The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today attended a meeting of the ambassadors of the EU Member States, the Western Balkan countries and Turkey, held at the European Union House in Ljubljana. As the event was organised within the framework of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a brief introduction was delivered by the host, Boris Grigić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Slovenia; Prime Minister Janez Janša was the keynote speaker.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a financial support decision for the programme “COVID19 – Additional assistive ICT technology for education process”. The programme, which falls in the framework of Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, will receive EUR 4 million of European Regional Development Fund support.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Janez Janša was a guest on the programme A Talk with the Prime Minister on Nova24TV, in which he talked about the current topics of last week and answered questions from citizens.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar and Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Nikola Dimitrov held an online meeting during which they commended the excellent bilateral relations.

State Secretary Tone Kajzer participated in an informal video conference of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in the format of development ministers. The Team Europe Global Response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of play in negotiations for a new EU-ACP partnership (post-Cotonou) agreement, and the future financial architecture for sustainable development were the main items discussed.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia amended the Ordinance on imposing and implementing measures for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 at border crossings at the external border and at checkpoints at the internal borders of the Republic of Slovenia. The Ordinance was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia and has been in force since 8 June 2020.

On 8 June, World Oceans Day, members of the Green Group issued a joint statement underlining the importance of measures for addressing climate change impacts on marine ecosystems and for preserving the sustainability of oceans worldwide. The Green Group – Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, Iceland, Singapore, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates – is an informal association of small countries that, on Slovenia’s initiative, have been promoting issues related to the environment and sustainable development in foreign policy since 2009.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today attended a commemoration at the pit under Macesnova gorica in Kočevski Rog. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the reconciliation ceremony, Prime Minister Janez Janša and the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, laid a wreath.

Ambassador Dr Andrej Benedejčič is taking part in the tenth session of the informal Structured Dialogue working group on the current and future challenges and risks to security in the OSCE area. This year’s dialogue between capitals has moved online to deal with the implications of the Covid-19 crisis on politico-military commitments of the OSCE participating States. Various strands are being examined, including military participation in efforts to curb the pandemic, armament control measures, and the emergence of new security threats and challenges in Europe.

Prior to a meeting with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio scheduled for 6 June in Ljubljana, Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar met with the representatives of the Slovenian national community in Italy. The Minister Responsible for Slovenians Abroad, Helena Jaklitsch, also participated in the meeting.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a financial support decision for the project “Construction of the Puščava business zone – phase 1”. The project worth EUR 549,000 will be implemented by the municipality Mokronog-Trebelno and will receive EUR 329,000 of European Regional Development Fund support.

Slovenia is opening its borders without restrictions to travellers from three neighbouring countries: Croatia, Hungary, and, today after midnight, also from Austria, which was added to the list by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia yesterday.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar participated in a video conference with members of the Slovenian Government and representatives of the OECD. The Slovenian delegation included Minister of Finance Andrej Šircelj, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health Tina Bregant and State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Mateja Ribič. The OECD delegation was headed by Secretary-General Ángel Gurría.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration mag. Peter Geršak attended an informal video conference of EU ministries responsible for telecommunications and the information society. The participants of the virtual meeting discussed digital priorities after the end of the Covid-19 epidemic, such as e.g. artificial intelligence, connectivity and data use.

Today, 5 June, Minister Aleš Hojs took part in an informal meeting of home affairs ministers via video conference.

The 70th press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19, held for the last time in Cankarjev dom, was attended by the coordinator for the provision of healthcare services in social protection institutions for the Gorenjska region and the Director of the University Clinic of Pulmonary and Allergic Diseases Golnik, Aleš Rozman, and the government spokesperson, Jelko Kacin.

Following the guidelines issued by the National Institute of Public Health and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, the reading room of the Archives of RS partially re-opened its door on June 8, 2020. The reading and information office are now open to visitors according to summertime working hours. Visitors may enter the Archives only by prior appointment and after their date of arrival has been confirmed by the reading room staff.

Foreign Minister Dr Anže Logar received a farewell call from the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Klaus Peter Riedel, at the end of his four-year term of office.

"Children are the most vulnerable members of society who have no influence on the environment in which they grow up. It is therefore our duty to pay attention to their vulnerability, to be their voice, and to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of abuse," said the Minister of Justice at the beginning of the public discussion on the draft act on the protection of children in criminal proceedings and their comprehensive treatment in a children's house.