On the occasion of World Water Day, Štanjel Castle played host to the Business-to-Diplomacy (B2D) event "World Water Day 2023 – Accelerating Change". Slovenian water technology companies and institutions presented themselves to the foreign diplomatic corps.

The amendment to the Fiscal Verification of Invoices Act, which is being adopted by the National Assembly today, is aimed at addressing both the control of the shadow economy and the protection of the rights of customers. In the light of protecting the environment and the green transition, we advocate e-receipts wherever possible. We emphasise that the purpose of re-introducing the fine for customers is primarily to raise awareness that the receipt must be accepted.

The Government of Slovenia took note of the report of the Slovenia Nuclear Safety Administration (SNSA) on the EPREV follow-up mission activities (Emergency Preparedness REView follow-up) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the field of preparedness and response for a nuclear or radiological emergency. The mission was undertaken from 3-7 October 2022. 14 response organizations have participated in the review. The EPREV follow-up mission team consisted of five experts from Canada, Belgium, Ireland, Netherland, Spain, and the IAEA.

The Animal Protection Working Group led by Maksimiljana Polak, State Secretary for the Establishment of Dialogue with Civil Society and Coordination of Citizens’ Initiatives in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, today met with Hari Arčon, President of the Cynological Association of Slovenia.

World Water Day, celebrated on 22 March each year, highlights the importance of water. The theme of this year’s World Water Day is “Accelerating Change”. Clean (drinking) water is not a commodity to be taken for granted, it is also part of a carefully planned framework of regulations and measures to ensure water conservation.

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels. Ministers and state secretaries for European affairs focused on preparations for the European Council, EU-UK relations and the rule of law.

At the meeting of the Government Committee for State Regulation and Public Affairs, the government, inter alia, changed the value of the projects “Unmanned aircraft with NRC (nuclear, radiological, chemical) upgrade”, “Arrangement of hangars for JLTV vehicles (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle)”, “Triglav VNL (multipurpose ship)”, “Pro Line 21 advanced avionics for Falcon” and “Cougar helicopter upgrade” in the applicable Development Programmes Plan 2023–2026.

With 332 million, the United States of America presents an important market with many opportunities for the Slovenian economy and tourism. It can take several years for companies to successfully penetrate the US market, and Slovenia as a country can open doors through increased promotion. This is why, for the second year in a row, Slovenia will hold the Business Investment Conference in Dallas and the Slovenian Tourism Workshop, where economy, tourism and investment opportunities on both sides will be presented in a comprehensive manner. Dallas can be an excellent springboard for Slovenian companies thanks to the visibility and popularity of basketball star Luka Doncic.

Prime Minister Robert Golob, Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer and State Secretary Tina Seršen met with Dejan Paravan, Managing Director of Gen energija.

Minister of Public Administration Sanja Ajanović Hovnik presented the timetable for the reform of the salary system. As she pointed out in a press statement today, negotiations will first start on the elimination of all disparities in the basic salaries, while the new salary scale will be gradually introduced.

The following statement has been issued in the name of the Group of Friends for an Ambitious EU Climate Diplomacy by Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Sweden.

On the occasion of World Social Work Day, we are publishing a message from Minister Luka Mesec. “Our goal is to make social work socially recognised and properly rewarded,” the minister emphasized.

The first meeting of the Steering Committee of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C), launched by the Republic of Slovenia together with the French Republic and Montenegro in 2022, will take place in Paris on 21–22 March.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaims that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. That is why, on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we issue a call for tolerance, respect and an end to hate speech. This is the only way we can move forward as a society.

Prime Minister Robert Golob and Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič held a regular meeting with the Governor and Vice-Governor of the Bank of Slovenia Boštjan Vasle and Primož Dolenc.

The focus of the working meeting between the two ministers, who were joined by the Mayors of Nova Gorica and Gorizia Samo Turel and Rodolfo Ziberna, was on the preparations for the European Capital of Culture with the slogan GO! BORDERLESS.

Marjan Šarec, Minister of Defence, attended a joint meeting of foreign and defence ministers of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels.

Minister Tanja Fajon attended a regular meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The main themes were the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and Tunisia. The event was followed by a joint meeting of foreign and defence ministers on EU assistance to Ukraine and the implementation of the Strategic Compass. The ministers also adopted conclusions on Afghanistan and EU priorities in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Tehran will be closed during Persian New Year holidays (Nowrooz) from 21 March to 23 March.

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Athens, in cooperation with the Municipality of Piraeus and the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, organised on 16 March 2023 a Slovenian-Greek music evening at the foyer of the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus. The Slovenian and Greek enthusiasts of classical music, members of the diplomatic community as well as members of the Slovenian community in Greece enjoyed a beautiful music evening with the duo Basili-Kosovinc, the Greek cellist Cristina Basili and the Slovenian guitarist and composer Timotej Kosovinc.