President Pahor on addressing the refugee crisis in Erfurt: "Time is essential."

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, is concluding a meeting with the presidents of ten European countries in Erfurt in the German federal state of Thuringia. As part of the meeting, the presidents focused today on the issues related to the strategies of individual countries for combating youth unemployment, integrating migrants and setting up a common European education environment.


Photo: Steffen Kugler

The presidents today again devoted a great deal of attention to the refugee crisis. In his statement to the media, Slovenian President Pahor stressed tomorrow's extraordinary summit of the European Union devoted to the refugee crisis, and called on the leaders to reach an agreement about the joint European policy, which had not been done at the June summit. According to the President of Slovenia, the present crisis directly affects all people, both migrants and the citizens of Slovenia and the European Union. "If the economic crisis concerned mostly banks and money, this one concerns people directly," stressed President Pahor, adding that time is now of the essence.

"The migrant wave is rising, not receding, and the least we must do is to take steps towards the joint European policy," added President Pahor, who is aware that the presidents and prime ministers are facing a difficult task tomorrow. He mentioned that he had been very critical towards the June summit, "since I believed that the policy of quotas was the right decision, although insufficient."

"I believe that time is of essential importance as the pressure on borders, especially external borders of the European Union, is tremendous. On the one hand we expect the humane treatment of people; on the other we expect the respect of obligations. Slovenia faces a dilemma that is not easy and that requires daily adaptation to the situation in a humane, reasonable and prudent manner. On the other hand, time flies and we are aware that this pressure cannot be withstood without a joint European policy. Whatever this policy is, it must be uniform: otherwise the burden of decision will be borne by individual countries, which is neither a sign of solidarity nor a sign of prudence. I believe the situation requires a joint position and Slovenia will certainly work hard towards its adoption," pointed out President Pahor in his press release.

In the afternoon, President Pahor had a long and exhaustive meeting with the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.