At the EESC's first plenary session in 2008, Minister Marjeta Cotman presented Slovenia's EU Council Presidency priorities in all areas, promising that “the Slovenian Presidency will make every effort to ensure that Europe takes a step forward; since our most important objective is to assure a positive feeling among people in the European Union.”
During her presentation at the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee, Ms Cotman underlined that “there are several areas in which the Slovenian Presidency will strive to ensure that Europe takes a step forward, since our most important objective is to assure a positive feeling among people in the European Union. We will endeavour to drive forward the development of policy within the European Union and to implement the main political priorities initiated by Germany and Portugal.”
In addition to the joint 18-month Presidency programme drawn up in coordination with the two preceding Presidency countries, Germany and Portugal, Slovenia also formulated its own Presidency programme consisting of a set of political priorities to be presented to the general public in Slovenia and throughout Europe.
Slovenia's EU Council Presidency priorities include in particular: the future of Europe, the Lisbon Strategy, energy and climate-change issues, the Western Balkans and intercultural dialogue.
One of the most important Slovenian priorities is the future of the European Union and its citizens. Indeed, the Slovenian Presidency's first priority is the successful ratification of the Lisbon Treaty since this represents a stepping stone for moving on to tackle other challenges. The new Treaty provides a solid basis for the European Union to be able to the cope with the new challenges it faces, which basically stem from globalisation. The Slovenian Presidency supports the efforts of the European Economic and Social Committee to bring the Treaty closer to the citizens.
In addition, Slovenia will give careful consideration to the issues of labour market adjustment, responses to demographic change, safeguarding equal opportunities and preventing discrimination against persons with disabilities.
