The guest of the 2nd episode of the GOVSI government podcast is Dr Janez Potočnik: during the preparations for Slovenia's accession to the EU, he was the head of the EU Accession Negotiating Group, then European Commissioner for two terms, and today he is a member and co-chair of the UN's International Panel on Resources. The discussion was moderated by Petra Bezjak Cirman, Director of the Government Communications Office.

This May, we are not only celebrating the 20th anniversary of Slovenia's accession to the EU, but also 20 years since the largest EU enlargement. Therefore Belgium, the current Presidency of the Council of the EU, has invited all ten countries that joined the EU at that time to illuminate the European path of the BRIGHT festival in Brussels with light installations.

At today's session, the Government adopted the Decree on the compulsory health insurance service programme for 2024, the relief programme for damage caused in primary agricultural production and the relief programme for damage caused to businesses in the floods of August 2023.

“The EU has allocated a lot of money to Slovenia for a healthy and clean environment under the European Cohesion Policy for the period 2021-2027. In total, almost 800 million euros is earmarked for the objective A greener, low-carbon Slovenia, with the Savinjsko- Šaleška region being eligible also for the funding under the Just Transition Fund,” said Minister Jevšek in his address at the international conference on green space management in Velenje.

Minister Tanja Fajon held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Hanke Bruins Slot. Their talks focused on activities aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. They also exchanged views on current European and international issues.

Minister Tanja Fajon, representing one of 34 countries, signed the Ljubljana-The Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and Other International Crimes. The Convention was adopted in Ljubljana in May 2023 after a decade of effort and hard work by Slovenian diplomats and international law experts.

On the last day of his visit to Slovenia, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu visited Slovenian Istria together with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Mateja Čalušić. They toured the InnoRenew CoE independent research institute and a farm engaged in wine-growing, olive-growing and complementary activities.

State Secretary Štiglic took part in the UN Security Council's high-level open debate in New York on the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security. In her speech, she stressed the importance of timely detection of processes related to climate change and food security that could lead to conflict.

ector-Genreal of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations QU Dongyu visited Slovenia at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar. As part of his visit to Slovenia, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Mateja Čalušić will host the Director-General today and tomorrow. Today, they visited two farms in the vicinity of Ljubljana and the Municipality of Dol pri Ljubljani.

On February 12, 2024, a tourist presentation of Slovenia took place at the embassy of RS in Washington. The Luxury Slovenia company presented Slovenian tourism and opportunities for business cooperation in the tourism field to American travel agents in Washington.

The European Space Education Resource Office in Slovenia, ESERO Slovenia, was officially opened today at Center Noordung. ESERO Slovenia is run by the Centre for School and Outdoor Education (CŠOD) in partnership with Center Noordung. By integrating space technology content into primary and secondary education, we aim to increase young people's interest in science careers.

EU development ministers held an informal meeting in Brussels under the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council to discuss EU development cooperation for the coming years, human rights mainstreaming and the situation in Gaza. Edvin Skrt, Director-General for development cooperation, attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended the opening ceremony of the new intensive care units at Jesenice General Hospital.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with the President of the Judicial Council of the Republic of Slovenia, Vladimir Horvat, and its member, Emil Zakonjšek.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon received her Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry for an official visit. The two officials spent a great deal of time discussing the current situation in the world, with a focus on the Middle East. The Slovenian-Egyptian Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation examined the possibilities for further strengthening cooperation.

A ceremony marking the official opening of a renovated research laboratory at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Maribor primarily dedicated to process and environmental engineering was attended by Dr Aleksander Jevšek, Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development. The Minister underlined the importance of cooperation between educational institutions and the economic sector.

In these days when Italy commemorates the victims of the foibe and the exodus from Istria, Rijeka and Dalmatia, the Ministry reiterates the importance of comprehensive and respectful remembrance and dignity for all the victims of the tragic events of the 20th century war and post-war period. Every community keeps the memory of its painful experiences alive, but it must also ensure that this pain does not breed more resentment or fear.

In Sarajevo, State Secretary Marko Štucin met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković and held consultations with Deputy Foreign Minister Josip Brkić.

State Secretary Tina Heferle and the Director of the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants Katarina Šturkelj have attended the Ministerial Conference on the integration of newcomers by EU member states held under the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union in Mechelen, Belgium.