NEWS

Slovenian Prime Minister to Draghi: ''Slovenia is able of finding its way out of the dire straits alone''

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, today met with the President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, who visited Slovenia within the framework of the regular ECB Council meeting. They discussed, in particular, the situation in the eurozone and the measures that Slovenia is adopting for its stabilisation.

 

The ECB President Mario Draghi pointed out that national measures are essential in dealing with the eurozone crisis and that the European Central Bank operation can only provide support to facilitate the achievement of better results. He underlined that as far as Slovenia is concerned, the key issues are fiscal consolidation and privatisation of banks along with the structural reforms, such as the labour market and the pension system reform.

 

The Prime Minister Janša said that the ECB's view is very similar to that expressed this week by the International Monetary Fund mission which only just ended its regular autumn visit to Slovenia. "Slovenia has all the potential to come out of the dire straits alone, however, it should put into practice all the stated five measures," pointed out the Prime Minister Janša. Among these, he stated the fiscal consolidation process and the reduction of the budget deficit and added that the first step was taken today by the adoption of the 2013 and 2014 budgets. In his statement to the media, the Prime Minister also mentioned the stabilisation of the banking system and the need for adopting the legislation which would provide for a serious approach toward restructuring the state-owned part of the economy and further transparent privatisation.