GOVERNMENT SESSION: Government adopts Autumn 2004 Forecast of Economic Trends and Programme of Information and Communication in the field of European Matters in 2005
The Government of RS discussed the Autumn Forecast of Economic Trends as one of the professional bases of economic policy, and adopted the Programme of Information and Communication with the Slovene Public in the field of European Matters in 2005.
The Autumn Forecast of Economic Trends is not substantially different from the spring forecast. For the first time in four years the autumn forecast includes a positive correction to the expected economic growth in the current year (from 3.6% to 4.0%), but since this is to a great extent a result of unique factors, the correction for the coming year as correspondingly smaller (from 3.7% to 3.8%). The increases, given the slight changes in the forecasts for the international arena and the practically unchanged rate of domestic consumption, stem from the smaller negative input of foreign exchange as a consequence of higher than expected growth of exports. The year-end inflation forecast is also slightly higher (from 3.3% to 3.5%), but this increase, due to the favourable effects of entry into the EU and ERM2, is significantly smaller than the effects would be of increased oil prices alone. With the consistent implementation of macroeconomic policies and in case that price increases will not be affected by unexpected external factors as they were in 2004, the growth of prices in 2005 is expected to be 2.9%, with average inflation at 3.0%.
In parallel with the accelerated economic growth, the situation on the job market will also gradually improve in 2004 and 2005. The employment rate, which has been decreasing over the last two years, is expected to begin to rise again (by 0.4% in 2004 and 0.3% in 2005), and unemployment is correspondingly expected to decrease somewhat faster.
The adjusted growth of wages and salaries is expected to lag behind the estimated growth of productivity by approximately 1 percent over both years. The adjusted growth of gross wages and salaries per employee will be 2.2% this year (3.2% in the private sector and –0.4% in the public), which is slightly more in the private sector and slightly less in the public sector than was estimated in the spring. In 2005 as well the adjusted gross wages and salaries per employer will rise by 2.2% (2.5% in the private sector and 1.2% in the public).
The Government of the RS also adopted the Programme of Information and Communication with the Slovene Public in the field of European Matters in 2005. Slovenia’s membership in the EU has several practical consequences for the work and life of the inhabitants and citizens of the Republic of Slovenia, and therefore it is necessary to continue with the provision of up-to-date, reliable and thorough information on European matters to the Slovene public.
As in the previous seven years this will continue to be performed by the Government Public Relations and Media Office, which will cooperate with the Representative Office of the European Commission and the European Parliament in Slovenia as a strategic partner.
Through the programme, the Government wants to:
- raise the level of understanding and discussion among inhabitants of Slovenia with regard to key issues such as: the European constitution, the adoption of the euro, establishing the external borders of the EU, obtaining funding from structural and cohesive funds and EU expansion
- raise the level of understanding of the EU and the role of Slovenia in the EU
- stimulate public debate on the functioning of Slovenia within the EU
- ensure timely, up-to-date information about EU activities
The various activities within the programme (Europhone toll-free telephone number, Eurobus travelling information centre, issuing of publications, public debates, co-financing of non-governmental organizations etc.) will be aimed at all inhabitants of the Republic of Slovenia, especially those who are poorly informed about European matters, young people, members of national minorities and communities, farmers and rural inhabitants and representatives of local communities.
The Government has authorized the Government Public Relations and Media Office to negotiate the signing of an agreement with the European Commission Representative Office which will ensure the continued activities of the EU Information Centre in Slovenia. It could happen that the European Commission Representative Office, due to content, organizational and financial priorities which are not expected to be adopted by the European Commission until the middle of 2005, will not be able to continue its present level of activities at the beginning of 2005. Therefore it makes sense for the Government Public Relations and Media Office to take over some of the activities from the Representative Office’s communications programme in the interim, including the central Information Centre.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|