NEWS

Prime Minister Pahor Visits the Slovenian Railways Company

The Slovenian Prime Minister, Borut Pahor, accompanied by the Minister of Transport Patrick Vlačič, today visited the headquarters of the Slovenian Railways Company (SR), where he met with its management and representatives of trade unions.
 

(Foto: Tamino Petelinšek/STA)

 
As part of the visit, the management of SR set out for Mr Pahor the company's business and financial situation. All participants agreed that the SR is currently in poor condition, and that its further existence, and the development of railway activities, demand radical change.
 

(Foto: Tamino Petelinšek/STA)

 
Prime Minister Pahor emphasised that the SR's future depends greatly on modernisation of the infrastructure in association with a strategic partner, adding that "in order to make this project succeed, we need a clear vision which, however, requires professional justification, consent from social partners and a political valuation provided by the National Assembly." Mr Pahor announced that in the years to come, the rail sector would be given strategic and structural priority, following the support announced in the 2010 and 2011 draft budgets, which have earmarked about EUR 340 million for this purpose.
 

(Foto: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 
The open dialogue between participants in today's meeting at the SR was also intended to enhance mutual confidence among the individual bodies within the company and the key stakeholders who will participate in the modification process. Prime Minister argued that an active and open dialogue, and the resulting maintenance of confidence, are basic preconditions for successfully improving the current situation. All participants agreed that past mistakes are no longer an excuse for resisting change, but must, above all, constitute one of the platforms to be considered in planning SR's future action.