The UK Trade Council convened on 17 September to discuss latest trade issues, including short-term labour legislation for third-country nationals, banking challenges for foreign companies in Slovenia, and the verification of unlicensed medicines. During the session, Vita Godec, CEO of Lenis Farmacevtika, was unanimously elected as the second Chair of the UK Trade Council.

The council addressed the challenges related to opening and closing bank accounts for foreign companies, exploring potential improvements to facilitate smoother operations.

Furthermore, concerns were raised about the verification of authenticity for unlicensed medicines, particularly rare and orphan drugs. The council committed to investigating the current practices in the UK and comparing them with those in other European markets.

The meeting concluded with the presentation of the UK Government's priorities by Vaishali Patel from the British Embassy in Ljubljana:

• kickstart of economic growth, with a focus on closer cooperation with the EU,
• make the UK a clean energy superpower by achieving net zero emissions by 2030,
• tackle crime and improve public safety,
• create equitable access to opportunities,
• and aim for long-term improvements in the healthcare system.

A special thank you to our member Salus for hosting us!

Next meeting of the Council is scheduled for 21 January 2025.