The 46th general assembly of the Union of EU Capitals started on Friday in Ljubljana, the current chair of the organisation. The participants at the two-day event will focus on "creative capitals", since creativity is essential for the development of economy and society, municipality Ljubljana said.
Representatives of 21 European capitals were greeted by Danica Simsic, the mayor of Ljubljana, who voiced the hope that European capitals would be active in the implementation of the urban dimension of EU policies.
Since the assembly coincides with the European Car Free Day, Nicholas Hanley, head of the European Commission's Directorate General for the Environment, also addressed the participants and stressed the importance of environment protection initiatives, which can immensely improve the quality of city life.
Mihela Zupancic, the head of the European Commission's Representation Office in Slovenia, meanwhile stressed that capitals are the engines of economic growth and the centres of employment, technology, education and culture. Therefore they play an important role in the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy, she added.
Foreign Ministry State Secretary Bozo Cerar said that Slovenia and Ljubljana are facing an important challenge.
During Slovenia's EU presidency in the first half of 2008 Ljubljana will host a number of events and Cerar sees this as an opportunity for Ljubljana to present itself to the EU and the world.
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