NEWS

Prime Minister Pahor attends a summit of the European Council in Brussels

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today attended a summit of the European Council in Brussels, where the Heads of State or Government of the European Union Member States focused in the main on energy. The debate concentrated in particular on safe and sustainable energy supply, energy sources, routes and efficient use of energy and was based on the European Commission Energy 2020 strategy. The second part of the session was devoted to innovations as the driving force of the development. During a working lunch, most attention was focused on the current situation in Egypt, the Middle East and Belarus.

   

In a short statement after the session, Prime Minister Pahor stressed that unless the pension reform was pursued, Slovenia would probably fail to keep abreast of the most developed EU countries. "I was at the meeting that lasted six or seven hours and I am leaving with a strong impression that the reforms, implemented in Slovenia, provide every opportunity for us to qualify for European development championship league" said Prime Minister Pahor. According to Prime Minister Pahor, pension reform's failure to pass the referendum could result in "a high likelihood of not qualifying for the European development championship league. This is the main message that I am taking home to Slovenia," stressed Prime Minister Pahor. Slovenia supports six proposals on closer economic policy coordination in the eurozone, i.e. European Pact for Competitiveness, presented at the summit by German Chancellor Merkel.

   

Prime Minister Pahor noted his satisfaction at the adoption of decisions on energy since they "also reflect Slovenian aspirations." He particularly emphasised that Slovenia can be proud to see the Agency for Cooperation of European Energy Regulators (ACER) begin work on 3 March 2011 in Ljubljana.