At today's session, the Government issued an ordinance on the provision of medical services during a strike, which sets out the medical services that doctors must provide during the strike by the Fides trade union. The Government also took note of the Spring Forecast of Economic Trends 2024 and adopted an amendment to the draft Matura Examination Act.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted the Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs, Dr János Bóka. They discussed current European issues, with a particular focus on Hungary's preparations for the EU Council Presidency in the second half of 2024 and EU enlargement.

The construction of the Vinjan viaduct, which is the third and also the last viaduct on the route of the second railway track between Koper and Divača, has been completed. Prime Minister Robert Golob and Minister of Infrastructure Alenka Bratušek attended the ceremony. They both gave assurances that another track would be built next to the second track.

The Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended the ceremonial opening of the Vinjan viaduct, the third and last viaduct on the route of the new Koper–Divača railway line.

At the government committee meetings, the Government took note of the list of beneficiaries to receive the fourth tranche of advance payments for the reconstruction of housing damaged by floods and landslides in August 2023. A total of 731 beneficiaries will receive advance payments amounting to €2,389,214.42.

Between 27th February and 1st of March, the Center for European Perspective, in collaboration with the U.S. State Department, organized the 24th training session as part of the European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE) project. The training focused on strengthening digital strategic communication.

On 21 February 2024, a new chapter in diplomatic relations between Slovenia and Albania was opened with the official opening of the Slovenian Consulate in Duress, headed by Honorary Consul Genci Likoskëndaj. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, local authorities, business, media, artists and many distinguished guests.

Today, the UN Security Council convened a briefing on food insecurity in Gaza, requested by Slovenia, Algeria, Guyana and Switzerland. The meeting followed a white note of 22 February, sent by OCHA to Council members on food security risks in Gaza.

On Saturday, February 24th 2024 Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United States Iztok Mirošič joined the rally organized by Ukranian diaspora in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the Russian full-scale invasion to Ukraine.

At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Robert Golob yesterday in Paris attended a meeting of European leaders and senior representatives of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Norway.

Participants of today’s EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Agri-Fish Council) meeting discussed measures to combat crises in the agricultural sector. Slovenia was represented in the meeting by the Secretary of State, Ms. Eva Knez, who pointed out on arrival that Slovenia welcomed the European Commission’s proposals of simplifying the existing Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rules. “The measures proposed are aimed at taking greater account of specificities of individual Member States. Today, we repeatedly proposed introducing the ad hoc financial mechanism for countries to be in a position to respond rapidly to crises in agriculture.”

Ambassador Berta Mrak presented her credentials to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Maria Pejčinović Burić, and thus assumed her duties as Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe.

The 55th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) opened in Geneva and will run until 5 April 2024. Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the high-level segment of the session with a video message, presenting Slovenia's views on the current situation of human rights around the world and the session’s priority themes.

Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar met his Spanish counterpart Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez in Madrid. The two ministers discussed topical issues in the areas of migration, Schengen, combating people smuggling and the further increase of the police cooperation.

With the evening of chansons and cabaret, performed by two talented Slovenian artists, Sabina Gruden, mezzo-soprano, and Rebeka Dobravec, piano, in the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, the Embassy of Slovenia in Athens marked Prešeren Day, a national holiday, celebrated every year on 8 February.

At today's session, the Government adopted the first measures aimed at protecting the public health system. These measures will be particularly important after 1 March, when the withdrawal of overtime consents by doctors who decided to take this step during the Fides strike will take effect.

The Slovenian community in Australia has reason to rejoice. After losing its regular weekly programme, which had been on the air ever since 1975, on SBS national radio in April last year, Slovenian will be heard on the Australian airwaves again – in Sydney and soon also in Melbourne.

Two years of brutal violence, destruction, suffering, impoverishment of the innocent Ukrainian population, total disregard for the principles of international law and, above all, defiance of the UN Charter by the Russian aggressor, are behind us.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly on the second anniversary of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Minister Tanja Fajon stressed that the war in Ukraine has led to the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. She added that we must all – without exception – respect international humanitarian law and human rights law at all times.

Below we publish a statement by Prime Minister Golob.