At today’s session of the Government Committee for State Organisation and Public Affairs, the Government became acquainted with the joint report on volunteering in the Republic of Slovenia for 2020. The Government also adopted a report on the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Non-Governmental Organisations and Volunteering until 2023 for the period from 2018 to the end of 2020. The Government included in the current Plan of Development Programmes of the Republic of Slovenia 2022-2025 the purchase of business premises for the needs of the judicial authorities in Novo Mesto in the total amount of EUR 855,545.

Vojko Volk, State Secretary for International Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister, attended, together with President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani-Sadriuhe, a round table on the future of the Western Balkans, held under the auspices of the Centre for European Future and the Bled Strategic Forum.

Acting Director-General Ksenija Škrilec and Salvador Rueda, Director General for Integration and Coordination of General Affairs of the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Spain, held a videoconference consultation on topical European and regional issues. Their discussion also served as preparation for the planned future meetings of the informal EUMED Group, to be hosted by Spain.

According to preliminary data, the state budget recorded revenue of approximately EUR 6.4 billion in the first half of this year, an increase of EUR 968 million or 18% compared to the same period last year. Expenditure, on the other hand, amounted to EUR 6.5 billion, down EUR 849 million or 11.6% compared to the same period last year. The budget deficit in the first half of the year amounted to EUR 128 million.

Marko Sraka, a doctor of archaeology, is joining the team of the Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko as an advisor

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the call for proposals Work integrated learning for students to gain practical experience and knowledge 2022/2023. The call for proposals will promote flexible forms of learning and support career orientation.

Long-time journalist Dejan Štamfelj joins the team of the Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko as a public relations advisor.

The presentation of the 2022 Economic Survey of Slovenia, prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), took place on Monday at Brdo pri Kranju. The Economic Survey provides a comprehensive picture of the macroeconomic situation in Slovenia, with special attention paid to the topical issue of the digitalisation of society and the economy.

At the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), we recently presented the second issue of our Newsletter. This time we present you an additional, special edition entitled OECD 365, which contains interviews with Directors of the OECD Directorates.

The Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning for the first time attended a meeting of the Environment Council. The ministers reached an agreement on the general approach for all legislative acts within the Fit for 55 Package, considered within the scope of the Environment Council (EU Emissions Trading System (ETS); burden sharing (ESR), CO2 standards for vehicles; use of land, modification of use of land and forestry (LULCF); Social Climate Fund).

During her first bilateral visit to Berlin, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon met Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Annalena Baerbock. They discussed activities to strengthen bilateral relations, with a focus on strategic dialogue between their respective countries and signed a joint action plan for 2022–2024. They also talked about the war in Ukraine and cooperation in humanitarian aid projects in the country, EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament and climate change.

At today's session, the government decided to spend over EUR 22 million to support farmers until the autumn sowing, and to purchase this year's entire wheat harvest. It also adopted a draft amendment to the Radiotelevizija Slovenija Act and guidance regarding the preparation of budget documents.

As of today, a new and improved Roaming Regulation is in force. The regulation extends the scheme 'roaming like at home' until 2032. This scheme allows travellers in the European Union and the European Economic Area to make calls, write messages and browse the web during their stay abroad without extra costs.

The traditional event entitled Welcome Home, which is dedicated to all Slovenians who live abroad – both members of the national minorities in neighbouring countries, and those who live further afield – will this year take place in Ljubljana and Novo mesto. The whole event will take place from Thursday until Sunday, and it always takes place on the days around “Emigrant Sunday”, which is the first Sunday in July.

Ljubljana was officially declared European Best Destination 2022 on Monday, 27 June. The prestigious award was given to Mayor Zoran Janković by the CEO of the European Best Destinations organisation, Maximilien Lejeune.

Dr Asta Vrečko’s ministerial team is being strengthened again, with the arrival of Lenart J. Kučić, a media researcher, lecturer and podcaster.

The European Commission has completed its review of applications submitted for co-financing of the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). Organizations across the European Union sent their applications, following a national pre-selection process.

Mid-July this year marks the 80th anniversary of the start of the great Italian offensive in the Lower and Inner Carniola. The offensive went on for three months and eighteen days. Its aim - to destroy partisan movement - was not achieved, but it did affect civilians even more than it affected the partisan units. Italian army interned masses of people, shot anyone who seemed suspicious, burnt down entire villages, and offered money rewards to capture various partisan leaders. The High Command of Slovenian Partisan Forces, on the other hand, sent their units concise instructions on how to "thwart the enemy's plans" and how to "carry out counter-offensive".

After the three-day meeting of the NATO heads of state and government, the Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob stressed that the plans to increase defence expenditure were not due to political pressure, but to the global situation, which has radically deteriorated since the previous summit of the alliance.

Today, Prime Minister Robert Golob was a guest in a live broadcast of BBC World News. He spoke about the agreements made at the NATO Summit, the enlargement of the alliance, the (in)stability of the Western Balkans, the European idea, and the challenges related to and cooperation with China.