December in Slovenia is a time of wonder, where centuries-old traditions weave magic into the holiday season.

In the new episode of the government GOVSI podcast, hosted by Petra Bezjak Cirman, we delved into the world of statistics with guests Apolonija Oblak Flander, Director-General of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS), and Martin Bajželj, Head of the Data Publishing and Communication Sector. They discussed the importance of statistics for everyday decision-making, societal governance, and economic development.

At today's session, the Government adopted a proposal for an amendment to the Municipal Financing Act, which provides systemic solutions for covering additional costs of municipalities and a starting point for the preparation of legislative proposals on Roma issues. It also reviewed the List of Beneficiaries of the Eighth Set of Advance Payments for the Reconstruction of Housing Due to Floods and Landslides from August 2023.

Ljubljana, 12 December 2024 – The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals to co-finance integrated energy-saving renovation of municipality-owned buildings.

On December 10, 2024, the Ambassador hosted a reception for the Slovenian community in Washington on the occasion of the 34th Day of Slovenian Independence and Unity. Photographer Alenka Slavinec organized the opening of a photography exhibition about Lipizzaner horses, whose story is inseparably connected to Operation Cowboy, which enabled some of the horses to return to Lipica.

The delegation of Slovenia, comprising the Director-General for International Law, Dr Marko Rakovec, acting as agent, alongside legal representatives Prof. Dr Vasilka Sancin and Dr Daniel Müller, appeared before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague during the hearing on the request for an advisory opinion regarding the obligations of States in respect of climate change.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted for political consultations the Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Megi Fino, who also met separately with State Secretary Melita Gabrič. All three expressed their satisfaction with the friendly relations between the two countries.

Today, the Council of the European Union comprising finance ministers approved an amendment to Slovenia's Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). This is a minor amendment, mainly relating to the method of implementing seven measures.

On the occasion of world Human Rights Day, Slovenia's foreign policy message – Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now – reaffirms its commitment to promoting the respect for and protection of human rights, particularly within the framework of international organisations.

Slovenia has received the remainder and the bulk of the European Union Solidarity Fund aid intended for recovery and reconstruction following the devastating floods that hit the country in August 2023. The European Commission recently transferred an additional EUR 328.4 million to Slovenia's Ministry of Finance, topping up the EUR 100 million advance payment received at the end of last year.

During her visit to Podgorica, Minister Tanja Fajon officially opened the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre, an initiative of Slovenia, France and Montenegro. She also signed the new development cooperation programme between the Slovenian and Montenegrin governments and met with senior Montenegrin officials.

The Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, is hosting a regional expert event in Ljubljana entitled “Women in Peace and Security Efforts – Perspectives from South-Eastern Europe and Ukraine”. The event was opened by State Secretary Melita Gabrič.

The first United Nations human rights treaty – the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide – was adopted on 9 December 1948, one day before the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948.

At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Robert Golob and his partner Tina Gaber attended the inauguration of the renovated Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris yesterday.

In recent days, a video with false and misleading claims about the possibility of entering Slovenia has garnered a lot of attention on the social network X.

On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed on 3 December, Prime Minister Robert Golob hosted representatives from the National Council of Disability Organisations of Slovenia (NSIOS), the Sonček – Cerebral Palsy Association of Slovenia, the Altra Society, the Poglej Society and the YHD Association for Theory and Culture of Handicap.

At the Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon stressed the importance of this forum and the need to ensure the functioning of the OSCE, including stable funding. The main topic of discussion at the Malta meeting was Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.

At today's session, the Government took a number of important decisions. Among other things, it finalised the text of the draft Act Determining Additional Intervention Measures to Ensure Accessibility in Healthcare and the text of the Act Amending the Pharmacy Practice Act, and adopted amendments to the Long-Term Care Act.

The festive season is officially on in Slovenia after the country's largest two cities have switched on their Christmas lights and decorations, with other towns to follow suit in the coming days.

For the 25th consecutive year, Slovenia is marking 3 December as the Merry Day of Culture (Ta veseli dan kulture), a special day dedicated to art and creativity.