NEWS

Press Conference of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia on the First Anniversary of the Government

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today held a press conference and talked to media representatives on the first anniversary of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. Prime Minister Pahor gave a brief overview of the work of the Government in the past year and then answered journalists' questions.

   

(Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA)

 

Mr Pahor began by saying that the first year of the work of the Government was marked in particular by the economic and financial crisis gripping the world. He stressed that the Government immediately and with due consideration addressed the situation and established a crisis group to co-ordinate anti-crisis measures, headed by Minister Mitja Gaspari. So far, the group has prepared and co-ordinated over 60 mitigation measures.

  

In the light of measures and strategies to overcome the economic crisis, Prime Minister Pahor highlighted some crucial objectives set by the Government for the following year i.e. a more competitive Slovenia with a higher level of solidarity, further strengthening of Slovenia's economic and political presence in South Eastern Europe, and an increase in foreign investment. "The ambition of the Government is to provide conditions in the year to come to allow economies that so far have not been the focus of our attention, such as China, India and Brazil, to recognise in Slovenia opportunities that correspond to mutual interests," he added.

  

Last year, the Government devoted special attention to the preparation and co-ordination of two revised national budgets for 2009, since the changed economic circumstances resulting from the crisis had a strong impact on revenue and expenditure. Prime Minister Pahor said that, within the preparations for the adoption of the budget for the years 2010 and 2011, the Government also thoroughly addressed radical structural reforms.

 

(Photo: Kristina Kosec/BOBO)

 

As the major foreign policy event of the year, he highlighted the development of relations with neighbouring Croatia. The signing of the Arbitration Agreement on 4 November 2009 in Stockholm was a historic moment for both countries and a constructive compromise that will help to create the foundations for better mutual relations. 

 

Ministers devoted particular attention to enforcement of the rule of law and human rights. The following activities were undertaken in these areas: adoption of measures combating commercial crime and detecting corruption, adoption of a new Family Code, adoption of measures for more efficient functioning of the courts and the improvement of their reputation in public, redressing of injustices suffered by "erased" people, adoption of amendments to laws regulating events from recent history, adoption of an inter-ministerial proposal for the establishment of the Agency for Road Traffic Safety, preparation of expert positions on regional legislation and the drafting of a law on the capital of the Republic of Slovenia.

 

Prime Minister Pahor also highlighted the importance of increased efficiency and rationalisation of the public sector and state-owned enterprises and the effectiveness of other foreign policy activities, among them also Slovenia's chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and Slovenia's successful accession to the OECD. "The following years will show that Slovenia has been gradually moving in the right direction in adopting and adjusting to OECD rules, and I believe that we will become full members of this organisation next year," he added.