This morning the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, who is attending the European Council meeting in Brussels, met the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, and later attended the European People's Party Summit.

 

Prime Minister Janez Janša and President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering (Photo: Thierry Monasse/STA)

 

 The meeting with the President was at a time when Europe is facing the challenge of finding a compromise on future institutional arrangements of the EU and its image. Both Mr Janša and Mr Pöttering agreed that the German Presidency, which has been making every effort to find a positive solution, deserves support. The German Presidency has done everything in order for a positive decision to be reached at the June Council.

 

Prime Minister Janez Janša and German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (Photo: Thierry Monasse/STA)

 

Following the meeting, Mr Janša said that Slovenia would face a major challenge as it takes over the EU presidency in the first half of 2008. This is the reason he and the President of the European Parliament discussed one of the priorities – January 2008 marks the beginning of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, and the opening ceremony will be held on 8th of the month in Ljubljana. The Slovenian PM expressed satisfaction that Mr Pöttering has confirmed his attendance. "In this way we will together mark the beginning of the Year of Intercultural Dialogue, which will be one of the central themes of discussions within the EU," said Mr Janša.

 

Prime Minister Janez Janša and Prime Minister of Portugal Jose Socrates (Photo: Wiktor Dabkowski/STA)

 

After the European People's Party Summit, the Slovenian PM stressed that persistent vetoing of an agreement on a new underlying document for the EU that would enable the EU-25 to function effectively could mean the return to a debate about a multi-speed Europe, adding that the current situation just before the beginning of the Council saw the frustration of those countries which have ratified the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. Mr Janša also said that while a compromise has been sought to draw up the now rejected constitutional treaty, these countries had made significant sacrifices. "But now, the victims that were laid on the altar of joint success are left in the background, while the foreground is occupied by those who are complicating attempts to put Europe into a higher gear," said the PM forcefully.

 

In the afternoon, Mr Janša attended the European Council meeting, which focused on finding a compromise on institutional reform of the EU. "It was not a few voices who predicted that those hampering a constructive agreement would also risk the debate on a Europe of different speeds resurfacing," said the PM before the opening, adding that this would not be in the interests of the member states that are most apprehensive of the compromise.