The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, called a meeting of the leaders of coalition parties and deputy groups today, to discuss the legislation on regions. The participants agreed that regionalisation remains one of the key political projects of the government. They reviewed the comments on the government draft submitted by 181 municipal councils. "If I summarise these comments and consider them with regard to recent dilemmas, I can say that there is not only extensive, but great widespread support for the government proposal on regionalisation," said the PM.

 

(Photo: Grega Wernig/Salomon 2000)

 

The PM also said that after reviewing all opinions and comments, the proposed regionalisation is currently the politically feasible option. He also stressed that it would be pointless to impose regional borders without the agreement of public common opinion, wishes and local development aspirations. ''It is much better that we have a region or two more, than establish artificial borders and impose the regions,'' said the PM.

 

With regard to the number of regions, the PM said that coalition parties had agreed on fourteen regions on 1 December 2005. Later, the coalition also managed to acquire a broader consensus on the proposal at a meeting of leaders of parliamentary parties. According to Mr Janša, the majority of coalition members today approved of fourteen regions.

 

"The coalition has reached unanimous agreement that the final version of the regionalisation proposal should consider to the greatest possible extent the proposals and views of local communities and municipal councils," said the PM.