CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER ON GOOD OUTLOOKS FOR SLOVENIA

Ljubljana, 25 June 2001




Slovenia is one of the prime if not the first among the candidates for EU accession, said Chancellor Schroeder today in his talks with the President of the Republic, Milan Kucan. Concerning NATO, which has adopted an in-principle decision favouring further enlargement, I see no obstacles to Slovenia's membership. Slovenia therefore has a good outlook for the upcoming ten years, added Chancellor Schroeder, who was guest at National Day celebrations on occasion of the 10th anniversary of Slovenia's independence.

In talks with President Kucan, most attention focused on integration processes in the European Union and certain topical issues in relation to EU enalrgement, such as regional development and structural funds, free movement of labour and agricultural policy. President Kucan reiterated his position that no issue should stop the process of enlarging the area of peace, stability and prosperity in Europe, favouring transitional periods in those fields that may pose too significant an obstacle. In their deliberations on the future of the EU, the collocutors also touched upon the issue of relations with Russia and the SE European crisis area.