101st regular session of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia

Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Luka Mesec at a press conference after the government meeting | Author Bor Slana/STA

The Government adopted a proposal for amendments to the Vocational and Technical Education Act, the aim of which is to provide a legal basis for the possibility of providing Slovenian language courses for pupils whose mother tongue is not Slovenian and who have entered the 9th grade of primary school in the Republic of Slovenia for the first time, in order to improve the performance of foreign pupils. At the same time, the proposal provides a legal basis for the provision of meals to pupils during work-based training and for action by the labour inspectorate regarding the rights of pupils on work-based training.

The Government has set out the text of the draft act amending the Gimnazija Act. The aim of the amended act is to provide a legal basis for the possibility of providing Slovenian language courses for pupils whose mother tongue is not Slovenian and who have entered the 9th grade of primary school in the Republic of Slovenia for the first time, in order to improve the performance of foreign pupils. At the same time, the proposal introduces the possibility of strengthening the autonomy and responsibility of schools for quality assessment and quality assurance. At the same time, the proposal aims to reduce the administrative burden on upper secondary student residence halls and on their applicants by updating and upgrading the computerised database of the applicants and those enrolled in residence halls.

The Government adopted the defence strategy, the civil defence strategy and the military strategy of the Republic of Slovenia. The Defence Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia defines the interests and objectives of the Republic of Slovenia in the field of defence and, taking into account contemporary threats and risks to national security, guides the country's defence policy, the organisation and functioning of its defence system and the development of its defence capabilities to ensure national defence in the context of its integration into the NATO collective defence system and the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy, and defines the appropriate level of defence resources. In addition to the guidelines on strengthening defence capabilities, it highlights the risks in implementing changes in the defence system and in pursuing or realising the defence interests and objectives of the Republic of Slovenia. The Civil Defence Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia, as the basic development and guiding document of the state in the field of civil defence, recognises the strengthening and functioning of civil defence as the foundation of the resistance of the state and society. The task of civil defence is to ensure a high level of preparedness, resistance and resilience of the state and society, even in the face of unpredictable and rapidly changing international environment and conflicts. Its mission will be pursued by achieving the key objectives of civil defence, namely supporting the Slovenian Armed Forces and the military defence of the country, maintaining the continuous functioning of the authorities and of economic and other activities relevant to the defence and to the supplying, protection and survival of the population. The Military Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia is based on the Resolution on the National Security Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia, the Defence Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia, to which it is subordinate, and the Defence Act, and specifies the role and activities of the Slovenian Armed Forces as a defence force. As the highest ranking military document of the Republic of Slovenia, the Military Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia fills the gap that so far existed between strategic documents, provides correlation with similar documents in NATO and the European Union, and informs other stakeholders of the Slovenian national security system. An important emphasis is placed on ensuring the capability of force build-up, as the Slovenian Armed Forces must ensure and maintain the ability to regenerate and strengthen its capabilities.

The Government has adopted a decision to include a new project, Subsidies for citizens for nearly zero energy (nZEB+) buildings, in the current Development Programmes Plan 2024-2027. The Ordinance on the Climate Change Funding Programme for 2023-2026 also provides for a measure: Incentives for achieving higher efficiency and self-sufficiency rate in the field of nearly zero energy buildings. Under this measure, the project Subsidies for citizens for nearly zero energy (nZEB+) buildings will also be implemented, in accordance with the Eco Fund's call for proposals JP 105SUB-sNESOB23. The total amount of the subsidies is up to EUR 3,000,000.00, up to EUR 700,000.00 in 2024, up to EUR 1,000,000.00 in 2025, and presumably up to EUR 1,300,000.00 in 2026.

The Government has included a new project to combat energy poverty in its Development Programme Plan 2024-2027. In addition, the Ordinance on the Programme for the use of the Climate Change Fund 2023-2026 also includes a measure to combat energy poverty. As part of this measure, the project to combat energy poverty will also be implemented in accordance with the public call launched by the Eco Fund. The subsidies will be granted to reduce energy poverty in accordance with the Action Plan to Alleviate Energy Poverty adopted by the Government on 30 November 2023.

The Government has issued an Ordinance determining the degraded environment and the programme of measures for the remediation of the brownfield area of the old zinc smelting plant in the Municipality of Celje. The area of the old zinc smelting plant is an old environmental hazard where, even though pollution has ceased and significant time has passed, there is still a significant risk to human health. Once remediation is complete, the site will be rehabilitated to prevent further contamination of groundwater and surface water. Contaminated soils will be treated to eliminate risks to human health and the environment. Upon completion of the remediation measures, the site will be restored to a condition suitable for the construction of infrastructure and facilities. The effectiveness of the measures will be assessed through ongoing monitoring of groundwater, surface water and soil during and after the remediation. Soil and water monitoring will continue for at least 10 years after the remediation. In addition, by the end of 2024, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy will develop a comprehensive plan for the remediation of the remaining areas in the Municipality of Celje.

By decision, the Government has identified certain structures in the municipalities of Luče and Ljubno for urgent demolition and has determined that it is in the public interest to demolish these structures and replace them with alternative legal options, including replacement facilities. The decisions are based on expert opinions prepared by the State Technical Office using the expertise of geological and civil engineering experts. Their reports indicate a high risk of landslides or mudslides as a result of flooding and landslides and the affected structures have been found to be significantly damaged, making reconstruction infeasible or economically unviable. Such conditions pose a potential threat to human life and health.

The Government has also issued a Decree on the method of determining the conditions and criteria for allocating investment incentives for research and development to ensure that national rules on the allocation of aid are in line with European rules on state aid. The Decree also increases the ceiling on the absolute amount of incentives. The Commission Regulation declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market regulates various types of aid, including regional aid, aid to small and medium-sized enterprises and aid for research, development and innovation. Such types of aid are also granted under the Investment Promotion Act.

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