SLOVENIA: GoS APPROVES POTOCNIK'S EU COMMISSIONER

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000726

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: N/A


TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EU SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: GoS APPROVES POTOCNIK'S EU COMMISSIONER
NOMINATION
REF: A. LJUBLJANA 90


B. (03) LJUBLJANA 1251

Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly.


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On 29 July, the GoS approved Janez
Potocnik's nomination to serve as Slovenia's Commissioner
in the EU. Potocnik has had great experience within the
EU, having served as Slovenia's top accession negotiator
and interim Commissioner. He is independent and can be
considered a friend of the USG. END SUMMARY.

POTOCNIK'S APPOINTMENT APPROVED
--------------

2. (U) On 29 July, the GoS approved Janez Potocnik's
nomination to serve as Slovenia's Commissioner in the EU.
Since Parliament recently approved Potocnik as Interim
Commissioner for the period of Slovenia's 01 May accession
until 01 November, GoS stated that there would be no need
for another confirmation vote.

POTOCNIK'S PRIORITIES AND INDEPENDENCE
--------------


3. (U) When speaking to the press after the GoS nominated
him, Potocnik stated he would do his work on the Commission
in an "open, consistent, and independent way." He
elaborated by saying that although coming from Slovenia
"will undoubtedly affect my thoughts and actions ... I will
be responsible for broader European interests, which will
have advantage over national or regional ones." He did not
state what Commissioner slot he wanted, although the GoS
has stated its desire for either the Enlargement, Regional
Development, or Budget posts. Potocnik stated for the
press that his biggest objectives would be to ensure the
success of EU enlargement and to bring the Commission and
its work "closer to its citizens."

OPPOSITION AGAINST POTOCNIK
--------------


4. (U) The opposition parties in the National Assembly
approved of Potocnik when he was put forward as interim
Commissioner after EU accession. During the European
Parliamentary election campaign in June, however, Potocnik
appeared at a rally for the governing coalition Liberal
Democrats (LDS). Although Potocnik has publicly stated
that he is not a member of LDS and will remain strongly
independent, the opposition Social Democrats (SDS) has
challenged his nomination this time around. SDS' main
criticism is that LDS has been making long term
appointments while ignoring the traditional Slovenian
method of consensus building for important decisions, and
Potocnik's appointment is the highest profile example. SDS
Party leader Janez Jansa stated that making such
appointments are "an assault on taxpayers" that could top
100 million SIT (approx 500,000 USD) if those appointed are
removed from office. [NOTE: If someone is removed from an
appointed post, he is still entitled to the full salary
until he gets a new job with comparable pay. END NOTE.]
The opposition Slovenian People's Party (SLS) has echoed
SDS' criticisms, while the opposition National Party (SNS),
an extreme right wing party, has taken its criticism of
Potocnik in a different direction. SNS has criticized
Potocnik's public support of Croatia's accession to the EU.

POTOCNIK'S BIOGRAPHY
--------------


5. (SBU) Janez Potocnik, born in 1958, headed the
Slovenian Negotiation Team for Accession from 1998 until
accession, and directed the Government Office for European
Affairs for six months in 2000. In January 2002, he was
appointed Minister without Portfolio for European Affairs,
a post he relinquished upon becoming Slovenia's EU
Commissioner after the 01 May accession. Potocnik's
background is in economics, an area in which he holds a PhD
from the University of Ljubljana. He was a member of the
task force charged with bringing Slovenian economic and
agricultural policies in line with EU norms, and also
headed the Institute of Macroeconomic Development of the
Republic of Slovenia from 1994 until 2001. Potocnik
participated in the Voluntary Visitor Program in January
2004, and was very enthusiastic about the program (ref: A
and B).

COMMENT
--------------


6. (SBU) The fact that no opposition parties objected to
Potocnik's nomination earlier this year as interim
Commissioner lends credence to the idea that current
objections can be attributed to electioneering ahead of the
03 October national elections. SDS seems to be using
Potocnik's single appearance at an LDS rally as a ploy to
get into the news and to highlight its differences with
LDS. Potocnik is one of the main targets of SDS, but they
have also criticized LDS for making other long-term
appointments without first finding consensus. Post
believes that SNS and SLS are also using Potocnik's
appointment to highlight their differences with LDS.
Despite opposition statements to the contrary, Post
believes that Potocnik remains stoutly independent, and his
comments to the press have strengthened this view.


7. (SBU) Potocnik does not have a voting record on Trans-
Atlantic relations, but from our meetings and dealings with
him, Post characterizes him as a pragmatist and a genuine
friend of the US. He supports Turkey's accession to the
EU, and he is someone we could call up and ask for help
from within the EU context. Post believes that US
interlocutors will find him articulate, rational,
intelligent and friendly. END COMMENT.

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