Parliament to Debate EU Presidency Preparations Twice in 2007
The parliament's committees on foreign policy and EU affairs on Friday scrutinised the 18-month programme of the successive EU presidencies of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia and Slovenia's preparations for its stint in the first half of 2008. The lawmakers decided that the contents would be debated in parliament twice in 2007.
The programme was presented at the joint session by Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel and EU Affairs State Secretary Janez Lenarcic. It will be confirmed on Monday by the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council.
According to Jozef Jerovsek, the head of the foreign policy committee, the programme covers all of Slovenia's priorities, including EU enlargement, energy policy and inter-cultural dialogue.
Anton Kokalj, the chair of the EU affairs committee, said the government explained that this was a text agreed by the three countries, so it was difficult to change it.
However, the committee though of it as a broad programming basis which needs to be upgraded during each of the three presidencies.
Jerovsek added that the EU was a "living thing" and issues might arise later, so a flexible approach is needed.
The committee members also urged the government to cooperate more closely with parliament in the preparations, and urged all parties to reach an agreement on cooperation in the run-up to and during the actual presidency.
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