News

At today's session, the Government took note of information on the progress of the implementation of the Preliminary Programme for the repair of direct damage to property caused by the floods of 4 August 2023, the progress of activities to prepare the application to the EU Solidarity Fund, and the activities related to the determination and payment of intervention costs.

Prime Minister Robert Golob and his ministers today visited Koroška, the region worst affected by the August floods, where they met with mayors, business representatives, entrepreneurs and others.

Today the Council of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Reconstruction met for its first meeting.

At its meeting today, the Government adopted the preliminary programmes for the repair of direct damage to property caused by the flooding on 4 August 2023, by the storm with flooding between 12 and 13 July 2023 and by the storm with flooding between 17 July and 3 August 2023.

At today’s Agriculture and Fisheries (Agri-Fish) Council meeting, the EU Ministers were familiarised with the damages suffered by the Slovenian agriculture, forestry and aquaculture in the aftermath of the recent floods and landslides. Ms Irena Šinko, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, told in presentation that immediately after the extreme weather events the Ministry commenced collecting data on the damages inflicted, and preparing emergency aid measures. “In agriculture, damages have been recorded on land, facilities, machinery, deficiencies in stock of feed and seed materials, and difficulties in raw milk delivery.”

Prime Minister Robert Golob attended a charity football match played by former football stars at Stožice Stadium on the initiative of UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. The funds raised will be donated to those affected by the floods.

The Government decided that intervention expenditure in the amount of EUR 94.9 million be reimbursed to 138 municipalities and up to EUR 11.4 million to protection and rescue forces. Intervention expenditure of up to EUR 2.5 million will be reimbursed to firefighting units. The Government earmarked EUR 31.7 million for the preliminary programme of eliminating the consequences of damage in the economy and EUR 47 million for measures on water infrastructure.

The Government starts examining information on the preparation of the budgets of the Republic of Slovenia for 2024 and 2025. It gave its consent to the draft amendment of the Operational Programme for the Implementation of the EU Cohesion Policy 2014–2020, took note of the Autumn Forecast of Economic Trends 2023 and the information on the baselines for the preliminary programme for the repair of direct damage resulting from the August floods.

Today, on 12 September 2023, the State Secretary for the Coordination of Measures and Activities for Post-Flood Reconstruction, Boštjan Šefic, visited the Municipality of Litija and met with Mayor Franci Rokavec. The purpose of the working visit was to discuss the challenges and needs facing the municipality and residents living in the affected area, as well as further relief measures.

In the context of maintaining regular dialogue and good cooperation, Prime Minister Robert Golob and President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar met for a working lunch.

At today's meeting, the Government took note of information on the progress of activities to prepare an application for the EU Solidarity Fund, established the Government Office for Flood and Landslide Recovery and appointed the Director General of the Police.

Prime Minister Robert Golob visited the call centre for assistance to residents after the floods, which started its operation today.

At today’s correspondence session, the Government decided to set up a call centre for reconstruction after the 2023 floods on the telephone number 114. It also appointed Maja Tomanič Vidovič as Director of the Public Fund of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship (hereinafter: the Slovene Enterprise Fund).

“It is the enormous scale of the damage that requires us to tackle these floods and their consequences, not only with a new act, but with a completely renewed approach,” the Prime Minister explained in the National Assembly when discussing the draft act on intervention measures to address the consequences of floods and landslides.

Presenting the draft revised state budget for this year in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Robert Golob stressed that the Government would give priority to helping the most affected people and business sectors before dealing with the rest.

At today's session, the Government adopted a decision on the use of additional loans under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. It also adopted several other decisions and resolutions.

Meteorologist Branko Gregorčič and hydrologist Janez Polajnar from the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO), Neža Kodre, the director of the Slovenian Water Agency, Miloš Bavec, the director of the Geological Survey of Slovenia, and Srečko Šestan, the commander of the Civil Protection Service, participated in a press conference about the extraordinary meteorological and hydrological conditions in Slovenia, at which a weather and hydrological warning with updated data was also presented.

The 18th Bled Strategic Forum, this year held under the slogan “Solidarity for Global Security”, was opened with speeches by Prime Minister Robert Golob, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon. In the context of the recent floods that hit Slovenia, the forum also has a humanitarian focus.

The expected extreme meteorological and hydrological conditions in Slovenia were presented at the press conference by meteorologist Branko Gregorčič and hydrologist Janez Polajnar, both from the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO), a representative of the Slovenian Water Agency, Rok Penec, and the Commander of the Civil Protection Service of the Republic of Slovenia, Srečko Šestan.

Minister Tanja Fajon opened the 18th Bled Strategic Forum, which this year is held under the title of "Solidarity for Global Security". The theme coincides with the most devastating natural disaster in Slovenia's recent history, which affected many people and destroyed a large number of homes. The guests were also addressed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Robert Golob, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.