The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Janez Janša, today presented the six-month Slovenian EU Council Presidency programme to Members of the European Parliament at its plenary part-session in Strasbourg. The Prime Minister focused chiefly on the priority tasks Slovenia had set for its Presidency.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

The Prime Minister said that Slovenia would undertake these tasks with a highly conscientious attitude and he hoped that Slovenia's contribution would, month by month, increase the general happiness of European citizens. The Slovenian Presidency would work responsibly and devote itself to real issues. The principal objective was for Europe to make progress, in the next six months, in as many as possible of the key areas defined in the 18-month presidency programme formulated by Slovenia together with Germany and Portugal. “The Slovenian Presidency will make every effort to complete what has not yet been done, and we shall see to a smooth transition to the next trio,” said the Prime Minister.

 

Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the Council, Janez Janša met with President  of European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering (Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

The Prime Minister mentioned the Lisbon Treaty as one of the priorities and said he hoped the Treaty would be ratified by as many Member States as possible by the end of the Slovenian Presidency. He emphasised the need to continue along the course that had already been set in the context of the next three-year cycle of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, which is the Slovenian Presidency's second priority.  PM Janša also announced cooperation with the next Presidency on the energy and climate change package that will be presented by the European Commission at the end of January.

 

President  of European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the Council, Janez Janša at press conference (Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

Special attention would be devoted to the Western Balkans and enlargement of the EU. “It is vital that this process should continue, in compliance with commitments already undertaken and on the basis of fundamental principles, primarily the fulfilment of membership criteria. These are the bases on which Slovenian Presidency will make every effort to pursue accession negotiations with Croatia and Turkey,” announced the Prime Minister on the subject of EU enlargement. He stressed the importance of the Eastern and Mediterranean aspects of the European Neighbourhood Policy, going on to add that “The European Union is a coherent whole and only as such can it be sufficiently effective in establishing peace, stability and progress in the neighbourhood and beyond.” He also announced the strengthening of relations with strategic partners throughout the world.

 

PM Janša mentioned the Slovenian Presidency slogan – “SI.nergy for Europe”. The first two letters, SI, stand for Slovenia and for the contribution the Slovenian Presidency wishes to make in improving links between the institutions, Member States and citizens.

 

President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the Council, Janez Janša (Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

When asked by journalists about the future of Kosovo in the event of a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, Prime Minister Janez Janša expressed the opinion that, in that eventuality, there would be no threat of war in the Balkans, since the European Union and the world had learned a great deal from past experience. It would, however, be risky not to try to find a solution to the Kosovo issue, as inaction on this front was a source of danger. PM Janša was convinced that a good foundation for resolving the issue of Kosovo had been established at the EU Summit in December; future action in this regard would be based on the conclusions of that Council meeting. He particularly underlined his intention to work to find a unified EU approach. One of the Council conclusions was on deploying an ESDP mission to help prevent further conflicts in the region.  “The mission being sent to Kosovo is a European Security and Defence Policy mission. Such missions are not sent to independent and recognised countries,” stressed the Prime Minister.

 

PM Janez Janša also met with slovenian members of European Parliament (Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

After presenting the six-month Slovenian EU Presidency programme, the President of the European Council, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, also answered questions from the political group chairmen and other Members of the European Parliament which focused principally on the Western Balkans, Kosovo, the Lisbon Treaty and the Lisbon Strategy. On several occasions, Slovenia was commended by MEPs upon its achievements since gaining independence. Prime Minister Janez Janša said he was touched to hear the Slovenian national anthem quoted in the European Parliament, particularly when it was not a Slovene MEP but a French member of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament citing the words. The French MEP also urged Slovenia to give Europe an exemplary performance.

 

 Address by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and the President of the European Council