Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for an additional call for proposals for co-financing social activation projects. The call for proposals worth EUR 893 thousand will be implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and will receive EU support with the contribution from the European Social Fund standing at a little under EUR 715 thousand.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan, President of the EU’s General Affairs Council, hosted an informal meeting of European Affairs ministers at Brdo pri Kranju today. At an informal discussion on strengthening the Union’s resilience, ministers supported the efforts of the Slovenian Presidency towards a more comprehensive response to crises.

The Slovenian people have a close connection to sports. The extraordinary success of Slovenian sport in the past 30 years has helped promote our country internationally and put it on the world map. Our athletes have made their dreams come true at world and European championships, in the Champions League, at the Olympic Games, at various top-level competitions around the globe… and at the same time we also have some of the biggest stars in the world. Who doesn't know Tina Maze, Jan Oblak, Anže Kopitar, Luka Dončič, Primož Roglič or Tadej Pogačar?

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment – Municipality Hajdina. The EUR 1.1 million wastewater infrastructure project that will be implemented by Municipality Hajdina under the Agreement on the development of the Podravje region will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the Cohesion Fund amounting to EUR 446 thousand.

At its 87th regular session, the Slovenian Government issued the Ordinance on the establishment and competences of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Digital Transformation.

At today's meeting, the Government extended the validity of most ordinances related to COVID-19, requiring organisers of events, gatherings and sports competitions, providers of services and goods in the field of drivers and vehicles in Slovenia, and cableway operators and associated ski slopes to verify whether participants meet the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule. Cross-border migrant workers residing within 10 kilometres of the border with a neighbouring country were added to the exceptions for entering Slovenia without going into quarantine and without meeting the recovered/vaccinated/tested rule. The Government also founded the Government Office for Digital Transformation.

At an informal meeting on 22 July 2021 in Brdo pri Kranju, competitiveness ministers (industry) discussed how to create a circular, creative and smart future using textile and energy-intensive industries in the European Union as a template.

Developing and raising awareness of the core values and the most important events of contemporary Slovenian history is especially important in times of crisis. We must not forget that bold decisions, such as the adoption of the independence act in 1991 on the basis of the plebiscite of 1990, the formation of our own army, the declaration of independence on 25 June 1991, the victory in the war for Slovenia and the withdrawal of the Yugoslav national army on 25 October 1991, have preserved the existence of the Slovenian state. Such achievements cannot be taken for granted.

At the end of April 2021, Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy approved EU funding for the project Hydraulic improvements in the Municipality Sevnica – Agreement on the Development of Regions. Today, the Municipality signed the project contract with the selected contractor. At the invitation of the Mayor of Municipality Sevnica Srečko Ocvirk, State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs delivered an address online.

On the second day of the informal meeting of EU environment and climate change ministers in Slovenia, discussions addressed the new proposal of global targets for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The ministers also discussed the challenges of jointly strengthening pollinator protection and setting up an EU-wide pollinator monitoring framework.

Minister Dikaučič said that the existing rules cannot provide answers to all the challenges brought by artificial intelligence, which is why it is necessary to take further steps in the creation of a legal framework. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia hosted a virtual event focusing on the effective protection of fundamental rights regarding artificial intelligence in Europe and beyond.

Slovenia hosted an informal meeting of environment and climate change ministers. For the first time, they exchanged views on the vital legislative package "Fit for 55", which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. In the afternoon, the ministers exchanged views on the COP26 International Climate Change Conference to be held in Glasgow in November.

The European Commission today published its second annual Rule of Law Report within the European Rule of Law Mechanism set up in 2020. The report aims to elevate the understanding of the founding values and promote the rule of law culture, thereby strengthening this principle in the European Union as a whole.

The Ministry of Infrastructure issued an energy permit for the JEK2 project, based on the adoption of Slovenia's Long-Term Climate Strategy and the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (NEPN), which clears the way for the implementation of administrative procedures and preparation of documentation for investment decision-making on JEK2 (the second nuclear reactor unit in Krško), providing a necessary basis for the final decision on the optimal energy scenario for the future supply of low-carbon Slovenia.

The Communication Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia (UKOM) has sent the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) the final version of the public service contract.

Today's press conference on the current situation regarding COVID 19 was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar and the Director of the National Institute of Public Health, Milan Krek.

The epidemiological picture is worsening across Europe and Slovenia. The government is gradually taking measures to help contain infections.

Slovenia hosted an informal meeting of environment and climate change ministers.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar attended a follow-up meeting of foreign affairs ministers of the Central 5 (C5) countries, i.e. Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Expansion of the Ormož business-economic zone. The EUR 2.22 million project will be implemented by Municipality Ormož under the Agreement on the development of the Podravje region and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 1.48 million.