"I hope Slovenia will be a good example of Europe's big ambitions," said the president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso as he summed up his expectations about Slovenia's EU presidency in the first half of 2008 and in general.
"The transition in Slovenia is considered as exemplary, Slovenia is going to be the first new member to preside the EU, and most likely the first new member to join the eurozone," Barroso said in an interview before his first visit to Slovenia, due this week.
According to him, this is not just "wishful thinking", but based on firm foundations. This is why Barroso said his message in Slovenia would be one of confidence and trust.
Addressing Slovenia's EU presidency in the first half of 2008, Barroso said the presidency of a smaller member state is by no means inferior to that of the biggest member states.
"For a small country this is usually such an important issue that it dedicates much more intellectual, political and social energy to it. Big EU members have many priorities and challenges, and sometimes cannot put the same kind of focus on the presidency," he explained.
As Barroso put it, there are no big or small countries, just big and small ambitions for Europe. "I hope Slovenia will be a good example of big ambitions for Europe," he said, especially since its presidency comes at a crucial time for the EU constitutional treaty.
According to him, the message of confidence and trust that he is bringing is also based on the 2007-2013 budget, which, although it is smaller than the Commission's proposal, gives Slovenia much more funding.
"There is no reason for pessimism, we can be optimistic," he said, adding that this goes for the EU in general. There are problems in terms of the connection between EU institutions and the people, while some of them are related to unemployment.
However, if the economy recovers all this can change; there are signs that confidence in the economy is rising, for example in Germany, he emphasised.
Yet, more has to be done on the side of politics "to consolidate these achievements," including by embarking on structural reforms and lifting restrictions on the movement of labour from the EU newcomers.
Barroso will be arriving in Slovenia just weeks after his first tour of the Balkans, where, he says, he saw with his own eyes that the region really needs the prospects of joining the EU.
Speaking about the Balkans, Barroso could not avoid questions about Slovenia's relations with Croatia, especially the dispute over the border. But, just as Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn before him, Barroso was clear.
"I hope bilateral problems will be resolved bilaterally, they should not be treated in a broader framework. I hope they will be resolved bilaterally, in a solid, constructive spirit," he added.
Barroso will be visiting Slovenia on 1 and 2 March alongside Communication Strategy Commissioner Margot Wallstroem and Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik, the Slovenian member of the Commission.
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