The President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso, paid a working visit to Slovenia today at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, and current President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša. Their discussions focused on preparations for the June European Council to be held in Brussels on 19 and 20 June 2008, and they also visited the newly built Technology Park Ljubljana, the construction of which was part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
In the morning, at Strmol Castle, PM Janša and Mr Barroso exchanged views on challenges facing the European Union in the next two months of the Slovenian EU Council Presidency. They also discussed preparations for the June European Council, stressing, in this regard, the timeframe for the adoption of the energy and climate package, further liberalisation of the European energy market and implementation of the Lisbon Strategy. They highlighted the ratification and entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon as this year’s key political challenge, expressing their wish for the process of ratification of the Treaty to be completed by the end of 2008. Their discussions were also devoted to the EU-LAC Summit to be held next week in Peru; the Summit will focus in particular on combating poverty and climate change.
(Photo: Kristina Kosec/Bobo)
Prime Minister Janez Janša and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso visited the Technology Park Ljubljana, where they had a meeting with representatives of companies which are members of the Technology Park Ljubljana, operating primarily on global markets and contributing to the competitiveness of Slovenia and Europe. They acquainted themselves with the infrastructure offered by the Technology Park to promote innovative entrepreneurship. In his address delivered on this occasion, Prime Minister Janez Janša said that in order to survive in a competitive world, it was important that one not only stores knowledge but also knows how to use it. The Prime Minister highlighted Slovenia’s efforts to secure the seat of a new European agency, Galileo, in Ljubljana and the importance of the introduction of a ‘fifth freedom’ – the free movement of knowledge – at the spring European Council meeting. The Prime Minister said that the fifth freedom would bring favourable results to the European Union as a whole. He also noted that, this year, the Slovenian Government had established the Competitiveness Council with a view to promoting changes towards increased investment in research and development in areas which significantly contribute to promoting competitiveness and creating added value for the national economy.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and current President of the European Council, Janez Janša, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, together with the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, also participated in the 11th WDR Europa Forum taking place today and tomorrow at Ljubljana Castle and dedicated to the future of Europe. They discussed the milestones and future of the European Union, as well as certain topical issues currently being addressed by the European Union, and agreed that the principal milestones of the EU in the past year had been the agreement on the Treaty of Lisbon, intercultural dialogue and climate change.
(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)
Prime Minister Janez Janša added that, in the past year, the European Union had strengthened its leading role of a global player in the fight against the most pressing issues in the world – climate change, poverty and migrations. He noted his satisfaction at Slovenia’s contribution to the achievement of these breakthroughs.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
According to the Prime Minister, the EU’s demand that Belgrade should hand over the former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadžić and General Ratko Mladić rests not on insistence on some unrealistic principles. It is, indeed, a matter of fundamental significance for peace and security in the region. “Without it, there will be no permanent reconciliation, and no foundations for co-existence and a peaceful life for people in this part of Europe,” he emphasised. In PM Janša’s opinion, the more influential the pro-European forces become in Serbia, the more possibility there will be of handing over the indicted war criminals to the Hague tribunal.
(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)
Teamwork is another element the European Union can learn from football, where teams are stronger if players come from several different countries, according to the Slovenian Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, Janez Janša. “Not only those scoring goals, but also those defending and organising the game are important,” concluded the Prime Minister.
