Brussels, 28/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 28 November at the European Policy Center (EPC) in Brussels, the Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the EU, Igor Sencar, presented the priorities of the Slovenian presidency of the EU for the first half of 2008. This will be the first time that one of the “new” member states that joined the EU will hold the presidency of the Union.
Western Balkans. External relations will be “the” Slovenian presidency's priority. It believes that, “the Balkans' place is in the Union”. Relations between these countries is currently set out by the Thessaloniki decisions of 2003 and the Salzburg decisions of 2006 but the Slovenian presidency wants to, if possible, bolster or add momentum to Serbia's European prospects, as well as those for Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania. How? Mr Sencar said this remains to be seen. He wants to wait the Commission's communication on the Balkans, expected for spring 2008. Balkans foreign ministers will then participate in the traditional information EU27 (“Gymnich”) meeting at the end of March in Slovenia. The presidency's objective is to have the Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA) signed with all the region's countries at the end of the first half of the year, including that with Serbia (which has already initialled the agreement but still needs to prove its full cooperation with the FYTY) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (which must first of all complete its police reform). Visa reform is also a way of “encouraging” Balkan countries: following conclusion of the visa facilitation agreements, “the next logical stage is to think about a possible” liberalisation of the visa system, explained Sencar. The question of the future status for Kosovo will also be occupying the Slovenian presidency, whatever developments in the dossier after 10 December. Sencar said that the priority had to be ensuring the “unity of the Union” on this crucial subject for its future. It will be necessary to find a “peaceful and lasting” solution for Kosovo, which also has to take into account Serbia's interests and the EU has to “help define a strategic partnership and stability factor in the Balkans”.
Lisbon Treaty. After the new EU amending treaty is signed on 13 December, it will need to be ratified by all member states in 2008. Mr Sencar said, “Slovenia wants to give a good example by proceeding to a swift ratification at the beginning of the year”. For the rest, a lot of work will await the Slovenian and French presidencies (second half of 2008) to prepare the practical implementation of the treaty in January 2009. The treaty has in fact introduced many institutional innovations but the treaty will still require more technical work and decisions will need to be applied such as setting up an EU diplomatic service (CESP/EPC/Egmont study EUROPE 9552). Out of all these questions (around forty, according to Sencar), the Slovenian presidency will initially seek a “horizontal view” that only “Heads”, namely the European Council can provide. Decisions will then need to be made, most of them undoubtedly under the French presidency, before the end of 2008.
Enlargement. Mr Sencar affirmed that, “the EU's borders should remain open” and stressed that the Slovenian presidency “strongly supports further enlargement”. Turkey and Croatia's accession processes will therefore continue with determination (some negotiation chapters with Croatia are expected to be completed under the Slovenian presidency but he did not mention Turkey) and accession partnerships with these two countries will be updated.
Lisbon strategy. The new cycle will be launched during the March European Council. Sencar asserted that “no radical change” in the strategy would be needed, what was important was focusing on innovation, research and knowledge and SME development. Energy and measures for fighting climate change will also be at the centre of the Lisbon strategy.
Energy/climate change. The Commission will present its legislative proposals in January (very probably the 23) for implementing the “energy-climate change” package on which a principled agreement was obtained during the European Council of March 2007. The “preferred scenario” for the Slovenian presidency would be to already reach an agreement on these proposals during the first reading at the European Parliament, “towards the end of 2008 or in the first few months of 2009 at the latest”, explained Sencar, who proposed close coordination on this dossier with the EP and French presidency. The two European Councils in the first half of 2008 (both in Brussels) will tackle the dossier. A rapid agreement on the package would put the EU in a “very strong position” with its international partners in the debate on “post-Kyoto”, particularly in view of the December 2009 conference in Copenhagen. The Slovenian presidency also wants to continue work on the liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets, “taking into account the national circumstances” existing in certain member states.
Inter-cultural dialogue. Given that 2008 is the European Year of Inter-cultural dialogue, the Slovenian presidency attaches great importance to it and there are several events and conferences planned. (H.B.)