On the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos met with the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), representatives of the GZS Board of Directors, and the GZS Strategic Council for Internationalization.
At the meeting, which was also attended by representatives of the Economic Circle (Gospodarski krog), the participants discussed various aspects of EU enlargement. They agreed that further EU enlargement represents important opportunities for the Slovenian economy to grow exports, invest, and create new partnerships. They also highlighted the expectation that the EU ensures the coordination of its policies and forms a clear framework for cooperation with the US, a balanced relationship with China and other Asian markets, and opportunities for cooperation in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
” I consider today’s meeting with European Commissioner Marta Kos to be very constructive. We are pleased that she accepted our invitation and discussed with us the EU enlargement and the opportunities it brings for the Slovenian economy. Slovenia is a small but innovative and export-oriented country, so EU enlargement is in our interest. For companies, it means new export opportunities, inclusion in infrastructure projects, investments and partnerships, ” said Tibor Šimonka, President of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, after the meeting.
According to him, the Slovenian economy wants to be ” a partner that brings concrete solutions, not just an observer. The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will therefore continue to support initiatives that promote transparency, legal certainty, and market openness, as we believe that Slovenia can serve as a bridge between EU companies and companies in the markets in the enlargement process.” He expressed his expectation that the EU will ensure the coordination of energy, environmental, industrial, and trade policies, thus enabling European companies to be competitive, instead of additional bureaucratic obstacles. “Our messages are clear: we need simplification of administrative procedures, faster implementation of EU policies, support for innovation and digitalization, and more active protection of companies from global risks,” he concluded.
European Commissioner Marta Kos emphasized that: ” The enlargement of the European Union is a strategic and business investment. With reforms and the gradual integration of our partners into the single market, a larger, more predictable and legally secure economic space from the Adriatic to the Black Sea is already being created. At the same time, the EU is actively investing in the Western Balkans and the reconstruction of Ukraine. Slovenian companies have a unique advantage in this due to their geographical proximity, knowledge of the language, and business culture. Today, I called on entrepreneurs to take advantage of the new momentum of enlargement and be among the first to start investing in the region and thus co-create a pan-European future.”
The meeting, which was held at the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was moderated by Dr. Žiga Vavpotič, President of the Strategic Council for Internationalization of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who said on this occasion: ” As President of the Strategic Council for Internationalization at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I emphasize that today’s meeting with Commissioner Marta Kos is a valuable opportunity to understand enlargement as an economic and not just a political project. I am pleased that we have also included representatives of the Economic Circle (Gospodarski krog) in the discussion, as it is the economy and, with it, companies that bear a key part of the challenges and opportunities in this area. Only by working together can Slovenia fully take advantage of the opportunities brought by the future enlargement of the EU. Slovenia can be proud to have such a Commissioner in this area. “
