Ministers Complete Second Round of Presentations at EP

Brussels, 22 January

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.

Addressing the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Interior Minister Dragutin Mate explained that the new Schengen information system, SIS II, would probably be introduced gradually in order to secure an adequate level of data protection.
Mate highlighted the borders package, Slovenia's proposal to launch a debate on developing a true common policy in the field of legal migration, the transformation of Europol, the Pruem Treaty and the fight against terrorism as Slovenia's priorities.
He meanwhile also had to answer questions on what Slovenia was doing to solve the issue of the erased (people from the former Yugoslavia who were erased from Slovenia's permanent residence registry in 1992). Mate said that "a bill has been sent to parliament, which could close the issue".
Also appearing before the justice committee was Justice Minister, who said the Slovenian Presidency would continue to work on the project of a European Judicial Portal and presented a proposal for a framework decision on strengthening rights in cases when the decision against the accused is taken in absence and enhancing judicial cooperation to the Members of Parliament. The presidency shall also strive to strengthen the structures of Eurojust and the European judicial network to allow further cooperation in criminal matters.
Appearing before the Regional Development Committee, Regional Policy and Local Government Minister Ivan Zagar and Environment Minister Janez Podobnik pinpointed the future of cohesion policy, mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy and issues related to territorial aspects of cohesion policy as key topics of Slovenia's presidency.
The employment and social affairs minister hosted Labour, the Family and Social Affairs Minister Marjeta Cotman, who said Slovenia's agenda would be based on four main objectives: the Lisbon Strategy, a continuation of the European discussion on demographic challenges, the fight against poverty and social exclusion, and the provision of equal opportunity and prevention of discrimination against the disabled.
Cancer prevention and control was in the centre of the presentation given by Health Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovic to the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee. The minister also named antimicrobial resistance, reduction of alcohol-related harm and e-health as Slovenia's priorities.

Ministers Complete Second Round of Presentations at EP

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