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Mit - UVK_Sinfo_2008_05_št.10 - Index

agriculture, to assure sustainability of EU biofuels policies, sufficient
competition in the food production and supply chain, to increase
productivity in agriculture, especially in developing countries and
the need to further analyse the factors that contribute to high
price increases. During the Presidency there was a progress in four
areas: coordination of economic policies, financial services, taxation
and international affairs. The Slovenian Presidency paid the most
attention to further integration of financial services markets. The
progress was made in implementing roadmaps: on responses to
current financial market developments, on improved supervision
within the financial system and on providing financial stability
and crisis management in the EU. Regarding the coordination
of economic policies I underline successful launch of the second
three-year cycle of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs and the
adoption of the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines for the period
2008-2010. The Slovenian Presidency had worked very hard to
make progress regarding the proposal for technical amendments
to the VAT directive, the proposal on VAT taxation of insurance and
financial services, and the proposal for a directive on the general
arrangement for excise duty.
LOvRO šTuRM /JuSTICE MINISTER /:
ENvIRONMENT dIRECTIvE
Among the achievements I
highlighte the adoption of the
directive on the protection
of the environment through
criminal law. This is a very
important issue and we are
glad that we can present this
important achievement to
MEPs today, as the European
Parliament and Slovenia are
very interested in the protection
of environment. The directive
defines as punishable offenses
certain kinds of pollution, such
as emissions of dangerous materials into air, water or soil, illegal
transport of waste and trade with endangered species. E-justice had
always been a priority of the EU presiding trio of Germany, Portugal
and Slovenia. Slovenia continued very intensively in the field, focusing
on organisation of video-conferences and establishment of a European
e-justice portal. An important step forward is the agreement on
maintenance obligations, which will simplify procedures and make
directly executable the enforcement of judgments by a court in
another EU member. The Presidency contributed in fight against
terrorism. A framework decision on the issue was improved and now
includes new offenses such as public incitement to commit terrorist
acts, and recruiting and training for terrorism.
MOJCA kuCLER dOLINAR / HIGHER
EduCATION, SCIENCE ANd TECHNOLOGY
MINISTER/: EIT SEAT AGREEMENT
PRESIdENCY ACHIEvEMENT
I must specially point to the agreement on the seat of the European
Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). In the view of Slovenia's
bid to host the seat of the Galileo satellite navigation system, the
commitment of all Member States that new members will be given
preference in hosting seats of new agencies is very important. I can
easily say that we have achieved everything and, in some areas,
even more than initially planned. The confirmation of the Fuel
Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative and the Eurostars
15
WHAtmakestHEnews
programme aimed at small
and medium companies that
supports high-risk projects
in the area of research and
development as achievements
of the Slovenian Presidency.
The Slovenian Presidency
has contributed through
the launch of the Ljubljana
Process, which represents
a commitment of the EU
Member States for further
development of the ERA.
Other steps leading to a fully
implemented ERA included family-friendly employment possibilities,
cooperation among regions, the integration of public and private
funding for research infrastructure, and the introduction of the
≈fifth freedom« (related to the movement of researchers). Within
one of the priorities - integration of the Western Balkans in the
ERA - the Presidency hosted a meeting of the Steering Platform on
Research for the Western Balkan Countries and made efforts for
the platform's meetings to be consistent. Since the modernisation
of R&D infrastructure is a priority for all countries of the Western
Balkans and also a prerequisite for their integration in joint research
programmes, Slovenia has launched a donation project in this
area,« she added.
TOMAÆ JERšI» /STATE SECRETARY AT
THE MINISTRY FOR ECONOMY/: ENERGY
MARkET LIBERALISATION ACHIEvEMENT
OF PRESIdENCY
Regarding Slovenia's EU
Presidency, I would like
to emphasise the ≈broad
agreement regarding the
most important elements of
the third energy package«.
The EU members confirmed
that besides decoupling
and independent system
operator options, there is also
a possibility of establishing
an independent transfer
operator. This agreement
opens the doors to a better,
more efficient and more competitive market, which is important
for users. This is a major step forward in making transfer operators
independent from other, market functions in the energy sector,
which will most certainly improve energy supply. Regarding the
importance of the decoupling agreement for a possible entry of
the Russian energy giant Gazprom in the EU market, I must say that
≈those who will come or who are already here must play according
to the common rules«. The Slovenian Presidency also pushed
ahead with the climate-energy package, with an emphasis on the
directive on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy
sources. ≈The spring EU summit confirmed the ambitiousness of
the package and called for a quick response from the EU members
and institutions.« The Slovenian Presidency is especially satisfied
that small and medium companies were given one of the main
roles within the next cycle of the Lisbon Strategy, because such
companies were one of the priorities of the Presidency.
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