Slovenian Development Assistance

Children from Bucha visit Kočevje

17. 7. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Ukraine

Kočevje, 17 July 2025 – A group of 45 children from Bucha Municipality (Kyiv region) spent a week in Kočevje, Slovenia, taking part in a programme designed to give them a break from the ongoing war and a chance to enjoy nature and new experiences.

The children, aged 9 to 14, followed an active schedule filled with sports, games, creative activities, and time outdoors. They especially enjoyed rafting and exploring the forests and hills of the Kočevje region, known for its natural beauty and wildlife. Teachers and mentors accompanying the group expressed gratitude for the opportunity to provide the children with a safe and peaceful environment where they could relax and recharge. On their final day, the children met with Oleg Rogoza, Project Manager at CEP, and shared their impressions and hopes, including the wish that one day their Slovenian friends might visit them in Bucha.

The visit was made possible by the initiative of the Municipality of Kočevje and the Municipality of Bucha, with support from CEP and other partners. It is part of a broader effort to strengthen cooperation between Slovenian and Ukrainian municipalities and support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. The visit of Bucha children in Kočevje highlights good cooperation between Bucha and Kočevje, which signed a twin-cities agreement in April 2024.

We thank Mayor Gregor Košir, the team at the Municipality of Kočevje, all mentors, and the co-financers who helped make this visit possible.

The visit is in part supported by the Slovenian Aid & Partnerships programme of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.

Conclusion of the first fact-finding visit in Podgorica

14. 7. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

On Friday, 11 July, we concluded the first fact-finding visit to Podgorica, which took place from 9 to 11 July 2025, as part of an ongoing project aimed at strengthening the institutional capacities for financial investigations in Montenegro.

The visit aimed to gain a more in-depth understanding of the current situation and key challenges in the fields of investigative procedures and financial investigations, with Slovenian experts exchanging information with their colleagues at the Montenegrin Ministry of the Interior and Police Administration. The expert team, led by CEP, also held a meeting with Mr Vladimir Novovič, Chief Special Prosecutor at the Special State Prosecutor’s Office and discussed the role of their Office and inter-institutional cooperation.

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 (Slovenia Aid & Partnerships) Programme, in cooperation with the Slovenian Police and the Ministry of Interior.

Conclusion of the first TIPS4UA internship in Hrastnik

10. 7. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Ukraine

Today marks the conclusion of an intensive internship visit of the Ukrainian municipality Drohobych 🇺🇦 in Municipality Hrastnik 🇸🇮, as part of the TIPS4UA initiative. The visit brought together key municipal actors to exchange good practices, deepen cooperation, and co-develop solutions to one of the most pressing issues facing Ukrainian local governments today: housing. A representative from Drohobych spent two weeks in Hrastnik, focusing on sustainable housing, municipal planning, and strategic recovery efforts.

More than 2,400 people, including large families, families with disabilities, and over 300 internally displaced households, are currently waiting for safe and affordable housing due to a severe housing crisis. The visit was designed to support Drohobych in addressing this urgent need by learning from Hrastnik’s experience in socially inclusive, non-profit housing policies.

During the programme, participants took part in:
• Discussions on housing models in Hrastnik and Slovenia
• Field visits to Hrastnik, Celje and Ljubljana
• Workshops on legal, financial and planning aspects of housing strategy
• Expert exchanges with Slovenian institutions

The mentorship explored how communities like Hrastnik address housing challenges through open planning, financial foresight, and community involvement. These insights will contribute to a pilot non-profit housing project in Drohobych.

Mr Yatskiv, representative of Drohobych, shared: “This internship gave us concrete ideas and a vision of what is possible. The solidarity and support from Hrastnik give us hope and practical direction for building our community back stronger.” Although the internship may have concluded, cooperation between the two municipalities continues. CEP remains proud to support both partners in this essential work.

The activities are supported by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs under the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships Programme. In cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions and U-LEAD with Europe.

Fact-finding visit in the field of financial investigation to begin in Podgorica

2. 7. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

A working visit to Podgorica will take place from 9 to 11 July 2025 as part of the ongoing project focusing on strengthening the institutional capacities of stakeholders involved in the field of financial investigations in Montenegro. The visit will focus on gaining in-depth insight into the current situation and key challenges in the field of investigative procedures and inter-institutional cooperation.

Slovenian experts from this field will meet with selected counterparts from Montenegro, aiming to exchange information and lay the groundwork for further cooperation and expert support in strengthening the rule of law.

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 (Slovenia Aid & Partnerships) Programme, in cooperation with the Slovenian Police and the Ministry of Interior.

Invitation – Global starts Local on 2 July

23. 6. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine

Hrastnik, 2 July 2025 – The Centre for European Perspective, in cooperation with the Municipality of Hrastnik, is organising an event titled “Global starts Local: Youth for Solidarity with Ukraine”, taking place on 2 July at 17:00. The event will take place during the official visit of a Ukrainian delegation from Drohobych Municipality and in the context of Hrastnik’s municipal holiday.

The event is aimed at young people from Hrastnik and the wider Zasavje region and will be held in English. It will focus on themes of solidarity, the importance of development cooperation, and the role of Slovenia and local communities in supporting Ukraine’s recovery after the war. Participants will hear insights into the current situation in Ukraine, discuss the role of youth in building a fairer and more resilient society and raise awareness about global issues in an accessible and interactive way. The programme will be enriched by the online participation of young people from the Drohobych Youth Centre, enabling direct peer-to-peer exchange between Ukrainian and Slovenian youth.

The event is part of a broader mentorship exchange programme between the municipalities of Hrastnik and Drohobych, taking place in Hrastnik from 30 June to 11 July 2025.

The ‘Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine’ programme is funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships. In cooperation with ‘U-LEAD with Europe’.

Upcoming second mentorship visit in Hrastnik

19. 6. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine

30 June – 10 July 2025, Hrastnik – We are finalising the activities to kick off the first two-week internship visit under the auspices of our programme ‘Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine’ and TIPS4UA initiative, which will take place in the municipality of Hrastnik. Joining the mentorship are representatives from Drohobych (Ukraine). Mentors from Hrastnik will share their experience and good practice on housing policy, rehabilitation and working with youth. The visit will conclude on 10 July 2025 in Hrastnik.

The ‘Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine’ programme 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’.