Mapping Slovenia’s global health engagement: alignment with European Union and national global health strategies

BACKGROUND: The specific objectives of this paper are to identify Slovenian global health activities, compare the national global health strategies of France, Germany, and the Netherlands with the European Union Global Health Strategy, and assess how well Slovenia's global health activities align with the strategies of these three countries. METHODS: A document review of Slovenia's global health engagement was conducted using official reports, policy briefs, and legislative texts, analysed through predefined thematic areas. A comparative policy analysis assessed the alignment and divergence of health strategies of France, Germany, and the Netherlands with the European Union Global Health Strategy. RESULTS: The study identifies 14 key thematic areas in global health (e.g., health for all, health policy, climate change, etc.). In Slovenia, global health activities involve various governmental and non-governmental institutions across all identified thematic areas, implemented through guidelines, legislative acts, programs, projects, and initiatives. These thematic areas are also reflected in global health strategies of France, Germany and the Netherlands, indicating a shared focus on key global health priorities across national frameworks (e.g. universal health coverage, climate change, and disease prevention). CONCLUSIONS: The comparative analysis of three reviewed national global health strategies reveals diverse national approaches to global health, tailored to specific priorities while maintaining alignment with European Union Global Health Strategy's objectives, and highlights the importance of cross-sector collaboration in fostering policy coherence. Although Slovenia lacks an official Global Health Strategy, its existing activities comprehensively address all thematic areas outlined in the European Union Global Health Strategy, demonstrating strong alignment with European Union priorities. By leveraging European Union frameworks, Slovenia ensures policy coherence while avoiding the resource-intensive development of a separate strategy. Strengthening international collaboration, enhancing policy coherence, and improving evaluation mechanisms could further optimize Slovenia's role in global health.