The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and current President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, received the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium, Mr Yves Leterme, in Ljubljana today. The meeting was devoted to further strengthening cooperation between the two countries and to preparations in the run-up to the June European Council meeting. Special attention was paid to the stabilisation of Kosovo, implementation of the Lisbon Treaty and issues relevant to the European Neighbourhood Policy. The Prime Ministers also discussed achieving the Millennium Development Goals; one of the key topics to be addressed at the UN General Assembly in New York in September this year.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
PM Janez Janša and Mr Leterme shared the view that both countries had put the time since they established diplomatic relations following Slovenia’s independence to good use. Recently, trade in goods and services has increased considerably, in particular in services. In PM Janez Janša’s words, Slovenia greatly appreciates the Belgian Government’s support for Slovenia’s candidacy for OECD membership. The two countries also cooperate in other joint activities within the international organisations of which they are members.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
The Slovenian Prime Minister and current European Council President, Janez Janša, took the opportunity to recall Belgium’s contribution to the stabilisation of the situation in the Western Balkans. He went on to comment that Belgium and Slovenia were both very interested in “the EULEX mission in Kosovo being provided with full authority, in Kosovo’s stabilisation continuing beyond 15 June – when the new Kosovo Constitution takes effect in certain segments – and in everything being conducted in compliance with the conclusions adopted by the European Union in December 2007 and confirmed in spring 2008.”
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
The two Prime Ministers also discussed preparations for the June European Council. PM Janez Janša mentioned that the European Council meeting would examine what progress had been made in implementing the Thessaloniki Agenda, which assured the Western Balkan countries of a future in Europe. The key subject matter, however, would, he considered, relate to the implementation of the Lisbon Reform Treaty. “We are pleased to see that both houses of the Belgian Parliament have already ratified the Treaty of Lisbon and that the ratification process is under way in the regional parliaments” stressed the Slovenian Premier, adding that he hoped that by the end of the Slovenian EU Presidency, around 20 Member States, including Ireland, would have concluded the ratification process.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
At a working dinner, the two Prime Ministers also discussed the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, one of the key topics to be addressed at the UN General Assembly meeting, a matter on which, as the Slovenian Prime Minister commented, the European Union must present a united front.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
The Slovenian Premier and his Belgian counterpart assessed mutual cooperation during the Slovenian EU Council Presidency and Belgium’s non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council as constructive. The Slovenian Prime Minister summed up the mood, “We are jointly coordinating a number of issues and cooperation between us is excellent.”
