Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a public debate organised by the forum Zbor za republiko, where prominent Slovene politicians discussed the distinctiveness and autonomy of Slovenia in present-day Europe. According to Mr Janša, the six-moth presidency of the EU Council helped the Slovene people to finally establish themselves as a nation, while the EU itself will in the future have to face the issues of peace and poverty in the world, as well as climate change.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

"In the last decade, we have experienced democratisation and independence, only to find shelter in the European Union and NATO, and to eventually establish ourselves through leadership of the EU as a nation," said the PM. Whatever doubts there may be about the functioning of Slovenia, they can be found only in its people: the EU has no problems in acknowledging Slovene abilities, added PM Janez Janša.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

In general, the PM believes the EU is nowadays confronting three global challenges, viz. global peace, poverty around the world and climate change. He sees the problem of climate change as the most likely to bring civilisations together. "Slovenia needs the European Union and other international institutions to tackle these issues," said PM Janša, adding the EU is not a melting pot but rather a family of equal nations.