NEWS
Prime Minister’s press conference
At today's 70th regular session, the Slovenian Government, among other things, took note of the answer to the interpellation motion filed against the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dr Milan Pogačnik, and gave support to the Minister's answer. The Government also adopted the proposed Integrity and Prevention of Corruption Act and the wording of the Act amending the Road Transport Safety Act. The Slovenian Prime Minister, Borut Pahor, and the responsible ministers first outlined the major resolutions, and Mr Pahor then answered a number of topical questions.
(Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA)
The Slovenian Government today adopted the proposed Integrity and Prevention of Corruption Act. The solutions contained in this Act exceed the classical understanding of corruption prevention, as they lay down a basic framework for a systemic regulation of prevention activities in addressing the phenomena in this area. The proposed Act provides for a contextual continuation of the work of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption established in 2004, however, in a new composition and covering certain other areas (the introduction of a register of lobbyists, automatic electronic communication of information to lobbyists regarding normative activities in areas, for which they expressed their interest upon registration).
Moreover, the Government adopted the wording of the Act amending the Road Transport Safety Act. The amended Act will eliminate the fragmentation of competences and responsibilities among several bodies, and as a consequence do away with a rigidly and ineffectively organised system. The basic objective of the amended Act is to establish a public agency for road transport safety. This will facilitate the integration of operations and tasks in this area, the organisation and implementation of new tasks related to an independent investigation of factors resulting in fatal traffic accidents, as well as an assessment of road infrastructure safety and research and analytical studies.
In his statement to the press, the Slovenian Prime Minister, Borut Pahor, first presented the so-called scoreboard and the timetable for the implementation of the Slovenian Exit Strategy 2010-2013. The presented timetable is based on the adopted Government's normative work programme for this year and the commitments undertaken within the Exit Strategy. Mr Pahor said that Slovenia has been chronically suffering from the so called implementation deficit. In order to force both, ourselves and all the responsible, into carrying out the relevant work faster and better, "we have decided to introduce a scoreboard displaying changes and an overview of the implementation to be monitored once a month". The table indicates individual exit strategy laws and at the same time represents "a scoreboard of decisions enabling us and the public at large to monitor the problems and achievements on the road towards the implementation of the set objectives", explained the Slovenian Prime Minister. The scoreboard is divided in three areas: business sector and knowledge for development, flexicurity and social cohesion, and development, transport and energy infrastructure. The scoreboard indicates progressive stages of individual laws, ranging from the drafting at the line ministries, to the adoption and implementation.
Mr Pahor further announced that after having taken note of the report drafted by the responsible working group, the Slovenian Government today adopted a decision to initiate procedures related to the sale of the Falcon EX 2000 aircraft, as in the current situation, the use of this aircraft does not seem economical. "To ensure economical use, Falcon would have to be airborne at least 400 hours per year, and this exceeds Slovenia's current requirements as regards the use of this type of aircraft", explained Mr Pahor.
The Slovenian Prime Minister reconfirmed the information that the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had signed a special decree providing the missing state contributions for institutions and activities of the Slovenian minority pursuant to Article 16 of the Act Protecting the Slovenian Minority in Italy. He emphasised that this had been a straight agreement reached by him and his Italian counterpart. Prime Minister Berlusconi signed the aforementioned decree, while Mr Pahor undertook "to shortly receive the representatives of the Italian minority in Slovenia".
At the close of the press conference, Prime Minister Pahor stressed that "the Slovenian Government is doing its utmost to resolve the current problems. Our key problems are connected with tackling the issue of the Slovenian corporate sector and the associated social security. It is fundamental to Slovenia to be among those countries that will be fastest and most successful in emerging from the economic crisis as victors. In my opinion there is a risk of a Europe driving in different gears. Therefore, it is quite important, into which gear Slovenia will shift. I hope that it will be among countries in the fastest gear," said Prime Minister Pahor.