NEWS

Press conference following the Government’s 126th session

At today’s 126th regular session, the Government adopted amendments to the Construction Act, took note of the results of the Youth 2010 survey and endorsed a  resolution on armoured modular vehicles 8x8. The competent ministers outlined major resolutions and Prime Minister Pahor presented the proposed commitments to be undertaken by Slovenia within the Pact for the Euro.

    

The Government agreed on the text of the draft Act Amending the Construction Act and will submit it to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia for discussion under an emergency procedure. The Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning proposed an amendment to Article 79 of the Construction Act (ZGO-1) to limit the do-it-yourself construction to simple and undemanding structures, and maintenance work. Construction supervision stipulated by the ZGO-1 would no longer be required for construction by private individuals, since small structures are technically less demanding and do not warrant any special supervision.

    

The amendment to Article 79 of the ZGO-1 comes in the package of planned legislative changes for a more efficient reduction of the shadow economy in Slovenia, and was also proposed by the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia. This measure will enhance the quality of construction that has so far been performed by private individuals.

   

The Government was briefed on the results of the Youth 2010 survey showing that, in view of the young people’s status and role, and employment trends, it is increasingly more difficult and demanding for them to find employment, live independently and start families. It was decided by the Government that the following authorities will, within their powers, play an active role in drawing up the national youth programme: Ministry of Education and Sport, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of the Economy, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government Office for European Affairs and Development, and Government Office for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy.

   

This programme must be prepared under Article 16 of the Act on Public Interest in the Youth Sector (Uradni list RS/Official Gazette of the RS, No. 42/10).  The Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth was designated an authority responsible for preparing this document. The very nature of this national programme called for the adoption of this resolution, since the programme is horizontal, and the implementation of its measures, the monitoring of its objectives and indicators, and the provision of suitable resources will require the engagement of all the competent ministries and the two government offices.

   

Furthermore, the Government today adopted a resolution on wheeled armoured vehicles 8x8 and asked the State Attorney's Office to prepare by the next session a legal action to render the purchase contract for medium wheeled armoured vehicles 8x8 null and void. In the Government's opinion, the district court's decision on the originally submitted proposal to issue an interim order provides a very good basis for filing such an action in the continuation of the procedure. Hence, the Government will not appeal against this decision of the court to issue the interim order. All documents in this case are classified confidential.

   

At the beginning of the press conference, the Prime Minister explained the proposed commitments that Slovenia is prepared to undertake within the Pact for the Euro discussed by the Government. These measures are aimed at fostering competitiveness and employment, contributing to sustainability of public finances and reinforcing financial stability. Prime Minister Pahor afterwards left for the European Council meeting in Brussels, where he will present this proposal.