NEWS
Prime Minister Pahor receives EU High Representative Catherine Ashton
Today at Brdo pri Kranju, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, received the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, who is starting her tour of the Western Balkans. They discussed the upcoming conference of Western Balkans leaders due to take place in Slovenia in March, and a number of issues regarding enlargement.
(Photo: Matej Leskovšek/STA)
Prime Minister Pahor and High Representative Ashton agreed that the process of enlargement of the Union was of great consequence for assuring stability and prosperity in the region. Ms Ashton presented her priorities, and the crucial criteria to ensure stability both in Europe and beyond. She also discussed with Mr Pahor the operation of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the need to enhance the role of EU representation in certain parts of the world. The creation of a strong external affairs service, capable of responding to 21st-century challenges, is among the three key priorities of her mandate, she said, adding that "in April, the document representing the legal basis for the work of the EEAS will be adopted, and I am confident that in the following years we will set up a service in which the best efforts of all Member States will be joined."
(Photo: Matej Leskovšek/STA)
Prime Minister Pahor presented the upcoming conference of Western Balkans leaders due to take place in Slovenia in March. Ms Ashton expressed her support to the idea of this conference, adding that she firmly believed that this would be a very positive sign in the context of the enlargement effort. At the press conference, Prime Minister Pahor said that the conference would be the first meeting of political leaders of this region in the past 18 years, and would be attended also by the presidents of Albania and Kosovo. He also announced that, in partnership with the Croatian Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor, the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the current president of the EU, the Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, he will propose to the conference the adoption of a Ljubljana Declaration, expressing support for the integration of the Western Balkans in European associations.
(Photo: Matej Leskovšek/STA)
According to Prime Minister Pahor, "the conference is the perfect occasion to search, through bilateral talks, for possible solutions to unresolved issues in this region," as it is imperative to strengthen stability and security during the process of integration in the EU, and to provide for the well-being of the population.