Good afternoon, everyone. I would like to thank PM Golob
to give me an opportunity to see with my own eyes the situation on the ground.
I'm here to reaffirm the EU solidarity.
I'm impressed by the courage of the Slovenian people
and by the focus and determination of the Slovenian authorities
and your leadership, Mr. Golob.
It is extremely clear that Slovenia is facing a complex situation.
We are thinking what we can do to be operational and concrete.
We know that the EC made a very important promise.
We will mobilise €400 million as a starting point.
You can count on the council and member state.
Many EU members and partners, including Ukraine
decided to provide tangible support,
but it's not enough. One thing is clear.
We are not forgetting the Slovenian people.
We are today with you, PM, and all the Slovenian people,
but we will be here tomorrow as well. We will not forget.
We know it's also important to rebuild and invest in the country
and also to be better prepared. We know that in the future,
not only in Slovenia, we will face more natural disasters.
We need to be better prepared and also have money
which is available in case of need so that we can act quickly.
Again, prime minister, I'm impressed by the Slovenian people and your leadership.
You have many friends all across Europe.
You can count on us today, but not only today,
also in the future, because it will take time
and we are and will be by your side.
Thank you, Charles Michel, President of the European Council.
Let's hear the statement of Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob.
After the natural disaster hit Slovenia we started receiving support,
first messages of compassion, then concrete help from around the Europe.
Not only from the EU, but also beyond.
When the President of the EC visited, a promise was given,
that the EU will not forget about Slovenia.
Three weeks later, as president Michel is here, we can see, this was true.
Europe has not forgotten us.
The words speak for themselves.
Europe and the EU stand by our side.
They will help Slovenia act quickly
after such disasters and to rebuild
Slovenia to be even better than before.
This message is very important, because we'll need all the help we can get.
We're standing at a place where a new bridge will be built.
It will be built with the help of international friends and partners.
This bridge and many more like it is the best proof
on building with the help of our partners.
But the help doesn't stop here.
Today, teams from the EC and our government are working
on applications and different projects for Slovenia to effectively receive
funds from the Solidarity fund.
We're preparing an application for repayable funds
from the Recovery and resilience plan.
I hope this will be enough
for Slovenia to get back on its feet.
At the same time, we'll have to find all financial sources.
We're counting on solidarity as many times before.
Those who have more, whether individuals or industries,
banking or insurance, those contribute more
to those in need.
We're witnessing Europe's help.
I believe we'll continue on the path of solidarity
and that we'll help each other until needed
using all means possible.
Thank you, Prime Minister. We have time for two questions.
A journalist from POP TV goes first.
I have a question for you, Prime Minister.
400 million euros will be provided from the Solidarity Fund.
It seems that this aid was offered at a time
when damage assessments in Slovenia were still a little early
and the damage will be greater than we first expected.
Could this be an opportunity for Europe to contribute a little more
and to ask the leaders at Bled tomorrow for a higher amount?
The President of the EC said during her visit
that there are multiple sources, which Slovenia will try to combine.
The President and I talked about
the reimbursable funds from the Solidarity Fund.
We assess that inflows to this Fund need to be increased.
The Solidarity Fund is a very appropriate tool,
but it was quite malnourished in the past.
If we convince the other Member States to increase funding
I believe that Slovenia could expect more.
As it stands, this is an unrealistic promise to make
because the Solidarity Fund is very limited.
The Cohesion funds
and the reimbursable Recovery and Resilience funds
stand a little better than those of the Solidarity Fund.
Would you like to add anything, Mr. Michel?
Maybe one word. "Solidarity" is not an empty word.
I fully share what was said by PM Golob.
In the weeks to come we will have, on the EU side,
to decide on the MFF review, the review of the European budget.
I share the opinion that in the future
we will need more money for solidarity
in case we face such a crisis and such a natural disaster.
I am also absolutely confident and convinced
that together with the Slovenian authorities we will identify
all the possible financial tools that we can mobilise
to support rebuilding and reconstruction.
We know it will require a lot of money.
We need to be serious and determined
and show that "solidarity" is not an empty word in Europe.
Thank you. We have one more question
by a reporter from Radio Slovenija.
Rajka Pervanje.
You are planning to have dinner
with the leaders of the Western Balkans tonight.
I would like to ask you both
what your message to those leaders will be. Thank you.
You are right, tonight we will have dinner
with PM Golob and some leaders from the Western Balkans.
The enlargement process is extremely important
and I am convinced that there is a new window of opportunity.
We will have the occasion to envisage our views
and identify how we will cooperate and coordinate in the coming weeks,
taking into account the decision-making process in the EU
and the fact that in October
the EC will have to issue a report on the enlargement process.
In December, the leaders, the 27 heads of States,
will have to make some strategic decisions on the future of the EU,
including in the field of the enlargement process.
I would like to add that there has been
a significant breakthrough last year, a new dynamic.
Not only due to the wish to help Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia accede,
but mainly due to the Western Balkans,
which were in a sort of vacuum for the past 20 years.
Things did not really move toward accession.
Things have significantly accelerated in the past 12 months.
Today the entire European Union is facing a dilemma
around how to set, or even change the accession process,
so it may help overcome current challenges.
Tonight's informal dinner,
which will be attended by all Prime Ministers from the region
except for the Serbian Prime Minister,
is intended precisely for having an informal conversation
about the opportunity that is being offered to their countries,
so, why they need to increase their efforts to harmonize legislation,
so that in December, when the Council will be making decisions on this,
we can take a step forward
that perhaps also simplifies the process somewhat.
The process is currently very technical and administrative,
but it does not always provide the quickest results.
We want to accelerate it
and that is the message we wish to convey to the leaders.
Together, each of us can help accelerate the process,
they domestically, by changing legislation,
while we, the EU Member States, can adapt our rules
in order to better recognise their efforts.
Thank you, that concludes this public statement.
Thank you for your attention, have a nice day.