The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Janez Janša, today participated in a consultation of mayors of Slovenian municipalities, organised with a view to debating regional legislation, regional incentives, access to EU funding and other relevant topics related to local self-government.

 

(Foto: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

In his address, Prime Minister Janez Janša said that the decision on decentralisation and the establishment of regions was of strategic importance, since regionalisation will benefit Slovenia in terms of faster and more uniform development.  “It is up to the legislators now to decide.  If no decision on the establishment of regions is arrived at now, it will not be for a long time,” stressed the Prime Minister.

 

(Foto: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

In drawing up regional legislation, the Government took account of many proposals of local communities; therefore, in the Prime Minister’s opinion, the decision on whether to establish regions cannot depend solely upon disagreeing on a specific article in the prepared legislation package.  “We are working on something that we can improve and correct if at a later stage life reveals that there have been some mistakes, or if we learn from experience that there are different solutions to this,” emphasised the Prime Minister, adding that it is not possible to correct something that does not exist. On this occasion, the Prime Minister thanked the mayors for their cooperation and support in the regionalisation project and called for further support in an imminent discussion on laws that are already in parliamentary procedure.

 

The Prime Minister later also participated in a debate in which he answered individual questions and replied to the initiatives put forward by the mayors of Slovenian municipalities.