11. 12. 2024 | Peace and security, POTC, PR
OPEN CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – deadline 17 January 2025 – EXTENDED TO 24 JANUARY
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The Gender in Operations 5-day training programme will be delivered in cooperation between the Peace Operations Training Center and the European Security and Defence College (ESDC). The residential part of the course will take place at Jable Castle in Loka pri Mengšu, Slovenia, from 10 to 14 March 2025, with individual e-learning planned before arriving to the training.
The primary objective of the training is to enhance operational effectiveness by providing participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively incorporate a gender perspective in CSDP and international missions and operations.
The course is designed for up to 25 civilian experts, police and military personnel, deployed or planning to be deployed to international missions or operations. Participants should be middle management military officials, civilians including police, and diplomats from EU Member States and EU institutions and relevant agencies who are assigned to or interested in participating in (future) CSDP, NATO, OSCE or UN missions or operations, or who are to be assigned to a position in a fragile state. The course is open to third countries.
The working language of the training will be English, and no translation services will be provided.
Attendance is free of charge for all selected participants (no tuition fee).
Sending authorities need to cover all costs for their participants’ travel and accommodation (including breakfast) during the residential part of the course.
During the course, POTC will cover the costs for:
– daily local transport (bus) between the designated hotel and the course venue;
– all costs connected with attending any social/cultural event;
– lunch, beverages and other refreshments provided during the training course at Jable castle.
More information can be found in the Invitation Letter.
Participants can apply only via the ESDC secure internet system ENLIST, by designated nominators, under https://esdc.europa.eu/enlist/login no later than 24 January 2025. A list with relevant ENLIST nominators can be retrieved from the ESDC website at https://esdc.europa.eu/nominators/. Registration will not be final until confirmed by the ESDC Secretariat and upon completion of the requested personal data in ENLIST by the confirmed participants.
For any additional questions regarding the application procedure, please contact both Esther (ESDC) at [email protected] and Danaja (POTC) at [email protected].
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9. 12. 2024 | BiH - Young Politicians, Development (ODA), PR, Youth
Portorož, 9 December 2024 – The first forum of the “Enter: Change” project, BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change, has begun today in Portorož, Slovenia. Held from 9 to 13 December, it brings together 12 young politicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina for a program focused on leadership, governance, and social change.
The Forum was opened with opening addresses by H.E. Mr Dario Novalić, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Slovenia and H.E. Ms Melania Arreaga, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia, with a welcoming speech by Ms Nina Čepon, Executive Director of CEP.
Programme of the first day will also feature an opening lecture on the challenges and opportunities for the Western Balkans by Mr Peter Grk, Secretary General of the Bled Strategic Forum and National Coordinator for the Western Balkans at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, teambuilding session on leadership and a night owl session on the rule of law and democracy with Assistant Profesor Dr Faris Kočan from the Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Ljubljana).

The activities within the project ‘Enter: Change’ are financed by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia within the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships programme and by the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana.
9. 12. 2024 | Peace and security, POTC, PR
From 3 to 6 December 2024, POTC implemented a Stratcom Pilot Training at Jable Castle in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of Slovenia. The first edition of the training on strategic communication in the context of international operations and missions took place at Jable Castle.
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Over the past couple of decades, exponential technological advances have introduced new mechanisms, tactics, techniques and means into warfare and, consequently, into international operations and missions (IOM), 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. As a result, geographically bounded phenomena have entered individual consciousness globally in real-time through different information channels, shaping thinking and influencing the values, attitudes and behaviour of target audiences. In such an environment, security processes, which were once limited in scope, required an integrated and synchronised approach by the whole of society. The understanding of this idea and its implementation influenced the end goal pursued and the effectiveness of action in ensuring national and international security. The above was the starting point and the basic guideline for the preparation of this pilot training.
At the end of the training, the participants who had attended the training received a certificate of successful completion.
The POTC would like to thank Lieutenant Colonel Nina Raduha and her team for their contribution to the delivery of the training. The feedback from this pilot training will be used to implement a second, updated edition of this activity next year.
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29. 11. 2024 | BiH - Young Politicians, Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation, Youth
30 November, Mengeš – We are delighted to announce the first forum of the “Enter: Change” project, which will take place from 8 to 13 December in Portorož, Slovenia. The event is titled ‘BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change’, and is dedicated to fostering young leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The forum will bring together 14 young leaders for a dynamic five-day program.
The activities will focus on discussions of challenges in the Western Balkans, the rule of law and democracy, strategic communication and combating misinformation, diversity and inclusion, and a workshop on youth political engagement. The forum aims to provide a platform for skill development, networking, dialogue, and empowering young leaders from BiH to drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
The forum will among others, include representatives from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, Ms Melania Arreaga, and former Slovenian President, Mr Borut Pahor.
The activities within the project ‘Enter: Change’ are financed by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia within the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships programme and by the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana.
29. 11. 2024 | Peace and security, POTC, PR
Kliknite tukaj za branje članka v slovenskem jeziku.
Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) successfully delivered “Gender Mainstreaming in UN Peace Operations and Missions” training, which took place between 18 and 28 November 2024. A comprehensive 10-day training was specifically designed for 22 Mongolian Armed Forces personnel, with the aim of empowering Mongolian peacekeepers as advocates for gender equality and human rights.
The programme focused on valuable field-based insights into gender dynamics, conflict-related sexual violence, and strategies for promoting gender equality within peace missions and operations settings. The participants engaged in expert-led lectures and hands-on exercises aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the critical role gender plays in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. Besides topics on gender mainstreaming, participants put additional focus on the various teaching methods and techniques used during the training, with the aim of further transferring the knowledge gained to their colleagues back home in Mongolia.
The training was delivered with the support of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments of the European Commission, organised in the framework of the project marking the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the EU and Mongolia. POTC would also like to express its gratitude to motivated and dedicated participants, as well as to all the valuable contributions of the trainers, including experts from the CoESPU and UN Women.
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29. 11. 2024 | Development (ODA), North Macedonia - Nursing and Midwifery, PR
Friday, 29 November 2024 – The Republic of North Macedonia is taking significant steps toward advancing nursing and midwifery education and establishing a system for the recognition of professional qualifications. As part of the project titled “Advancing Nursing and Midwifery Education and Establishing the System for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the Republic of North Macedonia (2024–2025)”, we are organising the local launch of the project in North Macedonia on the 16 December.
Opening the local launch of the project will be H.E. Minister Arben Taravari, Ministry of Health of the Republic of North Macedonia, H.E. Minister Vesna Janevska, Ministry of Education of the Republic of North Macedonia, Dr Akeem Ali, WHO Representative and Head of WHO Country Office North Macedonia, Representative of the Slovenian Embassy in North Macedonia and Representative of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia.
Alongside the local launch, the first set of workshops will take place on 17–18 December at the Austrian Palace Hotel in Skopje. These workshops will bring together experts and Macedonian stakeholders to discuss the alignment of nursing and midwifery education with European Union directives, explore professional regulation, and outline recommendations for legislative changes while addressing the nation’s specific needs.
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, with technical support from WHO Office North Macedonia.
29. 11. 2024 | Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine
29 November 2024—Today, we have concluded the online mentorship between Municipality Postojna and Municipality Pechenihy under the auspices of the project ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’. The mentorship visit took place online in October and November and focused on project writing, EU accession and funding, and the exchange of Postojna’s good practices on the topics of education, business development, and energy efficiency.
The situation in Pechenihy hromada did not allow for the visit to happen in person. Still, both municipalities expressed their willingness to cooperate, first online, and in the future perhaps also in person.

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’. The 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 Ukrainian population.
28. 11. 2024 | Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine
On 27th November, the first forum on reconstruction and business revival in Ukraine was attended by industry leaders, policymakers, embassies, international development institutions and other stakeholders, who were able to immerse themselves in the current needs and projects of Ukrainian authorities directed toward reconstruction and development.
The event was co-organised with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Slovenia and supported by Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia through the Slovenia Aid & Partnerships programme.
The event also marked the successful conclusion of a week-long study visit of mayors and key representatives of Ukrainian municipalities, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, business associations, and inter-municipal associations, accompanied by representatives of the EU Programme [U-LEAD with Europe] implemented by German GIZ, focusing on the development of local economy and boosting local entrepreneurship. They contributed knowledge and ambitious projects on reconstruction and development, which inspired rich discussions on the opportunities in Ukrainian priority sectors ripe for investment – waste management and circular economy, building for the future, and energy.
Slovenian businesses shared their knowledge, innovative solutions, and experience operating in the Ukrainian market. The event provided further information on important tools for facilitating investment in Ukraine and connections between businesses.

28. 11. 2024 | Peace and security, POTC, PR
On Wednesday, November 27, the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) organised the third edition of the training activity on disruptive military technologies and practices. The training took place in the Knight’s Hall of Jable Castle in Mengeš.
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The programme included lectures on drone warfare, the role of AI in the battlefield, how international criminal law is handling technological advances and neuro-warfare.
Distinguished experts from leading institutions delivered the lectures, representing a unique blend of private and public sector insights. Participating lecturers came from Timtec Defense, the Jožef Štefan Institute (IJS), the Institute of Criminology at the Law Faculty in Ljubljana, and Georgetown University. The seminar included a pivotal presentation from a representative of the Military Technology, Research and Development Section of the Ministry of Defence, potentially marking the beginning of a promising collaboration with POTC.
Participants engaged in rich discussions, gaining valuable insights into the complex security challenges of the future and exploring innovative approaches to emerging technological threats. The interactive nature of the seminar allowed for meaningful dialogue between experts and attendees, fostering a deeper understanding of the rapidly evolving military technology landscape.
All participants who completed the full training received an official certificate of participation, recognising their commitment to understanding these critical developments.
The organisers extend heartfelt thanks to the lecturers and participants for their exceptional engagement and thought-provoking discussions, which contributed to the seminar’s success.
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27. 11. 2024 | Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine
We have successfully concluded the study visit titled ‘Business Development and Promotion: Local and Regional Good Practice of Slovenia’, held from 19 to 28 November 2024 as a part of the Slovenian Aid project ‘Enhancing Slovenian Engagement in Ukraine: Economic and Social Sustainability of Regions and Cities’. From 20 to 28 November 2024, 20 representatives of Ukrainian local communities, business support organisations, and municipal associations supported by the U-LEAD with Europe Programme joined us in Slovenia to hear and learn more about Slovenian good practices on the topics of regional and local development, EU funding, EU accession, cooperation between businesses and municipalities, waste management and circular economy, New European Bauhaus and more.
First week of workshops and activities on regional development, circular economy and waste management, future of construction, EU funding and opportunities for Ukraine, and more organised by Pomurje Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pomurje Technology Park, Kodila, Medicop d.o.o., Surovina d.o.o., Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Štajerska Region, Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute and InnoRenew CoE.
Activities in the second week focused on regional and local good practices for cooperation between business incubators and local communities, waste management and development of local circular economy practices, and opportunities for Ukrainian municipalities and companies through the Nazovni platform. The visit ended on 27 November, with participants taking part in the forum entitled ‘Business Revival and Reconstruction Opportunities in Ukraine’, organised in cooperation with the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia.

The ‘Enhancing Slovenian Engagement in Ukraine: Economic and Social Sustainability of Regions and Cities ’ 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’. The 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 Ukrainian population.