PM Janez Janša Completing His Baltic Tour in Estonia

Tallinn, 14 September

Janša's three-day tour of the Baltic states, which share many common interests with Slovenia, was his first official visit abroad as prime minister. The goal of his tour was the deepening of bilateral political and economic relations and the strengthening of the dialog on current European and other international issues.

Economics Minister Andrej Vizjak was upbeat about the potential for boosting trade after a meeting with his Estonian counterpart Edgar Savisaar. "We have assessed that we have plenty of room for growth, in particular as members of the single European market," he told the press on Wednesday in Tallinn. Vizjak believes IT, the metal industry, the electronic industry and tourism offer the best potential for cooperation between Estonian and Slovenian companies. According to him, trade has so far been modest because of the distance between the two countries, and the fact that they have both been busy addressing other issues at home and in association with the EU. "I believe that now is the right time to develop economic relations. This is the purpose of this meeting, and I am confident it has been achieved," Vizjak thought. Bilateral trade last year amounted to a mere EUR 9.8m, with Slovenia's exports at EUR 7.9m and imports at EUR 1.9m. Ministers Vizjak and Savisaar also discussed foreign direct investment (FDI) in their respective countries and the very different paths that they have taken.

EU issues, in particular the changeover to the euro, topped the agenda as PM Janez Janša and his Estonian counterpart Andrus Ansip held talks on Wednesday. They both arrived at the conclusion that the biggest obstacle for euro adoption is the spiraling cost of oil, which is pushing up inflation. Despite the soaring oil prices, the Estonian PM was confident that his country would have no major trouble. "I am convinced we will meet all criteria and adopt the euro in January 2007," he told the press in Tallinn. Janša was equally confident about Slovenia's ability to make the changeover in 2007. Slovenia is already in compliance with three criteria; exchange rate stability will be provided next year, so inflation remains the only problem.

Talks also touched on EU enlargement. "We share the same view on Croatia's accession: Croatia is cooperating with the Hague tribunal and we believe the EU should launch negotiations," Ansip said. The PM moreover praised Estonia's achievements, in particular the flat tax rate which Slovenia is thinking about introducing, and said Slovenia is undergoing a second wave of reforms that Estonia has completed already. "Estonia's success is based on foreign direct investment; the tax system works because it is simple, transparent and easy to understand for everyone," Janša emphasised. Slovenian and Latvian prime ministers, Janez Janša and Aigars Kalvitis, called for better bilateral cooperation as they came out of a meeting on Tuesday in Riga. Apart from bilateral cooperation, the pair discussed the role of the OSCE and exchanged experience about the resolution of conflicts in the Baltic and Central and Southeastern Europe, respectively. The two countries signed an agreement on cooperation in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organised crime, whose importance both prime ministers underlined. Latvia and Slovenia have national institutions for the fight against terrorism, but this struggle is not effective if there is no effective cooperation; this agreement is a first step in this direction, Janša said.

PM Janez Janša Completing His Baltic Tour in Estonia

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