Green is the colour of the Slovenian DNA – in many ways.

The Government has adopted the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan of the Republic of Slovenia (NEPN) in accordance with the European Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action.

The possibility of the occurrence of the virus in Slovenia is high, considering the limited outbreaks and confirmed cases of the coronavirus in neighbouring countries and elsewhere around the world.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, the Managing Authority for the ERDF, the ESF and the Cohesion Fund, has issued a funding decision for the call for proposals for co-financing of investments in the infrastructure designed to provide senior day care programs and temporary housing for senior citizens. A total of EUR 21.5 million is made available for the call for proposals, of which EUR 17.2 million comes from the ERDF. Cohesion region Vzhodna Slovenija will receive EUR 11.6 million, whereas EUR 9.9 million is earmarked for cohesion region Zahodna Slovenija. The call for proposals will be published next week by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.

State Secretary Matej Marn is attending the high-level segment of today’s 43rd UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva. In his address, he stated that a group of countries, led by Slovenia, intends to open a discussion to declare the right to a healthy environment at the global level. During his visit, he also addressed the Conference on Disarmament and met the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, the President of the Human Rights Council and the Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, the Managing Authority for the ERDF, the ESF and the Cohesion Fund, has issued a funding decision for the project Nova Gorica community centre – phase II. The total project budget amounts to EUR 1.3 million with the ERDF contributing EUR 280,000.

Slovenia made a contribution in the amount of EUR 30,000 to the World Food Programme for emergency humanitarian aid to Yemen. Slovenia thus honoured its pledge for 2020 made at the High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, which was held in Geneva on 26 February 2019.

Following the invitation of the Italian Minister of Health, a meeting was held of the ministers of Italy’s neighbouring countries: Slovenia, France, San Marino, Austria, Croatia, Switzerland and Germany. Italy and its neighbours presented their existing and planned measures for protection against the coronavirus. The measures presented by the individual countries are comparable.

In Brussels, State Secretary Matej Marn attended today’s General Affairs Council, which launched the March European Council preparations and discussed the topics of EU enlargement and legislative planning. At the meeting, the ministers and state secretaries also agreed to authorise the opening of negotiations on a new partnership with the United Kingdom and learnt about the new European Commission's plans for monitoring the development of the rule of law in the EU.

In the Bloomberg Innovation Index, measured by the United States Bloomberg Agency, Slovenia took 21st place this year.

At its meeting today, the National Security Council (NSC) Secretariat took note of the current situation and activities concerning the coronavirus, which are managed by the Ministry of Health as the competent state authority according to the Infectious Diseases Act.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, Managing Authority for ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund, has issued a grant decision for a call for proposals that will co-finance energy-saving renovation of buildings owned and used by municipalities in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The call will be published by Ministry of Infrastructure. The available funding under the call for proposals amounts to EUR 25 million of which the Cohesion Fund contribution stands at EUR 21.25 million.

In Thessaloniki, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Miroslav Cerar is attending the high-level conference ‘From Thessaloniki to Zagreb’, hosting foreign ministers of the Western Balkans, EU member states from the region (Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia), and EU representatives (EEAS, EC).

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, Managing Authority for ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund, has issued a grant decision for the project “Biotech Hub within the National Institute of Biology (BTS-NIB)”. The project worth EUR 20.8 million will receive European Regional Development Fund support in the amount of EUR 16 million.

Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar is paying a working visit to Sweden; yesterday, he met Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde and Chair of the Committee Andreas Norlén. Today, at the general meeting of the Slovenian Association in Sweden, the Foreign Minister addressed Slovenian compatriots living in Sweden and thanked them for preserving the Slovenian identity and mother tongue.

Foreign Minister Dr Miro Cerar is paying an official visit to Sweden at the invitation of the Swedish Foreign Minister, Ann Linde. He met her and the Speaker of the Riksdag, Andreas Norlén, to discuss the importance of the European future for the Western Balkan countries, sustainable development and EU challenges around the world. At the round table held at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, Minister Cerar touched on the challenges facing the EU and its relations with partners such as Russia, China, and the United States. He later visited the seat of the Smart City project in Stockholm.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, the Managing Authority for the ERDF, the ESF and the Cohesion Fund, has issued a funding decision for the Call for tenders for co-financing of the construction of open next generation broadband networks GOŠO 4. The call for tenders will be published by the Ministry of Public Administration next week. The total amount of funding available for the call for tenders stands at EUR 29.5 million, of which EUR 18.9 million is available for the programme area cohesion region Vzhodna Slovenija, whereas EUR 10.6 million has been earmarked for cohesion region Zahodna Slovenija. The contribution from the ERDF amounts to nearly EUR 23.6 million.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, Managing Authority for ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund, has issued a grant decision for the project “Construction and reconstruction of community and road infrastructure in Ugar business zone” in Ribnica. The project worth EUR 2.4 million will receive European Regional Development Fund support in the amount of nearly EUR 1.5 million.

Since 2000, 21 February marks International Mother Language Day.

The wandering kurent figures rank among the more visible traditional Shrovetide Carnival customs in Slovenia, and the kurent is the most recognisable Carnival character, with records of his appearance dating back to 1880. The kurent is also one of the symbols of the Slovenian identity.