News

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.

The Director of the Government Communication Office, Petra Bezjak Cirman, presented the challenges of identifying disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference, and the awareness-raising campaign Stop Disinformation: READ, THINK, CHECK, at the Strategic Communication in the Contemporary Security Environment training, which took place from 3 to 6 December at Jable Castle in Mengeš.

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.

The Minister of Education, Vinko Logaj, attends the grand opening of renovated and new premises of the Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Ljubljana. The renovation was funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan and with integrated budget funds.

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.

Today marks an important milestone with the signing of the founding charter of ZAŠKO – the cross-border sports coordination body. This important step brings us closer to the formal implementation and government approval of this initiative, which aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation through sport.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels. The discussions focused on Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as on key strategic priorities as NATO marks its 75th anniversary this year. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs met and held their first consultations with the new Secretary General, Mark Rutte.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the Vevče swimming centre project.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Development of prisoners’ competences.

At the Cairo Ministerial Conference, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon discussed the prospects for lasting solutions for Gaza and the Middle East as a whole with participants from more than 90 countries and international organisations.

Slovenian stakeholders are becoming key players in tapping the potential of the Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument (I3), a ground-breaking European initiative launched in 2022 by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).

In November, as the presidency of the UN Security Council was held by the United Kingdom, Slovenia co-sponsored two briefings, one on the denuclearisation of North Korea and the other on imminent famine in Gaza. State Secretary Marko Štucin participated in a high-level meeting on the situation in Gaza and Ukraine, where he called for the Security Council to take more decisive action on the conflicts..

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in cooperation with the European Commission Representation in Slovenia, organised a presentation for Slovenian companies on the possibilities of their participation in the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) projects. The aim of the event was to attract more Slovenian companies to participate in WBIF projects.

Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon received in Ljubljana Alexander Schallenberg, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, and Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, as part of the second meeting of the so-called Trilateral.

State Secretary Marko Štucin held political consultations in Tashkent with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Muzaffarbek Anvarbekovich. The two officials reviewed bilateral cooperation and committed to strengthening economic cooperation, in line with the 2023 economic cooperation agreement.

To mark the Mediterranean Day, a round table discussion was organised in the atrium of the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU) under the title The Power of Journalism and Music as a Means of Intercultural Dialogue«. The event was enriched with the performance of the exceptional Syrian musician Rami Basisah, whose story was presented to the international audience by Slovenian journalist Boštjan Videmšek.

In the latest, 15th episode of the GOVSI podcast, the guest is the Chief Labor Inspector, Katja Čoh Kragolnik. Host Zoran Potič discussed pressing issues surrounding workers’ rights, legislation, and the practical role of the Labor Inspectorate with her.

At today’s session, the Government of Slovenia adopted a transitional law to enable a thoughtful and socially just coal exit in the Šaleška Valley. It also determined proposals for the Passport Act and amendments to the laws on identity cards, banking, the central register of insured persons and beneficiaries of mandatory pension and disability insurance rights, and confirmed amendments to the Reconstruction Act.

The meeting of the General Affairs Council dedicated to cohesion policy was held ahead of the start of the mandate of the new European Commission. The ministers discussed ways to strengthen the key assets of cohesion policy. The Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development Dr Aleksander Jevšek underscored the importance of cohesion policy for an integrated and sustainable development and success of the European Union.

On 25 and 26 November 2024, we hosted the international conference Geographical Indications and Collective Marks: Tradition, Quality, and Identity for Sustainable Competitiveness at Congress Centre Brdo.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has launched a call for proposals to support the inclusion of graduates in business development projects in border problem areas. The aim of the call for proposals is to promote the employment of graduates in companies operating in border problem areas.

Prime Minister Dr. Robert Golob attended the Slovenian Economic Summit, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia.

In Astana, State Secretary Marko Štucin held political consultations with Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko, focusing on the strengthening of bilateral relations and current foreign policy issues. He also met with Slovenians living and working in Kazakhstan.

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič attended the 10th MED Mediterranean Dialogues Conference in Rome. The conference is one of the main platforms for high-level dialogue on topical issues in the Mediterranean, the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) and beyond.

Prime Minister Dr. Robert Golob, upon the confirmation of the new European Commission and the election of Marta Kos as European Commissioner, stated:

Today, the European Commission has presented the first European Semester Autumn Package under the new economic governance framework. The revised fiscal rules focus on medium-term fiscal-structural plans over a four-year period and set a growth target for net expenditure. The Commission has assessed Slovenia's plan as being in line with the new rules.

At its committee meetings, the Government approved amendments to the proposed changes to the Deposit Guarantee Scheme Act, and the Payment Services, Services for Issuing Electronic Money and Payment Systems Act.

The Embassy of Slovenia in Tirana will be closed on 28 November 2024, on the occasion of the National Flag and Independence Day of Albania.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, is undertaking an official visit to Portugal today and tomorrow. Following her meeting with her host, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, the two ministers attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Slovenian and Portuguese investment promotion agencies, aimed at enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries.

The National Council of the Republic of Slovenia hosted a consultation on the just transition of coal regions that was held at the request of mayors and members of the National Council Peter Dermol and Matjaž Švagan. The consultation focused on social accountability, long-term support, and redirection of local economic development efforts that will enable coal regions to transition away from fossil fuels in an orderly and just manner and promote further growth towards sustainable future.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Establishment of a development office for cultural and arts education.

The two-day international conference "Geographical Indications and Collective Marks: tradition, quality and identity for sustainable competitiveness" opened today at Brdo pri Kranju. The event brings together experts and representatives of institutions from Slovenia and abroad to discuss the importance of these rights for tourism, gastronomy and economic development.

At the United Nations Climate Conference in Baku, representatives of the countries today, in the early morning hours, reached a new agreement. According to this agreement rich countries, including Slovenia, will provide at least USD 300 billion in climate assistance to developing countries every year from 2025 to 2035.

The Minister of Education, Vinko Logaj, attends the grand opening of a new gym at Gimnazija Šiška, general upper secondary school, in Ljubljana.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the JTC Training project aimed at improving the competences and skills of judicial staff. The project, worth 1.4 million euros, will receive 825,000 euros of European Social Fund Plus support.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Development of teachers’ and school leaders’ competences for running innovative educational institutions in the 2024-2028 period. The project is worth €3.5 million and will receive €2.2 million support from the European Social Fund Plus.

The Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee, the so-called Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, which deals mainly with human rights issues, has concluded its session in New York. During its session, which began on 3 October, the Committee again addressed a wide range of thematic issues and human rights situations around the world.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Tanja Fajon visited London at the invitation of Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland David Lammy. Slovenia and the United Kingdom are allies and partners who share democratic values and enjoy excellent cooperation, including in the UN Security Council.

The 6th Latin America and the Caribbean Days international conference (LAC Days), organised by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs under the auspices of the Bled Strategic Forum since 2018, concluded with a panel discussion entitled The Role of Latin America and the Caribbean in the New Geopolitical Reality.

At today's session, the Government adopted several regulations on the classification of jobs into salary grades as a result of the adopted salary reform, and the Decree Implementing Regulation (EU) on the establishment of a Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). The Government also took note of extended controls at the internal Schengen border with Croatia and Hungary.

The American Slovenian Education Foundation (ASEF) organized a scientific symposium in San Francisco on Slovenian scientific and technological achievements in the field of space, followed by a gala dinner marking ASEF's 10th anniversary. Ambassador Iztok Mirošič addressed the participants via video message.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in cooperation with the Bled Strategic Forum, is organising the 6th Latin American and Caribbean Days international conference (LAC Days) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 20-21 November 2024. This year's conference focuses on strengthening political, economic, scientific and cultural ties, and on addressing global challenges through more effective multilateralism.

State Secretary Melita Gabrič attended the Ministerial Meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI), which brings together 16 Member States from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.

The European Commission today welcomed the second proposal to amend of the Slovenian Recovery and Resilience Plan. The amendment to the plan also needs to be approved by the Council of the European Union.

On the occasion of World Children's Day, Prime Minister Robert Golob received Ava Planinc and Izabela Rosc, the Junior Ambassadors of UNICEF Slovenia.

Librarians first celebrated the Day of Public Libraries in 2002. Each year, it is accompanied by Public Library Week, which this year is being celebrated in libraries from November 18 to 22. The slogan for this year's celebration is "(Let's) Gather in the Library."

State Secretary Marko Štucin attended the regular General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. The meeting focused on preparations for the December European Council and the dialogue on the rule of law. At the informal working lunch, ministers exchanged views on the role of cohesion policy in enhancing the competitiveness of the EU.

Prime Minister Robert Golob met today with the wife of the President of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, and the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yuliia Svyrydenko. The meeting took place on the day when Ukraine marks a grim milestone of 1000 days since Russia has started its war of aggression against Ukraine.