Yesterday and today, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark, Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has been on an official visit to Slovenia at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Janez Janša. After the meeting, Prime Minister Janez Janša expressed his satisfaction at today’s visit, which offered an excellent opportunity to exchange views on topics on the agenda of Slovenia's EU Council Presidency, foremost among them the energy and climate change package and the current situation in the Western Balkans.

 

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

The Slovenian Prime Minister stressed that relations between Slovenia and Denmark were very good and there were no unresolved issues. As for bilateral cooperation, a great deal of attention was devoted to the enhancement of economic cooperation, which had increased intensively in recent years. In 2006, trade between the two countries stood at over EUR 300 million and it increased by almost 15% in the first ten months of 2007. The Slovenian Prime Minister in particular highlighted untapped possibilities in tourism.

 

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

In the Prime Minister's words, Denmark is also a country of good practices, especially in labour law. This is why the Slovenian working group drafting the new Employment Relationship Act paid a visit to Denmark last year. “Denmark has also been visited by representatives of the social partners, especially trade unions, who witnessed at first hand how the “flexicurity” system works,” added the Prime Minister and thanked his Danish counterpart for the exchange of experience.

 

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

Slovenia is interested in learning from Danish experience in the area of environmental protection and in increasing the share of energy from renewable resources in the national energy mix. “Considering that the European Commission last week proposed the energy and climate package and that this is one of the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency, a great deal of discussion time was devoted to Danish examples of good practice in this area,” said Mr Janša.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

Furthermore, the Prime Minister highlighted Danish and Slovenian cooperation within NATO, devoting part of the discussion to the forthcoming North Atlantic Alliance summit. “We have very similar viewpoints on this matter. We support the open-door policy, albeit on condition that all requirements for fully-fledged membership are met,” he added.

 

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

Both Prime Ministers also exchanged views on one of the key foreign policy challenges facing the European Union, namely the situation in the Western Balkans. In their discussion, they touched on the question of the future status of Kosovo. “Together, we are striving for a solution that will stabilise the Western Balkan region in the long term and will preserve the unity of the European Union on the matter,” said the Slovenian Prime Minister.

 

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

Both Prime Ministers also focused on other crisis areas around the world, especially those where both countries are involved, as part of either NATO or the European Union.