NEWS

Prime Minister at Press Conference

At today’s press conference, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, presented the key resolutions and decisions adopted at the 14th regular Government session.  In his address, he pointed out that today's session was primarily intended for the adoption of the second package of structural measures aimed at mitigating and eliminating financial and economic uncertainty. In presenting the aforementioned package of adopted measures in detail, the Prime Minister was joined by the Minister for Development and European Affairs, Mitja Gaspari, the Minister of Finance, Franc Križanič, and the Secretary-General of the Slovenian Government, Milan M. Cvikl.

 

(Foto: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

 

The measures were drafted according to comparative experience related to the so-called anti-crisis programmes in other EU Member States. The adopted measures are primarily development-oriented; however, a significant share of funds is also earmarked for stimulating the lending activity of banks and, as a result, for the improvement of corporate liquidity. The anti-crisis measures address the following areas: finance and corporate liquidity; labour market, lifelong learning and social security; and infrastructure, energy and environment – for sustainable development and better disbursement of cohesion funds.
 
In addition, thirty Government's savings measures were presented in the form of three major lots: expenditure on salaries and organisational and staff measures; measures aimed at the reduction of expenditure on material and technical conditions for the functioning of the Government and public administrative bodies; and measures suggested to other stakeholders. Prime Minister Pahor explained that, upon the adoption of the measures, the Government would screen the current situation and compare it with the situation in a year's time for the purpose of assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of the measures. "I want Slovenia to be a lean state, that is, a state which handles taxpayers' money economically," said the Prime Minister and added: "The adopted measures provide that people holding the most responsible positions in the public sector are required to manage taxpayers' money as if it were their own."
 
With respect to a question from the media about a potential referendum on Croatia's accession to NATO, the Prime Minister replied that, at today's meeting with the initiators of the referendum, he had explained why this referendum would not benefit the interests of Slovenia.  He supported this by listing the three most significant reasons, the first being the fact that as many as 75 out of 90 deputies had ratified the protocol on Croatia's accession to NATO. Such a majority in decision-making is rare in the National Assembly. Second, for the first time in 18 years, the National Assembly adopted a position which reflects its view on border delimitation between Slovenia and Croatia and pertaining disagreements.  Furthermore, Slovenia has already voiced its reservations concerning the opening and closing of chapters in Croatia's negotiations with the European Union, since it had sound reasons, which, however, it does not have in the case of Croatia joining NATO.  Therefore, Prime Minister Pahor appealed to the initiators to reconsider whether they would insist on collecting signatures to hold a referendum.