The National Assembly asked President Borut Pahor for an opinion on the refugee crisis. Pahor first gave his opinion in writing, and afterwards he appeared in front of the MPs, which is a rare occurrence in the Parliament.

Pahor: A political agreement is called for
In his letter Pahor speaks of his awareness of the peculiarity and extent of the present circumstances, and in his opinion the Slovenian politics should agree on the measures to be taken, namely a national plan for transitional solution of the refugee crisis.

It should be a result of the common effort, and should get a wider political support. The national plan is required also due to the absence of a comprehensive European policy in this field, which Slovenia intends to pursue also in future.

Pahor also wrote that the main aim of the plan is the reestablishment of the normal order at the state borders. Slovenia must define an approximate upper limit of the number of refugees we can provide for adequately, and for a longer period of time, as it is necessary for increasing measures for controlling the border. He warned that a differentiation between asylum seekers and migrants should be considered when making the decision.

Pahor especially underlined the importance of cooperation with Austria and Croatia; especially with Croatia mutual trust should be strengthened if, and when Slovenia decides to escalate the measures for protection of the Schengen border.

B. T., Al. Ma.
Translated by G. K.