The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and current President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, has - at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Mr Mirko Topolánek - attended the working meeting of the Prime Ministers of the Visegrad Group (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary) and the three Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia). The meeting, held in the Czech capital in tandem with the second European Nuclear Energy Forum in Prague, was also attended by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

 

(Photo: Bobo)

 

The participants discussed energy issues, the Lisbon Treaty, the priorities of the Czech EU Council Presidency and the European Neighbourhood Policy. They also exchanged views on unresolved issues with respect to the Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

 

The Slovenian Prime Minister took advantage of the aforementioned meeting, which was also attended by eight members of the European Council, to make informal preparations for the June European Council meeting. “The key emphases of the European Council meeting will be similar to those of today’s discussions at the Atomic Forum: energy, climate change and the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon, which are the most topical issues at present,” said the Slovenian Premier in his statement after the meeting.

 

(Photo: Bobo)

 

The Prime Minister commented that the Visegrad Group countries, the Baltic States and Slovenia, which shared many common interests, formed the core of the new EU Member States. “Now, with Slovenia holding the EU Presidency, there is the expectation that some of the steps towards greater cohesion, greater unity and the more effective reduction of disparities between old and new Member States will be taken at a faster pace,” concluded the Slovenian Prime Minister.