At the conclusion of the present autumn session of the European Council, where the core issue of discussion was the current situation in financial markets, the Slovenian Prime Minister asserted that the Council had undertaken serious measures not only to address the consequences but also the causes of the crisis. The EU-27 also assessed the measures to be taken in Europe in order to prevent stagnation of economic growth, which might adversely affect jobs.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

“The guidelines have been accepted, which will enable us to deal with the causes of the financial crisis, including appeals for better regulation and greater responsibility in the financial sector,” said the Prime Minister and added that one of the relevant issues in the light of the financial crisis discussed at the meeting is also the issue of credit rating agencies. “Particularly for Europe, this is a key issue that needs to be resolved before we can say that the causes of the crisis have been eliminated,” pointed out the Prime Minister.

 

Prime Minister Janez Janša further explained that the Council adopted the Pact on Immigration and Asylum, representing an important agreement in Europe which will consolidate the approach to immigration and asylum policy, particularly for the countries within the Schengen area, as well as for all other countries. “Thus the work which was intensively carried out during Slovenia’s Presidency was concluded,” observed Prime Minister Janez Janša.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

According to the Prime Minister, yesterday’s working dinner was devoted to measures to be taken so that work on the environment and climate package and on the measures necessary for ensuring greater energy safety in Europe can be completed as soon as possible.  The problems encountered in the environment and climate package and in ensuring energy safety are prevailingly accountable to the conflict between long-term interests of lesser energy dependence and short-term interests of individual Member States, which are associated with greater dependence and greater risks. However, the Slovenian Prime Minister noted that no such problems are presently being encountered in Slovenia.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

For Slovenia, the meeting was extremely successful, since there was a consensus reached that Slovenia would join the general secretariat of the so-called reflection group, which is expected to respond to the question of what Europe is expected to be like in the period between 2020 and 2030, and what challenges it would face. As also pointed out by the European Council President, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Slovenia will announce the candidate’s name within a week.