WEBVTT

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Good afternoon, everyone.
I would like to thank PM Golob

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to give me an opportunity to see with
my own eyes the situation on the ground.

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I'm here to reaffirm the EU solidarity.

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I'm impressed by the courage
of the Slovenian people

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and by the focus and determination
of the Slovenian authorities

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and your leadership, Mr. Golob.

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It is extremely clear that Slovenia
is facing a complex situation.

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We are thinking what we can do
to be operational and concrete.

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We know that the EC made
a very important promise.

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We will mobilise €400 million
as a starting point.

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You can count on the council
and member state.

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Many EU members and partners,
including Ukraine

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decided to provide tangible support,

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but it's not enough.
One thing is clear.

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We are not forgetting
the Slovenian people.

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We are today with you, PM,
and all the Slovenian people,

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but we will be here tomorrow
as well. We will not forget.

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We know it's also important to rebuild
and invest in the country

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and also to be better prepared.
We know that in the future,

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not only in Slovenia,
we will face more natural disasters.

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We need to be better prepared
and also have money

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which is available in case of need
so that we can act quickly.

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Again, prime minister, I'm impressed by
the Slovenian people and your leadership.

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You have many friends
all across Europe.

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You can count on us today,
but not only today,

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also in the future,
because it will take time

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and we are and will be
by your side.

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Thank you, Charles Michel,
President of the European Council.

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Let's hear the statement
of Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob.

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After the natural disaster hit Slovenia
we started receiving support,

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first messages of compassion, then
concrete help from around the Europe.

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Not only from the EU,
but also beyond.

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When the President of the EC visited,
a promise was given,

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that the EU will not forget
about Slovenia.

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Three weeks later, as president Michel
is here, we can see, this was true.

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Europe has not forgotten us.

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The words speak for themselves.

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Europe and the EU
stand by our side.

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They will help Slovenia
act quickly

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after such disasters
and to rebuild

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Slovenia to be even better than before.

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This message is very important, because
we'll need all the help we can get.

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We're standing at a place where
a new bridge will be built.

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It will be built with the help
of international friends and partners.

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This bridge and many more
like it is the best proof

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on building with the help
of our partners.

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But the help doesn't stop here.

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Today, teams from the EC
and our government are working

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on applications and different projects
for Slovenia to effectively receive

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funds from the Solidarity fund.

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We're preparing an application
for repayable funds

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from the Recovery and resilience plan.

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I hope this will be enough

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for Slovenia to get back
on its feet.

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At the same time, we'll
have to find all financial sources.

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We're counting on solidarity
as many times before.

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Those who have more,
whether individuals or industries,

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banking or insurance,
those contribute more

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to those in need.

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We're witnessing Europe's help.

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I believe we'll continue
on the path of solidarity

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and that we'll help
each other until needed

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using all means possible.

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Thank you, Prime Minister.
We have time for two questions.

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A journalist from POP TV
goes first.

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I have a question for you,
Prime Minister.

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400 million euros will be provided
from the Solidarity Fund.

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It seems that this aid
was offered at a time

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when damage assessments in Slovenia
were still a little early

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and the damage will be greater
than we first expected.

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Could this be an opportunity for
Europe to contribute a little more

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and to ask the leaders at Bled
tomorrow for a higher amount?

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The President of the EC
said during her visit

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that there are multiple sources,
which Slovenia will try to combine.

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The President and I
talked about

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the reimbursable funds
from the Solidarity Fund.

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We assess that inflows to this Fund
need to be increased.

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The Solidarity Fund
is a very appropriate tool,

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but it was quite malnourished
in the past.

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If we convince the other
Member States to increase funding

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I believe that Slovenia
could expect more.

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As it stands, this is an
unrealistic promise to make

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because the Solidarity Fund
is very limited.

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The Cohesion funds

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and the reimbursable
Recovery and Resilience funds

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stand a little better
than those of the Solidarity Fund.

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Would you like to add anything,
Mr. Michel?

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Maybe one word.
"Solidarity" is not an empty word.

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I fully share
what was said by PM Golob.

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In the weeks to come we will have,
on the EU side,

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to decide on the MFF review,
the review of the European budget.

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I share the opinion
that in the future

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we will need
more money for solidarity

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in case we face such a crisis
and such a natural disaster.

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I am also absolutely
confident and convinced

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that together with the Slovenian
authorities we will identify

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all the possible financial tools
that we can mobilise

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to support rebuilding
and reconstruction.

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We know it will require
a lot of money.

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We need to be serious
and determined

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and show that "solidarity"
is not an empty word in Europe.

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Thank you.
We have one more question

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by a reporter
from Radio Slovenija.

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Rajka Pervanje.

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You are planning
to have dinner

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with the leaders
of the Western Balkans tonight.

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I would like to ask you both

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what your message to those
leaders will be. Thank you.

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You are right,
tonight we will have dinner

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with PM Golob and some leaders
from the Western Balkans.

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The enlargement process
is extremely important

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and I am convinced that there is
a new window of opportunity.

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We will have the occasion
to envisage our views

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and identify how we will cooperate
and coordinate in the coming weeks,

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taking into account the
decision-making process in the EU

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and the fact that in October

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the EC will have to issue a report
on the enlargement process.

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In December, the leaders,
the 27 heads of States,

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will have to make some strategic
decisions on the future of the EU,

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including in the field
of the enlargement process.

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I would like to add
that there has been

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a significant breakthrough
last year, a new dynamic.

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Not only due to the wish to help
Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia accede,

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but mainly
due to the Western Balkans,

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which were in a sort of vacuum
for the past 20 years.

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Things did not really
move toward accession.

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Things have significantly
accelerated in the past 12 months.

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Today the entire European Union
is facing a dilemma

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around how to set, or even change
the accession process,

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so it may help overcome
current challenges.

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Tonight's informal dinner,

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which will be attended by all
Prime Ministers from the region

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except for the Serbian
Prime Minister,

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is intended precisely
for having an informal conversation

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about the opportunity that is being
offered to their countries,

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so, why they need to increase their
efforts to harmonize legislation,

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so that in December, when the Council
will be making decisions on this,

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we can take a step forward

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that perhaps also simplifies
the process somewhat.

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The process is currently
very technical and administrative,

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but it does not always provide
the quickest results.

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We want to accelerate it

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and that is the message we wish
to convey to the leaders.

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Together, each of us can help
accelerate the process,

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they domestically,
by changing legislation,

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while we, the EU Member States,
can adapt our rules

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in order to better recognise
their efforts.

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Thank you, that concludes
this public statement.

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Thank you for your attention,
have a nice day.