The president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Jean Lemierre concluded a two-day visit to Slovenia on Friday. Following meetings with Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk and Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, Lemierre expressed a wish for close cooperation and offered the EBRD's support during Slovenia's upcoming EU presidency.
According to a press release from the Finance Ministry, Bajuk told Lemierre on Thursday that the Western Balkans - one of the focus areas of the EBRD - was also among the priorities of Slovenia's presidency.
"In case Slovenia establishes that some additional financial initiative in the EU framework be included among the existing Slovenian priorities, the country will be glad to consult the EBRD," Bajuk said.
Bajuk and Lemierre focused on Slovenia's presidency priorities in the field of financial services and the securing of financial stability and control.
The EBRD president said the bank would continue to support Slovenia in processes involving the state's withdrawal from the economy and financially back projects in fields where the EBRD can use its experience and know-how to add value.
Rupel meanwhile expressed support for the new EBRD strategy on expanding activities in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe. He also said that Slovenia would continue to make donations to the Western Balkans Multi-Donor Fund the EBRD established with Slovenia's support in 2006. Rupel moreover said that Slovenia had donated EUR 9m in investment aid to the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe in 2006. The country's investment in the Western Balkans amounted to EUR 2.25bn and created around 18,400 jobs, according to a press release from the Foreign Ministry.
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