30. 10. 2024 | Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation, Ukraine
On 14 November, the events marking the signing of the sister-city agreement between the Drohobych Urban Hromada and Hrastnik Municipality, Slovenia, will be held in Drohobych, Ukraine. The signing ceremony and the accompanying activities in Drohobych are organised under the auspices of the project “Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Ukraine”. The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia (Slovenia Aid and Partnerships Programme) and implemented by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) in Slovenia in partnership with the EU Programme U-LEAD with Europe implemented by GIZ Germany.
The partnership between Hrastnik and Drohobych dates to 2021, when the first contacts were made under the U-LEAD with Europe framework, with initial cooperation plans focused on youth, culture, and tourism. At the outbreak of war, Hrastnik’s citizens showed their solidarity by sending significant humanitarian aid directly to Drohobych. The ongoing project with CEP has deepened the partnership, allowing for the development of concrete project plans, including equipping a rehabilitation centre in Drohobych and providing essential medical equipment to the local hospital. We also aim to collaborate on enhancing the local and regional tourism sector in Drohobych, which will further strengthen our partnership through new joint ventures. Becoming sister cities aims to solidify cooperation on multiple levels for years.
30. 10. 2024 | Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation, Ukraine
13-27 November 2024, Slovenj Gradec – We are finalising the activities to kick off the seventh three-week mentorship under the auspices of the project ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’, which will take place in the municipality Slovenj Gradec. Joining the mentorship are representatives from Ladyzhyn (Ukraine). Mentors from Slovenj Gradec will share their experience and good practice on project preparation, business cooperation and energy efficiency. The visit will conclude on the 27 November 2024 at Jable castle.
The ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’ project is funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships and implemented in partnership with ‘U-LEAD with Europe’. U-LEAD with Europe programme is a partnership of the Ukrainian government and the European Union, and its member states Germany, Sweden, Poland and Slovenia to support the establishment of multi-level governance that is transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of the population of Ukraine.
29. 10. 2024 | POTC, PR
Kliknite tukaj za branje članka v slovenskem jeziku.
Twenty participants successfully completed the Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Training, held from 21 to 25 October at Jable Castle. The training was conducted in cooperation with the European Security and Defence College (ESDC). POTC’s Protection of Civilians Training is UN-certified.
Last week, the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) concluded another training focused on peacekeeping missions and operations with a mandate for comprehensive civilian protection. In total, 20 participants from 11 different countries actively participated and successfully completed the 5-day training, which was comprised of theoretical lectures and a simulation exercise. Before arriving in Slovenia, all participants completed e-learning modules designed to provide them with foundational knowledge of the principles and practices of civilian protection.
The aim of the training was to equip participants with an understanding of the conceptual, legal, and operational framework for the protection of civilians. It also sought to provide insights into Protection of Civilians (PoC) practices in UN and EU missions and operations, the effective tools used in practice, and the necessary skills and knowledge for working in missions with a PoC mandate while considering the basic legal framework and operational concepts for PoC in UN, EU, and NATO contexts.
POTC expresses its gratitude to the expert trainers who contributed to the training’s success, along with the active engagement of the participants. We look forward to further developing the training content based on the feedback received and lessons learned.
Photos from the training can be viewed below:

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25. 10. 2024 | Peace and security, POTC, PR
From 3 to 6 December 2024, we will hold the first edition of the training on strategic communication (StratCom) in the context of international operations and missions at Jable Castle, Slovenia.
Kliknite tukaj za branje članka v slovenskem jeziku.
Technological advances over the past decades have introduced new mechanisms, tactics, techniques and means (weapons, tools) into warfare and, consequently, into international operations and missions, not only in all five domains (land, sea, air, cyber, space), but also and especially in the areas of cognition, information generation and information flow. Through this, geographically bounded phenomena enter individual consciousness, shape thinking and started to influence the values, attitudes and behaviour of target audiences globally in real-time through different information channels. In such an environment, the once limited security processes require a whole-of-society approach that is holistic and synchronised among all actors. Understanding this idea and its implementation has an impact on the end goal and the effectiveness of the impact of our actions in the field of national and international security. Participants who will be present throughout the training will receive a certificate of successful participation at the end of the training, which will aid them in future career engagements.
The StratCom training will take place from 3 to 6 December 2024 at Jable Castle, Grajska cesta 1, 1234 Mengeš. Participants are expected to wear business casual or work uniforms for Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) representatives. The whole training programme will be available after registration closes. Participation is free of charge, and all participants will be provided with lunch and refreshments during breaks.
Registrations for the training will be accepted until 24 November inclusive at the following link:
REGISTRATION (deadline: November 24)
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24. 10. 2024 | Development (ODA), North Macedonia - Nursing and Midwifery, PR
Novico v slovenskem jeziku najdete tu.
On October 22, an expert visit in the framework of the project “Advancing the Nursing and Midwifery Education and Profession in the Republic of North Macedonia” was successfully completed in Skopje.
Slovenian experts gained valuable insight into the educational system for nurses and midwives and the current regulatory framework for these professions in North Macedonia. At the meeting, representatives from Slovenia also presented Slovenian solutions in this area and provided an overview of the European Union’s requirements regarding the regulation of these professions. Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) in North Macedonia and members of the Ministry of Health of North Macedonia project secretariat participated in the organization and implementation of the expert visit. The project’s next phase will be the implementation of the first of three planned workshops aimed at technical support and training of key stakeholders from North Macedonia.
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The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia through the International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Programme and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of North Macedonia.