NEWS

Prime Minister Borut Pahor attends the National Assembly’s eighteenth extraordinary session

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today attended the 18th extraordinary session of the National Assembly; under point two of the agenda a discussion was held regarding a decision proposal for the “Third package of anti-crisis measures intended to improve the economic and social situation in Slovenia: the fight against the crisis and to create new jobs” put forward by the opposition Social Democratic Party.

 

(Foto: Arhiv KPV)

 

In his address, Prime Minister Pahor pointed out that the proposers of anti-crisis measures and the Government share the same intention: "We both want to improve not only the competitiveness of the national economy but also the stability of public finances. Furthermore, we are both convinced that the burden of the crisis must not fall disproportionately on socially weaker groups; we must provide for social cohesion in our society.”

 

Prime Minister Pahor continued by saying that the Government would submit its exit strategy to the National Assembly next month presenting “a package of economic policy measures and long-term structural changes ensuring fiscal stability, strengthening the competitiveness of the economy and creating new jobs while enabling the maximum possible social cohesion.”  Mr Pahor also said that the focal point of the Government exit strategy is to consolidate the public finances with a view to reducing the public finance deficit below 3 percent by 2013: “To this end, the Government is finishing its programme of stability which will clearly present public finance targets and milestones to achieving them in future years."
 
Prime Minister Pahor also expressed content over the opposition’s belief that structural changes are needed in three very important areas of public spending, namely in the health care, pension system and labour market reform. “I believe that despite minor discrepancies concerning measures, this provides assurance of your support to our ambitious, challenging and partly disliked measures. This is very important for the future of our country and optimism of its citizens,” added Mr Pahor.