NEWS

Prime Minister’s press conference

At today’s press conference, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, presented the key resolutions and decisions adopted at the 20th regular Government session.  The Prime Minister opened the press conference by emphasising that the crisis group of ministers has decided to shorten the time limit for drafting the material intended to facilitate the design of the third package of measures for combating the financial and economic crisis. Mr Pahor said that in order to find a way out of this crisis, Slovenia requires both short-and long-term measures. Only this approach will enable our country to emerge from this crisis stronger than we were when it emerged.

 

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

Prime Minister Pahor reiterated the significance of the development dialogue and social partnership. He announced that next week the first conference of the so-called Development Dialogue would be held. There, the participants will discuss all topical economic and social issues potentially providing a basis for new development dialogue. As part of this conference, the public will for the first time be informed of the measures which the Government considers necessary in overcoming the crisis. "The purpose of the development conference is to assess the Government's action taken to date and to give our partners in the development dialogue the opportunity to comment on our plans for the future."

 

Mr Pahor also outlined the Government resolution to allocate half a million euros each to the Red Cross and Caritas for purchasing food packages. 

 

With regard to resolving outstanding issues between Slovenia and Croatia, Mr Pahor said that quiet diplomacy needed time to produce the best results. He stressed that, via the European Commission, Slovenia was making every effort to formulate, by means of appropriate amendments, elements of mediation that would remove any reservations that allowed Slovenia to refuse to assent to the opening and closing of negotiation chapters with Croatia on its path to EU membership. "Slovenia is showing a great deal of sincerity and commitment to reaching an appropriate agreement on solving the outstanding issues between the two countries," said Mr Pahor, pointing out that it was for this reason that the proposal of European Commissioner Olli Rehn continued to remain relevant.

 

At today’s session the Government also adopted the proposed law amending the Scholarship Act. The proposed law provides for an increase in the number of state scholarships for students coming from socially weaker groups, scholarships to meet the needs of the economy and encourage professions providing long-term employability, harmonisation of the scholarship system with the system of social transfers and greater transparency of the entire scholarship system. The proposed law is also aimed at remedying existing shortcomings. This will considerably increase the effectiveness of the implementation of the scholarship system.

 

At today's Government session an interministerial coordinating group was appointed to review the public procurement system and draft proposals for measures and amendments to legislation with the aim of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the public procurement system.