News

As Slovenia prepares to hold the Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2021, Slovenian Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs and delegation made a two-day visit to Cyprus and held talks with Cypriot Minister of the Interior Nicos Nouris and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulides, focusing on the preparations for the upcoming Slovenian Presidency.

At the virtual Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan announced Slovenia's humanitarian contribution in the amount of 60,000 euros. The contribution will be directed to efforts to provide support to Venezuelan refugees in Brazil through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in two parts, this year and next.

In view of the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency, Director-General for European Union Affairs Barbara Sušnik held talks with Mārtiņš Klīve, the Director of the European Union Coordination and Policies Department of the Latvian Foreign Ministry, via videoconference.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar attended a ministerial meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Antalya.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs addressed the participants of the conference Tourism Development 4.0 hosted by the company Arctur, d.o.o. on the closure of the project Tourism 4.0 TRL 3-6. She presented the opportunities for the tourism sector under Slovenia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).

Director-General for European Affairs Barbara Sušnik participated in a videoconference meeting of the EU Council Presidency Trio of Slovenia, Germany and Portugal, presenting the priorities Slovenia will pursue during its Presidency.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and State Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister of Czechia Milena Hrdinková confirmed the excellent cooperation between Slovenia and Czechia through a videoconference. They expressed satisfaction that the two countries are working closely together in many areas, sharing many similar views on European and international issues.

Ahead of the fast-approaching Slovenian EU Council Presidency, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held talks with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Rumen Alexandrov, via videoconference. The central topic of conversation was the priorities of Slovenia's Presidency.

Today Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, the National Focal Point, officially launched the implementation of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021 in Slovenia. The online event Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe was attended by around 300 participants with opening addresses delivered by State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs and Ambassador of Norway H.E. Trine Skymoen. After the launching event the applicant workshop provided the potential applicants with an overview of the calls for proposals under the programmes Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Education – Enhancing Human Capital.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar participated in the 16th Bratislava Forum as part of GLOBSEC. Taking place from 15 to 17 June, the Forum is one of the most prominent conferences in Central and Eastern Europe addressing current strategic issues. This year, it focused on post-pandemic recovery, both from an economic and technological point of view, as well as from the aspect of building trust and strengthening the global role of the European Union.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended the opening ceremony of the new passenger terminal at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, where he was also the main speaker. Before the ceremony, the Prime Minister met with representatives of Fraport AG – Dr Pierre Dominique Prümm, Member of the Executive Board of Fraport AG and Executive Director for Aviation and Infrastructure, Holger Schaefers, Head of Investor Committee, and Zmago Skobir, Managing Director of Fraport Slovenia –, followed by a tour of the new terminal.

State Secretary mag. Monika Kirbiš Rojs participated in an online expert consultation “Who will be eligible to the billions of EU funding?” where she presented the opportunities for companies and municipalities in the frame of Slovenia’s Recovery and Resilience Plan as well as the implementation of the 2021-2027 EU Cohesion Policy. The online consultation that was organised by the company Tiko Pro had around 700 participants.

Today marks the beginning of a two-day virtual UN International Procurement Seminar, with Slovenia participating for the second time, this time in partnership with the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Poland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, and the public agency SPIRIT Slovenia supported Slovenia’s participation in terms of organisation and finances.

Prime Minister Janez Janša today attended a working meeting with G7 ambassadors following on from the recently-concluded G7 summit of the seven largest advanced economies.

Minister Jože Podgoršek has attended an informal meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers. The meeting was important in view of the possible continuation of the ministerial discussion on key remaining questions about the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, taking into account that the Council of the EU, the European Commission and the European Parliament did not reach an agreement at the last meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council. The ministers have also discussed the topics of "Food systems, innovation and management of natural resources" and "Future of the Common Fisheries Policy". The meeting was important in light of the preparation for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The press conference on the COVID-19 situation was attended byState Secretary at the Ministry of Health Franc Vindišar and State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Mateja Ribič.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and State Secretary Arnoldas Pranckevičius at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania held talks via videoconference, discussing the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project COVID19 – Integrated energy-saving renovation of the Hospital building of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana. Total project value of EUR 50 million will be covered by the European Regional Development Fund under the React-EU initiative. The project, implemented by the Ministry of Health, is already the sixth project financed by the React-EU grants under the NextGenerationEU recovery plan.

Minister for Development and EU Cohesion Policy Zvone Černač attended today’s annual session of the Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia. In his presentation to the mayors he outlined the state of play in the field of European Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 implementation and the most recent info on the 2021-2027 programming period as well as the national Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Prime Minister Janez Janša is today attending a NATO Summit in Brussels that will focus on the NATO 2030 process – a forward-looking agenda centred on adapting NATO to meet new challenges.

This year’s report on the realisation of the 2030 Agenda sustainable development goals, issued by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) under the auspices of the United Nations Organization (OZN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung foundation and Cambridge University Press, ranks Slovenia in the 9th place out of 165 countries. Slovenia has been most effective in eradicating extreme forms of poverty, ensuring decent work and economic growth and enhancing peace, justice and strong institutions.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the call for proposals Incentives for digital transformation of SMEs (P4D React EU). A total of EUR 30 million will be available under the call for proposals that will be implemented by the Slovene Enterprise Fund. The entire amount will come from the European Regional Development Fund under the React-EU initiative. This is already the fifth investment in a series of investments under React-EU, an initiative designed to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and prepare a green, digital and resilient post-Covid-19 recovery of the Member States’ economies.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and Parliamentary Secretary at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica held talks via videoconference, with the main topic covering Slovenia's upcoming EU Council Presidency and its priority tasks.

The press conference to provide updates on COVID-19 featured Director of the National Institute of Public Health Milan Krek.

As of 14 June 2021, entry into the Republic of Slovenia is possible for non-essential travel in accordance with the Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction, including amendments thereto.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan participated in an informal videoconference of the EU Foreign Affairs Council attended by development ministers, at which they discussed the cooperation between the European Union and middle-income countries as well as human development.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held talks with the Parliamentary Secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi. State Secretary Dovžan briefed his counterpart on the fast approaching Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

The press conference to give a Covid-19 update was attended by the Minister of Health, Janez Poklukar, and the head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health, Dr Mateja Logar.

With the amendment to the Foreigners Act, the Republic of Slovenia transposed into national law the Directive (EU) 2016/801 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Reconstruction of the section Cerknica-Bloška Polica. The EUR 3.6 million reconstruction project will be implemented by the Slovenian Infrastructure Agency under the Agreement on the development of the Primorsko-Notranjska region and will be supported by the EU with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at over EUR 2.5 million.

Before Slovenia officially assumes the EU Council Presidency, Barbara Sušnik, Director-General for European Union Affairs, held bilateral consultations via videoconference with Aniela Crețu, Special Representative for EU Affairs at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dr Jože Podgoršek, hosted today at Brdo the Ambassadors of the Member States of the European Union (EU). Central focus was on presentation of priority tasks of Slovenia’s Presidency of the EU Council in the sector of agriculture, forestry and food, and on principal events to be organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MAFF) during the Presidency. Using this opportunity, the Minister presented to the Ambassadors the Traditional Slovenian Breakfast project to take place tomorrow in all the Slovenian schools and kindergartens – in the past year, on account of the epidemic, the breakfast could not be carried out, and had to be postponed.

Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning Andrej Vizjak attended the last meeting of the Environment Council before the start of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Portuguese Presidency presented the report on the progress made in negotiations on the proposal for a regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries, which is an integral part of the European Green Deal. The Council Conclusions on EU strategy on adaptation to climate change were also adopted, where the ministers welcomed the preparation of the adaptation communication in line with the Paris Agreement to be submitted to the UNFCCC. The ministers also exchanged views on the action plan on zero pollution, which sets out a vision for zero-pollution by 2050 and horizontally addresses all aspect of pollution. At the end of the meeting, Minister Vizjak presented the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency in the field of the environment.

In advance of Slovenia's approaching EU Council Presidency, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held talks with State Secretary for the European Union Affairs at the Croatian Foreign Ministry, Andreja Metelko Zgombić, via videoconference. State Secretary Dovžan briefed his counterpart on the priorities of Slovenia's Presidency in the second half of this year.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Upgrading the water supply system C – Phase 2. The project worth EUR 10.9 million will be implemented by Municipality Gornja Radgona in cooperation with Municipality Apače and Municipality Sveti Jurij ob Ščavnici under the Agreement on the development of the Pomurje region. The Cohesion Fund contribution stands at EUR 4.8 million.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Promoting vocational education and training 2021-2022. The project worth EUR 700 thousand will be implemented by the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training and will receive EUR 560 thousand of European Social Fund support.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Wastewater collection and treatment in the Drava River basin – Municipality Šentilj. The project worth a little under EUR 1.6 million will be implemented by the municipality Šentilj under the Agreement on the Development of the Podravje region and will receive EUR 553 thousand of Cohesion Fund support.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša met with the President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Swiss Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, Guy Parmelin, who is currently on an official visit to Slovenia. At their meeting in Ljubljana, they primarily discussed the priorities of Slovenia’s EU Presidency and current international developments.

Prime Minister Janez Janša meet today with President of the Swiss Confederation and Minister of the Economy, Education and Research, Guy Parmelin.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held consultations with Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, ahead of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan met with Wendy Morton, Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas at the Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who is on a two-day visit to Slovenia.

Before the launch of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Director-General Barbara Sušnik held bilateral consultations with the Secretary General for European Union Affairs at the Cypriot Foreign Ministry, Philippa Karsera, via an audio-video link.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan took part in an online meeting with Polish Minister for European Affairs Konrad Szymański. The State Secretary briefed his counterpart on the priorities of Slovenia's EU Council Presidency, which will take place in the second half of this year. He highlighted the importance of the Union's quick economic recovery, resilience to future crises and ensuring strategic autonomy. He also mentioned the Conference on the Future of Europe, where Slovenia will play an important role as the EU presiding country.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan participated in a videoconference with Märt Volmer, Undersecretary for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

Prime Minister Janez Janša attended today’s opening ceremony of the Cooperative Union of Slovenia congress entitled "Na temeljih tradicije v poslovni model prihodnosti” (Developing a Business Model of the Future Based on Tradition), addressing the decision-makers in Slovenian cooperatives.

Secretary of State, Mr Aleš Irgolič, MSc, participated in the Informal Videoconference of Fisheries Ministers. The session was important as the ministers competent for fisheries conducted the discussion and confirmed the final agreement in principle on fishing possibilities in 2021, and on the deep sea fish stocks for 2021 and 2022, which had most recently been reached between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom.

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals Appeal Chamber unanimously rejected all grounds of appeal by Ratko Mladić, former Bosnian Serb army chief, thereby confirming the first-instance judgement. In 2017, Ratko Mladić was found guilty of genocide in Srebrenica, war crimes and crimes against humanity during the siege of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

On 15 June 2021 the Embassy will restart issuing Schengen visas.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funding for the project Extension of the gym in the Stane Žagar Primary School – Kranj. The project worth over EUR 2.8 million will be implemented by the Urban Municipality Kranj under its Sustainable Urban Strategy and will receive a good EUR 1.1 million of European Regional Development Fund support.