31 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Exhibition of photographs from Mauthausen An exhibition of photographs from the Mauthausen Nazi concentration camp is to open at the Museum of Contemporary History at 7 pm. The opening ceremony is to be addressed by Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel.
31 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Visit of Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht is paying an official visit to Slovenia for talks dominated by bilateral relations and cooperation within the EU, NATO, UN and OSCE. Topical international issues are also expected to be on the agenda as De Gucht meets his host and counterpart Dimitrij Rupel (9 am), Prime Minister Janez Jansa (10 am) and parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee (11:15 am). The pair of foreign ministers are scheduled to hold a joint press conference at 10:35 am. Prime Minister Janez Janša Discusses European Issues and the Western Balkans with the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs
30 Jan 2007 — Trieste Foreign Minister's visit to Trieste Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is due in the Italian border city of Trieste in the afternoon for a meeting hosted by the Slovenian ethnic minority (6 PM) and talks with Friuli Venezia-Giulia Premier Ricardo Illy (4 PM). The meeting hosted by several minority organisations is to discuss the development of relations between Slovenia and Italy and Slovenia's forthcoming EU presidency. Minister Rupel is also scheduled to meet the leadership of both organisations, the Slovenian Cultural and Economic Association (SKGZ) and the Council of Slovenian Organisations (SSO); at 5 PM.
30 Jan - 31 Jan 2007 — Edinburgh, UK Microsoft's annual Government Leaders' Forum Public Administration Minister Gregor Virant is to pay a two-day visit to Scotland to attend Microsoft's annual Government Leaders' Forum. The event provides a platform for senior government officials, EU Commissioners and policy advisers from across Europe to consider the contribution that cutting-edge technology can make to education, governance and economic development.
30 Jan 2007 — Brussels Session of the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk is due to attend a session of the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council.
29 Jan 2007 — Brussels EU Agriculture & Fisheries Council meeting An Agriculture & Fisheries Council meeting is also to be attended by a Slovenian Agriculture Ministry delegation. The ministers are to be presented the plans of Germany's EU presidency, among other things.
29 Jan 2007 — Brussels Meeting of the Eurogroup Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk is to participate in a meeting of the Eurogroup, the first after Slovenia's adoption of the euro.
29 Jan 2007 — Brussels Economy Minister's visit to Brussels Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak is to make a working visit to Brussels where he is to meet with European Commission Vice-President and Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen. Vizjak is also to address an European Renewable Energy Council conference.
28 Jan - 30 Jan 2007 — Helsinki Interior Affairs Minister's visit to Finland Interior Affairs Minister Dragutin Mate is to take part of a three-day meeting of friends of Lapland. Mate, invited by his Finnish counterpart Kari Rajamaki, is expected to discuss border management and control alongside migration and asylum policies.
26 Jan 2007 — Rome Justice Minister's visit to Rome Justice Minister Lovro Sturm will attend a ceremony that marks the launch of the judicial year in Italy. Sturm and his host and counterpart Clemente Mastelle will also hold bilateral talks.
26 Jan 2007 — Madrid Informal meeting of European affairs ministers European Affairs State Secretary Janez Lenarcic is to attend an informal meeting of European affairs ministers of 18 countries which have ratified the EU constitutional treaty.
26 Jan 2007 — Brussels Meeting of NATO foreign ministers Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. The ministers will focus on beefing up the two crucial NATO missions - in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
25 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Cabinet Session The cabinet is to meet at a regular weekly session, discussing among other things the developments in the EU in 2006 and Slovenia's position in the bloc and the proposal for the Declaration on Activities of the Republic of Slovenia in the Institutions of the European Union for the January 2007 - June 2008 period. A press conference is scheduled for after the session, at 1 pm.
24 Jan 2007 — Brussels EU meeting on environmental policy Radovan Tavzes, the head of the Environment Directorate at the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, is to take part in a meeting of a high level group on environmental policy.
24 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana "Kosovo - Challenge for Slovenian Business" Logistics company Intereuropa is to host a business meeting at 9 am, themed "Kosovo - Challenge for Slovenian Business". Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to deliver the opening address.
24 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Panel on Slovenia's EU presidency Young European Federalists and the European Commission Representation in Slovenia are to host a panel on Slovenia's EU presidency, featuring the head of the EC Representation Mihela Zupancic, European Affairs State Secretary Janez Lenarcic and German Ambassador Hans-Joachim Goetz, among others. At 5 PM.
24 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Visit of Portuguese Defence Ministry State Secretary Joao Mira Gomes Portuguese Defence Ministry State Secretary Joao Mira Gomes is to visit the Defence Ministry headquarters.
22 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Session of the Development Partnership The Development Partnership, a bipartisan forum established by Prime Minister Janez Jansa in a bid to promote consensus-based decisions on reforms, is to convene a session at 11 am. The heads of parties that joined the partnership and the deputies of the Italian and Hungarian ethnic minorities are to review a list of laws they would debate this year. The agenda also includes a report on the activities related to the resolution on national development projects for 2007-2023. Following the meeting, the participants are expected to make a statement. Partnership Council on legislation to be discussed this year
22 Jan - 23 Jan 2007 — Copenhagen Informal meeting of OECD ministers responsible for vocational training Education and Sport Minister Milan Zver is to pay a two-day visit to Copenhagen, where he is due to attend an informal meeting of OECD ministers responsible for vocational training.
22 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Central booking system launch The Economy Ministry Tourism Directorate and the Slovenian Tourist Board are to launch a central booking system at 11 am.
22 Jan 2007 — Brussels Session of the EU Council for General Affairs and External Relations Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel and State Secretary for European Affairs Janez Lenarcic are due at the session of the EU Council for General Affairs and External Relations. The ministers are expected to address the situation in Serbia following Sunday's general election and energy policy, one of the priorities of German presidency. Issues of Iran, Sudan and the Middle East are also on the agenda. Minister Rupel attends the GAERC session
22 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Session of the government commission in charge of the Roma The government commission in charge of the Roma is to hold a session at 2 pm to discuss a report on the work of a group responsible for the Roma settlements and a pilot project of a Roma Job Centre. The project is co-funded by the European Social Fund as part of the EQUAL initiative, a programme promoting a more inclusive work life through fighting discrimination and exclusion. Following the session, the head of the commission, Environment Minister Janez Podobnik, is expected to make a statement (4 pm).
19 Jan 2007 — The Hague, Netherlands Visit to the Europol headquarters Interior Minister Dragutin Mate and the head of the Slovenian police force, Joze Romsek, are to visit the Europol headquarters. Meeting Europol director Max Peter Ratzel, Mate is expected to present the priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency related to the role of Europol.
19 Jan 2007 — Skopje, Macedonia Visit to Macedonia Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to pay an official visit to Macedonia, where he is to meet his counterpart Antonio Milososki (9:20 am) to discuss bilateral cooperation and Macedonia's progress towards the EU and NATO. Rupel is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski (at 10 am), President Branko Crvenkovski (at noon), and Speaker of Parliament Ljubisa Georgievski (12:35 pm). Milososki and Rupel are to address the press at 11:35 am. Minister Rupel’s official visit to Macedonia
19 Jan 2007 — Berlin Informal meeting of EU employment and social affairs ministers Labour, the Family and Social Affairs Minister Marjeta Cotman is to attend an informal meeting of EU ministers in charge of employment and social affairs. The ministers are expected to exchange views on the further development of the European social model, devoting special attention to reconciling the principles of employment flexibility and job security.
18 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Cabinet Session The cabinet is to hold its regular weekly session at which it is scheduled to debate a bill on changes to the act on issues related to the construction of buildings at border checkpoints and a bill on changes to the code of obligations. A press conference is scheduled for after the session, at 2 pm.
17 Jan 2007 — Strasbourg Presentation of the 18-month programme of EU presidency Heads of the EU presidential troika - Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Portuguese PM Jose Socrates - are to present the countries' joint 18-month presidency programme at a press conference at 1 pm. The three heads of government are expected to hold a joint meeting, while Jansa is also to meet Slovenian members of the European Parliament. Prime Ministers of Slovenia, Germany and Portugal Discuss the EU Presidency Programme in the European Parliament
16 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Visit of UN deputy special envoy for negotiations on the future status of Kosovo Albert Rohan, UN deputy special envoy for negotiations on the future status of Kosovo, will be visiting Slovenia for a tete-a-tete with Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel (12:15 pm). A meeting with State Secretary Andrej Ster is also scheduled (11:30 am). Minister Rupel receives Deputy Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Kosovo
16 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Session of the Council for Slovenians in Neighbouring Countries The Council for Slovenians in Neighbouring Countries, a government advisory body established in 2006 as part of the legislation on Slovenians abroad, is to begin its work with an inaugural session at 3 pm, convened by PM Janez Jansa. The session is expected to address the status of the Slovenian language in neighbouring countries and cooperation among Slovenian minority organisations as well as between Slovenian minorities and Slovenia proper. A written statement is expected to be issued after the meeting.
15 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Welcome to Euro Ceremony A massive ceremony is to be held at the Cankarjev dom conference centre at 5 pm to usher in the euro in Slovenia on the day the Slovenian tolar ceases to be legal tender. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Italy's Romano Prodi and Belgium's Guy Verhofstadt are just some of the top European officials expected to take part. Jansa, Barroso and Juncker are expected to hold a press conference after the ceremony, at 6:30 pm. Prime Minister Janez Janša: The introduction of the common European currency is a timely answer to the challenges of the future
15 Jan - 16 Jan 2007 — Dresden, Germany Informal meeting of EU Interior and Justice Ministers EU justice and home affairs ministers are to hold an informal meeting. Slovenian Interior Minister Dragutin Mate and Justice Minister Lovro Sturm are expected to attend the two-day event.
15 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Conference on the euro Banka Slovenije and the Finance Ministry are to hold a conference on the euro as part of the day of celebrations of the euro in Slovenia. The conference is to be opened with addresses by Slovenian central bank Governor Mitja Gaspari and the Chairman of the European Central Bank (ECB) Jean-Claude Trichet. The event is to see the participation of finance ministers and central bankers from several European countries. Panels are to be held on the economic climate in the European Monetary Union (11:15 am) and the public perception of the euro in Slovenia (2:30 pm).
15 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana 15th anniversary of the recognition of Slovenia's independence FM Dimitrij Rupel is scheduled to hold a press conference at 9:30 am to speak about the 15th anniversary of the recognition of Slovenia's independence by the European Union.
15 Jan 2007 — Brdo pri Kranju Activities of FM Dimitrij Rupel Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to hold separate meetings with visiting counterparts from Austria and Greece, Ursula Plassnik and Dora Bakoyianni, at 1:15 pm and 1:45 pm. Rupel is scheduled to hold a press conference after the meetings, at 2:15 pm.
15 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Activities of PM Janez Janša PM Janez Jansa is to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the main events. At 9 am he is to meet ECB Chairman Jean-Claude Trichet; at 10 AM his Hungarian counterpart Ferenc Gyurcsany; at 11 am his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico; at 7:30 pm his Latvian counterpart Aigars Kalvitis; and at 8:15 pm his Greek counterpart Kostas Karamanlis. Fico is to hold a press conference at 11:45 AM as part of his working visit to Slovenia. Both he and Gyurcsany, who will also be paying a working visit, are also expected to meet other Slovenian officials during the day.
15 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Conference on the arrival of the euro in Slovenia European Commissioner for Monetary and Economic Affairs Joaquin Almunia and Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk are to hold a press conference on the sidelines of events marking the arrival of the euro in Slovenia, at noon.
15 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Negotiations on the social agreement Representatives of the social partners - the government, employers and trade unions - are to meet at noon for the latest round of negotiations on the social agreement. A statement for the press by chief government negotiator Dusan Kranjnik is scheduled for 3 PM.
12 Jan 2007 — Belgrade, Serbia FM Rupel visit to Serbia Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to pay a one-day working visit to Serbia. The visit, coming upon an invitation by Serbian FM Vuk Draskovic, is aimed at deepening cooperation and exchanging views on the situation in Serbia and in the wider region. Rupel is scheduled to meet Serbian President Boris Tadic (9:30 am), Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica (11:30 am) and Draskovic (1 pm). Rupel and Draskovic are to hold a joint press conference at 1:45 pm.
12 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Preparations for the ceremony celebrating the adoption of the euro The Government PR and Media office is to present the preparations for the 15 January high-profile ceremony celebrating the adoption of the euro; at 1 pm.
12 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Meeting with representatives of student organisations Labour Minister Marjeta Cotman is to meet representatives of student organisations to discuss the ministry's activities which touch upon student issues; at 1 pm.
11 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Cabinet Session The cabinet is to hold the regular weekly session, discussing the amendments to the return of investments in the public telecommunications network act and the changes to a regulation on the organisation, equipment and training of protection, rescue and aid forces, which also deals with helicopter air rescue service. A news conference is scheduled for noon.
11 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Visit of German Education and Research Ministry delegation Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Jure Zupan and State Secretary Dusan Lesjak are to meet at 9 AM a German Education and Research Ministry delegation, headed by State Secretary Frieder Meyer-Krahmer, to discuss the 18-month EU presidency plan in science, technology and higher education.
10 Jan 2007 — Rome Meeting with Italian Minister for public administration reform and innovation Public Administration Minister Gregor Virant is to pay a one-day working visit to Italy. The 2 pm talks with the Italian minister without portfolio for public administration reform and innovation, Luigi Nicolais, are to focus on the use of IT in the modernisation of public administration.
10 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Talks on amendments to the employment relationship act Labour, the Family and Social Affairs Minister Marjeta Cotman and Marko Strovs, state secretary at the ministry, are to meet representatives of employers for talks on amendments to the employment relationship act at 1 pm. In talks with the unions on Tuesday, Cotman said she would conduct a thorough review of the amendments.
9 Jan - 10 Jan 2007 — Nova Gorica, Ljubljana Visit of Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema Nova Gorica (09.01.)- Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema is to arrive for a two-day official visit to Slovenia upon the invitation of his Slovenian opposite number Dimitrij Rupel. The pair are expected to meet at 6 PM representatives of the Slovenian minority in Italy and Italian minority in Slovenia. Ljubljana (10.01.) - Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema is to hold talks with Slovenian counterpart Dimitrij Rupel (10 am), Prime Minister Janez Jansa (noon), President Janez Drnovsek (12:45 pm) and Parliament Speaker France Cukjati (9 am) on the last day of his two-day official visit to Slovenia. Prime Minister Janez Janša meets the Italian foreign minister to discuss mutual challenges and strengthening cooperation
9 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Employment relationship act and social dialogue Labour, Family and Social Affairs Minister Marjeta Cotman and Marko Strovs, state secretary at the ministry, are to met at 10 am trade union representatives, discussing changes to the employment relationship act and social dialogue behind closed doors. A statement for the press is scheduled for noon.
9 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Talks on the health care and health insurance act Representatives of trade unions, employers and the Health Ministry are to meet for a round of talks on the amendments to the health care and health insurance act. As only a few open issues are left, this is expected to be the last round of talks before the amendments are sent to the Economic and Social Council, the employment relations forum.
9 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Press conference of the government commission on concealed mass graves The government commission on concealed mass graves is to outline its activities so far and plans for 2007 at a press conference scheduled for noon.
9 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Visit of George E. Killian, the president of the International University Sports Federation Prime Minister Janez Jansa is to receive at 8:30 am George E. Killian, the president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). Prime Minister receives President of the International University Sports Federation
8 Jan 2007 — Ribnica Road and motorway construction programmes Transport Minister Janez Bozic and Environment and Spatial Planning Minister Janez Podobnik are to meet mayors of several municipalities from southern Slovenia to discuss road and motorway construction programmes at 4 pm.
4 Jan 2007 — Brdo pri Kranju, Ljubljana Visit of Secretary General of Arab League Amr Moussa Secretary General of Arab League Amr Moussa is to arrive for a working visit to Slovenia upon the invitation of Prime Minister Janez Jansa (meeting scheduled for 12:30 pm). The agenda is to be dominated by inter-cultural dialogue and European neighbourhood policy as well as topical international issues. Moussa is also scheduled to meet President Janez Drnovsek (11:15 am) and address Slovenian diplomats at an annual meeting at Brdo Mansion (3:30 pm). Prime Minister Janez Janša receives Secretary General of the League of Arab States
4 Jan 2007 — Ljubljana Cabinet Session The cabinet is set to convene its regular weekly session at 10 am. The agenda includes amendments to the inspection act. A press conference is scheduled for 2 pm.
4 Jan - 5 Jan 2007 — Brdo pri Kranju, Jablje Annual meeting of Slovenian diplomats A two-day annual meeting of Slovenian diplomats is to open at 2 pm, focusing on Slovenia's preparations for its stint at the helm of the EU in the first half of 2008. The meeting will be addressed by Prime Minister Janez Jansa, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa. Czech Foreign Minister Alexandr Vondra is to address the participants on Friday. Prime Minister Janez Janša: Demanding tasks await Slovenia and its diplomacy