News

Beginning in Amman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon has set off on a tour of the Middle East, where she will visit Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. She met with Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to discuss the situation in the region and bilateral cooperation between Slovenia and Jordan.

On Januar 30th, 2025 ambassador Iztok Mirošič attended the 2025 Ambassador Reception hosted by Washington D.C.'s Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a ceremony marking the conclusion of renovation works at Nova Gorica Railway Station. The renovation of the railway station is one of the key infrastructure projects within the European Capital of Culture Nova Gorica–Gorizia GO!25..

The Priority Response Division has already issued 140 actions in four months.

Today, a symbolic event marked the completion of the upgrade of the Nova Gorica railway station, which began in December 2023 and marks an important step towards improving rail transport in that region. The upgrade provided the station with more robust infrastructure with more features, improved safety, and a better user experience for passengers.

Ambassador Iztok Mirošič visited Colorado state between January 22 - 24, 2025, where he officially inaugurated consulate of the Republic of Slovenia. He met with Colorado Governor Jared Polis at the State Capitol in Denver and members of the Colorado National Guard. He also visited the headquarters of the U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs, town of Pueblo and toured the Pueblo Community College.

On Thursday, 30 January 2025, the newly redeveloped Transalpina – Europe Square, an iconic meeting point at the intersection of two cities and two countries, was opened in the border area of Nova Gorica and Gorizia. At a press conference held on the occasion, Minister Aleksander Jevšek congratulated the European Association of Territorial Cooperation Gorizia and the two municipalities of Nova Gorica and Gorizia for their impressive and productive efforts in bringing the project to life.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon is on her first visit to northern Europe, where she confirmed the positive relations between the two countries and discussed with her counterparts the possibilities and opportunities for strengthening cooperation. She also discussed the situation in Ukraine with the Finnish President and Foreign Minister.

At today’s session, the Government decided to continue the public procurement procedure to purchase 8x8 wheeled combat vehicles. It adopted the new National Financial Education Programme and amendments to the relief programme to address the economic impact of the August 2023 floods on businesses. It also proclaimed November 10 as Science Day – a new national holiday aimed at raising awareness of the importance of science.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Call for proposals for promoting projects on cooperatives and social economy and kicking off social entrepreneurship. The European Regional Development Fund supports the call with 3 million euros.

At today's session, the National Assembly adopted the draft act on the ratification of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Slovenia has therefore ratified the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

The Slovenian Regional Development Fund (SRDF) organised the event “Regions for the Future” with a round table on developing the economy, handicrafts and crafts in the development of all Slovenian regions. The event took place at the Ribnica Handicraft Centre. In his opening address, Minister Jevšek spoke about the planned development incentives for border problem areas, the agreements for the development of regions and the Promotion of Balanced Regional Development Act.

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting in Brussels, where the Polish EU Council Presidency presented its programme and key priorities for the Council's work in the first half of 2025. The meeting also featured the annual rule of law dialogue, focusing on the rule of law situation in Hungary, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia.

Today, at the 48th session of the Working Group of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, Slovenia presented the state of human rights in Slovenia within the framework of the 4th round of the Universal Periodic Review. The Slovenian delegation, which included representatives of several ministries and government offices, was led by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon.

The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, where participants discussed further support for Ukraine, EU-US relations following the inauguration of Donald Trump and the situation in the Middle East. The agenda also covered developments in Georgia, Moldova and the deteriorating situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On 24 January 2025, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of Albania, H.E. Jakob Štunf, presented his Letters of Credence to President Bajram Begaj.

Slovenian tourism reached some remarkable milestones in 2024, outperforming the European and global averages despite a challenging environment. With a 7.5% increase in international arrivals and excellent results in both established and emerging markets, Slovenia continues to strengthen its position as a leading green hospitality destination. This success fuels optimism as we move into 2025.

In the first episode of this year’s GovSI podcast, the Minister of Health, Dr. Valentina Prevolnik Rupel, discusses the recently approved amendment to the healthcare system reform act.

In 2024, the Labour Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia carried out its 16th consecutive year-long campaign, Targeted Control of Construction Sites, to ensure greater worker safety and improve working conditions on temporary and mobile construction sites.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a concentration camp that remains one of the most harrowing reminders of Nazi atrocities. Slovenia, an active member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which is marking its 25th anniversary, recently submitted its second periodic report.

Prime Minister Golob attended a mourning ceremony and commemoration in Velenje to honour the three miners who tragically lost their lives in the Velenje Coal Mine accident.

On the basis of the Act on Aid to Ensure Enhanced Air Connectivity (hereinafter reffered as: the Act), a Public Tender for Enhanced Air Connectivity of Slovenia was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia and the Official Journal of the European Union on 24. 1. 2025. In accordance with the first paragraph of Article 10 of the Act, the tender documentation is publicly published, however, the English translation is merely an information aid for foreign air carriers when preparing applications for aid.

The application for aid and Annexes must be submitted in Slovene language. Submission deadline is 24. 2. 2025 at 23.59

Slovenia took over the presidency of the commission that protects the world's most international river basin last December, at the regular meeting of the commission's contracting parties. At today's ceremony, which was organised by the Secretariat of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), Slovenia officially took over the presidency in the presence of high representatives of Danube countries. The ICPDR, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has significantly contributed to improved cross-border cooperation in reducing water pollution, reducing flood risk and improving the ecological status in the Danube River Basin.

At today's session, the Government adopted draft laws on the recognition of professional qualifications in healthcare and on medical devices, as well as a draft amendment to the Medicinal Products Act. The Government also took note of information provided by the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport regarding the call for tenders to support investments in economic restructuring in the Zasavska and Savinjsko–Šaleška coal regions under the Just Transition Fund for the 2024-2027 period.

Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning Jože Novak hosted, on behalf of Slovenia as the presiding country, ministers and other high representatives of the contracting parties to the Alpine Convention at Brdo pri Kranju. At the Alpine Conference, ministers and other high representatives of the contracting parties reviewed the work performed, which the Slovenian presidency led under the slogan "Quality of life in the Alps for everyone", took note of the results achieved by the Convention's working bodies in the last two years and approved the mandates for their future work.

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a ceremony at Gimnazija Kranj to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, entitled "In memoriam, Slovenian victims of the Holocaust", where he was the keynote speaker. In addition to the Prime Minister, Prof. Peter Vodopivec, the Associate Member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and member of the Dachau Internee Community, also delivered an address.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Call for proposals to co-finance Youth Transition+ projects.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and Minister for Slovenians Abroad, Matej Arčon, and the State Secretary at the Government Office for Slovenians Abroad, Vesna Humar, are on a two-day visit to Zagreb. The capital of neighbouring Croatia is currently hosting the World Handball Championship.

Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and the minister responsible for energy, Bojan Kumer, chaired an expert meeting entitled “Vision 2040 – Supplying Slovenia with Electricity”, which took place today at the Presidential Palace.

The Minister of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, Matjaž Han, attended the Sports and Economic Forum in Zagreb, held on the sidelines of the 2025 World Handball Championship. The primary aim of the event was to foster connections, generate ideas and develop solutions to harness shared potentials in the fields of the economy and sport.

Speaking at an open debate of the UN Security Council, a day after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, called on the warring parties in the Middle East to respect the agreements. She emphasised that all members of the Security Council must shoulder their share of responsibility and provide the necessary support to address the ongoing challenges in the Middle East.

Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar hosted a trilateral meeting in Nova Gorica with the Croatian Minister of the Interior, Dr Davor Božinović, and the Italian Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi.

Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon attended the Ukraine-Southeast Europe ministerial meeting in Kyiv, where foreign ministers issued a joint statement expressing their continued support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders, and for assistance in reconstruction. She also discussed the prospects for peace with her Ukrainian host and counterpart Andrii Sybiha.

Prime Minister Golob today received the representatives of the 8th of March Institute, who delivered 17,300 signatures collected as part of their campaign "Stop the sale of illegal firecrackers".

Prime Minister Robert Golob met with Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Taran, who is concluding his term in Slovenia, at a farewell meeting.

State Secretary Marko Štucin met Ambassador Lounes Magramane, Secretary General of the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Algiers for bilateral consultations. He was also received by Mr Ahmed Attaf, Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs.

At today's session, the Government adopted proposed new amendments to the Health Services Act, which strengthens the role of public healthcare institutions and regulates the transition from public to private healthcare – the regulation improves the efficiency and fairness of the healthcare system and eliminates conflicts of interest. The Government also approved the proposal for the Resolution on the Prevention of Corruption in the Republic of Slovenia.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, and Ms Tina Gaber and the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, and Dr Aleš Musar, today hosted the traditional New Year's reception for the Diplomatic Corps at Brdo pri Kranju. The President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps addressed the diplomats.

On 13 and 14 January 2025, a delegation from the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office visited the Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property. The visit took place within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding concluded between the two offices in Ljubljana in March 2024, with the main objective of exchanging good practices and strengthening cooperation in the field of industrial property.

Minister Aleksander Jevšek and Mayor of the Municipality of Tržič Peter Miklič officially opened a new business incubator in Tržič. The opening ceremony brought together the representatives of local business community, local officials, and local residents. At the round table following the event, Minister Jevšek highlighted that this addition would give the local economy a new impetus, creating jobs and contributing to the development of local community.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon concluded her visit to Ankara with the signing of the protocol of the 9th meeting of the Slovenian-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation and the opening of the Slovenian-Turkish Business Forum. The numerous events and meetings held over the two days in the Turkish capital underscore the significant mutual interest in deepening economic cooperation.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Slovenj Gradec sports hall extension.

On the first day of her visit to Ankara, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, met with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan. The meeting, which followed Fidan's visit to Slovenia in August, when the two ministers signed the Strategic Partnership Action Plan, focused on bilateral cooperation, the Middle East, Ukraine, the Western Balkans, enlargement, and EU-Türkiye relations.

Slovenia has reached an important milestone in international energy diplomacy. Presiding at the 15th session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly, Slovenia will for the first time take on the role of a global advocate for renewable energy, as well as the presidency of an international energy organisation.

Check against delivery!
Ladies and Gentlemen, Esteemed Director General of the European Space Agency, my dear friend Dr Josef Aschbacher, Honourable representatives of national delegations to the European Space Agency, welcome to Slovenia!

At today's session, the Government adopted an amendment to the Road Traffic Rules Act, which provides for stricter treatment of drivers who do not establish a rescue lane or drive in an established rescue lane and thereby prevent drivers of emergency vehicles, rescue workers, firefighters and police officers from carrying out urgent tasks to save lives.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Upgrade of the railway line state border – Dobova – Zidani Most – phase one: section state border – Dobova – Sevnica: stage two (the Sevnica area).

On Tuesday, 7 January 2025, the Republic of Slovenia, rated A3 (positive)/AA- (positive)/A (stable), successfully accessed the international capital markets with a EUR 1.0bn Reg S issuance due 14 April 2055.

Slovenia is successfully dealing with the challenges of managing government finances. According to preliminary data, the budget deficit in 2024 was only 1.2% of the GDP, the lowest in the last five years, which attests to financial stability and the responsible management of public funds.

The Republic of Slovenia announces a mandate to organise the issue of a new 30-year bond maturing in 2055.