NEWS

Prime Minister's press conference held after the Government's 150th regular session

At the press conference following the Government's 150th regular session, Prime Minister Pahor responded to the question on the vote of confidence in the Government by stating that he would not make any special effort to win the votes of deputies. The deputies will come to a decision according to their conscience and, in the event that the vote of no-confidence is passed, the responsibility for the country's situation would fall to the National Assembly. 'This decision will have a much greater impact on our lives than any other decision; therefore, it is only right that it is made by the deputies themselves,' explained Prime Minister Pahor. However, the prime minister believes that the situation in Europe will worsen owing to the financial crisis and Slovenia, too, can expect a slowdown in economic growth. This is the very reason that the country needs a responsive government that understands the nature of the problems to be addressed and how they should be dealt with. In order to improve the economic situation, certain changes are needed, said the Prime Minister and highlighted the rejection of the reforms intended to regulate mini jobs, the grey economy and pensions. 'The Government has prepared all of these and parliament has adopted them,' he emphasised, adding that the Government will not take responsibility for the rejection of the pension scheme reform. 'The people have the right to reject proposals, but they need to be aware of the consequences. I will not take responsibility for this. I have done my job,' said Prime Minister Pahor.

  

With regard to the question as to whether Greece would leave the eurozone, Prime Minister Pahor said the observers are warning that the declaration of default by Greece will have a very similar effect on the eurozone as the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers had on the US, and as a result, on the global financial system. Prime Minister Pahor, therefore, supports those who are striving for measures needed to save Greece from bankruptcy, while keeping risk within reasonable limits. He again pointed out that we should not persist in providing aid beyond the limits of reasonable risk, if it becomes clear that Greece would not be able to repay the aid provided. The Prime Minister also pointed out that the Greek financial collapse could trigger a domino effect and it is unclear where this would stop. In his view, the eurozone will face institutional changes in the near future, changes which will need to be swift, bold and ambitious. 'Such are the times in which we live,' he explained, adding that he expects the eurozone's member states to move towards federalism or, as he calls it, a 'United States of Europe'. In light of these developments, it is crucial that Slovenia remains in the euro, which will be the main task of the Government if it receives the vote of confidence in parliament next week. 'As a small and open economy, Slovenia must remain within the group of countries that make up the engine of the European economy,' explained Prime Minister Pahor.

   

At today's session, the Government adopted the Development Planning Act regulating a comprehensive system of development planning, which includes definitions of strategic and implementing documents, together with the responsible bodies, and the manner of harmonisation of development policies, and the manner of implementation, monitoring and reporting. The Act establishes the hierarchy of strategic documents and their relationship to the public finances. It also describes the way in which the policies are to be changed and the consequences of not achieving the goals set.

   

The ministers also adopted the proposal of a new accounting act, which regulates bookkeeping and the drawing-up of annual reports for the budget, budget users and those legal persons governed by public or private law who do not keep books of account pursuant to the Companies Act, the Public Utilities Act, and the Societies Act. The current Accounting Act required amendment because, since its adoption in 1999, the accounting system has been, together with the entire system of public finances, further developed and supplemented and the changes have not been included in the Act to this day. For this reason, the new Accounting Act is being prepared simultaneously with the new Public Finance Act. The Government also approved the latest amendments to the Late Payment Prevention Act, which adheres to the objectives set, particularly with regard to the improvement of payment discipline. It includes provisions aimed at facilitating the operation of economic operators, as while the Act was in force, the Ministry of Finance fielded several questions from economic operators regarding the correct use of the provisions contained therein. The answers to these questions have been published on the Ministry's website.

   

Furthermore, the Government adopted the proposal for new amendments to the Takeovers Act, all of which comply with the key principles aimed at the protection of all stakeholders, particularly minority shareholders, and their equal treatment. They facilitate more efficient control over the Securities Market Agency and the implementation of the Act. The proposal supplements the existing Act in those parts which, in the past, have posed some difficulties with respect to its implementation and in areas where there is a legal vacuum or where various interpretations of the Act exist. Therefore, the proposal includes some definitions (such as 'futures contract') which clarify the implementation of the Act, and icludes provisions on notifying the Agency of particular actions (e.g. on the conclusion of a futures contract or a share call option transaction, or on the fact that a person who is not obliged to make a takeover bid has reached the takeover threshold). Furthermore, it provides for a new exception regarding the mandatory takeover bid and it also includes among the dependent companies in coordinated operation members and not only shareholders. Another novelty provided for in the proposal is that the Agency may, by means of a decision, allow that in establishing the portion of voting shares in the offeree company, voting rights of certain persons attaching to certain securities are not taken into account under certain conditions.