18th regular session of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia

SLOVENIA, November 5 - The Government adopted an Opinion on the Proposal to call a consultative referendum on reducing bureaucracy and streamlining the public sector. It supports the reduction of bureaucracy, the streamlining of the organisation and operations of the entire public administration, and ensuring stable, sustainable and predictable public finances, as these measures are also among the commitments set out in the Coalition Agreement for the 2026–2030 term of office. It considers the issue of reducing bureaucracy and streamlining the public sector to be a matter of significant public interest on which it is appropriate to seek voters' views. It therefore supports the proposal to hold a consultative referendum.

It also adopted an Opinion on the Proposal to call a consultative referendum on banning face coverings in public places. In recent years, several EU Member States have adopted similar measures to ensure public safety, enable the effective identification of individuals and uphold the principle of open communication in public spaces. It considers the issue of banning face coverings in public places to be a matter of significant public interest on which it is appropriate to seek voters' views. It therefore supports the proposal to hold a consultative referendum.

The Government approved the proposed amendments to the Protection of Public Order Act. The aim of the proposed amendments is to ensure that individuals' facial features can be recognised in public places and to help ensure public safety and facilitate identity checks. The Government proposes that Article 9 of the existing Protection of Public Order Act be amended to require people in public places to keep their faces sufficiently uncovered for their facial features to be recognisable. This requirement does not apply where face coverings are necessary for health or occupational reasons, sporting activities or artistic, cultural or traditional events. 

The Decree on the call-up of auxiliary police officers for an extended period will remain in force until the end of 2026. The involvement of auxiliary police officers in carrying out police duties is essential to ensuring that these duties are performed continuously and effectively and that sufficient staffing levels are maintained. Their role is becoming increasingly important due to the shortage of serving police officers.

The Government approved amendments to the aid scheme introduced in response to high fuel prices. The amendment to the Act on Temporary Measures to Protect Food and Transport Supplies against High Fuel Prices allows road hauliers to claim aid for eligible purchases of diesel fuel in other EU Member States as well. The aid will cover up to 70 per cent of eligible additional fuel costs, subject to a maximum of 20 cents per litre. The estimated amount of aid for the road transport sector will increase from EUR 29 million to EUR 38 million over the period in which the measure applies.

The Ordinance establishing the Public Fund of the Republic of Slovenia for the advanced treatment of rare diseases will enable children with rare diseases to access cutting-edge treatment as early as possible and promote the development of new, advanced forms of treatment. The fund will decide on entitlement to funding for advanced treatment, manage the funds allocated for this purpose and cooperate with Slovenian and foreign healthcare institutions and experts. It will also monitor the availability, effectiveness and safety of advanced treatments. A total of EUR 10 million in earmarked capital will be provided to establish the fund.

The Government adopted the Republic of Slovenia's draft position on the proposed EU Cloud and AI Development Act. 

Slovenia supports the EU's efforts to strengthen European computing capacity, develop secure and competitive cloud computing services, promote AI research, development and use, and reduce the EU’s strategic technological dependence. Slovenia advocates a balanced approach that promotes innovation, safeguards the public interest and avoids disproportionate administrative, staffing and financial burdens. In further negotiations, it will seek a clear, legally predictable, practicable, proportionate and financially sustainable regulatory framework that takes account of the specific circumstances of smaller Member States, the public sector and small and medium-sized enterprises.

The year 2027 has been declared the Year of Jakob Aljaž. Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Jakob Aljaž (1845–1927), a priest, national revivalist, composer and major contributor to Slovenia's cultural and mountaineering heritage.

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