For more than a year now, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia has mainly been dealing with the epidemic and its consequences. However, despite the epidemic, it also sought to achieve the key goals of the coalition agreement. The current government began its term on the 13th of March 2020 (the government was confirmed in the National Assembly shortly after 9 p.m.), on the day of the declaration of the epidemic, which was actually declared by the previous, Šarec government.
Below, we are presenting the greatest achievements of the current government.
The anti-corona legislative packages covered all citizens of the Republic of Slovenia
To date, the government has adopted eight anti-corona legislative packages aimed at helping the population and the economy. Slovenia was practically the only country that addressed everyone in its legislative packages. The anti-corona packages also contributed a lot to Slovenia’s rapid recovery, which is why the country significantly exceeded the forecasts made at the beginning of the epidemic. At that time, Slovenia’s GDP was forecast to fall for around the European Union average – 7 percent. At the end of the year, 120 thousand unemployed and a significantly larger deficit in the state treasury were forecast. The fall in GDP we actually have today is below the EU average, and so is unemployment. At the end of the year, the actual fall in GDP was more than 20 percent lower than forecast, and unemployment figures show that there are less than 85 thousand people unemployed.
Improving the absorption of European funds
The current government has made a major step forward in drawing European funds in 2020, compared to the previous years. Last year, the highest share of absorption of EU funds from the financial perspective 2014 – 2020was achieved, compared to the planned funds – namely, 90 percent. 101.4 million euros of European funds were drawn from the planned 112.5 million euros. In the field of European cohesion policy alone, this share was as high as 93 percent. In 2021, the trend of drawing European funds will intensify even more, as we plan to double the realisation of the EU funds, namely, in the amount of 217.4 million euros.
In addition, the team led by Prime Minister Janez Janša reached a historic agreement with the European Commission in July 2020 on the available European funds until 2030. Slovenia negotiated 431 million euros more than planned in 2018 for the implementation of the 2021-2027 multinational financial framework.
Raising the lump sum for Slovenian municipalities
The government is also aware of the importance of local communities, so in April 2020, it proposed raising the average amount of lump sums to the amount set in the coalition agreement – from 589.11 euros to 623.96 euros. Thus, the municipalities received as much as 73 million euros more in government funds than planned. In September 2020, the Agreement on the amount of the lump sum for the financial years 2021 and 2022 was signed, which only happened for the third time in the last 15 years. Municipalities will thus receive 628.20 euros in 2021. The same amount has been foreseen for the year 2022 and will be finalised in the budget documents. Thus, the government gave the municipalities almost 40 euros more in lump sums last year.
Increased activity of Slovenian diplomacy
The government team, especially Prime Minister Janez Janša and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Anže Logar, strengthened the strategic cooperation with the allies. In this term of office, foreign policy coincided with a common vision of confident and active foreign relations, which will strive to strengthen the alliances with all countries in the world with which the Republic of Slovenia shares values and interests.
Improving the position of the Slovenian Army
The Act on the Provision of Funds for Investments in the Slovenian Armed Forces in the Years 2021 to 2026 was adopted, which provides a gradual, transparent and stable source of financing for the most urgent investments in armaments and equipment of the Slovenian Armed Forces in the total estimated value of 780 million euros over the next six years.
In addition, the situation of soldiers after the age of 45 improved. The Act Amending the Defence Act was adopted, which solves the challenge of employing soldiers over the age of 45 and provides them with greater social security. The law enables the continuation of a career in the Slovenian Armed Forces or at the Ministry of Defence, or re-employment in another state body without a public tender while maintaining the same amount of salary.
De-bureaucratisation and digitalisation of Slovenia
The government led by Janez Janša also wrote in its coalition agreement that they would represent quality, efficient and fair governance with the state on the principle that the state and all public sector institutions should serve as a service to all citizens and the economy, and not represent an obstacle. In light of this, the government decided for the de-bureaucratisation and digitalisation of the county, thus enabling Slovenia to develop faster and prosper. Thus, the government has formed the Strategic Council for De-bureaucratisation, which has already drafted the first mega-law, and the Strategic Council for Digitalisation.
