NEWS

Prime Minister Borut Pahor: 'Today's signing important both for EU and Slovenia'

The Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor yesterday arrived in Brussels for a two-day summit of EU leaders and today also attended the signing of Croatia's Accession Treaty with the European Union in a solemn ceremony. On this occasion, Mr Pahor said that 'this event is of great importance for the EU, as it sends out a signal that despite the current crisis, the enlargement process has not stalled. I also think that it is of no less importance for Slovenia, as we are now surrounded by four neighbours, practically all of which are members of the EU, and because we have seized a historic opportunity to agree on an equitable determination of the maritime and land border by signing the Arbitration Agreement with one of our neighbours, Croatia'. On the other hand, the Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said that she was 'deeply grateful' to Mr Pahor, since he had shown a great deal of political courage in tackling the border issue, something that is essential in political life. 'The story about lifting the blockade is a story we share,' emphasised Ms Kosor.

   

In his statement delivered to the press late at night after the end of the EU summit, Mr Pahor said that Slovenia needs to become a member of the fiscal union. In this context, he highlighted the significance of achieving a minimum national consensus to enable the country to preserve this status within the euro area, irrespective of the outcome of coalition negotiations. Prime Minister Pahor went on to emphasise that there is no EU without the euro and fiscal union, the membership of the latter being a precondition for Slovenia to make progress.

  

To this end, Mr Pahor has already announced he, in his capacity as prime minister, would meet next week with the presidents of all the parliamentary political parties elected in snap elections in order to come to an agreement on common preparations for the challenges awaiting Slovenia in the coming year, one that, according to Mr Pahor, will be a turning point for both the euro and the EU. Moreover, Prime Minister Pahor announced an inter-governmental conference, expected to take place in March, and to provide a draft of an inter-governmental agreement on the establishment of a new fiscal pact.