President Nataša Pirc Musar held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday about a bilateral security agreement and preparations for the second peace conference for Ukraine. The countries also signed a memorandum on cooperation in the support for Ukrainian citizens temporarily displaced in Slovenia.

Representatives of employers, trade unions and the government signed a declaration to respect and encourage social dialogue on Friday as they resumed work on the Economic and Social Council (ESS) almost a year after it broke down after the employers walked out in protest.

President Nataša Pirc Musar honoured Ukrainian victims of the Russian aggression during a visit to Ukraine on Friday, both in the capital Kyiv and in Bucha, scene of some of the worst atrocities against civilians.

Slovenia's general government deficit stood at EUR 309 million in the first quarter of 2024, or 2% of Slovenia's GDP, down 1.1 points year-on-year, the Statistics Office said on Friday. General government debt stood at EUR 45.4 billion, or 70.7% of GDP, down 1.5 points.

Slovenia's annual inflation rate declined by a full percentage point in June to 1.5%, the lowest it has been since June 2021, the latest Statistics Office data show. A year ago it stood at 6.9%.

The 111th edition of the Tour de France get under way in Florence, Italy on Saturday with two-time winner Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia considered the no. 1 favourite. While Pogačar will try to reclaim the Tour throne from Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard, he will also have to keep an eye on Slovenia's second star, Primož Roglič.