An international conference on one of the thematic priorities of the Slovenian presidency – missing persons, in particular missing children – is taking place in Ljubljana today and tomorrow. The conference is held under the auspices of the Police Expert Network on Missing Persons, which was officially recognised by the Council’s Law Enforcement Working Party, and in cooperation with AMBER Alert Europe.

One of the flagship events of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the 16th Bled Strategic Forum, started with the opening addresses by its host, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Dr Anže Logar, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Janša and President of the European Council Charles Michel. “It is imperative we identify strategic responses to the challenges facing both our citizens' everyday lives, and those Europe as a continent might yet see. We must identify those policies where the EU is a global example and incorporate the lessons learned from the crises of the past decade,” urged Minister Dr Logar in his opening speech in the Bled Festival Hall.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attends the Bled Strategic Forum, which he opened with an opening address. The unauthorised Prime Minister's speech is published below.

Long war and bad harvest lead to shortage of food, high prices, requisitions, food coupons etc. In such state of general shortage, the Imperial and Royal Office for Public Nutrition in Vienna turned its attention to fruit as well. In May 1917, it issued a regulation on fruit trade, allowing the trade to be conducted only by those who obtained special permission. In mid-June, the office sent letters to all major agricultural corporations in the monarchy and enclosed a set of instructions on how to can fruit without any sugar. The recipients of the letter were urged to pay special attention to the issue in question, since sugar was an increasingly rare commodity in any household. One copy of the letter was also received by the Agricultural Society for Carniola and we have chosen it for this month’s archivalia.

Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending the 16th Bled Strategic Forum, which is being held under the theme "The Future of Europe".

At today's extraordinary meeting in Brussels, EU home affairs ministers adopted a joint statement on the EU's response to the situation in Afghanistan and the potential implications for migration and security in the EU.

The Republic of Slovenia (the Issuer), rated A3 (stable) / AA- (stable) / A (stable), has mandated Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and J.P. Morgan as Joint Dealer Managers for a Tender Offer for the Issuer’s outstanding March 2022 and March 2023 EUR securities. Additionally, the Republic will consider an ultra-long Euro-denominated Reg S transaction in dematerialised registered form, subject to market conditions and the results of the concurrent Tender Offer. Relevant stabilisation (including FCA/ICMA) applies. Target Market: Manufacturer target market (MIFID II product governance) are eligible counterparties and professional investors (all distribution channels) and also retail investors (all distribution channels).

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan received Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis Aloysius John. They agreed that the pandemic had brought new challenges and exacerbated the hardships of individuals. Therefore, mutual solidarity and concerted efforts to stem it and alleviate its consequences are essential.

At the invitation of the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares Bueno, Foreign Minister Anže Logar is visiting Spain today. He met with the Committee on Foreign and European Affairs of the Spanish Congress of Deputies. Slovenia and Spain have been deepening bilateral relations, coordinating and maintaining a regular dialogue, aiming at a stronger, more resilient European Union, acting in a coordinated manner and speaking with one voice.

The main topic of today's press conference was the situation in hospitals, as the number of people who need medical help due to COVID-19 infection is increasing again. Dr Tatjana Lejko Zupanc presented the situation in hospitals and Maja Bratuša presented an overview of the current epidemiological data.

Political consultations between Slovenia and Qatar took place today, led by Political Director/Director-General Jernej Müller on the Slovenian side. Together with Ahmad Hassen Al-Hammadi, Secretary-General of the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they focused on reviewing bilateral political and economic relations, including identifying ways to upgrade them.

Today at a working lunch, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with the delegation of US senators who are on an official visit to Slovenia.

The Europe Readr digital platform, the Slovenian Presidency's flagship cultural and promotional project, is enjoying a lot of attention over summer months. This virtual library offers free access to a selection of books, which can be read anywhere – while traveling, on the beach, you name it. It brings current social issues to readers, encouraging them to reflect on the world we want to live in.

The Slovenian Digital Centre is the main economic event of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will run until the end of the year, covering a variety of topics relevant to the continued sustainable and green development of Slovenia and the European Union.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the ceremony traditionally held for the Slovenian-American Friendship and Alliance Day.

Barbara Sušnik, Director-General for EU Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conducted regular consultations with József Magyar, Deputy State Secretary for the Development of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, via a video conference.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar travelled to Copenhagen on an official visit to meet with Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod. The visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Slovenia and Denmark, reviewing the implementation of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency priorities, and discussing topical international issues and measures to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 25 August, the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic Mr Vladimír Müller, accompanied by Mr Uroš Lampret, the State Secretary of the SVN MOD, paid a visit to the NATO MW COE.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar met a delegation of US senators visiting Slovenia for a working dinner. The delegation is led by Senator Richard Shelby from the State of Alabama, the current vice chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.