NEWS

Slovenian Prime Minister on the occasion of the visit to Podravje: "Despite budget cuts due to the revised national budget the Podravje region received state aid"

The Government has concluded its visit to Podravje.  At the press conference at the Maribor Regional Museum, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Alenka Bratušek, emphasised that despite the budget cuts the Podravje region was allocated state aid, however, the responsibility for the development will also have to be borne by the local communities.

 

The Prime Minister highlighted that the Government has earmarked EUR 66 million to Maribor and its broader region, which is a relatively high amount.  She added that this is not only financial assistance to the city of Maribor itself but also to the region as a whole, and clearly pointed out that in particular the local communities will need to contribute to proper use of these funds and will therefore also bear part of the responsibility in this respect.

 

Further on, the Prime Minister explained that the Government invested a great deal of effort to successfully prepare the revised budget since every ministry had to cut its resources.    "Within this we also had to find resources for Maribor, " said the Prime Minister and assured that the Government did its best in the given circumstances.

 

At the press conference, the individual measures were presented in more detail by the Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Stanko Stepišnik, the Minister of the Interior and Public Administration, Gregor Virant, and the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Anja Kopač Mrak.  Minister Stepišnik focused in particular on measures aimed at boosting economic growth, Minister Virant presented some of the most important measures to eliminate excessive bureaucracy, while Minister Kopač Mrak explained the measures that have been and will be taken to integrate young people into the labour market.  

 

As part of the visit, the Prime Minister also attended the ceremony to mark the Slovenian Statehood Day held at the Slovenian National Theatre in Maribor. In her address, she said that "during state celebrations commemorating the Statehood Day much talking is being done from the podium, but little is being said, however at the given historic moment, Slovenia  deserves real action instead of great words".  The Prime Minister added that we can be independent and sovereign only by undertaking real independent and sovereign action – and this must remain our core idea in tackling the economic and social crisis.  "We are tackling the crisis purely and simply because of ourselves, for our common future and our descendants; the memory of the days of Slovenia’s struggle for independence can and must be the motif for our joint efforts", stressed the Prime Minister at the close of her address.