NEWS
Prime Minister's press conference following the Government’s 105th regular session
At today’s session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, alongside several other resolutions, adopted a draft Promotion of Balanced Regional Development Act and a draft Voluntary Work Act. The two competent ministers highlighted basic emphasis of the Acts, and Prime Minister Pahor then answered some topical questions.
The Government defined the text of the draft Promotion of Balanced Regional Development Act, and submitted it to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for reading under the ordinary procedure. The draft Act is based on the experience obtained from the Pomurje region and allows the application of the expanded range of regional policy instruments in areas facing development difficulties. It brings about a territorially structured and multi-level approach, as well as flexible solutions, since we need dynamic measures triggering a quick response of the Government when the situation is perceived to worsen, while being gradually reduced as the situation improves.
Regional development differences in Slovenia are not being narrowed and the economic and financial crisis has only further pointed out weaknesses of the existing model. The upgrading to a more efficient regional policy is implemented through endogenous regional policy measures (co-financing regional projects in accordance with agreements on regional development, additional measures for border problem areas, additional temporary measures for problem areas with a high unemployment rate, transfer of state property for development purposes, urgent regional policy measures, other measures determined by the legislation, budget and business and financial plan of the Slovenian Regional Development Fund) and by coordinating development policies that have an important impact on regional development on the basis of a territorial development dialogue.
At today’s session, the ministers approved the draft Voluntary Work Act which regulates the field of voluntary work in Slovenia for the first time. The draft Act provides minimal conditions for volunteers and voluntary organisations and for the organisation and carrying out of volunteer work, determines the meaning of voluntary work, defines the concepts, fundamental principles and conditions for conducting organised volunteer work, rights and duties of volunteers and volunteer organisations and the role of the state, local communities and volunteer and non-profit organisations in encouraging and developing organised voluntary work.
The draft Act also regulates a wider area of socially useful work of an individual or voluntary organisations that, through their activities, knowledge and experience, substantially contribute to improvement of living standard of individuals and entire society. The Act follows constitutional and fundamental human values and principles for the development of solidary, human and equal society. In order to stimulate voluntary work, the strategy for developing voluntary work is envisaged to be drawn up and adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for a period of five years.