Today in Ljubljana the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, attended the Slovenian Economic Summit – a conference which brought together over 400 of Slovenia's most prominent economists and managers to discuss the key issues of Slovenia's economic development. They agreed that the economy is in good shape, but needs to remain sustainable.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

According to PM Janez Janša, the Government's ambitious goals have a realistic basis; however, Slovenia has also been facing various objective and subjective obstacles which it must learn to overcome. The PM presented data to the conference which show that economic growth in Slovenian in recent years has been equal to that forecast in Slovenia's Development Strategy, and quite a few percentage points more than the growth seen in Europe. "At the current development rate, Slovenia will have attained the average development level of the EU earlier than was forecast in Slovenia's Development Strategy, and earlier than anticipated," said the PM with optimism, noting that the average development level among the Eurozone members was a more distant yet not unattainable goal.

 

According to PM Janez Janša, the Lisbon Strategy has yielded results in both the EU and Slovenia since economic growth is strengthening, new jobs are being created and unemployment is falling. The PM added that Slovenia's EU Presidency in the first half of 2008 will attempt to reach a consensus regarding the more demanding goals of the Strategy, stressing the significance of the invitation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development at the beginning of 2008 which he believes will be important for Slovenia's future position in the world.

 

With regard to the problems Slovenia has had to handle, the PM pointed out inflation, about which the Government is aware, and with which Slovenia managed to join the Eurozone. In his view, the current inflation rate can primarily be attributed to external factors and the prices of petroleum products. Mr Janša also stressed that the incumbent Government was the first to reduce taxes and therefore does not expect them to rise again. The Government seeks to establish an environment that is conducive to further economic development while ensuring a social state and fostering social justice.