On Europe day, 9 May, the work on the Conference on the Future of Europe has started. This unique and democratic project will enable Europeans to exchange views and try to find answers regarding the direction of the future development of our continent, the role and positioning of the Union in the changed geopolitical relations and, last but not least, our own existence. What are the foundations that will unite and connect the Europeans in the present as well as in the future? The Council of the EU, which will be chaired by Slovenia for the most of the time during which the conference will be held, the European Parliament, and the European commission will be jointly responsible for the implementation of this major project. In its role as the country holding the presidency, Slovenia will coordinate and represent the positions of the Member States when conducting the conference.

At the press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 Franc Vindišar, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Damir Orehovec, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate, and Alojz Sladič, Head of the General Safety and Security Planning Section from the General Police Division of the General Police Directorate were present.

On the second and concluding day of his working visit to Berlin, Foreign Minister Anže Logar met with President of the German Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble. He highlighted the excellent cooperation between the two parliaments and outlined the priority tasks of Slovenia's EU Council presidency. He exchanged views with the German side on topical issues and gave an overview of the European perspective of the Western Balkans.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša attended training demonstrations as part of the Defender Europe 2021 military exercise. Part of the exercise is also taking place in Slovenia between 1 May and 15 June under the command of the Slovenian Armed Forces Major General Miha Škerbinc. The demonstrations took place at the main training ground of the Slovenian Armed Forces at Poček.

Today is World Bee Day. We welcome you to read an Interview with minister Podgoršek on World Bee Day.

Today we celebrate World Bee Day. On the initiative of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, the Republic of Slovenia proposed that the United Nations Organisation proclaim 20 May as World Bee Day. Numerous events have taken place today. On the occasion of this year's World Bee Day, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) addresses the general public under the slogan Bee Engaged: Building Back Better for Bees.

On the second day of the two-day official visit to Brussels, Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik met with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager and the Director-General for Transport, Energy, Environment and Education (DG TREE) Peter Javorčik. The purpose of the two-day visit is part of Slovenia’s preparations for the Presidency to the Council of EU and present priorities in the field of digitisation or digital technologies, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The protection of bees and other pollinators is closely linked with raising the awareness of the wider public on the adverse effects of human activities on pollinators and the devastating consequences these activities might have for life and food. The cultural and creative sectors have a significant impact on raising awareness and changing habits by underlining the problematic and promoting alternative, pollinator-friendly ways of living, consuming, farming, and others.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Business infrastructure in the Industrial and Small Business Zone Neverke. The project worth a good EUR 1 million will be implemented by the Municipality of Pivka under the Agreement on the development of the Primorsko-notranjska region and will receive EUR 709 thousand of European Regional Development Fund support.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Ljutomer Business Zone expansion. The project worth EUR 1 million will be implemented by the Municipality of Ljutomer under the Agreement on the development of the Pomurje region and will receive EUR 355 thousand of European Regional Development Fund support.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project New construction of a business-economic zone Nova Gorica-Kronberk. The EUR 5.9 million project will be implemented by Urban Municipality Nova Gorica under the Agreement on the development of the Goriška region and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at nearly EUR 2 million.

As part of the regular political dialogue, Minister Logar met with his host, German Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. They talked about activities aimed at enhancing political and economic relations between Slovenia and Germany, with particular focus on strengthening cooperation within the framework of the EU in the light of the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

At the press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 participated Dr Nuška Čakš Jager, Deputy Head of the Centre for Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), Dr Marta Grgič Vitek, National Vaccination Programme Coordinator at the NIJZ, and Leopold Zonik, Director of the Health Centre Bled.

Boštjan Koritnik, the Minister of Public Administration, is on a two-day official visit to Brussels in preparation for the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council in 2021. On the first day of his visit, he met with the EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, representatives of the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and Slovenian members of the European Parliament. The purpose of the meeting was to present the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency in the field of digitisation or digital technologies, artificial intelligence and cyber security.

Today, directors for economic diplomacy at the foreign ministries of Slovenia and France held bilateral economic consultations. The meeting took place in a virtual format. The delegations reviewed the economic cooperation between the two countries, discussed opportunities for closer collaboration in a range of respective areas, and took stock of both countries’ positions on key EU topics.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar held working meetings in the European Parliament in Brussels today. He met with the leaders of the three parliamentary groups and the Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), David McAllister, and briefed them on the priorities of Slovenia's EU Council Presidency. During this period, Minister Logar will assume the role of the EU Council representative in dealings with the European Parliament.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today attended an extraordinary videoconference of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell convened the meeting to discuss the escalation of tensions in Gaza, Hamas rocket attacks on Israel and the growing number of civilian casualties. The EU foreign ministers also discussed potential EU assistance in defusing tensions.

On Wednesday, 12 May 2021, the second round of consultations between the Slovenian and German international humanitarian law (IHL) committees was held in a virtual format. The first round took place in November 2018.

At the invitation of the Portuguese Secretary of State, Ana Paula Zacarias, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and German Minister of State Michael Roth took part in the Closing Session of the High-Level Conference “Rule of Law in Europe”. The event was organised by the Portuguese Presidency in Coimbra, Portugal.

We, too, would prefer that the events that occurred in the Slovenian Press Agency had never happened. Unfortunately, they did happen, and they should serve as a reminder and warning to all so that something similar never happens again.