The year 2004 brought many new things: Facebook was founded, Ukraine won the European Song Contest for the first time and the EU expanded with ten new states. Including little Slovenia.
In Brdo near Ljubljana, where the “Carinthia-Slovenia Joint Committee” meets on Wednesday, four heads of state met on Monday to celebrate Slovenia’s twenty-year accession to the EU.
The conversations between Nataša Pirc Musar (Slovenia), Zoran Milanović (Croatia), Sergio Mattarella (Italy), Tamás Sulyok (Hungary) and Alexander Van der Bellen were basically positive, although different opinions were expressed: “The five of us represent the EU with all its contradictions, that was already clear. For me it was interesting to hear that there are differences in Hungary and Croatia compared to Italy, Slovenia and Austria.”
Differences between EU Member States
What this means in concrete terms is that opinions differ on certain EU positions. “Should the EU develop more into a certain state, yes or no? I believe that if we want to formulate a common foreign policy, it must be done quickly!” There needs to be less talk and more action, according to Van der Bellen.
The same applies to a common defense policy: “It is not our fault that there is war on our borders – but we must take note of it and draw the consequences.” The Federal President criticizes the European Commission for not caring about “the central questions, but – given the foreign policy situation – minor issues.”
Power vacuum in the Western Balkans
The 27 member states of the EU must do their homework, the current form of long-term decision-making is not sustainable: “I now see an urgent need for action for the 27 members, let alone for the more than 30 members.”
An impatient Van der Bellen also says this about the Western Balkans: “If the EU does not take care of the countries of the Western Balkans, a power vacuum will arise there. And it is not in the EU’s interest to create such a vacuum at its borders; every vacuum will be filled! It would be smarter if we gave it some steam.”
There is a consensus between him and the Austrian government “regarding enlargement in the Western Balkans”. He is critical of the admission requirements: “I have the feeling that the requirements set today go much further than what Austria had to meet in the early 1990s. This is not good. We have to step up our game.” Austria benefited from EU enlargement in 2004 – in the form of “130,000 additional workers”.
Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar is grateful for the visit from abroad: “The currency of the EU is the euro, but the real currency is cohesion.” This became apparent last year when parts of Slovenia were destroyed by heavy storms: “Exactly today, the presidents of the countries that were the first to help us are present. They helped build real bridges – but also friendly bridges.”
The minorities with which Slovenia is connected to many other EU member states are also important bridge builders, Pirc Musar emphasizes towards Carinthia.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
