NEWS
Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek at the extraordinary session of the National Assembly: "Proposed measures give assurance that Slovenia will not be a risk factor in the tight international environment"
At today's extraordinary session of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Alenka Bratušek, informed the deputies about the report of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on the Stability Programme 2013 and the National Reform Programme 2013–2014. In her address to the deputies, Prime Minister Bratušek explained that before the end of May it is not possible to discuss whether our measures convinced Brussels as no assessment of the measures proposed has been given by the European Commission to date. With these words Prime Minister Bratušek dismissed the information and speculations about an unofficial assessment, which circulated in the public on Monday and alleged that the measures were insufficient. In her view, it is now essential that with the adoption of the two documents Slovenia has given a clear message to the domestic and international financial markets and to the domestic and international public: "We know what we are doing and we know it will be hard." She described the preparation of the two documents as a significant achievement of this Government since they were drafted in less than 50 days. "In this period, the Government also issued bonds and treasury bills, reached the agreement with the public sector trade unions, established a dialogue with protesters, started arrangements to rescue companies, and "fought the fire" which spread from Cyprus to Slovenia."
"Now Slovenia can assure the world that we will not be a risk factor in the tight international environment," Prime Minister Bratušek said and noted that no one can guarantee we would not feel the consequences of further escalation of the crisis and slowdown in economic growth in the EU and the euro area. She went on to explain that the national reform programme and the stability pact form a coordinated and consistent basis for the functioning of the Government; Prime Minister Bratušek ensured that these steps would lead to positive forecasts by the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development. "We obviously place our bet on the stable economic growth and sustainable structural fiscal balance. It is not one or the other, but both – sound finance and sturdy growth," stressed Prime Minister Bratušek. In the light of the structural imbalances such as the excessive debts held by companies and bank balance sheets burdened with bad loans, which adversely affect the economic activity, Prime Minister Bratušek believes that it is also necessary to stress on every occasion that Slovenia has healthy macroeconomic foundations, that the household sector debt is ranked among the lowest in the EU, and the general government debt is below the EU average: "Therefore the imbalances in our economy are manageable and can be eliminated with a suitable combination and timetable of measures." A revival of the economy and fiscal consolidation are two main priorities of the Government; to this end, it will prepare a set of measures to be implemented in Slovenia this and next year.
Concluding her address at the National Assembly, Prime Minister Bratušek said that now is not the time for "figures of speech or empty promises"; she gave her view of the responsibility of the Government and the whole political class saying that this responsibility consists of several simple commitments, namely: "to show through our own work and efforts how serious the situation is, to identify the best solutions regardless of their proposers, thus showing that we care for the common good, and to only engage in the measures and actions that have realistic potential to succeed. Feasible and realistic solutions – this is our way out of the crisis." Prime Minister Bratušek sees this as the only possible way towards a society of consensus, welfare, healthy environment and healthy human relations, even if we reach it in the remote 2020.