"Trieste, 20th December - Italy and Slovenia are about to write another page in their history, following Ljubljana's entry to the European Union and the single currency. From midnight tonight frontier barriers will disappear, and from tomorrow onwards all passes will be free to traffic, without even the need to display an identity card. Ceremonies are already underway today to mark the entry of Slovenia into the Schengen area. They are to culminate with Saturday's most high-profile celebration, which is to take place in Rabuiese, in the presence of the President of the European Commission, Manuel Jose' Barroso and of Italy's Interior Minister Giuliano Amato."
Source: AGI News On
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Croatia May Back Down on Fishing Zone
"Croatia is likely to ease a planned enforcement of a protected fishing zone in the Adriatic in January, which has angered neighbours and worried the European Commission, President Stjepan Mesic said on Tuesday.
'We want to join the European Union and it is difficult to imagine that the (zone) will be enforced in its current form,' Mesic, who visited Brussels last week, told state radio.
Croatia, which hopes to become an EU member around 2010, is due to apply the zone, which covers roughly 56,000 square km, from Jan. 1 to preserve fish stocks and limit pollution. The plan is opposed by EU members Italy and Slovenia.
'I expect a compromise, a temporary solution until we join the EU. It is now important that experts agree on how to protect the Adriatic and regulate fishing quotas,' Mesic said."
Source: Javno
'We want to join the European Union and it is difficult to imagine that the (zone) will be enforced in its current form,' Mesic, who visited Brussels last week, told state radio.
Croatia, which hopes to become an EU member around 2010, is due to apply the zone, which covers roughly 56,000 square km, from Jan. 1 to preserve fish stocks and limit pollution. The plan is opposed by EU members Italy and Slovenia.
'I expect a compromise, a temporary solution until we join the EU. It is now important that experts agree on how to protect the Adriatic and regulate fishing quotas,' Mesic said."
Source: Javno
Slovenia denies plan for Kosovo independence
"Janez Janša has refuted the International Herald Tribune’s claims regarding a plan for Kosovo independence.
The Tribune yesterday writes that Slovenia has prepared a plan for Kosovo independence to be implemented in the first two months of 2008, and within 48 hours of Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany recognizing the province’s independence.
Afterwards, the United States and other countries would recognize Kosovo’s independence, adding that the plan involves a “carefully prepared declaration of independence from Priština, some time after the Serbian elections in early February,“ the Herald Tribune writes, quoting “high European Union officials“ as sources.
The daily says that Slovenia will present the plan in January on assuming the EU presidency, though after the EU meeting in Lisbon, Slovenian Prime Minister Janša dismissed the claims while talking to reporters."
Source: B92
The Tribune yesterday writes that Slovenia has prepared a plan for Kosovo independence to be implemented in the first two months of 2008, and within 48 hours of Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany recognizing the province’s independence.
Afterwards, the United States and other countries would recognize Kosovo’s independence, adding that the plan involves a “carefully prepared declaration of independence from Priština, some time after the Serbian elections in early February,“ the Herald Tribune writes, quoting “high European Union officials“ as sources.
The daily says that Slovenia will present the plan in January on assuming the EU presidency, though after the EU meeting in Lisbon, Slovenian Prime Minister Janša dismissed the claims while talking to reporters."
Source: B92
Monday, November 26, 2007
Slovene inflation spike a warning to euro hopefuls
"An inflation spike following Slovenia's adoption of the euro has exposed weaknesses in the economy and fiscal policy and is a warning to eurozone aspirants to ensure deep reforms are in place before accession.
Although it is the richest of East Europe's ex-communist states, Slovenia, which joined the single currency in January this year, has a history of struggling with inflation, both when it was part of communist Yugoslavia and since independence in 1991.
In October the headline rate jumped to 5.1 percent, nearly double the average eurozone rate and up from 1.6 percent in the same month of last year. While consumer prices have been rising across the continent, analysts said the larger jump in Slovenia shows how the economy is struggling to cope with the competitive pressures that accompanied joining the euro zone."
Source: Reuters
Although it is the richest of East Europe's ex-communist states, Slovenia, which joined the single currency in January this year, has a history of struggling with inflation, both when it was part of communist Yugoslavia and since independence in 1991.
In October the headline rate jumped to 5.1 percent, nearly double the average eurozone rate and up from 1.6 percent in the same month of last year. While consumer prices have been rising across the continent, analysts said the larger jump in Slovenia shows how the economy is struggling to cope with the competitive pressures that accompanied joining the euro zone."
Source: Reuters
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Slovenian customs to strike over border changes
"Slovenian custom agents on the border with Croatia will strike at midnight Sunday in a dispute over working conditions once the country joins the open-border Schengen trade area, reports said.
The open-ended action, which will see agents take longer over their work so as to slow down the passage of vehicles across the border, comes four weeks before Slovenia joins the European Union's Schengen visa regime on December 21.
Slovenia's border with Croatia will become the border of the Schengen area, and the customs agents union is demanding talks with the government on the subsequent reorganisation of their work, higher salaries and more benefits."
Source: EUbusiness.com
The open-ended action, which will see agents take longer over their work so as to slow down the passage of vehicles across the border, comes four weeks before Slovenia joins the European Union's Schengen visa regime on December 21.
Slovenia's border with Croatia will become the border of the Schengen area, and the customs agents union is demanding talks with the government on the subsequent reorganisation of their work, higher salaries and more benefits."
Source: EUbusiness.com
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Slovenia promises support for Turkey's EU membership bid
"Visiting Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa on Wednesday pledged his country's support for Turkey's bid for the European Union (EU) membership.
Jansa made the statement at a joint press conference following his talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital.
Slovenia, which is to take the rotating EU presidency in 2008, extends full support to enlargement of EU, and the EU reform agreement to be signed in December is very important within that scope, Jansa said.
Jansa stated that the recent Progress Report of EU on Turkey was objective, and they believe Turkey will rapidly fulfill adjustment efforts.
Jansa also recalled that Turkey and Slovenia are allies in NATO, while thanking Turkey for its support to Slovenia's NATO and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) memberships."
Source: Xinhua
Jansa made the statement at a joint press conference following his talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital.
Slovenia, which is to take the rotating EU presidency in 2008, extends full support to enlargement of EU, and the EU reform agreement to be signed in December is very important within that scope, Jansa said.
Jansa stated that the recent Progress Report of EU on Turkey was objective, and they believe Turkey will rapidly fulfill adjustment efforts.
Jansa also recalled that Turkey and Slovenia are allies in NATO, while thanking Turkey for its support to Slovenia's NATO and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) memberships."
Source: Xinhua
Slovenian government crisis averted
"Slovenia's centre-right government under Prime Minister Janez Jansa won a parliamentary vote of confidence by 51 votes to 33 on Monday.
Jansa proposed the vote of confidence because he saw Slovenia's unity under threat in the run-up to the country's EU presidency, which begins on 1 January 2008. "
Source: Courrier international
Jansa proposed the vote of confidence because he saw Slovenia's unity under threat in the run-up to the country's EU presidency, which begins on 1 January 2008. "
Source: Courrier international
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