WEBVTT

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Dear guests, hello and welcome.

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Prime Minister Robert Golob
welcomed the European Commissioner

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for the Internal Market
Thierry Breton at Zemono today.

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Also taking part in the meeting
are Defense Minister Marjan Šarec

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and Minister of the Economy,
Tourism, and Sports Matjaž Han.

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The topics discussed during
the working lunch included

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the defense industry,
the automotive industry,

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and the energy sector.

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I suggest that both of today's
speakers share the details with us.

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I first invite the host of today's
meeting, Prime Minister Golob,

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to take the stage.

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Hello to everyone and
to Commissioner Breton.

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Today was a good day
and we had very pleasant talks

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about Europe's
industrial future.

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Slovenia is the third industrially
most developed country in the EU.

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That's something we should
never forget.

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Because of all the changes
and crises, this industry is now

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undergoing a phase
of profound restructuring.

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We're seeing a rollback
of energy-intensive industry

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and the growth of new high-tech
companies.

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I believe this is the right time

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for Slovenia to utilize an ambitious
industrial policy and investment

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of EU funds, among others,
to take care of its future

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over a period of 10 to 15 years.
This is what we discussed today.

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We talked about how,
in part due to Russian aggression

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and the EU's need
for strengthened defense,

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considerable EU funds
are available

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for the establishment of a joint
European defense industry.

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We believe that the defense
expenditure, which will sadly

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increase, needs to be used
on European territory and to spur

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the European defense industry,
which will create jobs in Europe.

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We have no doubts about this,
and we share the opinion of many

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member states in this regard.

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It's true that the initiative
was first based on the need

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to provide ammunition
to Ukraine.

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But that's not what we discussed,
since Slovenia lacks the capacity

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to produce ammunition
of a sufficient caliber

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for Ukraine today.

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However, he have set up
very productive contacts

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in the field of high-tech
companies,

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primarily those working
on air defense, drones,

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and detection systems.

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Reconnaissance aircraft
and drones, if you will.

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Regarding this, we'll visit some
high-tech companies in the region,

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namely in Ajdovščina,
where we'll view their capacities.

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In this area, Slovenia
is one of the world's leading

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manufacturers of such
high-tech equipment.

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With continued investment
in this field,

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we can stay there and expand
our capacity.

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I believe that this is the only
appropriate way

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to increase defense expenditure,
by supporting high-tech companies

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in Slovenia.

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This is especially true because
most of these products

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and technologies can be used
in other sectors, such as farming

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and search-and-rescue.
It's precisely the dual use

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of such technology that provides
the greatest benefit.

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In addition, we also touched
on the automotive industry,

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which is Slovenia's most important
industry, with more than ten percent

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of the entire GDP.

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We introduced some plans
to the Commissioner

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and received support in principle
to integrate our automotive cluster,

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via cross-border projects,
with partners in Europe

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to ensure that the green transition
and the restructuring

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of the automotive industry
is supported through EU funds.

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Finally, we touched
on the energy sector,

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where we share the opinion
that nuclear energy

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is an integral part of the solution
in terms of the green transition,

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that we need to make bold steps
forward in nuclear energy,

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and that we need to classify it
as a zero-carbon source,

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while including it in various
EU funds,

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both those for research
and development,

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and those for the implementation
of nuclear technology.

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Only this way will Europe ensure
enough energy for its needs

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over the next 10 to 15 years.

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At the same time, we'll make best
use of Slovenia's existing know-how.

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I was very satisfied
with our talks,

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in part because they were
very constructive

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and fully coordinated.

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Our conversation wasn't like what
people imagine,

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that officials from Brussels
come down here

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to ask us when we're
going to do our homework,

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but we talked as equals about
how Slovenia and the Commission

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can jointly work on a better Europe.
And may things stay that way.

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Thank you to the Prime Minister.
I now ask today's guest,

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the European Commissioner
for the Internal Market

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Thierry Breton, to take the stage.

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I would like to thank
the Prime Minister

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for the warm welcome.

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Dear Robert, thank you very much
for your welcome

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and the one from
your government.

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Yes, indeed. We had a very
fruitful discussion,

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and I don't say this only because we
both come from the public sector.

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Maybe it's another reason why
we get along well together,

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but we share exactly
the same view

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on the importance
of industry.

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There's no way that in the future,
we'll be able to develop

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without industry.

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And of course, this is why
I wanted not only to speak

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about defense, but to speak
about industry,

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because we are here,
in one of our member states

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with the strongest legacy
of industry.

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And this is a very important
legacy for Slovenia

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but also for Europe.

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And we want to be able

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to develop together,
to use this know-how,

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this expertise,
with a lot of skills,

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but also SMEs, and of course,
because of the geography

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of Slovenia,
you also have a very strong

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habit that developed to be a part
of European supply chains,

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which is extremely important.
Being a part of EU supply chains

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is not something you start
from scratch. You also have

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the legacy, and we want to see
how we could leverage this,

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in all dimensions you mentioned:
defense, automotive, energy,

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and many other topics.

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So first, the one on defense,
because we all know

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that this war which has been
decided by Russia in Ukraine

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created a total change
on the geopolitical scene,

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of course for us in Europe,
but also for the world.

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And of course we've reacted,
but in this reaction,

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answering to the needs
of the Ukrainian government

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to defend itself, all our
member states have also decided

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to increase their defense spending
because everyone realized

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that it's extremely important
to be more self-sufficient,

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to be able to monitor our destiny.
And we know, unfortunately,

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that in the years to come,
we'll have to cope

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with a more and more
insecure environment.

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It's only because we'll do it
together that in solidarity,

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we'll be able to monitor
our future.

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This being said,
and we discussed this,

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our colleagues will move
at their own speed,

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at two percent of spending
of GDP,

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so everyone will increase
the spending on defense

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and the defense industry
in Europe.

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We decided that, of course,
it is a need but also,

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if I may say so, an opportunity
to develop our expertise

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and research capacities,
and I'm eager to see...

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Of course, we'll discuss a lot
of these capacities,

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especially in drones
later on today

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with some very good companies,
but also all the expertise,

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which will be extremely important,
and Slovenia definitely will have

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a very important role to play.

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And, of course, I think
the more advanced the technology

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will be, the better it will be,
because we need this advanced

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capacity, and I know we have,
thanks to the strength

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of your engineering schools,
the academia, ecosystems,

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a lot of things to offer
that we could leverage.

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So that's why we're eager
to increase our cooperation,

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to work together. We also have
a lot of tools, including financing,

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to support this development,
including the European Defense

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Fund, so we will discuss
how to benefit from it

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to increase the development,
the deployment of these

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new capacities for Slovenia,
but also for Europe.

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The second topic,
as you mentioned,

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is automotive.

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Slovenia has a long history
in the automotive industry.

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It has played a very important role
in the supply chain

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with a lot of expertise, know-how,
but also ecosystems.

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Of course, with the transition
we're coping with...

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By the way, it doesn't mean
that by 2035,

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we will not be able to buy
a thermal engine car.

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We will be able to buy
a thermal engine car,

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as long as it has zero CO2
emissions,

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so we need to see
how to adapt our base

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with electricity, but also other
technologies, other fuels,

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which could be "clean,"
or zero-CO2-balanced emissions.

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It means that we're ready
to start working here

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to prepare this base,
but as you said,

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you say the legacy, the know-how,
the expertise may enhance

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the deployment of some
green technologies.

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We call it "clean tech," and that's
also something we discussed.

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We see how we could
benefit from the funding

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and cross-border tools
to make sure

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that this will be an opportunity
of course for Slovenia,

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but also for Europe
and European companies.

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I don't want to be too long, but
energy is a very important topic.

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It's true that we reiterate,
the Prime Minister and myself too,

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that member states are
in control of their energy mix.

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A lot of member states have
decided that nuclear energy

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is a part of their energy mix.
Personally, I think it's a good

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things because it is
a zero-CO2 energy.

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And this is, of course,
why we believe

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that it's important...
By the way, we've made calculations,

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and we believe that to reach
our goal by 2050,

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we need at least by 2050,

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twenty percent or even more
of nuclear energy

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at the level of our continent,
the 27 member states,

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to make sure that we will...
Then, of course, progress,

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innovation is important, so we
discussed with the Prime Minister

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how we could engage
in more innovation,

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because of course, we believe
and I believe

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that in this area,
we need to continue to invest

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in research, for safer,
cleaner technology,

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for big reactors,
maybe also small reactors.

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We will see. We have a lot
of potential energy here,

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but it was enlightening to be able
to have a discussion with you

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because we are extremely aligned,
and I should say that

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while we're doing all this,
I've been France's Finance Minister,

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an engineer, but also
a Finance Minister,

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and as a Finance Minister,
I think it's extremely important

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to make sure that

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we could come back
as soon as possible

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into normality, below three percent
deficit, because at the end

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of the day, it's our children
who are paying the deficit,

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and I congratulate
the Prime Minister

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for his objective for next year.

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Not all member states
are following this,

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even if all have to follow this,
so I think it's important that

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even in this challenging time,
you continue to manage the country,

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while taking good care of finance
and spending. Thank you.

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Thank you to
the European Commissioner.

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We have time for two questions
from the media.

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The first question,
for the guest,

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comes from Slovenia's public
broadcaster.

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Hello. Edi Mavsar.

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Closer.

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Edi Mavsar.
TV Koper, TV Slovenia.

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We've heard that there
are additional funds

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about to be set aside
on the EU level

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for financial incentives.
How much will Slovenia receive

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from this source and what will
be the value of the entire budget

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of these incentives
on the European Commission level?

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And regarding the timeline,
in what period of time

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will these funds be distributed
or made available? Thank you.

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I'll let the Commissioner respond
about funds on the EU level.

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As for Slovenia, I believe
that what we're doing today

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doesn't amount to bidding
on specific tenders,

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but it's about creating
opportunities, in part

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by drafting the rules, areas,
and funds for tenders,

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as well as preparing our companies
and our industrial policy,

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so we can support the specific areas
that will also receive

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the most money
on the European level.

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We'd like to coordinate
Slovenian funds

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with European funds, so we can
give Slovenian industry

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a genuine opportunity.
That's our goal: coordinating

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our policies with EU policies,

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so when we have access to funds,
as is now the case

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in the defense industry,
we can be more successful

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than other countries.

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That's the main purpose
of meetings like this one.

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As for specific funds,
I believe Commissioner Breton

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is better qualified
to comment on them.

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Well, we are...

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First, we're still in the process
of giving member states...

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where they were supposed
to get through the RFF process,

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but today is an
important day,

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because you got the first
tranche of it,

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I think more than 50 mil.
So, of course,

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this is an unending process.

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By the way, a big part
of it will be used

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for the green transition
and another significant part,

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20 percent, for the digital
transition.

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So, that's important, and we're
still in the process

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to continue
in the following months.

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Now, regarding additional funding.

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We have two tracks. One is,
let's say, more general.

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The President of the Commission
Ursula von der Leyen

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announced that it will
be interesting to work

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under the Sovereignty Fund,
and we're in the process

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of seeing on the occasion
of the revision of MMF

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how it should be structured.
It's to early for me to give

00:18:08.511 --> 00:18:12.614
the envelope, but we're in
the process of discussing this now,

00:18:12.741 --> 00:18:16.680
any my colleague Johannes Hahn,
the Commissioner for Budget,

00:18:16.863 --> 00:18:22.451
will come to see you, of course,
to discuss these specific topics,

00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:26.048
and then it will be proposed
during the summertime...

00:18:26.169 --> 00:18:29.665
But we are now in this process.
It's too early for me

00:18:29.786 --> 00:18:34.294
to say, but we're working on this.
Then we have a very specific one,

00:18:34.464 --> 00:18:36.799
which is really for ammunition.

00:18:36.945 --> 00:18:44.904
That's very specific to make
sure that we could support

00:18:45.025 --> 00:18:51.050
any companies or countries
that would like to increase

00:18:51.202 --> 00:18:54.844
their own capacity for ammunition.
We need ammunition.

00:18:54.961 --> 00:18:59.057
We gave a lot of ammunition
to Ukraine over the past

00:18:59.191 --> 00:19:02.772
twelve months, so several member
states need to refill

00:19:02.918 --> 00:19:06.978
their own stocks, and it's important
to increase our capacity

00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:12.091
to do this, including to continue
to support Ukraine, of course.

00:19:12.238 --> 00:19:16.553
For this, we're working
on a dedicated act

00:19:16.687 --> 00:19:20.565
that will be presented within
the next two to three weeks,

00:19:20.697 --> 00:19:28.620
and which will allow a specific
funding packet

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:35.516
to sustain industry,
which would like to develop

00:19:35.637 --> 00:19:38.061
this very specific topic.

00:19:38.967 --> 00:19:42.621
Thank you. I now invite
the representative

00:19:42.785 --> 00:19:46.245
of the Slovenian Press Agency
to step to the mike.

00:19:48.477 --> 00:19:51.325
Rosana Rijavec,
Slovenian Press Agency.

00:19:51.446 --> 00:19:54.485
I have two questions for Mr. Golob,

00:19:54.643 --> 00:19:58.758
one about defense,
the other about industry.

00:19:58.868 --> 00:20:04.094
At today's meeting, the government
discussed Slovenia's accession

00:20:04.228 --> 00:20:07.326
to the joint ordering mechanism
for ammunition.

00:20:07.454 --> 00:20:11.000
Can you tell us when that
will officially take place,

00:20:11.121 --> 00:20:16.522
and how big an order
do you expect?

00:20:19.002 --> 00:20:23.444
That was yesterday... no, today.
I'm a bit mixed up myself.

00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:27.957
I apologize.
It was today.

00:20:28.109 --> 00:20:32.740
I don't want to go into details
because I feel this is information

00:20:32.892 --> 00:20:35.620
that's not in the broad public
interest.

00:20:35.778 --> 00:20:40.881
But it's a fact that Slovenia,
like all other EU members,

00:20:41.027 --> 00:20:46.529
joined the joint mechanism
for the supply of ammunition.

00:20:46.645 --> 00:20:50.535
This is how we'll demonstrate
solidarity within the EU,

00:20:50.669 --> 00:20:53.334
and I feel it's right to do so.

00:20:53.432 --> 00:20:56.906
I don't want to comment
on the details,

00:20:57.052 --> 00:21:00.331
and we didn't discuss that today.

00:21:00.471 --> 00:21:04.595
Our conversation was about
how to include Slovenian industry

00:21:04.716 --> 00:21:09.067
and Slovenian companies in future
defense expenditures.

00:21:09.778 --> 00:21:16.657
Have you discussed how successful
Slovenia is in its efforts

00:21:16.761 --> 00:21:22.112
to include nuclear technology
on the list of strategic tech?

00:21:22.736 --> 00:21:28.323
On this point, Slovenia is, along
with several other member states,

00:21:28.542 --> 00:21:35.298
a member of an alliance
calling for nuclear energy

00:21:35.438 --> 00:21:42.742
to be included in the act
on zero-emission industries

00:21:42.894 --> 00:21:46.731
among the technologies
that contribute to solving

00:21:46.883 --> 00:21:50.373
energy problems
and the green transition.

00:21:50.508 --> 00:21:53.144
We've been successful
to such an extent

00:21:53.290 --> 00:21:55.919
that nuclear energy
is now recognized.

00:21:56.040 --> 00:22:01.614
It's not yet equal in status
to some of the other renewables,

00:22:01.736 --> 00:22:05.784
but I believe we can still
get there.

00:22:05.914 --> 00:22:09.671
I believe only time will tell
how much potential there is

00:22:09.842 --> 00:22:14.386
in renewables, which are,
of course, the future of Europe,

00:22:14.507 --> 00:22:18.097
and how much of this energy
potential should be filled

00:22:18.218 --> 00:22:19.818
with nuclear energy.

00:22:19.952 --> 00:22:23.411
Slovenia has considerable
know-how, in terms of both

00:22:23.532 --> 00:22:26.986
production and research
institutions.

00:22:27.090 --> 00:22:30.060
That's why one of the topics
we tackled today

00:22:30.181 --> 00:22:33.680
goes beyond working together
with other countries

00:22:33.835 --> 00:22:36.877
and includes the construction
of new units,

00:22:37.017 --> 00:22:40.495
traditional ones,
like the one at Krško,

00:22:40.639 --> 00:22:46.045
as well as creating alliances for
the research of new technologies,

00:22:46.178 --> 00:22:48.854
small nuclear reactors in this case.

00:22:48.963 --> 00:22:52.805
I believe we have to move ahead
by following both paths,

00:22:52.933 --> 00:22:55.179
and that's what we're
going to do.

00:22:55.301 --> 00:22:58.845
Only time will tell which of those
two technologies

00:22:58.937 --> 00:23:04.056
has the greatest potential
within the EU to ensure

00:23:04.177 --> 00:23:08.460
clean and inexpensive energy
for the future.

00:23:10.851 --> 00:23:14.026
Thank you for your attention.
Have a nice...