News

Following the parliament's decision of 1 July 2025 to approve an amendment to the Symbols Act, enshrining the Dachsteinlied as the anthem of the Austrian province of Styria, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs reiterates its stance that the use of historically outdated symbols which undermine the achieved coexistence and productive cooperation between Slovenia and Austria is unacceptable.

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič took part in the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Sevilla, Spain, under the auspices of the UN. The event brought together heads of international financial institutions, as well as representatives of civil society, philanthropic organisations, the private sector and government delegations. Its central objective was to increase financing and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries by 2030.

In June, Guyana assumed the presidency of the UN Security Council. This month's agenda was dominated by the situation in the Middle East dominated, particularly the military escalation that followed Israel's attack on targets in Iran. The Council held an open debate on poverty, underdevelopment and conflict, as well as its regular annual debate on children and armed conflict.

At the 34th session of the Permanent Slovenian-Bavarian Mixed Commission, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, and the Bavarian State Minister for European and International Relations, Eric Beißvenger, signed a joint declaration. It confirms the traditionally excellent cooperation between Slovenia and Bavaria, paving the way for further strengthening the partnership with concrete projects in various fields.

Today, we mark the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, one of the most important documents of international law. In 1945, representatives of 50 countries gathered at a conference in San Francisco to sign a document, which lay the foundations for a post-war international community and binds all UN member states to an active participation and a moral obligation to protect the world from the horrors of war.

Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, is attending the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in The Hague as part of the Slovenian delegation led by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Robert Golob. She participated in the NATO-Ukraine Council Working Dinner in Foreign Ministers’ Session, which focused on the Allies' efforts for peace in Ukraine.

Minister Tanja Fajon participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss the current situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Iran, Israel and Gaza, Russian aggression against Ukraine, China and European security. The Minister also presented the joint contribution of the MED9 Group towards the preparation of the New Pact for the Mediterranean, which had been led by Slovenia.

Minister Tanja Fajon, in her capacity as Chair of the MED9 Group, hosted the MED9 foreign ministers' working dinner. The ministers discussed the recent developments in the wider Middle East region and the joint contribution of MED9 member states to the New Pact for the Mediterranean, which will be presented by the European Commission in autumn 2025. This is only the second meeting in the MED9 foreign ministers' format.

Minister Tanja Fajon is visiting Japan with a strong economic delegation. Japan is Slovenia's key economic partner and the largest Asian investor in the country. While in Tokyo, Minister Fajon opened the Slovenia-Japan Business Forum, an event intended to strengthen ties between companies in both countries. She also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya and Minister of State for Economic Security Minoru Kiuchi.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in an extraordinary informal EU foreign ministers meeting by video conference to discuss the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, particularly in light of the recent escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran.
"Together, we must call for an immediate end to military conflict and for the protection of civilians. Respect for the UN Charter is an absolute obligation for all States."

State Secretary Marko Štucin held political consultations with Turkmen Deputy Foreign Minister Myakhri Hodjamgulyevna Byashimova in Ashgabat. They reviewed bilateral cooperation and called for a strengthening of economic cooperation.

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič took part in the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Ministerial Meeting, which was hosted by Albania as the current Chairmanship-in-Office. During the plenary session, ministers discussed the crucial role of alliances in encouraging economic growth and involving Process participants that strive towards EU accession.

The 59th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council opened today in Geneva and will run until 9 July 2025. Slovenia will pay particular attention to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, while also responding to human rights situations around the world where the state of affairs is particularly worrying.

Both June events under LAC Days 2025 were dedicated to Mexican literature and cinema, focusing on the importance and role of women in Mexican society throughout different periods.

On Saturday, 14 June 2025, Minister Tanja Fajon attended a celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, at the invitation of Luxembourg’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel. The agreement was signed in Luxembourg on 14 June 1985. The Schengen area currently comprises 29 countries, four of which are non-EU members.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the ITF Enhancing Human Security have signed a contract for humanitarian activities in 2025 and 2026. The projects will focus on improving the living conditions of people affected by armed conflicts and their consequences.

The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, participated in the International Scientific Conference Euro-Mediterranean - Higher Education, Research and Innovation 2025 (EM-HERI 2025), organised by the Euro-Mediterranean University in Portorož. She opened the high-level panel discussion, which aimed to address the impact of current events on the geopolitical conditions in the Mediterranean.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs hosted consultations on economic diplomacy, bringing together economic advisers from Slovenian diplomatic and consular missions worldwide. These advisers work to strengthen economic cooperation between Slovenia and their respective host countries.

At the fourth Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa, Minister Tanja Fajon emphasised the urgent need for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, as well as the importance of securing a just and lasting peace. "A peace firmly rooted in the principles of the UN Charter. A peace that is acceptable to Ukraine. We will continue to work with Ukraine and our partners to achieve such a peace."

On her first visit to the Republic of Moldova since taking office, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, spoke with the representatives of the country in Chisinau about strengthening the positive relations between the two countries and the potential for improving economic cooperation, as both sides have expressed interest in this. Minister Fajon expressed her support for Moldova's efforts on its path towards the European Union.