News

During today's video conference call, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of North Macedonia Nikola Dimitrov assessed the development of bilateral relations as very positive. Against the backdrop of the recent Slovenian EU Council Presidency take-over, the pair discussed the European perspective of North Macedonia.

Acting Director-General Igor Jukič held consultations with the French Director-General for Global Affairs, Culture, Education and International Development, Michel Miraillet, via video conference.

Prime Minister Janša met today in Brdo pri Kranju with mayors of Slovenian municipalities. During the working consultation, they discussed measures to control the spread of COVID-19 in the coming months and public finance and development issues with the ministers.

Representatives of Member States of European union (EU) and European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission (EC),the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Executive of ESA met at the European Space Traffic Management Conference »Fostering a European approach on Space Traffic Management« on July 7, 2021.

Today, State Secretary Uroš Lampret was the keynote speaker at the webinar titled The Strategic Compass and the Western Balkans: Towards a tailor-made and strategic approach to partnerships?

Today in the European Parliament, Prime Minister Janez Janša presented the six-month programme and the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2021. This traditional presentation of priorities is held at the beginning of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The presentation took place at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg after which the Slovenian Prime Minister attended a press conference together with President of the European Parliament David Sassoli and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz held a video conference meeting. They assessed bilateral relations and exchanged views on the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Kosovo from the perspective of the second Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, stressing the importance of maintaining a credible European perspective for the Western Balkan countries, thereby further contributing to the stabilisation of the region.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan today held talks via a video conference with Serbian Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović. They gave a positive assessment of the development of bilateral relations, focusing on further EU enlargement, which is one of the key priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

Today in the European Parliament, Prime Minister Janez Janša presented the six-month programme and the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2021. The presentation of priorities is customary and takes place at the start of every presidency of the Council of the European Union. Prime Minister Janša presented the Slovenian Presidency’s priorities at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. After the presentation, he attended a press conference together with President of the European Parliament David Sassoli and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Prime Minister Janez Janša addressed the European Parliament and presented the six-month programme of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union including the Presidency’s priorities in the second part of 2021. It was a traditional presentation of priorities at the beginning of the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The presentation took place at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan attended the high-level event "Development in Transition: Dialogues to chart new paths for Latin America and the Caribbean", via video conference, where participants discussed possibilities for creating new models for sustainable and inclusive recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean.

On Friday, 2 July 2021, the Commission approved the proposed amendment to the Operational Programme (OP), version 6.0. The amended OP now accommodates the thematic areas or contents that will be the first to receive support from the React-EU initiative.

At today's 24th regular session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Janez Janša answered questions raised by the deputies Jerca Korče (LMŠ), Jani Prednik (SD) and Anja Bah Žibert (SDS) on the epidemiological situation following the announcement of the end of the COVID-19 epidemic and future measures, the anticipated new wave of the COVID-19 epidemic and the budget deficit.

State Secretary Dovžan outlined the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Đorđe Radulović at a video conference meeting. They also focused on resilience, the discussion on the future of Europe, and enlargement of the Union.

Today, at the webinar organized by the Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations in Belgium, Minister of Defence Matej Tonin, MSc, presented the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council in the defence and security sector.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended the meeting of the Committee on European Affairs at the invitation of the presiding Lithuanian Committee on European Affairs and the Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs Arnoldas Pranckevičius, presenting the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency and devoting particular attention to post-pandemic resilience and recovery.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended a commemoration in Ivančna Gorica to mark both the first mass for Slovenian soldiers and the 30th anniversary of the independent and democratic Republic of Slovenia. On this occasion, the Prime Minister attended the Mass for the Homeland, co-led by the Ljubljana Archbishop and Metropolitan, Msgr Stanislav Zore, and delivered a speech at the commemoration.

In line with the tradition of the presiding countries, Slovenia has hosted correspondents from Brussels accredited at the EU institutions at the beginning of its presidency. The correspondents spoke to the highest representatives of the Government about the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency, and had an opportunity to experience Slovenia as a boutique, sustainable and safe tourist destination.

Minister for Development and EU Cohesion Policy Zvone Černač attended the ceremony marking the start of the construction works for the Prapretno solar power plant. Minister Černač together with the Minister responsible for infrastructure Jernej Vrtovec, the CEO of the Holding slovenske elektrarne Viktor Vračar, Ph. D. and the mayor of the municipality Hrastnik Marko Funkl pressed the button that marked the start of the construction works. ‘Pressing the button has a simple and yet a strong message: Green future is in our hands,’ stressed Minister Černač.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs attended the main ceremony to mark the municipal holiday of Benedikt and addressed the residents of the municipality. She congratulated them on this occasion and underlined that the Government will continue to focus the available EU funding on reducing development disparities between Slovenia’s regions.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs attended the presentation of the project My Europe, My Future at Brdo pri Kranju, where a documentary-feature film on the topic of a Healthy, Green and Sustainable Europe was premiered.

The launch of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency is accompanied by the opening of the Europe Readr digital platform, its leading cultural and promotional project. The selection of books in the virtual library that will be available free of charge will bring readers closer to the current social issues and encourage them to reflect on, and discuss, the world we want to live in. A number of accompanying events will be organised around the world, along with the creation of public spaces for reading and exchanging ideas, all the way from Paris and Helsinki to Washington and Bangkok. The formal opening of the platform will take place on 7 July in the Lighthouse Park in Izola.

To ensure a safety distance (at least 1 meter), the archive reading room can be visited by up to 10 users at a time.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the projects Agreement on the development of region Ptuj-Markovci-Gorišnica, Agreement on the development of region Ptuj-Juršinci, Development of cycling infrastructure in Trbovlje, Agreement on the development of region Regional cycling route Novo mesto-Straža, Agreement on the development of region Destrnik-Ptuj, Cycling connection between Radlje ob Dravi and Vas, Agreement on the development of region Kungota-Maribor and Agreement on the development of region Regional cycling route Črnomelj-Kanižarica. The total value of all projects amounts to EUR 17.7 million. The projects will be supported by the EU, with EUR 8.3 million coming from the European Regional Development Fund.

The premiere of the Waterman ballet marked the start of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The ballet staged on Bled Island and choreographed by internationally renowned choreographer Edward Clug was attended by representatives of the Slovenian Government and members of the College of Commissioners.

The premiere of the Waterman ballet on July 1 2021, marked the beginning of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The ballet performance on Bled Island, choreographed by the internationally renowned choreographer Edward Clug, was seen by representatives of the Slovenian Government and members of the European Commission. The gathering was addressed by the Slovenian Minister of Culture dr. Vasko Simoniti and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended the ceremony marking the start of Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU – the ballet performance Water Man (Povodni mož), choreographed by Edward Clug, on Bled Island.

The European Commission gave the green light to Slovenia's plan for resilience and recovery. This was message brought by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the College of European Commissioners to today's meeting with the Slovenian Government, which is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time.

Slovenia today assumes the Presidency of the EU Council for the second time. The European Commission, headed by President Ursula von der Leyen, is visiting our country to mark this occasion. After a morning visit to the Pediatric Clinic in Ljubljana, Prime Minister Janša and the President of the European Commission met for a bilateral meeting at Brdo, followed by a working lunch of the entire Government and the European Commission. After that, a press conference was held for Slovenian and foreign media.

Today, Slovenia is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time. On this occasion, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the College of Commissioners arrived to Ljubljana and will meet with the Slovenian Government today.

In the context of the visit of the College of European Commissioners, Foreign Minister Anže Logar met with Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen. He presented the priorities in the field of foreign policy during the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, stressing that Slovenia would strive to strengthen the Union's resilience and to achieve a stronger role of the Union in global relations.

At the invitation of the German Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Svenja Schulze, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan attended the Water Dialogues for Results virtual conference in Bonn. The conference is part of a formal preparatory event for the United Nations (UN) Conference on the Water Action Decade scheduled for March 2023 in New York. This will be only the second conference in the history of the UN dedicated exclusively to water.

Today, as part of her visit to Slovenia, Minister of Health Janez Poklukar received President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Slovenian Prime Minister, Janez Janša.

Members of the Slovenian Government today paid a day-long visit to the Podravje region. They first met for a working consultation at Ptuj Castle, followed by separate programmes of the Prime Minister and ministers. During the visit, the Prime Minister and ministers met with representatives of businesses, institutions, municipalities and other stakeholders in the region. The visit to the region concluded with a public debate on the development and prospects of the Podravje region.

Prime Minister Janša made a guest appearance on Radio City in Maribor today during the Government visit to the Podravje region. In conversation with radio talk show host Dejan Vedlin, he talked about the epidemic, the importance of vaccination, the spread of the delta variant, the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Government's plans for the Podravje region.

Minister Zvone Černač today visited University Medical Centre Maribor as part of the government visit to the Podravje region. The Minister paid a visit to the Slivniško Pohorje-based Department of pulmonary disease that will be relocated to new premises thanks to EU funding. In Maribor, the Minister made a visit to the neighbourhood Pod Pekrsko gorco, and met with the Mayor of Selnica ob Dravi dr. Vlasta Krmelj and her colleagues. State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs also participated in the government visit, meeting Mayors of Poljčane and Hoče-Slivnica and paying a site visit to the Business Zone Tezno.

On the eve of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan took part in a meeting of the co-chairs of the Conference on the Future of Europe. He will co-chair the Executive Board of the Conference on the Future of Europe during the Slovenian Presidency.

The statements made by CNVOS and summed up by the media that the conditions of the EEA and Norway Grants call for proposals discriminate against non-governmental organisations are not true. The conditions for non-governmental organisations are set in order to guarantee that only the best project proposals are selected. Slovenia being accountable to the Donor States expects the available grants to be spent efficiently by generating the highest possible added value.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Revitalization of the Old glass workshop and Vrazov trg square with adjacent streets (Ptuj). The EUR 4.9 million redevelopment project will be implemented by Urban Municipality Ptuj under the Vision and Strategy of Urban Municipality Ptuj 2015-2025 and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund amounting to nearly EUR 2.2. million.

The Slovenian Prime Minister started a regional visit to Podravje today. He visited the Archdiocese of Maribor and met with Msgr Alojzij Cvikl, Archbishop of Maribor and Metropolitan.

The newly appointed Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Anita Pipan, presented her credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva, on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.

Today in Brdo pri Kranju, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a working lunch with ambassadors of the EU Member States, which was organised by the Portuguese chargée d’affaires as a representative of the member state currently holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Today, EU agriculture and fisheries ministers finished a two-day meeting where they focused on confirming the deal on the reform of the common agricultural policy. As part of fisheries items, the ministers discussed the Communication on the state of play of the common fisheries policy and consultation on the fishing opportunities for 2020. As part of phytosanitary items, the ministers adopted a Council Decision requesting the Commission to submit a study on biological control agents (macroorganisms) of plant pests. They also discussed setting a protection goal for honey bees. Minister Jože Podgoršek attended the meeting on behalf of Slovenia. The Portuguese ministers responsible for agriculture and fisheries symbolically handed over the Presidency of the AGRIFISH Council to Minister Podgoršek. Agriculture minister also held several bilateral meetings with ministers of other EU member states.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended the meeting of the Bureau of the Committee of the Regions before the beginning of Slovenia’s EU Council Presidency.

Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs took part in the videoconference of the Berlin process ministers of the interior. Ministers were examining options for further cooperation in fight against organised crime and corruption in the Western Balkan countries and talked about EU's support to Western Balkan countries in managing migrations.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the opening ceremony of the new gas unit of the Brestanica Thermal Power Plant, where he was the keynote speaker. Prior to the ceremony, he visited the new gas unit, the gas tanks and the first gas units accompanied by the director of the Brestanica Thermal Power Plant Tomislav Malgai and the CEO of GEN energija Martin Novšak.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar attended the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS, which was established in 2014. The meeting was hosted by Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi di Maio and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan attended the international conference of the Africa Europe Foundation Forum via video conference. He participated in a panel entitled The Health Alliance of Africa and Europe: Pandemic Resilience and the Future of Healthcare. The participants discussed the health alliance in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan received Dumitru Socolan, State Secretary at the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

At today's meeting of the Council of the EU, EU ministers confirmed the compromise deal on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP). The European Parliament and the Council of the EU came to a political agreement on the deal last Friday. The deal covers all three legislative proposals (Strategic Plans Regulation, amendments to the Regulation on the common market organisation and Horizontal Regulation). Minister Jože Podgoršek has attended the meeting on behalf of Slovenia.