Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs met with Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Vice-President for Promoting the European Way of Life, today at Brdo Castle. The discussion focused on three key topics: the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the strategy for the future of Schengen and the proposal for an amendment of the Regulation establishing the Schengen Evaluation Mechanism and internal security.

Today, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a meeting via videoconference with Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen. The meeting focused on the presentation of the priorities of the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, held a working meeting with the Italian Minister of the Interior, Luciana Lamorgese, at the Brdo Castle today. The Ministers agreed that the countries had a tradition of good cooperation in the area of home affairs. They discussed Slovenia’s preparations for the Presidency in the second half of 2021 and irregular migration.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a video conference with the Minister for EU Affairs of Sweden, Hans Dahlgren. State Secretary Dovžan briefed Minister Dahlgren on the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency in the second half of this year.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and Secretary General Jožef Drofenik hosted a regular informal meeting of secretaries-general of the EU Member States and the Secretary General of the European External Action Service.

Director-General of the Directorate for European Union Affairs Barbara Sušnik held bilateral consultations with Jean-Louis Thill, Director-General for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg via videoconference.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with his Czech colleague Jan Hamáček in Prague today, as part of the preparations for Slovenia’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. He continued the working visit in Bratislava with a meeting with the Slovakian Minister Roman Mikulec.

It was not possible to reach a political agreement with the European Parliament and the European Commission on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in a super trilogue and the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council. The Portuguese Presidency will continue the negotiations until the end of its Presidency, aiming to reach a final agreement at June's meeting of the EU Council that will be held in Luxembourg. Minister Jože Podgoršek has attended the meeting on behalf of Slovenia. After the suspension of negotiations, Mr Podgoršek said early this morning that, even though we still have different views from the European Parliament and the Commission on some questions and final solutions, we are closer to a final agreement. "It is vital to go through a democratic process to reach important agreements, such as the agreement on the new Common Agricultural Policy. This means that opinions and specific characteristics of numerous stakeholders and Member States are included and taken into account. We obviously have to find some more political will to reach a real compromise and seek solutions that, in the end, will benefit agriculture and rural areas. I believe that the Portuguese Presidency will do everything in its power to conclude the negotiation process in June's Council. If the negotiations are not concluded by then, Slovenia will continue these complex negotiations during its Presidency of the Council of the EU."

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, via videoconference today. The meeting was convened at Slovenia’s initiative and focused on the presentation of the priorities of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with the Maltese Minister for Home Affairs, Byron Camilleri, in Malta today, as part of preparations for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The Minister of the Interior, Aleš Hojs, met with the Greek Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, and the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Notis A. Mitarachi, in Athens today, as part of preparations for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Minister Andrej Šircelj attended the informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers in Lisbon on 21 and 22 May. The recovery following the COVID 19 pandemic remains a key priority of the EU Member States. It is important for the European Union that an inclusive and balanced recovery process ensures resilience and stimulates green and digital transitions at the same time.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar held working meetings in the European Parliament in Brussels today. He met with the leaders of the three parliamentary groups and the Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), David McAllister, and briefed them on the priorities of Slovenia's EU Council Presidency. During this period, Minister Logar will assume the role of the EU Council representative in dealings with the European Parliament.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today attended an extraordinary videoconference of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell convened the meeting to discuss the escalation of tensions in Gaza, Hamas rocket attacks on Israel and the growing number of civilian casualties. The EU foreign ministers also discussed potential EU assistance in defusing tensions.

At the invitation of the Portuguese Secretary of State, Ana Paula Zacarias, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan and German Minister of State Michael Roth took part in the Closing Session of the High-Level Conference “Rule of Law in Europe”. The event was organised by the Portuguese Presidency in Coimbra, Portugal.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended the informal meeting of ministers and state secretaries for European Affairs in Coimbra, Portugal. The ministers discussed the European Commission's renewed strategy for the outermost regions. As part of the meeting, an EU-wide Foresight Network has been established at the ministerial level, followed by the first “Ministers for the Future” meeting, which was centred on a debate on EU resilience and strategic autonomy.

Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs, joined by members of the delegation, attended the second meeting of the Schengen Forum through a videoconference. The aim of the meeting, convened by the European Commission, was to deepen the political and strategic debate ahead of the presentation of the strategy on the future of Schengen, which is expected to be put forward by the European Commission in early June.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar is hosting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Andorra Maria Ubach Font on a working meeting. The visit, which takes place 20 years after the last visit of an Andorran foreign minister to Slovenia, is dedicated to strengthening bilateral cooperation and exchanging views in the light of the upcoming Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council.

In a week's time, on 20 May, Slovenia and the rest of the world will celebrate World Bee Day for the fourth time. The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Bee Day on 20 December 2017. The main purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness among the international public about the importance of bees and other pollinators for humanity in the light of ensuring global food security, eliminating hunger and caring for the environment and biodiversity. On the occasion of this year's World Bee Day, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) addresses the general public under the slogan Bee Engaged: Building Back Better for Bees.

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended an informal video conference of the EU foreign ministers together with Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani and Foreign Minister of Albania Olta Xhaçka.