Address of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, at the Session of the WDR Europa Forum

Ljubljana, 8.5.2008  |  speech

Address of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, at the Session of the WDR Europa Forum
Ljubljana, 8 May 2008
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Dear Dr Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament,
dear Mr Ali Babacan, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey,
dear Mrs Monika Piel, Director-General of WDR Europa Forum,
dear Dr Fritz Pleitgen, President of the European Broadcasting Union,
dear Michael Radix, chair of the WDR Europa Forum,
excellencies,
distinguished guests,
ladies and gentlemen.

It is my great pleasure to greet you today on behalf of the state of Slovenia. You gathered in Ljubljana, our capital, symbolising in several ways the topic of this forum “Europe’s New Start.”

Ljubljana used to be known as the venue of the Holy Alliance congress, which discussed the prevention of self-determination in Italy. In 1821, “Laibach” was the name symbolising conservativeness and preservation of the old order. A hundred and seventy years later, in 1991, Ljubljana and Slovenia became the symbol of the new era of the self-determination of nations. This new era changed the face of Europe. Today, in 2008, when Slovenia presides the European Union, it also hosts this important meeting about Europe’s new start. I hope that from this year onwards the names Ljubljana and Slovenia will be associated in the conscience of people with the vision of the future of Europe and role Europe´s in the world.

In my welcome address published in the Europa Forum booklet I wrote that the fundamental challenge of Europe is how to constitute itself as a global player in the globalised world of today. The European Union, which is the heart of today’s Europe, is no longer a mere group of countries wishing to be closely integrated, but a developed community from which the world expects a leading role. At the time of my work as an Assistant Secretary General of the UN for political affairs, UN frequently wondered whether the European Union would act as a global player and global leader with regard to a variety of major issues. We were pleased when it was so, for nowadays a great majority of countries sees the future of the world exactly in the integration and cooperation the European Union has already achieved in its circle. What is important now is that the idea of international community based on the compliance with legal rules and able to guarantee peace, well-being and the feeling of common future is implemented globally, too.

Of course, this may be achieved only if the world manages to resolve some fundamental issues, such as the reduction of the global warming effects, decisive strengthening of conditions for the realization of human rights and the intercultural dialogue enabled at the global level. From the perspective of a European Union Member State we cannot ignore the fact that much must be first done at home, in the European Union Member States. At the same time the European Union will have to get used to accepting the leading role in the global dimensions, as expected by the world.

You may say that this view is too ambitious, not to the liking of the major powers of our time. However, we must be aware that the EU is not an empire. Its DNA is typically democratic, oriented towards the cooperation and the sense of common good. Furthermore, the European Union is not and does not intend to become a military superpower although preparing for increasingly demanding tasks in peace operations under the auspices of the United Nations Organisation. This specific nature gives the European Union excellent opportunities for constructive role on the global scene. In addition, we should not underestimate the real power at the disposal of the European Union – economic, political and cultural. In the world where more and more depends on what we call “soft power”, the European Union has great potentials. The issue of the orientation of Europe is therefore also the issue of its utilisation of the potentials covered by the term “soft power”.

However, if the European Union wishes to be successful in the global sense, it must be able to mobilise firm political will. The new institutional arrangements introduced by the Lisbon Treaty will certainly contribute to this. But they will almost certainly not suffice. Already in the course of the Slovenian Presidency decisive progress must be made in working out the policy of protecting the planet from the effects of global warming, and an efficient negotiation strategy must be devised. Furthermore, a policy must be developed preventing the increased world poverty threatening due to food price rise in the global market. And the global millennium goals must be given a new impetus.

There are quite a few trials in the political field, too. The European Union will have to reach the final articulation of its policy towards the recognition of Kosovo and towards the Balkans in general. Furthermore, the European Union faces the task of determining a clearer political approach to the Middle East and the Palestine. These are only a few examples of political tasks of our time.

I mention the immediate tasks of the moment because they are here, because they cannot be avoided, and because the success of the European Union and the Slovenian Presidency depends on their implementation.

But I mention them also because it is the implementation of the immediate tasks that creates conditions for the exploitation of the full potentials of the European Union. The revised Lisbon Strategy opens important opportunities to establish a uniform intellectual and research area in Europe. The potential of this area is enormous. Two days ago, the awards to the authors of the best inventions in Europe in this year were given here in Ljubljana. The creative potentials in Europe seemed as impressive as ever. The creative urge typical of Europe is undiminished; however, its potential will be exploited only if Europe makes progress on the key fronts immediately.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

in no period of history has Europe indulged in treating time as its ally. Progress, forward movement has always been the motto of Europe. Forward movement has always been the cure for stagnation, too. Today, the situation is no different. Therefore it is right that the discussion about the Europe’s new start held here in Ljubljana thoroughly determines all key factors driving Europe forward and in the right direction.

I wish Europa Forum a lot of success, and a pleasant stay in Slovenia to all participants.