open Democracy News Analysis - Slovenia at Europe’s helm, John Palmer - Comments

Zoran55 on "Slovenia at Europe’s helm"

Zoran55 — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:15:37 +0000

Just to be fair, whether Slovenia is Balkan or not, is not a geografic fact but rather a geopolitical value judgement. I was told long ago in (Slovenian) school that Slovenia belonged to Balkan peninsula, in strictly geographic sense. Culturally, the picture is mixed, but Slovenia does belong to Central Europe, with long historical influence of Austro-HUngarian Empire. But listen to the music that kids listen to nowadays. :) Bonds to Balkan area cannot be deinied, even tho they might be ambivalent.

Flaneur on "Slovenia at Europe’s helm"

Flaneur — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:02:58 +0000

Slovenia is not Balkans, but Central Europe. Hungary was the first to ratify the Lisbon Treaty. More seriously, there is a real possibility that the Serbian minority in Kosovo will refuse all cooperation with the future independent state, create an exclave status in northern Kosovo and, in effect, operate as Kosovo's Kosovo.

Slovenia at Europe’s helm, John Palmer

John Palmer — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:30:40 +0000

On New Year's Day, 1 January 2008, the presidency of the European Union will pass for the first time ever to one of the so-called "new member-states" from central and eastern Europe - specifically from the Balkans. Slovenia takes over the running of the EU affairs until 30 June 2008 when the baton passes to France. The Slovenian presidency comes at a critical time in the affairs of the union, on the heels of the Lisbon agreement in December to sign the reform treaty, as the economic clouds gather across the globe and as Kosovo - and the Balkans regions generally - confronts the EU with some daunting challenges.

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