News

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon is on her first visit to northern Europe, where she confirmed the positive relations between the two countries and discussed with her counterparts the possibilities and opportunities for strengthening cooperation. She also discussed the situation in Ukraine with the Finnish President and Foreign Minister.

At today’s session, the Government decided to continue the public procurement procedure to purchase 8x8 wheeled combat vehicles. It adopted the new National Financial Education Programme and amendments to the relief programme to address the economic impact of the August 2023 floods on businesses. It also proclaimed November 10 as Science Day – a new national holiday aimed at raising awareness of the importance of science.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Call for proposals for promoting projects on cooperatives and social economy and kicking off social entrepreneurship. The European Regional Development Fund supports the call with 3 million euros.

At today's session, the National Assembly adopted the draft act on the ratification of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Slovenia has therefore ratified the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

The Slovenian Regional Development Fund (SRDF) organised the event “Regions for the Future” with a round table on developing the economy, handicrafts and crafts in the development of all Slovenian regions. The event took place at the Ribnica Handicraft Centre. In his opening address, Minister Jevšek spoke about the planned development incentives for border problem areas, the agreements for the development of regions and the Promotion of Balanced Regional Development Act.

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting in Brussels, where the Polish EU Council Presidency presented its programme and key priorities for the Council's work in the first half of 2025. The meeting also featured the annual rule of law dialogue, focusing on the rule of law situation in Hungary, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia.

Today, at the 48th session of the Working Group of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, Slovenia presented the state of human rights in Slovenia within the framework of the 4th round of the Universal Periodic Review. The Slovenian delegation, which included representatives of several ministries and government offices, was led by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon.

The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, where participants discussed further support for Ukraine, EU-US relations following the inauguration of Donald Trump and the situation in the Middle East. The agenda also covered developments in Georgia, Moldova and the deteriorating situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On 24 January 2025, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of Albania, H.E. Jakob Štunf, presented his Letters of Credence to President Bajram Begaj.

Slovenian tourism reached some remarkable milestones in 2024, outperforming the European and global averages despite a challenging environment. With a 7.5% increase in international arrivals and excellent results in both established and emerging markets, Slovenia continues to strengthen its position as a leading green hospitality destination. This success fuels optimism as we move into 2025.

In the first episode of this year’s GovSI podcast, the Minister of Health, Dr. Valentina Prevolnik Rupel, discusses the recently approved amendment to the healthcare system reform act.

In 2024, the Labour Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia carried out its 16th consecutive year-long campaign, Targeted Control of Construction Sites, to ensure greater worker safety and improve working conditions on temporary and mobile construction sites.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a concentration camp that remains one of the most harrowing reminders of Nazi atrocities. Slovenia, an active member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which is marking its 25th anniversary, recently submitted its second periodic report.

Prime Minister Golob attended a mourning ceremony and commemoration in Velenje to honour the three miners who tragically lost their lives in the Velenje Coal Mine accident.

On the basis of the Act on Aid to Ensure Enhanced Air Connectivity (hereinafter reffered as: the Act), a Public Tender for Enhanced Air Connectivity of Slovenia was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia and the Official Journal of the European Union on 24. 1. 2025. In accordance with the first paragraph of Article 10 of the Act, the tender documentation is publicly published, however, the English translation is merely an information aid for foreign air carriers when preparing applications for aid.

The application for aid and Annexes must be submitted in Slovene language. Submission deadline is 24. 2. 2025 at 23.59

Slovenia took over the presidency of the commission that protects the world's most international river basin last December, at the regular meeting of the commission's contracting parties. At today's ceremony, which was organised by the Secretariat of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), Slovenia officially took over the presidency in the presence of high representatives of Danube countries. The ICPDR, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has significantly contributed to improved cross-border cooperation in reducing water pollution, reducing flood risk and improving the ecological status in the Danube River Basin.

At today's session, the Government adopted draft laws on the recognition of professional qualifications in healthcare and on medical devices, as well as a draft amendment to the Medicinal Products Act. The Government also took note of information provided by the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport regarding the call for tenders to support investments in economic restructuring in the Zasavska and Savinjsko–Šaleška coal regions under the Just Transition Fund for the 2024-2027 period.

Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning Jože Novak hosted, on behalf of Slovenia as the presiding country, ministers and other high representatives of the contracting parties to the Alpine Convention at Brdo pri Kranju. At the Alpine Conference, ministers and other high representatives of the contracting parties reviewed the work performed, which the Slovenian presidency led under the slogan "Quality of life in the Alps for everyone", took note of the results achieved by the Convention's working bodies in the last two years and approved the mandates for their future work.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a ceremony at Gimnazija Kranj to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, entitled "In memoriam, Slovenian victims of the Holocaust", where he was the keynote speaker. In addition to the Prime Minister, Prof. Peter Vodopivec, the Associate Member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and member of the Dachau Internee Community, also delivered an address.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Call for proposals to co-finance Youth Transition+ projects.