Margaritis Schinas, the European Commission vice-president and Commissioner for Promoting the European Way of Life and the Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed a letter to the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach proposing that when the Slovenian team arrives in the parade of nations at the official opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympics, in additional to the Slovenian national flag, it also carries the flag of the European Union.

International Criminal Justice Day is celebrated on 17 July. On that day 23 years ago, the Rome Statute, one of the core pillars of international criminal justice, was adopted.

In accordance with Council Recommendation 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of this restriction, including amendments thereto, the Republic of Slovenia allows entry into the Republic of Slovenia for non-essential travel as well. The information has been updated according to entry conditions applicable as of 15 July 2021.

An informal meeting of Defence Policy Directors took place at Bled today as part of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. In cooperation with the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Directors continued their dialogue on the Strategic Compass with a special emphasis on resilience.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today attended the 80th extraordinary session of the National Assembly, where he provided additional explanation to his proposal to appoint Mark Boris Andrijanič as Minister without portfolio for digital transformation.

From 17 to 22 July, Ljubljana will host the International Choir festival Europa Cantat 2021, which will be held in hybrid form due to the COVID-19 pandemic – with events online and live. The festive opening of the festival will take place on Saturday, 17 July at 21 pm in Cankarjev dom with a musical spectacle directed by Matej Filipčič. The audience will be addressed by the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, who is also the honorary patron of the festival, and the Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti. The event will be broadcast live by TV Slovenija 1 and ARS, Radio Slovenia third channel.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Renovation of the Bus Station in Koper. The project worth a little under EUR 2.5 million and implemented by the Urban Municipality Koper will receive a good EUR 900 thousand of Cohesion Fund support.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, who is in Slovenia on an official visit. Mr Janša and Dr Kluge focused on issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, the vaccination strategy and the measures to limit and contain the spread of the virus.

Prime Minister Janez Janša met today with former Italian Prime Minister, multi-term European Commissioner and President of the WHO Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development Mario Monti. Mr Janša and Mr Monti discussed current affairs, especially economy and finance, and the health situation in Europe.

State Secretary Dr Stanislav Raščan held a meeting with Franck Riester, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness. In addition to a general overview of bilateral cooperation, their talks covered investment opportunities in Slovenia, nuclear energy, space, tourism, air connections, automotive industry and digitalisation. The two high officials also discussed the strategic autonomy and economic diplomacy of the European Union.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Footbridge and Bike Path – Irča vas. The project worth a little under EUR 1.76 million will be implemented by the Urban Municipality Novo mesto and will receive EUR 745 thousand of Cohesion Fund support.

During her three-day working visit to Brussels at the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), Minister Simona Kustec declared: “We will work towards the European vision of knowledge, education and research for a green and digital future.”

At today's press conference held in Ljubljana Prime Minister Janez Janša and Deputy Prime Ministers Zdravko Počivalšek and Matej Tonin discussed the current epidemiological situation and other current topics.

The Ministers of the Interior met for an informal meeting hosted by Slovenian Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs at the Brdo Congress Centre and demonstrated political will in favour of gradual progress in the formulation of the common EU Migration Policy.

At today's press conference in Ljubljana, Prime Minister Janez Janša and Deputy Prime Ministers Zdravko Počivalšek and Matej Tonin discussed the current epidemiological situation and other current topics.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan gave a speech on the Future of Transatlantic Relations – Priorities for Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, organised by the Centre for European Perspective and the European Centre for International Political Economy.

Today, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan received Hungary’s Minister of Justice Judit Varga, who is also in charge of coordination of EU affairs. Minister Varga is in Slovenia to attend the informal meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council, which is taking place on 15 and 16 July 2021 in Brdo pri Kranju.

In the meetings of the Committees of the European Parliament, competent for purports within the scope of work of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, the Minister Jože Podgoršek presented the sectoral programme and the priority tasks of the Slovenian Presidency. These fall within the scope of “Resilience, recovery and strategic autonomy of the EU”, focusing on strategic significance of food security within the EU and sustainable agriculture (care for rural areas) and forestry. In fisheries, priority tasks arise from the significance of conservation of coastal communities and of tradition of sustainable fishing.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša today took part in a video conference with the US think tank CEPA. The mission of the Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) is to ensure a strong and enduring transatlantic alliance rooted in democratic values and principles with a strategic vision. Through research, analyses and programmes it provides a new insight into energy, security and defence issues.

The European Commission unveiled the 'Fit for 55' package of climate and energy laws this week. The Slovenian Presidency welcomes the unveiled project, which is also a priority of the Presidency in the field of the environment and climate change.