PORTUGUESE PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT KUCAN

Ljubljana, 7 June 2001




Internal institutional reforms, regional policy, free movement of labour and the EU's agricultural policy were the points of departure for a profound and open exchange of views on Euro-Atlantic integration processes between the President of the Republic, Milan Kucan, and his guest Antonio Guterres, the Prime Minister of Portugal. The collocutors agreed that the two countries have identical or very similar views and common interests regarding numerous issues. First and foremost they share the position that enlarging the European sphere, including the enlargement and strengthening of its system of values ensuring development, security and stability for all, facilitates the resolution of pragmatic issues brought about by life. The collocutors pointed out that candidate countries must also get involved in the debate on the future of Europe, particularly smaller European countries, whose voice must also be heard in Europe. The President and the Prime Minister also discussed the situation in Macedonia and in the Balkans in general from the aspect of the necessity to open a European perspective for those countries

President Kucan thanked his guest for supporting Slovenia's accession to the EU and NATO, particularly underlining that delaying the admission of new members would slow down the implementation of reforms in candidate countries and this strengthen old and establish new divisions in Europe.