NEWS

Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor at European Council: funds from economic recovery package also for Slovenia

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, on Thursday and Friday attended the spring European Council meeting in Brussels, where heads of state and government of Member States adopted a package of EU incentives in the amount of EUR 5 billion within the action taken to mitigate the financial and economic crisis. "The agreement on this package is proof that we are capable of taking action at the Community level. The funds from this package will also be allocated to Slovenia," emphasised Mr Pahor after the meeting.

 

(Foto: Wiktor Dabkowski)

 

The package includes funds for financing strategic energy projects, constructing a broadband network and other measures in the area of rural development. "Slovenia has been included in the list of energy projects, meaning that EUR 40 million is earmarked for the construction of a gas pipeline from the Austrian border to Ljubljana; an additional EUR 10 to 11 million is expected to be allocated for constructing broadband links and for addressing new challenges, particularly climate issues," said the Slovenian Prime Minister.

Addressing the financial and economic crisis is currently the EU's key challenge and will represent the focal topic of the G-20 summit to be held in London on 2 April this year. Today the European Council adopted a common EU platform for the London summit, in which it undertook an obligation that the EU would avoid any forms of protectionism. "So far, the EU has earmarked between 3 and 4% of GDP for alleviating the effects of the economic crisis. According to today's assessment, there is no need for additional fiscal measures for the time being," added Mr Pahor.

Among other things, the European Council discussed preparations for the climate conference to be held in Copenhagen in December this year and the progress made in ratifying the Lisbon Treaty, and adopted the Declaration on the Eastern Partnership.