NEWS

Prime Minister Pahor attends joint session of National Assembly Committees on EU Affairs and on Foreign Policy

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today attended the joint session of the Committee on EU Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Policy, where he reported on the meeting of Euro group held on 11 March 2011 in Brussels. Pahor said that Slovenia would be able to effectively implement measures for enhancing its own competitiveness and the competitiveness of the entire euro zone only in the context of a wide agreement of political and social partners. He stressed that, in the next year, Slovenia would adopt measures to »enhance its own competitiveness and the competitiveness of the whole euro zone.« The Government has already established an ad hoc working group for drafting these measures.

   

Pahor expressed his wish that these measures would »be subject to the largest possible agreement among social partners and members of the opposition«. He said that a situation in which any decision that the Government considers beneficial for public finances, competitiveness and development and is adopted by a political majority, might be overruled in a referendum, is potentially dangerous. This would signal to the financial markets that Slovenia, regardless of the colour of its government, is incapable of implementing reforms. “It would mean that Slovenia is systematically pulling a hand brake on its reforms, which is, of course, something we cannot afford" added Prime Minister Pahor. Slovenia will present draft measures by June and expects to adopt these measures in a year’s time. The Government is also examining the possible scenarios to facilitate the adoption of the pension reform.  “If other options fail, we will have to convince the voters at a referendum”, said Pahor and added “there is no way back; the Government has spent much time to reach an agreement with trade unions, so any last minute magic corrections would have no effect.” He added that everybody should listen to one's own conscience to understand the needs of our time. According to Pahor, the crucial issue in Slovenia presently is “Can we do it or not? Pahor firmly believes that we can. He concluded by saying that this year Slovenia will go through some severe trials, however, they will result in “enhanced competitiveness and social cohesion”.