The press conference on the COVID-19 situation following Thursday's regular Government session focused on controlling the spread of the virus at the Hrastnik Care Home. The main speakers were the Minister of Health, Tomaž Gantar, the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Janez Cigler Kralj, and the deputy government spokesperson, Špela Horjak.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Dr Jacek Czaputowicz and Minister for European Affairs Konrad Szymánski in Warsaw. The working visit confirmed the outstanding relations between the two partner countries in the EU and NATO allies, which also work together successfully within regional initiatives in Central Europe and other international forums.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia finalised the text of the proposed Energy Efficiency Act, adopted the Guidelines for the drawing up of the draft revised budget of the Republic of Slovenia for 2020, the proposed amendments to the budget of the Republic of Slovenia for 2021 and the proposed budget of the Republic of Slovenia for 2022, and decided to extend the measure of partial reimbursement of salary compensation for temporarily laid-off workers until 31 August 2020. The Government revoked the minimum trading hours of shops and lifted the ban on the operation of shops on Sundays.

On the occasion of the official visit by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, to Slovakia, a business forum organised by SPIRIT Slovenia and the Slovak partner institution SARIO, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was held on 22 July 2020.

After successfully concluding negotiations and securing EUR 10.5 billion in funds for Slovenia, the Government today held a working consultation on the absorption of funding. The Government first took note of Slovenia's absorption of funds from the 2014–2020 EU budget, which stands at a low rate of 39%.

On Monday, July 20, Shamaa military base in Lebanon was the venue of a handover ceremony between the 27th and 28th Slovenian UNIFIL contingents.

Today, after several days of negotiations, the European Council reached an agreement on a multiannual financial framework and a recovery instrument totalling EUR 1,824 billion. The agreement brings extensive additional funds for Slovenia, which will facilitate the recovery after the COVID-19 crisis and encourage investments in the green transition and digital transformation.

The press conference on the COVID-19 situation focused on the epidemiological situation in the country and the region, as well as the presentation of an application for the protection of people's health and lives during the pandemic. The main speakers were the Minister of Public Administration, Boštjan Koritnik, the deputy head of the Communicable Disease Centre at the National Institute of Public Health, Nuška Čakš Jager, and the deputy government spokesperson, Špela Horjak.

Today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar held a videoconference with Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Among the topics for discussion were the rule of law and the new EU mechanism for monitoring the state of the rule of law in all EU Member States, under which the first annual rule of law report is being drafted by the Commission. This is a preventive tool aimed at deepening dialogue between Member States and EU institutions, and increasing awareness of the rule of law principle, including in relation to candidate countries.

European leaders are continuing their negotiations in Brussels today on the EU recovery package related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Janez Janša, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, held a video conference in Brussels with Richard Saynor, the Chief Executive Officer of Sandoz, the generic pharmaceuticals division of Novartis International AG.

Today’s conference in Brdo pri Kranju marked tomorrow’s tenth anniversary of Slovenia's membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Among others, the event was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Anže Logar, and the Secretary-General of the OECD, José Ángel Gurría. Minister Dr Logar stressed that by joining the OECD, Slovenia has fulfilled its ambitions, but still has a great deal more to achieve.

Last edited: 21 July 2020.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša held a video conference call with OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria, who congratulated the Prime Minister on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in a very effective and timely manner.

During a telephone conversation today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar and Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi discussed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and the Middle East Peace Process.

On the 10th anniversary of Slovenia’s membership in the OECD, government representatives in Brdo pri Kranju discuss opportunities and challenges faced by members. Attendees of the event were addressed by the Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anže Logar, and the Secretary-General of the OECD, José Ángel Gurría. Prime Minister Janez Janša also spoke to Secretary-General Gurría in a videoconference. In their talks they focused on the topic of the demographic challenges Slovenia will face in upcoming years. The Secretary-General congratulated the Prime Minister on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in a very effective and timely manner.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a grant decision for the projects “Entrepreneurial approach to addressing the challenges in the region Jugovzodna Slovenija – PONI JV”, “Entrepreneurial approach to addressing the challenges in the region Gorenjska - PONI Gorenjska” and “Entrepreneurial approach to addressing the challenges in the region Obalno-kraška development region”. For projects worth just under EUR 2.4 million, the European Regional Development Fund will contribute EUR 1.7 million. These are the next three in a row of eight projects within the project “Entrepreneurial approach to addressing challenges”, which will be implemented throughout Slovenia. Its purpose is entrepreneurial training of people who want to realize their entrepreneurial idea.

The leaders of the EU Member States are continuing with negotiations today on the EU recovery package in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša pointed out yesterday on Twitter, Saturday marked the second day of attempts to reach an agreement on the budget and the recovery fund. According to the prime minister, the EU is once again showing itself in all its complexity of differences, smallness and greatness, selfishness and solidarity. “For some, a given; for others, something fought for. A test of perseverance,” wrote Prime Minister Janez Janša on Twitter yesterday.

On Friday, 17 July 2020, Fitch Ratings affirmed Slovenia's credit rating at 'A' with a stable outlook.

The leaders of the EU Member States met yesterday at an extraordinary meeting of the European Council in Brussels, where they held a 14-hour discussion on the EU coronavirus recovery package in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. European Council President Charles Michel adjourned the meeting just before midnight and leaders resumed talks today.