Today the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, met the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, to discuss Slovenia's Presidency priorities focusing on the revised Lisbon Strategy, environment policy, energy and the Balkans.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

The PM said that in order for Slovenia to finalise the list of its Presidency priorities for the first half of 2008, it must first wait until the Trio partner country Portugal has completed its tenure. He stressed that Slovenia would focus on the future of the European Union. "We will attempt to encourage other member states to accelerate as much as possible the process of ratifying the Reform Treaty," said PM janez Janša, adding, "We can take concrete steps towards a globally more competitive European Union, and one that would provide a better environment for its citizens." The President of the EC stressed that after Slovenia has signed the so-called Lisbon reform programme, it would be able to focus on areas which are important for EU citizens, such as growth and employment.

 

Both the Slovenian PM and the EC President stressed the significance of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, and the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, which will be launched in January at a ceremony in Ljubljana. They also agreed that the March European Council would be vital to the revised Lisbon Strategy, as it will signal the beginning of a new three-year cycle. PM Janez Janša said that Slovenia's Presidency would endeavour to achieve the goals in the fields of energy security and environmental changes.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

"We look forward to cooperating with President Barroso and the European Commission," said the PM, adding that Slovenia's Presidency would begin at a time when, following the signing of the Reform Treaty, the EU would be capable of facing challenges and finding answers to open issues.