Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04LJUBLJANA646
2004-07-09 13:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:  

SLOVENIA: NEW CENTER FOR EU INTEGRATION ANNOUNCED

Tags:  PREL PGOV EU SI 
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UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000646 

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR DAS HEATHER CONLEY AND EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: NEW CENTER FOR EU INTEGRATION ANNOUNCED


Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000646

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR DAS HEATHER CONLEY AND EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: NEW CENTER FOR EU INTEGRATION ANNOUNCED


Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.


1. (U) SUMMARY: On 08 July, GOS announced its intention to
create a new center to assist EU aspirants, in particular
Western Balkan hopefuls. Although it is still in the early
stages of development, the European Commission and the World
Bank have already expressed an interest in the project. END
SUMMARY.

A NEW CENTER FOR EU INTEGRATION IS ANNOUNCED
-------------- -


2. (U) On 08 July, the GOS announced its plans to create a
new center to assist EU aspirants, in particular countries
of the Western Balkans. Minister without Portfolio for
European Affairs Milan Cvikl stated that Slovenia wants to
help the countries of SE Europe by sharing "knowledge,
experience, and practical advice." Cvikl's Government
Office of European Affairs (SVEZ) has been commissioned to
provide 5 million SIT (approx. 25,000 USD) as start-up
capital and to draft a budget proposal for 2005. After SVEZ
drafts the Act of Establishment, presumably in July or early
August, the GOS plans to hold an international ministerial
conference on 17 September to examine the needs of the
beneficiaries and the willingness of donors to provide
funding. Cvikl has already discussed the initiative with
his counterparts from SE Europe and the EU, and he plans to
present it to the Ambassadors of EU states in Slovenia.


RATIONALE FOR THE CENTER
--------------


3. (U) According to GoS statements to the press, the center
will have several key objectives: to serve as an
intermediary for the transfer of experience and practical
advice among member states and EU aspirants; to offer
assistance by seeking synergies with programs that the EU
already offers; and potentially to identify the needs for
other forms of assistance not currently available. Since
the center is still in the planning phases, the specifics on
how these goals will be accomplished have yet to be hammered
out. However, Slovenia does plan to bring representatives
from other EU countries and from international organizations
into the project.

SLOVENIA'S CENTRAL ROLE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS
-------------- -


4. (U) Cvikl told the press that it is perfectly
understandable that such a center be set up in Slovenia, as
"we have our own experience with EU integration, we adjusted
the legal system, conducted internal reforms and
transitions, and obtained experience that potential
candidates must gain." In addition, Cvikl asserted that
Slovenia knows and understands the region better than any
other EU member, as it shares a common history with the
Western Balkans. "Everyone sees Slovenia as a bridge to the
countries of SE Europe, which can contribute to make the
prospects of EU entry a reality for these countries in the
medium term," Cvikl told the press.


THE CENTER'S FUNDING
--------------


5. (SBU) The GoS stated for the press that the
international community had met the idea for the
establishment of the center with interest. Therefore, the
GoS hopes that the center will be funded with donations made
by other EU members as well as relevant international
institutions. Cvikl's Chief of Staff Zivana Mejac told FSN
Econ Specialist that the EU Commission, specifically the
Directorate of Enlargement, and the World Bank have already
expressed interest in the project. The budget has yet to be
determined.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Post believes the creation of the center
was most likely the work of the former Minister without
Portfolio and new Slovenian EU Commissioner Janez Potocnik,
who may have aspirations to replace current EU Commissioner
for Enlargement Gunther Verheugen. Slovenia has a strong
interest in the region because of its proximity, and because
it is the largest investor in the region. After failures in
the region, the Balkan question is a delicate one for the
EU. The EU most likely sees Slovenia as an intermediary for
working on issues in the region, while Slovenia would likely
view this new center as a mechanism for increasing the
country's weight in Brussels and for making stronger
economic and political inroads in the Balkans. While the
new center is ostensibly conceptualized to assist any EU

aspirant countries, in reality it will most likely be geared
toward the former Yugoslav republics. END COMMENT

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