The ninth Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week under the theme ‘’Stronger cooperation for a better future’’ was officially opened in Izola today. The traditional event that gathers hundreds of stakeholders on Slovenian coast every year aims to raise awareness of the sea and the coast and the need to balance their economic potential and environmental sustainability.

State Secretary Marko Štucin delivered an opening address at the 9th Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies in Izola, which is taking place under the slogan “Stronger cooperation for a better future”. Slovenia currently holds the presidency of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region and is the only country that participates with its entire territory in three of the four macro-regional strategies (Alpine, Adriatic-Ionian and Danube).

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič participated in the fifth edition of the Ministerial Conference of the Moldova Partnership Platform in Chisinau, aimed at securing and coordinating international assistance to help Moldova tackle key political and social challenges. On the sidelines of the Conference, State Secretary Gabrič met with Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister Cristina Gherasimov and addressed participants at an event co-organised by the Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF).

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia has taken a decision to provide relief to the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe affected by floods in September this year following their request for assistance through the EU civil protection mechanism by dispatching up to five different post-flood emergency aid units or by providing material aid totalling up to 600,000 euros.

In a press statement today, Prime Minister Golob spoke about the new line-up of the European Commission and the role entrusted to Slovenia. "It is a high-responsibility duty. By getting the Enlargement portfolio, Slovenia has been entrusted with the key to ensuring stability and peace not only in the Western Balkans, but also in Eastern Europe," he said and added that the portfolio also included the reconstruction of Ukraine.

At the meetings of government committees, the Government, among other things, decided to provide assistance to the countries of Central and Southeastern Europe that were affected by floods in September 2024. Based on their requests for assistance through the Union's civil protection mechanism, the Government will provide aid with up to five different flood intervention units or appropriate material assistance with a total value of up to 600,000 euros.

The European Commission today gave a preliminary positive assessment to the third request for payment of funds under the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. Slovenia expects payment of EUR 257.7 million later this year.

Prime Minister Robert Golob today attended the celebration in Vipava marking the national holiday of the Return of Primorska to the Motherland, where he was the keynote speaker.

At the invitation of Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, Minister Fajon took part in a meeting of European and Arab foreign ministers. The discussion focused on strengthening joint efforts and initiatives aimed at realising the two-state solution and achieving peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. They agreed that more diplomacy and international cooperation are needed to resolve this conflict.

The rules for visa-free travel to most European countries will change. ETIAS travel authorisation is a new entry requirement for the nationals of around 60 visa-exempt countries travelling to 30 European countries. Similar travel authorisations for visa-exempt nationals are currently implemented by the US, Canada and Australia as well as other countries.

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the Yerevan Dialogue Conference in Armenia, held under the auspices of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and held political consultations.

In the past week, Slovenia has captured the spotlight in the cycling world, with its name and images making waves.

In the latest episode, Zoran Potič hosted distinguished American professor in the field of communication and public diplomacy, Nicholas J. Cull. They discussed the history of disinformation, the characteristics of disinformation today, and the challenges modern technologies and the increasing amounts of (dis)information pose to democracy.

Prime Minister Robert Golob hosted a meeting of coalition deputies and Government representatives at Brdo pri Kranju. The Government coalition meeting was aimed at reviewing the coalition agreement’s implementation and planning the work to be completed by the end of the term.

At today's meeting, the Slovenian Government took note of the Autumn Forecast of Economic Trends 2024 and adopted the Strategy for the Development of Health Services in Primary Healthcare to 2031. It also approved the text of the Act Implementing the General Product Safety Regulation (EU).

On 12 September 2024, the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia hosted a development conference in Ljubljana titled Decentralisation and efficient public services: Slovenia's development vision for the next decade. The conference discussed Slovenia's diverse development challenges and policies. The Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development, Dr Aleksander Jevšek, opened the conference.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs today signed a contract with Caritas Slovenia for the implementation of a project to rehabilitate wounded Palestinian children in Slovenia and provide humanitarian aid in Gaza. In cooperation with the Danilo Türk Foundation, the project also aims to provide medical and psychosocial rehabilitation for victims of the war in Gaza.

The world is facing a triple planetary crisis – biodiversity loss, pollution of natural resources and climate change. The latter is also manifested in extreme, water-related phenomena – floods, low flows, and droughts. As all countries are confronted with climate change, they must contribute to increasing climate resilience in transboundary river basins and river basins in concert and through common approaches.

This month marks 20 years since the launch of Slovenia’s first project of close inter-institutional cooperation, in which Slovenia, just a few months after joining the EU, began sharing its knowledge and experience in the pre-accession process.

As part of his visit to Bucharest, State Secretary Marko Štucin held political consultations with the State Secretary for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Clara Staicu. The talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and exchanging views on current European, regional and international issues.