News

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in a meeting of foreign ministers of the Central5 (C5) group, which comprises Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. The focus was on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Western Balkans and the fight against irregular migration.

The 3rd Consultation of Honorary Consuls of Slovenia, which will take place until Friday 29 September 2023, has started in Nova Gorica. This is an important event for the promotion of Slovenia and its economy abroad. Of the 143 Slovenian honorary consuls from all over the world, 77 are participating.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in a reinforced meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council at the invitation of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani. She also delivered a statement at the 67th regular session of the IAEA General Conference, with Slovenia concluding its mandate.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted the State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Filip Tosevski, for consultations. The counterparts were pleased with the intensive political dialogue and excellent relations between the two countries. They exchanged views on topical regional, European and international issues.

On the margins of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Minister Tanja Fajon hosted the first meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Successor States of the former SFRY. Slovenia initiated the meeting to mark the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Agreement on Succession Issues, with a view to promoting talks on resolving the outstanding succession issues.

On the margins of the general debate of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, attended the preparatory ministerial meeting for the Summit of the Future, which was opened by the President of the 78th UNGA, Dennis Francis, and the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.

The 8th Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week takes place in Izola under the motto "Stronger cooperation for a better future". This year's Week is marked by Slovenia's ongoing Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region, which Slovenia will chair in 2024.

Slovenia is participating in the oral hearing as an intervening State in the proceedings before the International Court of Justice in The Hague in the case of Ukraine v. Russian Federation, which runs from 18 to 27 September 2023. Ukraine has lodged a complaint against the Russian Federation for alleged violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

State Secretary Marko Štucin hosted Leo Docherty, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Europe at the UK Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Development, for a return visit to Slovenia. Their talks were aimed at deepening bilateral relations and exchanging views on some topical European and international issues.

On the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly, Minister Tanja Fajon held a series of bilateral talks, including with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Foreign Minister of Ecuador Gustavo Manrique Miranda, and Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Enrique Manalo.

On 18 September 2023, a three-day training conference kicked off in Podgorica as part of the international project Her CyberTracks designed by International Communication Union (ITU) and Germany (GIZ) incollaboration with the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) and the University of Montenegro. The project is aiming to bridge the digital gender gap.

State Secretary Marko Štucin took part in the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels. By discussing an annotated draft agenda, Council members started preparations for the European Council meeting in October. In this context, they exchanged views on Ukraine, the proposed revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021–2027, economic issues and the external dimension of migration.

From 18 to 19 September 2023, the Slovenian EUSDR Presidency organised the Joint meeting of the National Coordinators and Priority Area Coordinators of the EU Strategy for the Danube region (EUSDR) in Portorož, which was the last meeting of core governance structure of EUSDR under Slovenian Presidency.

On the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon hosted the first meeting of foreign ministers representing the Incoming 5 members of the UN Security Council.

State Secretary Marko Štucin held political consultations with Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Jovita Neliupšienė in Vilnius. They reviewed bilateral cooperation between the two countries and exchanged views on current European and global issues, with a focus on the situation in the Western Balkans and Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs welcomes the adoption of the European Council's decision on the composition of the European Parliament for the parliamentary term 2024–2029, which gives Slovenia one additional seat, bringing the total number of seats to nine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today delivered the final State of the Union Address at the European Parliament in this mandate, assessing the political priorities achieved and providing an overview of the challenges ahead of next year's European elections.

State Secretary Marko Štucin took part in a discussion entitled "A strong and resilient EU in response to the challenges of the future", organised by the European Commission Representation in Slovenia on the occasion of this year's State of the Union address by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Minister Tanja Fajon delivered the opening address at the 12th Economic Diplomacy Day, which took place in the framework of the traditional 55th International Trade Fair in Celje with the message: "When I meet with companies, I find that Slovenian companies offer solutions that contribute to solving the challenges of climate change, not only in Slovenia, but also worldwide."

Today, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon attended a commemorative ceremony in honour of the heroes of Basovizza, marking the 93rd anniversary of their death. She delivered a solemn address and laid a memorial wreath.