European Affairs

Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides the legal basis for the establishment of cooperation in the field of education between EU Member States. The Treaty also promotes joint action to improve education and increase mobility and intercultural dialogue in Europe. In accordance with this Article, we guide, coordinate and formulate the Ministry's positions on EU proposals represented by the Republic of Slovenia in the Council of the European Union's working groups (mainly the Education Committee).

We provide organisational and overall substantive support to the Ministry's leadership in the field of EU affairs, in particular for the EU Council of Ministers and other events held within the EU institutions or with other Member States.

In line with EU legislation, the Service takes care of all the obligations for the successful implementation of the Erasmus+ programme in Slovenia, which is managed by the Centre of the Republic of Slovenia for Mobility and European Educational and Training Programmes, a public institution of the Republic of Slovenia.

International cooperation

We ensure Slovenia's integration into wider European and international cooperation processes in the field of education and actively monitor international developments. We participate in the preparation of international strategies and agreements and are responsible for bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Bilateral cooperation

In the context of bilateral cooperation, we are involved in the preparation of sectoral bilateral agreements, which are adopted interstate or interministerial.

Multilateral cooperation

Multilateral alliances ensure that the country or the Ministry of Education is represented in international organisations and processes, steering committees and working groups in the field of education. Slovenia is a member of the Council of Europe, the OECD and the UN.

CECE regional cooperation

Central European Cooperation in Education and Training (CECE) is an initiative to bring the countries of the region closer together in the field of education and training.

The first CECE cooperation agreement was signed by the Ministers of Education of the participating countries in Vienna in 1997. In 2023, the ministers signed a new agreement, confirming their desire to continue to work more closely together in the region.

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We plan and coordinate the programmes of ministerial visits abroad and coordinate foreign visits to the Ministry, in cooperation with Slovenian and foreign diplomatic consular missions.

We are also the Ministry's representatives on the Board of Governors of the European Schools, where we participate in the formulation and representation of positions on the functioning of the European Schools System. In cooperation with the Inspectors of the European Schools, we work on materials, guidelines, recruitment of professional staff and other materials necessary for the smooth operation of the European Schools system.