Minister Irena Šinko and Director-General of the Food and Fisheries Directorate, Ana Le Marechal Kolar, today presented the Programme for the Implementation of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) for the new financial period 2021-2027 at a press conference.

Prime Minister Robert Golob visited the Holy See today, on 17 December 2022. He was received by Pope Francis in a private audience.

After yesterday’s historic decision of the European Council to grant the status of candidate country to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prime Minister Robert Golob announced that he would visit Sarajevo and pledged technical and development assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Prime Minister Golob and President Pahor agree that the adoption of the Slovenian initiative is above all an important message of hope for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon and Minister of Economic Development and Technology Matjaž Han discussed with key internationalisation players the support for the Slovenian economy abroad at the Economic Internationalisation Council.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very pleased that EU leaders at the European Council on 15 December took the important political decision to grant EU candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Common Application Centre at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia – CAC will be closed due to the Holidays Season from 16th December 2022 until 10th January 2023.

On Monday, December 12, the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo participated in the charity event Ikebana International Fair. The honorary patron of the event is Japanese Imperial Princess Takamado. She traditionally addresses the participants and officially opens the fair. Before opening ceremony, she pays a courtesy visit to the exhibitors and symbolically participates to the event proceeds by purchasing different products.

Today's agreement by the leaders of the EU member states on granting the EU candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the most important geostrategic and political decisions made by the EU in the recent period.

Today, on 15 December 2022, Prime Minister Robert Golob is attending the European Council meeting in Brussels. In the discussion, EU leaders are focusing on further assistance to Ukraine, energy, the EU's global competitiveness and its enlargement policy.

At today’s session, the Government adopted a proposal for an amendment to the Roads Act, issued a Decree granting the concession for the dental sector, and adopted the Digital Public Services Strategy 2030. In the Development Programmes 2022-2025, the Government included 15 projects totalling EUR 72.8 million granted under the Act Governing Aid to Businesses Hit by High Increases in Electricity and Natural Gas Prices.

The European Commission confirmed that a lot had been done in Slovenia in the last six months relating to the rule of law, said the State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marko Štucin, following the meeting of the General Affairs Council in Brussels. A great amount of work was still ahead, but we would make further efforts to continue the reforms, he added.

The December issue of SINFO Magazine brings interesting stories and interviews, and highlights upcoming sporting events.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in the 45th Commemorative Summit of the ASEAN-EU in Brussels. The event was the first to bring together the highest representatives of all of the member states of the two organisations. She also held numerous bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit.

Public Administration Minister Sanja Ajanović Hovnik is temporarily taking over the role of the Minister of the Interior after the stepping down of the former Minister of the Interior, Tatjana Bobnar.

The Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Matjaž Han, accompanied by Slovenian business representatives, is on a working visit to North Macedonia today and tomorrow. The minister, who met the Macedonian Minister of Economy, Kreshnik Bekteshi, called for the further strengthening of economic cooperation between the two countries.

On 13 December, the Nuclear Safety Administration hosted the annual meeting with a delegation from the Croatian Directorate for Civil Protection as part of the implementation of the bilateral agreement on the Early Exchange of Information in the Event of Radiological Danger.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of relations between Slovenia and Japan on December 15 2022 Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tokyo organised a poetry recital for Slovenians and friends of Slovenia in memory of the life and work of Father Dr Vladimir Kos.

At the session of the Government Committee on the Economy, the Government reallocated the funds from the state budget and increased the dedicated assets and capital of the Eco Fund.

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the regular meeting of the General Affairs Council in Brussels on the preparations for the European Council meeting and the conclusions on enlargement and stabilisation and association process.

The "Standing with the Ukrainian People" conference in Paris, bringing together high and senior representatives of 70 states and international organisations, was held on 13 December. At the conference organised by France, Slovenia was represented by Ambassador Metka Ipavic.