At today's meeting, the Republic of Slovenia adopted the proposal for the Energy Supply Crisis Management Act and Proposed Amendment to the Gas Supply Act.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon participated in the informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers (Gymnich) in Prague which focused mainly on the proposal to suspend EU visas for Russian citizens in response to the Russia’s aggression on Ukraine. The foreign ministers supported the full suspension of the agreement between the EU and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of visa procedures for Russian citizens.

At its today's meeting, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Proposed Act Governing Aid to Businesses Hit by High Increases in Electricity and Natural Gas Prices. They discussed the proposed Act Governing Temporary Measures to Remedy the Consequences of Price Increases for the Most Vulnerable Groups of the Population and approved the measures covered by the Act, which, however, will be finally adopted at tomorrow's correspondence meeting. The Government today also agreed the Proposed Amendment to the Protection against Natural and Other Disasters Act.

At its regular session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a draft act on a lower rate of value added tax on certain types of energy products. By temporarily reducing the VAT rate from 22% to 9.5%, the Government is addressing the impact of energy price increases during the peak energy consumption period, i.e. the heating season. The Government also took note of the partial report on the fire intervention in the Goriška Karst region and instructed the Ministry of Defence to prepare, by the end of August, a legal solution to enable the payment of a special award to volunteers participating in the system of protection, rescue and assistance in the event of large-scale disaster interventions. The Government will also launch a procedure to assess the damage caused by the Karst fire and the possibility of acquiring financial assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund.

At the 9th regular session, the Government issued its Decree Determining the Prices of Natural Gas and adopted a further decision regarding risk preparedness in the event of disruptions in the supply of power and natural gas, taking note of the information concerning the problem of the supply of drinking water to the population of Slovenian Istria. It also discussed the general baselines for the preparation of budget documents for the following two years. These will allow the line ministries to draft the financial plans that will form the basis for future coordination and the Government’s priorities in the next two years.

On Thursday, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia took note of the 3rd Annual Rule of Law Report of the European Commission and adopted the first measures to mitigate the impact of electricity costs.

At today’s session of the Government Committee for State Organisation and Public Affairs, the Government became acquainted with the joint report on volunteering in the Republic of Slovenia for 2020. The Government also adopted a report on the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Non-Governmental Organisations and Volunteering until 2023 for the period from 2018 to the end of 2020. The Government included in the current Plan of Development Programmes of the Republic of Slovenia 2022-2025 the purchase of business premises for the needs of the judicial authorities in Novo Mesto in the total amount of EUR 855,545.

At today's session, the government decided to spend over EUR 22 million to support farmers until the autumn sowing, and to purchase this year's entire wheat harvest. It also adopted a draft amendment to the Radiotelevizija Slovenija Act and guidance regarding the preparation of budget documents.

Based on today's technical adjustment, Slovenia will receive approximately EUR 1.5 billion for the measures envisaged in the Recovery and Resilience Plan. This is EUR 286 million less non-repayable financial support than predicted by the previous Government, which is a new fact that Robert Golob's Government will need to address. The shortfall in non-repayable financial support will have to be promptly dealt with by changing the financial resources envisaged in the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

With today’s agreement by environment ministers on the Fit for 55 legislative package, Slovenia will become a beneficiary of the Modernisation Fund, an EU instrument to support green recovery in Europe. Negotiations with the European Parliament will follow, led by the incoming Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government adopted initiatives to conclude the Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of Kingdom of Sweden and Republic of Finland and sent them for approval to the Foreign Policy Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia.

After a meeting with non-governmental organisations, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob pointed out that today’s meeting was the first step towards fruitful cooperation with civil society and emphasised that government structures actually need an active civil society, because non-governmental organisations work in the field and are in contact with people, which means that they not only are aware of the challenges and problems but can also address and resolve them quickly, avoiding long-lasting procedures.

At today’s press conference following the Government session, Prime Minister Robert Golob outlined the first step in a strategy to tackle soaring food and energy costs. The Government discussed measures relating to oil and petroleum products.

At today’s session of the Government Committee for State Organisation and Public Affairs, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia opened a new budget item with the budget user, the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, for the payment of redeemed digital vouchers, to which funds in the amount of EUR 28.8 million will be transferred from the financial plan of the Government Office for Digital Transformation.

The Government supports the work of the Fiscal Council as the independent and autonomous body overseeing the country’s public finance policy. At the recent meeting with the leadership of the Fiscal Council, Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob expressed his interest in constructive future cooperation and dialogue about the important questions of fiscal stability.

The Government has decided to draft an expert analysis of the legal bases that were used in minor offence proceedings against individuals due to violations of measures against the SARS-CoV-2 viral disease by the end of August.

The Prime Minister’s Working Group on Mitigation of High Energy and Food Prices today held its first meeting and started drafting preliminary proposals and measures. The working group is headed by the Prime Minister and includes the ministers of the economy, infrastructure, agriculture, labour and finance.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia under the leadership of Robert Golob met at their inaugural sessions today and adopted multiple decisions.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša continues to attend the European Council meeting in Brussels. At the meeting, European leaders are discussing the situation in Ukraine, defence, energy and food security.

Today, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending a special European Council meeting in Brussels. The European Council meeting will also take place tomorrow with discussions on Ukraine, defence, energy and food security.