NEWS

Slovenian Prime Minister attends meeting on ECC project

The Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor, accompanied by the Minister of Culture Majda Širca and the Minister of Local Self-government and Regional Policy Henrik Gjerkeš, today visited Maribor. With Mayor Franc Kangler he discussed the European Capital of Culture project (ECC project) to be hosted by Maribor in 2012. On this occasion, Mr Pahor said that the ECC is a national project and a common responsibility of both, the Government and partner towns.

  

While focusing on open issues, the participants of today's meeting agreed that people who are responsible for the implementation of this project at the local and national level should meet again in mid-July to define financial details regarding the state liabilities for the next two years in the light of the project's financial requirements. "This is a continuation of model cooperation between the Government and partner towns in preparing the ECC project. The opportunity when Slovenia will be given a chance to showcase its cultural and other achievements is approaching rapidly. We are aware of this opportunity and also intend to take advantage of it," emphasised Prime Minister Pahor and finally observed that there are no major obstacles as regards programming; there are, however, still certain differences of opinion in respect of the financial coverage of wishes and actual needs.