LJUBLJANA, May 12 (Hina) - Slovenia's parliament on Wednesday approved documents defining the country's European priorities until the end of the year, after it joined the European Union on May 1.
LJUBLJANA, May 12 (Hina) - Slovenia's parliament on Wednesday approved
documents defining the country's European priorities until the end of
the year, after it joined the European Union on May 1.#L#
Forty-nine of the 56 attending deputies voted in favour of the
documents, which include support for the further expansion of the
European Union to the Western Balkans. None was against.
The documents, drafted by the government, called for the
implementation of the Lisbon strategy of EU economic development, the
adoption of the EU constitution as soon as possible, the best possible
financial prospects for the newly-admitted members and the raising of
funds to ensure the continuation of the enlargement process.
Prime Minister Anton Rop said that the stabilisation of and European
prospects for the Balkans was in Slovenia's national interests and
that the new Schengen border must not hamper cooperation with Croatia
but open new possibilities for that country.
Parliament adopted a declaration supporting the start of the EU's
negotiations with Croatia and Macedonia as soon as possible. Several
members of the ruling coalition pointed out that Croatia's integration
with the EU was in Slovene interests because of maintaining economic
relations and called for more funds from the EU to secure the Schengen
border and for the Agency for the Management of EU External Borders to
be based in Slovenia.
Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said that after joining the EU and
NATO, Slovenia would pursue its foreign policy "within the framework
of the EU and its common foreign and security policy".
"Our special priority will be regulating some outstanding issues with
Croatia. We will try to work towards stabilisation of Southeast
Europe, the Mediterranean and the countries that have become new
neighbours of the European Union. We will support the Europeanisation
of the Western Balkans and help those countries get closer to the EU
as soon as possible," Rupel said.
(Hina) vm