NEWS
Prime Minister Pahor convenes a meeting of presidents of the parliamentary parties and deputies of the Hungarian and the Italian national communities
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today convened a meeting of the presidents of the parliamentary parties and the deputies of the Hungarian and the Italian national communities attended also by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly and the Slovenian members of the European Parliament. The main topic of the meeting was a discussion on the necessary measures aimed at Slovenia’s economic development which are to essentially influence the country’s future policy within the EU.
In Prime Minister’s words, the meeting was up to his expectations. Slovenes remain committed to the European idea and this is why they wish to participate autonomously and on an equal footing in a discussion concerning eventual changes to the Lisbon Treaty when these reveal to be necessary. At this point, the participants agreed, as Prime Minister Pahor stressed, that such intervention required a broader national consensus. The position of Slovenia with regard to the possible Lisbon Treaty changes is to be decided by the National Assembly Committee on EU Affairs; moreover, the political parties favour President Türk's idea of appointing a special Council of Experts to advise the politicians on issues relating to future EU reforms.
In regard to the issue of the National Development Programme, the Prime Minister reminded that today »he called on everyone who considers that the National Development Programme should undergo additional change(s), to submit the corresponding proposals. In case when this would involve changes of strategic nature regarding the above mentioned document, the Government will take additional time to examine the submitted proposals«. The Government is willing to wait for the observations by the opposition until Wednesday, although this might result in Slovenia’s missing the deadline for timely submission of its National Reform Programme draft. »Formulation of political consensus is more important than complying with time-limits regarding the submission of a draft document«, pointed out Prime Minister Pahor and reminded that the above mentioned programmes were to be discussed by the Commission only in April. In addition, the Prime Minister announced broader political involvement with other reform projects at national level. While the budgetary and other reforms such as the pension reform, the Small Work Act and the Intervention Measures Act in preparation of which the coalition did not participate, will be implemented by the Government alone, the Prime Minister wishes to form a partnership such as previously proposed by the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) leader Janez Janša regarding the forthcoming agriculture, health sector, public sector and labour market reform. Then, no appropriate agreement was achieved. »I wish to believe that today we left the door open to our future discussion«, concluded by saying Prime Minister Pahor.