STA, 9 March 2022 - The government adopted on Wednesday a decision introducing temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine that effectively grants them a temporary residence permit, access to the labour market, accommodation, education, social care and healthcare.
The decision activates the temporary protection of displaced persons act and comes after EU home affairs ministers agreed last week to activate the relevant directive for the first time ever.
The activation speeds up protection granting procedures, as Ukrainian refugees will not be required to ask for international protection on their arrival in Slovenia.
The government determined the categories of persons to whom Slovenia will provide temporary protection, the date of introduction and duration of temporary protection and the rules applicable to these persons after the temporary protection expires.
Temporary protection will be provided to persons displaced from Ukraine on or after 24 February 2022 as a result of the military invasion by the Russian armed forces, which started on that date, the government said in a press release.
These persons include citizens of Ukraine, stateless persons and third-country nationals who are not citizens of Ukraine and who have been entitled to international protection or other equivalent national protection in Ukraine.
Also eligible are family members of these persons, and stateless persons and third-country nationals who are not citizens of Ukraine and have resided in Ukraine based on a valid permanent residence permit and are unable to return to their country of origin in a safe and permanent manner.
The temporary protection will last for one year and can be extended for a maximum of two times for six months.
The government also decided to establish an accommodation centre for the applicants and persons with approved temporary protection in parts of the premises of the Protection and Disaster Relief Administration in Logatec.
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— MFA Slovenia (@MZZRS) March 10, 2022
Today marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Slovenia & Ukraine. We value the 30 years of freedom, independence & friendship. We fully stand with the brave people of #Ukraine & their leadership fighting against Russia's invasion.#StopRussianAgression pic.twitter.com/P4LkZDyHD7
MPs adopt resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine
STA, 9 March 2022 - The National Assembly endorsed on Wednesday a resolution on the situation in Ukraine that condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine and Russia's recognition of independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The resolution also endorses sanctions against Russia and Belarus, and Ukraine's EU accession prospects.
The resolution, which was submitted to the parliamentary procedure by deputies of all parliamentary groups bar the opposition National Party (SNS), was endorsed by 67 of the 74 deputies present, and none voted against.
It condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine as "the worst violation of international law" and Russia's recognition of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine as independent republics.
In addition, the resolution expresses solidarity with the Ukrainian people as those with the sole right to decide on their future, supports humanitarian aid and calls for peace efforts.
The National Assembly also supported the international sanctions that have been adopted so far against Russia and Belarus, and supported Ukraine's EU accession prospects and its application for EU membership.
The resolution calls for the adoption of a clear plan that guarantees Ukraine EU membership by 2030, provided that the conditions are met.
The Slovenian government has been urged to continue providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to support activities in the international community to launch talks between Ukraine and Russia.
In addition to the senior Slovenian officials, the resolution will also be presented to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The adoption of the resolution at the emergency session, which was attended by Ukrainian Ambassador Mykhailo Brodovych, was preceded by a debate and a minute of silence observed for the victims of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
During the debate, Foreign Minister Anže Logar welcomed the resolution and its goals on behalf of the government.
"It is up to us politicians that this unjust, unjustified war, this brutal aggression of the Russian Federation against independent Ukraine will not disappear from the daily news," he said.
The chair of the Foreign Policy Committee, Monika Gregorčič of the coalition Concretely, said that any relativisation and justification of military aggression against a sovereign and internationally recognised state was inappropriate.
Nik Prebil of the opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) noted that despite the unity in Slovenian politics shown in the condemnation of the Russian aggression, "there are some who use the state of war for their own political self-promotion".
The coalition New Slovenia (NSi) regretted that the resolution did not receive all 90 votes, as Russia is not threatened by NATO enlargement, but by the "expansion of democracy, freedom and prosperity," as MP Blaž Pavlin put it.
Opposition SAB MP Alenka Bratušek criticised the government of Janez Janša for what she sees as the failure to take care of Slovenian citizens residing in Ukraine, which Logar dismissed, and for "inadmissible mistake of dividing refugees to first- and second-rate ones".
"It seems that the communication of our prime minister related to the Ukrainian tragedy is not really about Ukrainians, but about addressing voters at home and their emotions," she said.
Matjaž Nemec of the opposition Social Democrats (SD) said that this was Russian President Vladimir Putin's war and that sanctions should prevent the Russian leadership and its circle of supporters from continuing to finance the war.
Matej T. Vatovec of the opposition Left said that the war in Ukraine signalled one thing - that militarisation, increase in military and armaments expenditure was not the solution, but the main cause of all problems.
Some Left deputies said that they would not endorse the resolution because of its "one-sidedness", as by doing so Slovenia was publicly and clearly taking one side in the conflict.
The SNS similarly announced that its MPs would abstain from voting, with Dušan Šiško noting that while the party supported humanitarian aid to refugees, Slovenia must remain neutral. "Slovenia should distance itself from this senseless war."
A decision condemning Russia's military attack on Ukraine and the assistance by Belarus was also adopted today by the National Council, the upper chamber of parliament, which also expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The National Council said after the session that it joined the response of the international community by supporting the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine's internationally recognised borders.
It expressed support for Ukraine's EU accession prospects and called for "an end of aggression with the ambition of all parties involved to work for a peaceful solution to the conflict through diplomatic channels".
