NEWS

Prime Minister Pahor at the European Council: The Slovenian Exit Strategy within the framework of the EU 2020 Strategy

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today attended an informal meeting of the European Council in Brussels. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the economic situation in the EU and the design of a new strategy for economic growth and jobs until 2020. "The 2020 Strategy is of great importance for Slovenia, as we intend to enhance economic growth, eliminate unemployment and invest in advanced technologies, particularly green technologies. The exit strategy adopted by the Slovenian Government and to be discussed tomorrow by the National Assembly, already at this stage follows the parameters of the 2020 Strategy", said Prime Minister Pahor at the close of the meeting.

    

(Photo: Thierry Monasse/STA)

  

According to Mr Pahor, Slovenia, through its exit strategy, has adopted the right measures at the right time, although some of them may prove "painful".  "We have all the possibilities to efficiently respond to the situation. This year will be a turning point and I am prepared to stake everything that is required on success." "What we need is an ambitious way forward in order to see Slovenia in 2020 among the most developed Member States," emphasised Prime Minister Pahor after the informal meeting, the first one convened by the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy.

  

At the meeting, the EU leaders also adopted a statement addressing the difficult economic and financial situation in Greece. Among other things, they emphasized in the statement the requirement that all Member States carry forward a sustainable national policy in compliance with the applicable rules. The EU leaders gave support to Greece's efforts in tackling the situation, these efforts including additional measures that could reduce the budget deficit by 4% this year. Moreover, the euro-zone countries committed themselves to a determined and harmonised action to maintain the financial stability of the Eurozone, should this step prove necessary.

   

On the margins of the informal meeting, the Slovenian Prime Minister held several brief bilateral meetings, including the talks with the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.