Jansa Met EU and NATO Officials
On 25 January Prime Minister Janez Jansa payed an introductory visit to the EU and NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday, where he discussed a number of topics regarding Slovenia's relations with the EU and NATO.
Jansa met President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, Slovenian Commissioner Janez Potocnik, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Schefferd.
Meetings at the European Commission focused on negotiations on the EU's financial arrangements between 2007 and 2013, the Lisbon Strategy reform, the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact and the continuation of the EU enlargement process. At the NATO headquarters Jansa discussed trans-Atlantic relations and cooperation of NATO with other multilateral organisations.
Jansa expects Slovenia to be a net receiver of EU funds in the Community's financial arrangements between 2007 and 2013, considering that the negotiations on this topic conclude as planned in the first half of the year. Jansa said this following his meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
The PM noted, however, that divisions in terms of net receivers and contributors should be overcome. "Our common goal is high economic growth and full employment in the EU, while the distinction between net contributors and receivers is less important in this context."
Barroso voiced a similar view as he came out of the meeting with Jansa in Brussels on Tuesday. According to him, all member states, including the most developed and the richest ones, will receive funds from the new financial perspective and will benefit from a clear European commitment to growth and solidarity.
The European Commission president believes it would be wrong to think that some members make contributions while some are receiving. We have had a win-win situation so far. We need support for growth, research, cohesion, justice, transport network, citizenship - for making Europe work, he said.
Jansa and Barroso moreover discussed Slovenia's preparations for the introduction of the euro, and the fact that it will be the first newcomer to preside the EU. According to Barroso, the presiding troika of Slovenia, Portugal and Germany will be a "dream team".
Barroso is pleased that Jansa supports the revival of the Lisbon Strategy, the main topic of the March EU summit. PM Jansa also informed him that Slovenia is drafting a development strategy for the next 10 years, "to contribute to Slovenia's as well as the EU's development".
Jansa asked for greater assistance from the EU in solving open issues plaguing the OSCE as he met the EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana in Brussels.
Speaking after meeting Solana, Jansa said the deadlock over the OSCE budget and the secretary general would be "impossible to solve without greater involvement of the EU".
The resolution of these two issues is one of the most serious challenges facing Slovenia in its stint as OSCE chair this year.
Jansa said Solana received favourably his request and agreed with Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel to take common steps in trying to resolve the open issues.
Slovenia will consider sending troops to Iraq to train the local security forces there, and think about increasing its contribution to the Afghanistan operation, PM Janez Jansa told the press after holding talks with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
"We will consider and debate (these issues). We expect the situation in Iraq will improve after Sunday's election. As a NATO member, we will do everything we can to contribute to future stability," Jansa told the press Tuesday.
NATO would greatly appreciate such a decision, should the Slovenian government take it, the secretary general told the press. He labelled Slovenia as a "loyal and important ally" which is taking part in missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. We believe that even small members can make a difference and contribute to the success of NATO missions, he stressed.
PM Jansa said "Slovenia wishes to be a reliable member that is not only a beneficiary of collective security but also contributes to collective security" to the extent that a country of such size and GDP can.
According to the PM, the government will also see whether it can make an additional contribution to "forces that not only guarantee military security in Afghanistan but are also in charge of restoring and establishing regional institutions that are crucial for the normal functioning of a country on its way to democracy".
He also told Scheffer that defence reforms are being implemented in Slovenia and that the
number of units capable of taking part in NATO operations is increasing every month. The government will also work towards meeting the objective of allocating 2 percent of GDP for defence spending in 2008.
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