A Slovenian Government delegation visited the Goriška region today. The Goriška region is located in west Slovenia, along the Italian border. The Julian Alps, the Soča River and the fertile Vipava Valley are the most distinctive natural geographical features of the region. Since 1995, 13 municipalities have been established in the Goriška region, of which four have fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. In terms of area, the Goriška statistical region is the third largest in Slovenia, and in terms of population it is the sixth largest. The municipality with the largest population is Nova Gorica (31,845), followed by Ajdovščina (19,704) and Idrija (11,735). The smallest municipality is Bovec (3,245).

The Republic of Slovenia announces the cash tender results of the Euro denominated notes of the tender that expired on 7 September 2021. March 2022 Notes and March 2023 Notes were accepted in the amount of EUR 11,257,000 and EUR 86,848,000, respectively.

The Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (stable) / AA-(stable) / A (stable), has mandated Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and J. P. Morgan to lead manage a reopening of the 10-year SLOREP benchmark due in February 2031 in line with Regulation S transactions in dematerialized registered form. The deal is expected to be launched today.

EU agriculture ministers discussed the role of rural areas in society and rural challenges. They characterised rural areas as spaces where different activities coexist and complement one another. They advocated a new definition of the role of rural areas, which have to be supported in all their diversity.

Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs has attended a high-level videoconference meeting on countering illicit firearms trafficking in South East (SE) Europe on behalf of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, which focused on closer regional cooperation in prevention of illicit firearms trafficking.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan held a videoconference with Cabo Verdean Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Miryan Djamila Sena Vieira and Portuguese Secretary of State Francisco André. As to the COVID-19 pandemic, the officials devoted great attention to the efforts for fair distribution of vaccines and Slovenia’s recent donation of 150,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Cabo Verde.

On 8 September 2021 at 20:00, a gala concert entitled Songs without Borders will be held in Brussels, where the internationally renowned opera singers Bernarda Fink (mezzo-soprano) and Marcos Fink (bass baritone) will perform a repertoire of solo cantatas by European, including Slovenian, and Argentine composers.

As part of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Government Information Security Office, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organised a cybersecurity conference in Bled on 3 September 2021, which was held in a hybrid form.

The Prime Minister, Janez Janša, met with the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell at a working dinner.

The Prime Minister, Janez Janša, was the keynote speaker at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the logistical action to seize the military storage facility in Podstrmec pri Borovnici. Guests were also addressed by the president of the MORiS Kočevska Reka association, Tone Krkovič. The action in Podstrmec pri Borovnici was the logistical action of the century, in which 23 members of the reconnaissance squad of the MORiS Brigade, took place on 28 June 1991, the second day of the armed conflicts in the war for Slovenia. The squad seized the Yugoslav People's Army storage facility in Podstrmec pri Borovnici with no casualties on the Slovenian side.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan received Alexandre Adam, Europe Adviser at the Private Office of the President of the French Republic, today. Their discussion focused on the continuation of enhanced strategic cooperation between Slovenia and France in the context of their successive presidencies of the Council of the EU.

Acting Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation Igor Jukič took part in an extraordinary meeting of EU Directors-General for development cooperation on the situation in Afghanistan.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan met with Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, on the margins of the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich). In the context of current developments, State Secretary Dr Raščan and European Commissioner Urpilainen focused on the situation in Afghanistan, the development aspects of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the equitable distribution of vaccines.

Director-General for EU Affairs Barbara Sušnik hosted a videoconference meeting of the Trio Presidency of Slovenia, Germany and Portugal on 3 September 2021, which reviewed the achievements of the Slovenian Presidency and outlined the plans for the Council’s dossier management until the end of the year.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan, along with Deputy Director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Nitin Natarajan, took part in the final part of the Cybersecurity Conference held from 2 to 3 September 2021 in Bled.

EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs are gathered at an informal meeting at Brdu pri Kranju (Gymnich). The two-day event hosted by Slovenian Foreign Ministers Dr Anže Logar and chaired by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell provided a platform for an open debate on the Union’s future efforts in Afghanistan and the EU-China relationship.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan and Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Teimuraz Janjalia held bilateral political consultations in Ljubljana. They agreed that the bilateral cooperation is characterised by positive dynamics, with many opportunities for further enhancement, especially in tourism. They exchanged views on current foreign policy and security regional issues and discussed Georgia’s cooperation with the EU and NATO.

The third edition of I Feel Slovenia Ironman 70.3. is just around the corner. Join us at this daring triathlon competition, during the weekend of 17-19 September!

State Secretary dr. Stanislav Raščan had a courtesy call with General Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union (EUMC).

Defence ministers brought the situation in Afghanistan to the forefront of the discussions at the informal meeting.