the workshop was on the current challenges related to the ageing of the working population and the lack of competent staff, i.e. age management and talent management.

This week, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is on the third mission to Ljubljana with the aim of co-creating systemic solutions for the public procurement process. The mission started yesterday, on 19 November 2019, with promising news, as according to the recently published OECD Government at a Glance report Slovenia ranks among the most developed OECD member countries in terms of the transparency of public procurement process and publicly available information. In Slovenia, information on the procedure, evaluation criteria, selection criteria and related documents are transparent and publicly available.

30 years ago the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

State Secretary Simona Leskovar at the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the Ukrainian delegation and representatives of the U-LEAD project. The delegation is visiting Slovenia as part of the high-level study visit on Slovenia’s regional development policy organised by the Centre for European Perspective. The Ukrainian delegation headed by First Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories of Ukraine Dmytro Zhyvytskyy is composed of representatives of the Ministry of Regional Development, the Verkhovna Rada and the Office of the President.

At the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council attended by State Secretary Dr Jože Podgoršek, the ministers discussed the environmental and climate aspects of the common agricultural policy (CAP) beyond 2020. The Commission put before the Member States two proposals for regulations laying down the CAP transitional provisions that would ensure continuity in terms of policy implementation and the granting of support to farmers in 2021.

Three decades ago, on 20 November 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted, not only to protect children but also to recognise them as holders of rights. It has been almost as long since Slovenia’s foreign policy efforts have been focused on the promotion of children’s rights and the enhancement of their wellbeing. This significant anniversary is also in the focus of this year’s European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, which is marked on 18 November at the initiative of Slovenia.

In its publication Government at a Glance for 2019 the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) placed Slovenia in the very top in terms of the openness of public sector data. Slovenia ranks 10th in the world and 5th in the EU, immediately after France, Ireland, Spain and Greece (OURData Index, Table 9.4, p. 151).

Slovenia is one of the safest countries in the world for travellers, faring very well in all three key indicators - security, medical risks and road safety, shows a risk world map for 2020 released by the SOS International NGO.

In Škofja Loka, Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar hosted Head of the State Chancellery and Minister of State for Federal and European Affairs and Media of Bavaria Dr Florian Herrmann, who is attending a session of the Permanent Slovenian-Bavarian Mixed Commission and consultations with citizens on the future of the Union.

On the margins of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, where she met with UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Moez Chakchouk, State Secretary Leskovar held talks at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President of France and in the Senate.

On Friday we celebrate Slovenian Food Day, which will once again be accompanied by a traditional Slovenian breakfast.

On the margins of the Creative Forum, which is being co-organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Minister Miro Cerar held talks with Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean Nasser Kamel.

The Creative Forum Ljubljana is organised by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) as a unique platform that links the Southern Mediterranean and the Western Balkans through creativity. Creative industries hold great potential for the Euro-Mediterranean countries seeking to diversify their economies and participate in one of the most dynamic sectors of world commerce. The recommendations and the takeaways from this landmark Forum will feed directly into the UfM roadmap activities and Slovenia’s Positive Agenda for Youth.

At today's 50th regular session the Government has adopted the Action Plan for the repatriation of applicants of Slovenian descent from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the Republic of Slovenia.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, 16 Slovenian winemakers made a successful appearance at the ProWine Fair in Shanghai. The three-day event is one of the most important wine-related trade fairs in the Asian market. According to the winemakers, the presentation was a great success.

In the most recent OECD report, public procurement, which falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Administration, was recognised as a part of the Slovenian public sector that stands out in a positive way compared to other countries.