President Borut Pahor and Chancellor Angela Merkel focus on economic cooperation

As a part of his working visit to Berlin, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, met with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, with whom he discussed the advancement of the strategic partnership signed in 2011 by the Republic of Slovenia and the Federal Republic of Germany, and the economic cooperation between the countries.

Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the meeting by congratulating the president on having won the election and stressing the excellent relations between the countries. She was particularly interested in the situation in Slovenia and President Pahor's view of the state of affairs. She welcomed the resolution of the issues between Slovenia and Croatia, and both agreed that the countries should be united in their struggle for the future of the European Union.

The president said that Slovenia wishes to develop the partnership at political, economic and other levels, outlined the key priorities of the new Slovenian government, and stressed its determination to overcome the economic and financial crisis. He underlined the intention of Slovenia to continue and advance its successful economic partnership with Germany, which is Slovenia's most important foreign trading partner; their volume of trade amounted to EUR 8.49 billion in 2012, which is one per cent less than in 2011. The exports of Slovenia to Germany amounted to EUR 4.45 billion, while imports from Germany amounted to EUR 4.04 billion. The president took the opportunity to renew his invitation to German investors to Slovenia. Chancellor Merkel stressed that the government needs a strategy to address foreign investors while also pointing out administrative obstacles.

President Pahor and Chancellor Merkel also touched upon current European issues concerning the future of the European Union, the strengthening of the economic and monetary union, the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans, and recent international issues.


Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA