State Secretary Marko Štucin met with Secretary General at the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, Dr Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, in Bled today. They discussed current bilateral and European topics. In particular, they underlined the importance of the enlargement process to the Western Balkans and agreed that the region should remain a geostrategic priority for the EU.

State Secretary Marko Štucin held talks with Vice-President of the European Commission Věra Jourová during her visit to Slovenia. They discussed the rule of law and other institutional matters within her remit. State Secretary Štucin also presented Slovenia's plans for hosting the international MLA diplomatic conference in Ljubljana in May 2023.

The Minister of Culture, Asta Vrečko, hosted a working meeting with Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission. Their talks focused on the European Media Freedom Act, the situation at the Slovenian Press Agency and Radio-Television Slovenia, hate speech, and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).

At today’s meeting, the Government adopted the Strategy for the Development of the Capital Market in Slovenia by 2030 and the Spring Forecast, which projects economic growth to be moderate this year, though higher than predicted in the Autumn Forecast, and a gradual fall in inflation.

2 March 2023 Ambassador Suhadolnik participated at the Gorenje Brand promotion conference in Qingdao. Ambassador was accompanied by Mrs. Mira Lesjak, the head of the Slovenian consulate in Shanghai, and Mr. Jan Sitar, economic counsellor of the Slovenian Embassy in Beijing.

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is the most important global event on the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the development of society.

The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia and the Representation of the European Commission in Slovenia are organising an event EU Economic governance framework reform – finding consensus to ensure sustainability and growth.

A community of free inhabitants of the town of Brežice, through their elected representatives, exercised jurisdiction of the administrative and judicial authority on the territory of the town and its surroundings. However, it is solely thanks to the intelligence and soundness of judgement of one particular female resident of the town that the minutes of the town's council between 1585 and 1651, which are in fact the earliest records on the implementation of the town's autonomy, managed to escape from being destroyed forever. Presented here are some details from among the preserved records.

At the session of the government committee, the Government included the acquisition of new owned business premises for the needs of the operations of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Bucharest in the applicable Plan of Development Programmes and it also adopted a response in connection with the Action plan regarding the provision of special rights of the autochthonous Italian and Hungarian national communities.

Today, on 28 February 2023, the settlement of the liability management transaction, executed on 21 February 2023, took place which consisted of an additional issue of RS85 bonds in the value of EUR 200 million and buying back of RS83 and RS66 bonds.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government extended the provisional agreement regarding the hours paid for the work of trade union representatives and authorised Minister Poklukar to negotiate about the Collective Agreement for Police Officers. The Government also appointed the Director-General of the Treasury Directorate.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government amended the Decree determining the amount of excise duty on energy products and electricity, with which it changed the excise duty on automotive gas oil (diesel) and heating gas oil (extra light fuel oil – KOEL).

At the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon stressed that Slovenia will always stand for respect for international law, human rights, multilateralism and solidarity. She also participated in the High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, where she announced Slovenia's humanitarian contribution of EUR 300,000.

Today, Minister Marjan Šarec and State Secretary Dr Damir Črnčec attended a ceremony at Congress Square in support of Ukraine on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs organised an event in support of Ukraine and in memory of the victims of Russia's brutal aggression. Acting Secretary-General Renata Cvelbar Bek addressed the Diplomatic Corps and the Ministry's staff on behalf of Minister Tanja Fajon, who is attending the Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly. Andrii Taran, Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia, also addressed the participants. The speeches and a minute's silence for the victims of the aggression against Ukraine were followed by the raising of the Ukrainian flag.

State Secretary Tina Heferle attended the 2nd European Conference on Border Management in Athens. The discussions focused on the effectiveness of European Union's border management and return policies as well as on the issue of EU funding to upgrade member states' operational capacities at the external borders.

Below is a statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, on the first anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

"There has never been any doubt in Slovenia that Ukraine is the victim and Russia is the aggressor, and we will continue to help Ukraine in every possible way," said Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob on the anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Last year, Slovenia helped Ukraine with almost €30 million in various forms of aid: from humanitarian and material assistance to direct aid to Ukrainian refugees who have taken refuge in our country. We have also been a strong supporter of Ukraine on the political stage and have been working hard to clearly condemn Russia's aggression and its crimes.

In the following we publish the statement by Prime Minister Robert Golob on the anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit. Their discussion focused on strengthening competitiveness, transforming the labour market to support the green and digital transitions, and on EU-level solutions to labour shortages.