Slovenia News 29 January 2008

Brdo castle played host on 25 January to the first meeting ever between UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Prime Minister Janez Jansa. The discussion between Ban Ki-moon and his host Janez Jansa mainly focused on the common priorities shared by the United Nations and the European Union. According to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, the European Union is an important part of this organisation since it contributes almost 40 percent to the capacity of United Nations peacekeeping operations, while also providing contributions to a number of other common priorities, such as climate change, intercultural dialogue and the challenges in the Western Balkan region. In this issue we also write about the results of the first Informal Ministerial Meeting hosted by the Slovenian Presidency. Between 24 and 26 January EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers met at Brdo pri Kranju congress centre, discussing some of the new challenges the European Union is going to face in the area of freedom, security and justice. Prime Minister Jansa today responded to statements made by the president of the Social Democrats, Borut Pahor, who said that his party would vote against regional legislation in Parliament and that a referendum on this issue should be called. In the Prime Minister's view, the opposition's proposal for a consultative referendum, which is non-binding, would be both misleading and a waste of money. Mr Jansa took this opportunity to point out that the opposition had never been clear as to which of the proposed 14 regions should be given up. More » Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel met in Brussels on Wednesday Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, who said that the date when the province would proclaim its independence from Serbia would be announced soon More » The European Union today offered Serbia an interim agreement to accelerate Serbia’s drawing closer to the Union. This conclusion of the General Affairs and External Relations Council was communicated by Slovenian Foreign Minister and GAERC President Dimitrij Rupel, who in this regard emphasised that this agreement proves the Union’s unity on Serbia’s European future. More » At a press conference during the afternoon break, GAERC President Rupel said that this time the Council's primary focus is on the Middle East. "The Council is deeply concerned about the latest events in Gaza and on the border with Egypt as well as the growing violence in Gaza and southern Israel," said the GAERC President. More » The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Jansa, met at Brdo pri Kranju with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon, who payed a two-day visit to Slovenia at the Prime Minister's invitation. After the meeting concluded, Mr Jansa observed that it was indeed taking place at an appropriate time and expressed his conviction that the meeting would contribute to a more effective and timely response to common challenges in the future. More » Slovenian ministers continued presenting Slovenia's EU presidency priorities at the European Parliament, appearing on Tuesday before the Committee on Regional Development, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. More » The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Janez Jansa, today commented on some of the most topical European and domestic issues. On this occasion the PM pointed to the legislative package on energy and climate change presented the day before by the European Commission. More » Defence Minister Karl Erjavec told the parliamentary defence committee on Wednesday that the Slovenian Army would send 15 soldiers and one commissioned officer to the EU-led mission in Chad. More » A survey has found Slovenia well ahead of the rest of Eastern Europe in terms of purchasing power. According to the RegioData survey from Austria, an average Slovenian's purchasing power now stands at 80% of that of Austria's average. More » First services in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) project are available as of Monday in the 27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and nine territories under administration of EU countries, in what is seen as the first step towards a more efficient and transparent payments in the EU. More » EU justice ministers expressed support on Saturday for a framework decision on strengthening rights in cases of trial in absentia that sets down clarified rules in court cases in which a defendant is sentenced even if they have not attended the proceedings. More » Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak met in Ljubljana on Friday German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries to discuss intellectual property, in particular the future unified EU patent system, and said after the meeting that Slovenia wanted to make headway in that area during its EU presidency. More » EU justice ministers were unable to reach agreement on Saturday on a new regulation that would allow transnational EU couples to choose where to divorce but end "forum shopping", an increasingly common practice couples seek the most favourable settlement in different member states. More » Progress in e-justice topped the agenda of an informal meeting of EU justice ministers at Brdo pri Kranju on Friday, most notably an e-justice portal, which would be used by the member states to exchange justice information. More » EU home ministers expressed general support for plans to establish an EU-wide system of collection of data on airline passengers, Slovenian Interior Minister Dragutin Mate has told the press. More » Prime Minister Janez Jansa paid tribute to the Holocaust victims on Sunday by saying that the tragic events from the past should serve as a lesson and reminder to be passed on to future generations. More » Slovenia's best skier of the season Andrej Jerman bagged bronze on Saturday at the downhill event in France's Chamonix in what was the first podium finish of the season for him and the entire Slovene alpine skiing team. More » The Prime Minister today visited the University Medical Centre Ljubljana (UMC), together with the Minister of Health, Mrs Zofija Mazej-Kukovic, and the Director-General of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, Mr Samo Fakin. The Prime Minister was given a tour of the Intensive Care Unit, and subsequently held a meeting with the UMC management at which he was informed about the achievements, but also some problems, of the University Medical Centre. More » Slovenian Interior Minister Dragutin Mate dismissed fears Thursday about security in the expanded Schengen borderless zone, going into an informal meeting with his EU counterparts confident that the new Schengen members were able to provide security for the block. More » Calendar of Events for 29 January - 3 February More »

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