Regional cooperation

Announcement EDDE general training in Montenegro

17. 10. 2025 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

We are excited to announce another four-day EDDE training, from 18 to 21 November 2025, in Bar, Montenegro. The event is organised through the cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia and the Centre for European Perspective. The upcoming training, titled “Empowering Citizens Through Strategic Communication,” will explore how digital technologies are reshaping democracy and citizen engagement. While digital platforms expand opportunities for participation, they also present new challenges to trust in institutions and collaboration.

Participants will gain practical insights and hands-on experience through lectures, debates, and exercises. The program will focus on how digital communication and the use of different techniques shape trust in institutions and citizen engagement.

This training offers participants the opportunity to strengthen their professional skills, share best practices, and exchange perspectives on how strategic communication can empower citizens as essential partners in the democratic process.

The implemented activities are supported and funded by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia in the scope of the program of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid and implemented by the Centre for European Perspective.

Study visit in Slovenia – Strengthening Capacities in Financial Investigations in Montenegro

13. 10. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

From 14 to 17 October 2025, the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) will host a study visit in Slovenia as part of the project “Strengthening Capacities in the Area of Financial Investigations in Montenegro.”

The project aims to enhance the institutional and operational capacities of Montenegrin authorities in conducting financial investigations, tackling organised crime, and combating money laundering. The study visit will bring together representatives from the Ministry of Interior and Police of Montenegro, the Embassy of Montenegro in Slovenia, and their Slovenian counterparts, including the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia, the Police, and other relevant institutions.

Through a series of workshops, meetings, and field visits in Ljubljana and Celje, participants will exchange experiences and best practices in the areas of financial investigations, asset recovery, anti-corruption measures, and inter-institutional cooperation. The visit will also focus on developing practical approaches and preparing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support future operational work.

This activity represents another important step in the long-term cooperation between Slovenia and Montenegro in strengthening the rule of law and improving the effectiveness of institutions in preventing and investigating financial crime.

The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia within the framework of Slovenia’s International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Programme (Slovenia Aid & Partnerships), in cooperation with the Slovenian Police and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Slovenia.

Drugi sestanek neformalne koordinacijske platforme akterjev RS za Ukrajino

27. 9. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Ukraine

Text in English here.

Grad Jable, 24. september 2025 – Drugi sestanek neformalne koordinacijske platforme akterjev Republike Slovenije, ki delujejo v Ukrajini na področju obnove in razvoja, je potekal pod okriljem programa Obnova Ukrajine. Sestanek je bil namenjen izmenjavi informacij, prepoznavanju sinergij in dogovoru o nadaljnjem sodelovanju med različnimi akterji, ki delujejo na terenu. Udeleženci so pregledali dosedanje aktivnosti, predstavili nove pobude in razpravljali o najboljših pristopih za povečanje učinka prizadevanj RS v Ukrajini.

Tri ključne ugotovitve sestanka so bile:

Večja osredotočenost naporov RS v Ukrajini – člani platforme so poudarili, da bi strateška koordinacija in bolj osredotočene aktivnosti omogočile poglobljen učinek, večjo vidnost in racionalnejšo rabo sredstev. Poseben poudarek je bil na regijah Khmelnitsky, Lviv in Dnipro-Petrovsk, kjer Slovenija že izvaja številne projekte.
Povečano ozaveščanje v Sloveniji – potrebno je okrepiti prepoznavnost dela RS v Ukrajini, zlasti med mladimi, odločevalci in v zasebnem sektorju. Razprava je pokazala, da različni pristopi k ozaveščanju ciljnih skupin, kot so informativne kampanje in dogodki za mlade, pomembno prispevajo k prepoznavnosti in vplivu.
Skupni projekt letovanja ukrajinskih otrok v Sloveniji leta 2026 – projekt bo združil kapacitete slovenskih občin in obstoječa sredstva akterjev, pri čemer bo temeljil na izkušnjah preteklih letovanj. Cilj je doseči večji učinek in vidnost ter neposredno podpreti otroke, ki so prizadeti zaradi konflikta, z varnim in kakovostnim programom počitnic.

Sestanek je potrdil pomen sodelovanja, koordinacije in skupnih pobud za trajnejši vpliv prizadevanj RS v Ukrajini. Udeleženci so se dogovorili, da bodo nadaljevali delo na operativnem načrtu in pripravah na naslednje aktivnosti, ki bodo okrepile sinergijo in učinkovitost dosedanjih projektov.

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’.

Women Entrepreneurs at the Frontlines of Ukraine’s Recovery

24. 9. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine

On 23 September 2025, the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) hosted the international webinar “Women Leading Local Recovery: Entrepreneurship, Empowerment & the Social Economy in Ukraine.” The event brought together Slovenian and Ukrainian experts, entrepreneurs, and local leaders to showcase how women are driving economic recovery through business leadership and the social economy.

Key messages from the event

Women’s role in Ukraine’s economy is growing rapidly. In 2023, over 37,000 new businesses were launched in Ukraine, more than before the war. Women founded 56% of these new businesses. New enterprises are emerging in IT, e-commerce, education, manufacturing, agriculture, and creative industries (Ms Vira Savchenko, BDO Ukraine).
Supportive environments make the difference. Slovenia’s example demonstrates that ecosystems comprising chambers of commerce, incubators, and women’s associations, combined with EU and national financial instruments, are crucial in supporting women entrepreneurs’ success (Ms Branka Aralica, Ona Ve).
Challenges remain. Ukrainian women entrepreneurs continue to face obstacles such as limited access to credit, heavy compliance burdens, double caregiving roles, and the psychological toll of war. Yet, they persist and innovate, creating grassroots solutions.

Panellists shared practical insights and examples, with Ms Olena Kucheruk (NGO Shift and Promka) sharing the story of establishing a business anew as an IDP. Ms Yuliana Onischuk (Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation) reminded participants that resilience means daring to try, and Ms Maryna Saprykina (U&WE Hub) underlined the importance of women taking up leadership roles and stepping forward with confidence. Ms Yuliia Posternak (Kulykivka Hromada) pointed to the need for balance between local self-government and business as the foundation for strong communities.

As highlighted during the opening, women in Ukraine are not only rebuilding businesses but also creating new ones, contributing to local economies, breaking stereotypes, and serving as mentors. Strengthening their role is a long-term investment in resilience, sustainability, and growth.

This webinar was part of CEP’s Programme on Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine, particularly Pillar III – Economy, which focuses on improving local business environments, promoting entrepreneurship, and connecting Slovenian and Ukrainian actors for sustainable recovery.

The event was organised with the support of the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in cooperation with the EBA – European Business Association, with a special thanks to Ms Kateryna Prysiazhniuk and the U-LEAD with Europe programme.

Municipalities Lenart and Velika Polana sign memoranda on cooperation with communities Bibrka and Zymne

22. 9. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine

Today marked an important milestone in strengthening Slovenian–Ukrainian municipal cooperation. The municipalities of Lenart and Velika Polana officially signed memoranda of mutual cooperation with the Ukrainian communities of Bibrka (Lviv region) and Zymne (Volyn region). The signing coincided with the launch of two new two-week mentorship internships in Slovenia, designed to support knowledge exchange and joint solutions for recovery, reconstruction, and sustainable development in Ukraine.

The internships, running from 22 September to 3 October 2025, are part of the programme Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine and the broader TIPS4UA initiative. For the first time, two Slovenian municipalities will host Ukrainian delegations in parallel, reflecting the growing demand and importance of direct, practical cooperation between local communities.

Velika Polana is welcoming representatives from Zymne, with a programme focusing on cultural heritage protection, civil protection, and sustainable community initiatives. Lenart is hosting delegates from Bibrka, with exchanges planned around waste management, local development planning, and tourism.

The format of the visit will combine joint and individual sessions: the programme will open with three days of shared activities in Velika Polana, continue with separate internship weeks in each municipality, and conclude with three days of joint activities in Lenart. This structure allows for both tailored mentorship and collective reflection, ensuring that participants benefit from a wide range of Slovenian local experiences.

Building long-term partnerships

The memoranda signed today symbolise more than a formal agreement—they mark the beginning of long-term partnerships rooted in mutual trust, learning, and solidarity. The internships will not only provide Ukrainian representatives with practical insights into Slovenian local governance but also lay the foundation for joint projects in areas of recovery and reconstruction, sustainable economic development, and cultural cooperation.

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’.

Upcoming parallel mentorship visits in Velika Polana and Lenart

18. 9. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine

22 September – 3 October 2025, Velika Polana & Lenart – Preparations are underway for the second and third two-week internship visits within our programme “Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine” and the TIPS4UA initiative. For the first time, these mentorship visits will take place in parallel, hosted by two municipalities.

Representatives from Zymne (Ukraine) will take part in the mentorship visit in Velika Polana, while representatives from Bibrka (Ukraine) will participate in Lenart. The programme begins with three days of joint activities in Velika Polana and concludes with three days of shared sessions in Lenart. In between, each host municipality will welcome its Ukrainian partner to exchange experiences and good practices in cultural heritage protection, civil protection, waste management, and sustainable tourism.

The visits will officially open on 22 September in Velika Polana and close on 3 October in Lenart, marking an important step in strengthening cross-border partnerships and knowledge exchange.