The European Commission has published the latest results of the regular comparative analysis of the development of e-government services in the European Union 2020 ("e-Government Benchmark"), measurements were carried out in 2019. Compared to other European countries, Slovenia still ranks around the European average in terms of development of e-government services. An example of good practice is the IT solution of electronic sick leave, which was established with the cooperation of the Health Insurance Institute and the Ministry of Public Administration.

A two-day workshop on internationalization as an important part of smart specialization strategies in the countries of the Adriatic-Ionian Macro-region is being held today and tomorrow as part of the fifth consecutive Mediterranean Coast and Macro-regional Strategies Week.

For the first time in the history of independent Slovenia, a broad-ranging Diplomatic Academy programme was launched at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Academy will provide education for future Slovenian diplomats and permanent training for experienced diplomats. At the beginning of its operation, Minister Dr Anže Logar pointed out the importance of the Academy’s role in Slovenian diplomacy, which must “keep up with the times and be constantly updated”, adding that Slovenia remains a staunch advocate of a stronger, more cohesive, efficient and transparent Union. This ability to keep pace was reaffirmed during the recent pandemic crisis when Slovenian diplomacy performed outstandingly, especially in providing assistance to our citizens, responding quickly and reporting on measures taken in other countries, thus demonstrating perseverance, flexibility and hard work.

Today, on 23 September, State Secretary Tone Kajzer participated in a ministerial meeting of the Global Governance Group held on the margins of the UN General Assembly General Debate. The meeting focused on key global issues, including the post COVID-19 recovery.

On 23 September, Slovenia is celebrating its first Day of Sports, thus joining seven other countries with a holiday dedicated to sport.

Today, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended the General Affairs Council meeting, held in person for the first time since the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Council members focused primarily on the preparations for the special European Council meeting (later postponed to 1 and 2 October) and on the coordination of measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic at the EU level.

Today, Ambassador Milan Predan presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Steve Pendarovski. The ambassador said that the relations between the two countries have been sincere throughout the period of their independence, without hidden agendas and based on mutual trust and understanding of each other, so today they are excellent and practically without open issues.

Due to the deterioration of the epidemiological situation regarding COVID-19 the use of masks is mandatory on all premises of the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia from September 23th, 2020. When handling archival records the use of gloves is also mandatory. Visitors may enter the Archives only by prior appointment and after their date of arrival has been confirmed by the reading room staff.

The Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik met with the European Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton in Brussels today. They talked about the digitalization process in Slovenia, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the country's activities in the digital and telecommunications field, 5G technology, Slovenia's priorities during the EU Council presidency in the field of digitalization and data management and Slovenian activities in the field of artificial intelligence.

Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik is paying a working visit to Brussels today.

Prime Minister Janez Janša: If Slovenia has the capacity to draw European funds, this year’s drop in GDP will be just a brief episode in the country’s fiscal life.

The United Nations recommend that this year, when the world is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, we celebrate International Peace Day by spreading hope, compassion and kindness. “Stand together with the UN against attempts to use the virus to promote discrimination or hatred,” is written on the websites of the global organisation.

The European Mobility Week ended on Tuesday with a traditional car-free day which is also observed by several Slovenian municipalities. On that day, public transport in and around the capital city of Ljubljana, and the Park + Ride were free-of-charge.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar, as Head of the Slovenian Delegation, addressed in a video message the 64th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna.

For the ninth time in a row the European Cooperation Day is commemorated by a series of events taking place throughout Europe. Today we presented the results and importance of cross-border cooperation projects in the cross-border area of Slovenian and Austrian Carinthia. We marked the 30th anniversary of Interreg programmes by planting two trees on each side of the border in the spirit of sustainability and integration. The event was attended also by State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs who underlined the importance of cross-border cooperation programmes.

At today's session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Janez Janša answered deputies’ questions. Questions concerning the health system and waiting times were addressed by Andrej Rajh (SAB – Party of Alenka Bratušek), and Lidija Divjak Mirnik (LMŠ – List of Marjan Šarec), Zmago Jelinčič (SMS – Slovenian National Party) asked about the status of immigrants from third countries and their eligibility for social transfers, and Jurij Lep (DeSUS - Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia) asked about measures concerning the status of pensioners. Mr Lep asked the Prime Minister to explain in what phase the Government's preparation of the Long-Term Care Act is, what is happening with the legislation on the Demographic Fund, and what the timeline for the adoption of these acts is.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels at which the foreign ministers focused on the situation in Libya and Belarus, and European Union-African Union relations. During the working lunch, the ministers discussed the relations with the Southern Neighbourhood, particularly against the backdrop of the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Janez Janša, accompanied by Simona Kustec, Minister of Education, Science and Sport, and Marjan Dolinšek, State Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for sport, met today with Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee.

At the press conference, Government spokesperson Jelko Kacin provided the latest information on the COVID-19 situation in Slovenia.

Today, the Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik met with Chargé d'Affaires of the British Embassy in Slovenia Paul Jancar. They talked about cooperation between the two countries in the field of digitalization and smart cities, facing the pandemic of the Covid-19 virus and Slovenia's preparations for the presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2021.