Today, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, received the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Finland, Paavo Lipponen, who is on an official visit to Slovenia.

 

(Photo: Arsen Perić/Salomon 2000)

 

The PM and his guest expressed satisfaction over the development of relations between the two countries, which have become even more interconnected since Slovenia joined the Eurozone. Slovenia and Finland have laid solid foundations for the development of economic cooperation. One proof of this is the trade in goods which has grown substantially over the last two years. There will be even more opportunities in April, when a regular scheduled air service is opened between Ljubljana and Helsinki.

 

Mr Janša and Mr Lipponen, who is also a member of the wise group – a body that will produce a special report on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe – also discussed several European issues. With regard to the EU's energy policy, they agreed that a consensus would have to be reached so as to allow member states to seek individual solutions. In relation to this, Mr Lipponen stressed the significance of strategic partnership with the Russian Federation.