In briefing the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on the foreign affairs priorities of Slovenia’s EU presidency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar was confronted with a non-paper by members of the European Parliament on redefining the borders of the Western Balkans, the situation in North Macedonia and Albania, and the Prime Minister Janez Janša The most recent statement is about Iran and media freedom.
EPP MEP Michael Gahler talked about the issue of “two notorious non-documents” for redefining the borders of the Western Balkans. He specifically mentioned Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, and asked Logar if he could explain again that the Slovenian government is not the source of this matter and disagrees with the content of these unofficial documents.
Logar replied that the Council of the European Union maintained its clear commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European prospects as a single, unified and sovereign country.
S&D and Renew members of the European Parliament expressed concern about Jansha’s recent statement in support of an investigation into the 1988 Iranian massacre.
S&D MEP Isabel Santos asked Logar about Slovenia’s position in the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear agreement. The EU is determined to work hard to uphold the 2015 agreement, and Jansha’s statement has been criticized because critics believe it undermines these efforts.
Logar emphasized that Slovenia has not interfered in the internal affairs of other countries, but has always advocated human rights and fundamental freedoms. He pointed to the explanation on Monday by the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borel, saying that Jan Sha’s statement was made in the capacity of Slovenia’s prime minister.
Logar said that even if a country is in charge of the European Council, it may have its own foreign policy, and pointed out that Slovenia’s foreign policy is based on the promotion of human rights.
Update European Parliament Member Nathalie Loiseau also expressed confusion and concern in her speech about Minister of Defense Matej Tonin’s rejection of her invitation to participate in the meeting of the European Parliament’s Security and Defense Subcommittee. She believes that his argument that national defense is a national capability is an unusual and surprising position for the EU host country.
She also highlighted the upcoming inter-parliamentary meeting in Ljubljana, saying that it is difficult for EU representatives to ensure their participation. She said this is becoming a serious problem.
Non-affiliated European Parliament Member Marton Gyöngyösi and S&D European Parliament Member Thijs Reuten raised Slovenia’s media freedom, judicial independence and rule of law issues, saying that the deteriorating situation has weakened the credibility of Slovenia’s efforts in the Western Balkans. In this regard, Logar said that the recent rule of law report paints another picture of Slovenia.
Many questions from members of the European Parliament, including one from Milan Zver (EPP/SDS), a member of the European Parliament of Slovenia, related to the importance of ensuring progress in the Western Balkans, especially at the beginning of the cancellation of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania Time.
Logar said that after the Bulgarian election, the possibility of lifting Bulgaria’s veto over the negotiations is very small, but the first one should wait for the election result. He added that the President of Slovenia will do his best to find a solution.
