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Slovenia diplomatic friction with the European Union

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2026-08-31 03:51 UTC → 2026-09-04 02:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Slovenia has engaged in diplomatic friction with the European Union regarding the appointment of officials and the issuance of collective statements. In early August, seven EU member states, including France and Spain, criticized Slovenia after the Slovenian government blocked the appointment of Tanja Fajon as the EU Special Representative for the Sahel. Following this intervention, the EU appointed the second candidate, Birgitte Nygaard Markussen. The Slovenian government subsequently initiated criminal proceedings against Fajon, which Fajon has described as “political retaliation.” By late August, Slovenia utilized its veto power to block a unified EU statement condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank’s E1 area. The dispute centers on the E1 project, which involves a tender for 1,200 new homes in a strategic area that critics argue would divide the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem. Because EU joint statements require consensus, Slovenia’s opposition forced the European External Action Service to issue a statement via High Representative Kaja Kallas ~~instead, which carries less diplomatic weight than a collective declaration.~~ instead. Kallas characterized the construction as illegal and a threat to the two-state solution. Prime Minister Janez Janša defended the veto, stating that a new joint declaration would not provide “added value” and criticizing the EU for “double standards.” ~~This decision has sparked domestic backlash, with President Nataša Pirc Musar and opposition parties accusing the government of undermining international law. Following the veto,~~ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Janša for his “courage and ~~clarity” on social media,~~ clarity,” accusing the EU of ~~hypocrisy and comparing~~ hypocrisy. In early September, the ~~situation~~ Slovenian National Assembly held a joint committee session to debate the ~~bloc’s response to Turkey’s occupation~~ decision. Opposition parties accused the government of ~~northern Cyprus. Further developments indicate a shift~~ being overly accommodating to Israel, while Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer maintained that the government saw no added value in ~~bilateral relations, as Israel is scheduled~~ the specific wording of the declaration and continued to ~~open an embassy~~ support a two-state solution. SDS lawmakers defended the move, citing benefits in ~~Slovenia this September.~~ healthcare and economic cooperation with Israel.

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