By: Sara Kovač / Nova24TV
Prime Minister Janez Janša suggested to MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld that the European Parliament’s Democracy Monitoring Group hold talks with him and Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti on March 26th, following the EU summit. This Friday, their physical participation in Brussels is not logistically possible, the Prime Minister’s Office announced.
The Democracy, Rule of Law, and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG), led by a Dutch MEP from the Liberals, in ‘t Veld, will hold a discussion on the situation in Slovenia on Friday afternoon. The discussion will be virtual and public. It will run from 13:30 to 16:00. Janša and Simoniti were also invited to participate, however, they will not take part in the discussion.
In connection with the debate today, the Prime Minister’s Office first reminded that the Prime Minister and the Minister had already announced that they were happy to accept an invitation to such a conversation, but the exchange of views should be organised in physical form on the premises of the European Parliament, the meeting should be public, and sufficient time should be allowed for all topics to be discussed to be fully presented.
In a further dialogue with the MEP, the Prime Minister suggested that a conversation be held with him and the Minister of Culture on March 26th, following the Brussels European Council, as the physical participation of the Prime Minister and the Minister is not logistically possible in Brussels this Friday, mainly because the invitation to the discussion was sent last minute, they explained from Janša’s cabinet.
The Prime Minister proposes that an in-depth and comprehensive discussion be held on March 26th on the situation in Slovenia in connection with democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights. At the same time, his cabinet emphasises once again that the Prime Minister is happy to accept an invitation to a public exchange of views on the situation in Slovenia within the European institutions, as he has been striving for such a public exchange of views for the last decade.
According to the European Parliament, Friday’s debate will be attended by European Commission representative Emmanuel Crabit, ombudsman of human rights Peter Svetina, CNVOS director Goran Forbici, DNS president Petra Lesjak Tušek, probably by ZNP president Matevž Tomšič, investigative journalist Lenart J. Kučić, and FDV professor Marko Milosavljević.