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The two leaders signed a memorandum on strengthening cooperation in the space field, discussed current foreign policy issues and advocated the preservation of the Schengen area.
Luxembourg is the second largest investor in the Slovenian economy. Prime Minister Golob is therefore convinced that in terms of space activities and technologies, where Luxembourg is considered a pioneer, we can shape the European success story together.
Referring to the flash floods that hit Slovenia in early August, Mr Golob highlighted the importance of reliable communication in emergency situations where space age technologies can play an important role. “This is one of the niche markets where space technology provides major solutions to address future emergencies. This is why we look forward to working together on space activities and believe that together , we can offer more to the whole world, not just to our countries and our citizens,” he said.
The Prime Minister also stressed that he and his Luxembourg counterpart work very well together in the European Council, as they share similar values and views on the EU’s challenges.
They also discussed the EU enlargement process towards the Western Balkans. According to Mr. Golob, the enlargement process has only been a technical issue for twenty years, but Russian aggression against Ukraine has changed the vision of the rapprochement process. “The process is becoming more and more a geopolitical issue and no longer a technical issue. And I think the Western Balkans is a region that should be treated in the same way,” Golob said, reiterating Slovenia’s position according to which the Western Balkan countries should be treated the same or in the same way as Ukraine and Moldova in the EU enlargement process. In addition to technical terms, geopolitical realities must also be taken into account. “We do not want the Western Balkans to suddenly become hostages of some foreign powers simply because of a lack of attention on the part of the Commission,” he added. The Prime Ministers of Slovenia and Luxembourg were united in their support for equal treatment of all countries applying for EU membership.
As a sign of their support for one of the EU’s greatest achievements, the two leaders visited the Schengen Area, where the Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985. Only a fully functioning Schengen Area, without internal border controls, can bring significant benefits both to citizens and to the European Union as a whole. economy. The two Prime Ministers therefore agreed on the need for Member States to act responsibly at the Schengen external borders.
The Prime Minister’s official visit to Luxembourg also took place in the presence of a strong delegation of companies from the space, wood and tourism sectors, which participated in the business forum. At the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, the two Prime Ministers addressed business representatives from both countries. They welcomed the promising projects of business leaders and solemnly signed a memorandum of understanding on intergovernmental cooperation in the field of space activities. The objective of the memorandum is, among other things, to strengthen cooperation in space services such as Earth observation and satellite communications, as well as in space technologies, innovation and research, both at the entrepreneurial level than institutional.
In his speech at the Business Forum, the Slovenian Prime Minister recalled that values, similar to those shared by Slovenia and Luxembourg, facilitate mutual cooperation. “It all starts with small steps which, over the years, become big steps, like the creation of the Schengen area, without which today’s EU cannot be imagined.” He said that as a small country, one had to be open both politically and economically to succeed. Since Prime Minister Bettel’s last visit to Slovenia in February this year, the two countries have managed, in just over six months, not only to host a business forum for three different economic sectors, but also to establish a new air link between the two capitals. This will begin on September 14 and will be operated by Luxair.
In Luxembourg, Prime Minister Golob also met with the President of the Chamber of Deputies Fernand Etgen and the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Cooperation, Immigration and Asylum Yves Cruchten. The interlocutors confirmed the excellent relations between the two countries and discussed European prospects in the Western Balkans, the war in Ukraine and Slovenia’s upcoming accession to the United Nations Security Council.
He concluded his visit to the birthplace of Robert Schuman, where he met Slovenian judges and prosecutors working with European institutions. He reaffirmed Slovenia’s commitment to the rule of law, respect for human rights and an independent judiciary.
The Prime Minister was accompanied during his official visit by his companion Tina Gaber, who participated in a separate program with Gauthier Destenay, the husband of the Luxembourg Prime Minister. They visited the Möllerei building, originally built in 1910 to store ore and coke, as well as the University of Luxembourg library and the Biodiversum Camille Gira nature and forest center.
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