Ukrainian–Slovenian Business Forum on Energy Sphere strengthens bilateral cooperation and opens new opportunities for partnership

Ukrainian–Slovenian Business Forum on Energy Sphere strengthens bilateral cooperation and opens new opportunities for partnership

10. 12. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Ukraine

Mengeš, 10 December 2025 – CEP hosted the Ukrainian–Slovenian Business Forum on Energy Sphere — a platform aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy field and fostering partnerships that support Ukraine’s urgent reconstruction and modernization needs while encouraging Slovenian companies to engage in future recovery and green transition projects.
The event brought together approximately 70 representatives from companies and institutions across the energy sector, who shared their projects, exchanged expertise, and explored new paths for collaboration. Ukrainian partners presented the scale of current challenges — including the need to rebuild 9 GW of power capacity due to Russian aggression — highlighting the importance of resilient and innovative solutions, as well as the financial and institutional support mechanisms available through the EU and the Energy Community. The Forum ultimately laid the groundwork for long-term cooperation and joint project development between Ukrainian and Slovenian stakeholders.

Just before the forum, CEP and the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking an important step toward strengthening cooperation between our institutions.
A key message of the Forum was that there are immediate business opportunities for the Slovenian private sector in Ukraine’s energy market. Ukrainian energy companies expressed a strong interest in building new partnerships and view Slovenian know-how and innovative solutions as highly valuable in addressing both reconstruction and long-term sustainable growth.
A heartfelt thank you to all partners for their essential contributions to this successful event.

The event was organised in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia, the Energy Industry Chamber of Slovenia, SPIRIT Slovenija, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Slovenia, and the Ukrainian CCI.

The event was supported by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs under the Slovenian Aid programme.

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Concluding event of the nursing and midwifery project taking place tomorrow in Skopje

Concluding event of the nursing and midwifery project taking place tomorrow in Skopje

8. 12. 2025 | North Macedonia - Nursing and Midwifery, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

Tomorrow, 9 December, the project Advancing Nursing and Midwifery Education and Establishing the System for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the Republic of North Macedonia will conclude with a final workshop and closing event in Skopje. The gathering will bring together representatives of the Ministries of Health and Education, higher education institutions, and professional nursing and midwifery associations to review progress over the past two years and outline next steps to sustain reforms.

The concluding workshop will focus on two core pillars of the project:
• Operationalising the regulatory framework for nursing and midwifery professions, including institutional responsibilities, future processes, and sustainability requirements.
• Implementing the reformed undergraduate curricula in higher education institutions, bringing together decision-makers to discuss practical steps for roll-out and alignment with EU standards.

These discussions build on extensive work carried out throughout 2024–2025, including the analysis of existing study programmes, the development of proposed national curricula, technical workshops on regulation, and training sessions dedicated to strengthening nursing roles in primary care.

Joining the concluding event from the Slovenian side are Slovenian experts from the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia (Zbornica – Zveza) and the Angela Boškin Faculty of Health Care, as well as representatives of the Slovenian Embassy in Skopje.

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 the WHO Office in North Macedonia.

Conclusion of the Mentorship Visit of Zarichne Municipality to Slovenska Bistrica

Conclusion of the Mentorship Visit of Zarichne Municipality to Slovenska Bistrica

1. 12. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine

Over the past two weeks, Slovenska Bistrica hosted representatives of Zarichne Municipality as part of a mentorship visit within the Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine programme. The visit was organised by the Centre for European Perspective under the auspices of Bridges of Trust.

The mentorship programme enabled the Ukrainian delegation to gain first-hand insight into best practices of Slovenian local governance, public services, and local economic development. The focus was on practical solutions and transferable approaches that can support the preparation and implementation of development projects in Zarichne Municipality.

During their stay, the delegation visited several institutions and companies in Slovenska Bistrica:

  • Komunala Slovenska Bistrica – presentations on digitalisation of public services, sustainable utility management, and innovative approaches to citizen engagement;

  • Impol d.o.o. – an overview of modern aluminium production, advanced manufacturing processes, and the role of industry in local economic resilience;

  • Slovenska Bistrica Agricultural Cooperative – insights into cooperative organisation, support mechanisms for local farmers, and strengthening local food systems;

  • Dom dr. JoĹľeta PotrÄŤa PoljÄŤane – examples of good practices in social care, senior inclusion, and community-based services.

These visits were complemented by in-depth discussions with practitioners, allowing participants to reflect on how similar models could be adapted to the Ukrainian local context.

In addition to field visits, the programme included targeted workshops on project planning, funding opportunities, and implementation strategies. Through guided sessions, participants developed concrete ideas for future cooperation between Slovenska Bistrica and Zarichne, with an emphasis on sustainable local development and post-war recovery needs.

The mentorship visit concluded with the formal signing of a cooperation agreement by the mayors Bohdan Kvachuk (Zarichne) and Dr Ivan Žagar (Slovenska Bistrica). The agreement confirms a shared commitment to continued knowledge exchange, joint initiatives, and long-term municipal partnership, marking an important step toward stronger international cooperation at the local level.

The activities were supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia within the framework of Slovenian Aid, and implemented in cooperation with U-LEAD with Europe.

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First set of workshops in Montenegro successfully concluded

First set of workshops in Montenegro successfully concluded

28. 11. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

Our programme in Montenegro has come to a close after intensive workshops with police units and prosecutors across the country. Sessions were held in Bijelo Polje, followed by workshops in Podgorica for the central and southern regions.

Yesterday, we also held a focused session with the working group preparing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Montenegrin police, an important step toward strengthening institutional processes.

Participants explored key elements of effective financial investigations, including:
🔹 the Slovenian legislative framework (ZOPNI) and prosecutorial leadership
🔹 early identification of financial elements in police work
🔹 practical case-based insights and police–prosecution cooperation
🔹 challenges in practice and priorities for 2026

The activities were carried out within the project “Strengthening capacities in the field of financial investigations in Montenegro (2025/2026)”, implemented with the support of the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, in cooperation with the Slovenian Police and the Slovenian Ministry of Interior.

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INVITATION – Ukrainian-Slovenian Business Forum on Energy Sphere (10 Dec 2025, 10:00 CET)

INVITATION – Ukrainian-Slovenian Business Forum on Energy Sphere (10 Dec 2025, 10:00 CET)

13. 11. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Ukraine

We kindly invite you to the

Ukrainian–Slovenian Business Forum on Energy Sphere

 

taking place on 10th December 2025 from 10:00–13:00 (CET)

 

Location: ON-SITE – Jable Castle, Grajska cesta 1, 1234 Loka pri Mengšu (Slovenia) / ONLINE

 

The event is held under the auspices of the Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine Programme implemented by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and SPIRIT, Slovenian Public Agency for Investments, Entrepreneurship and Internationalisation.

 

The event will bring together companies from Ukraine and Slovenia (both on-site and online), along with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. An additional side programme for Ukrainian delegations will be communicated shortly.

 

 Please, register online here: REGISTRATION FORM (Registration deadline: 1 Dec 2025)

  

For any additional information, do not hesitate to contact us:

Mr Oleg Rogoza, Project Manager (CEP), [email protected]

Ms Nuša Blatnik, Project Assistant (CEP), [email protected]

 

QUICK CONCEPT – PARTNERSHIPS FOR COOPERATION AND RECOVERY PROJECTS

The ongoing transformation of the energy sector in Europe, coupled with the urgent need for reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, creates a unique opportunity for cross-border cooperation. Slovenia, as an EU member with strong expertise in renewable energy, energy efficiency, green transition, and sustainable infrastructure, can offer valuable partnerships to Ukrainian companies seeking technological know-how, investment support, and joint participation in EU- or Energy Community–financed projects.
For Ukrainian energy enterprises and technology providers, this conference offers opportunities for joint project development that contribute to Ukraine’s sustainable recovery and integration into the European energy community, while for Slovenian companies, it offers an entry point into the Ukrainian market, access to European funding mechanisms for joint projects in the energy sphere in Ukraine.

Event objectives
• To facilitate partnerships between Ukrainian and Slovenian companies active in the energy sector and related industries;
• To promote joint participation in EU- and Energy Community–financed projects, including green transition and recovery programs for Ukraine;
• To inform participants about available financial and institutional support mechanisms in Slovenia and the EU;
• To showcase innovative energy solutions, technologies, and services that can support Ukraine’s recovery and sustainable growth;
• To create a long-term network for cooperation and project development in the energy sphere.

Target audiences
From Ukraine:
• Energy companies, utilities, and grid operators;
• Renewable energy developers (solar, wind, biomass, hydrogen);
• Energy efficiency solution providers;
• Engineering and technology firms;
• Municipal energy agencies and project implementers.

From Slovenia:
• Companies in energy sector, incl. in renewable energy, smart grids, and clean technologies;
• Consulting and engineering firms.

Ukrainian companies are invited to present:
• Their capabilities in the energy sector;
• Partnership needs (technological, financial, or strategic);
• Project ideas for which they seek Slovenian or EU partners.

Slovenian companies are encouraged to:
• Explore business opportunities in Ukraine’s energy recovery;
• Identify reliable Ukrainian partners for EU-funded or bilateral projects;
• Contribute to Europe’s green and resilient energy future through cooperation.

Quick event timeline
1. Opening of the event
2. Keynote address
3. Presentations on part of Ukrainian companies
4. Presentations on part of Slovenian companies
5. B2B (business-to-business opportunity)
6. Networking lunch