US embassy cable - 04LJUBLJANA726

UNCLAS  LJUBLJANA 000726 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, EU, SI 
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: GoS APPROVES POTOCNIK'S EU COMMISSIONER 
NOMINATION 
REF: A. LJUBLJANA 90 
 
B. (03) LJUBLJANA 1251 
 
Sensitive but Unclassified.  Please protect accordingly. 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  On 29 July, the GoS approved Janez 
Potocnik's nomination to serve as Slovenia's Commissioner 
in the EU.  Potocnik has had great experience within the 
EU, having served as Slovenia's top accession negotiator 
and interim Commissioner.  He is independent and can be 
considered a friend of the USG. END SUMMARY. 
 
POTOCNIK'S APPOINTMENT APPROVED 
-------------------------------- 
2.  (U) On 29 July, the GoS approved Janez Potocnik's 
nomination to serve as Slovenia's Commissioner in the EU. 
Since Parliament recently approved Potocnik as Interim 
Commissioner for the period of Slovenia's 01 May accession 
until 01 November, GoS stated that there would be no need 
for another confirmation vote. 
 
POTOCNIK'S PRIORITIES AND INDEPENDENCE 
--------------------------------------- 
 
3. (U) When speaking to the press after the GoS nominated 
him, Potocnik stated he would do his work on the Commission 
in an "open, consistent, and independent way."  He 
elaborated by saying that although coming from Slovenia 
"will undoubtedly affect my thoughts and actions ... I will 
be responsible for broader European interests, which will 
have advantage over national or regional ones."  He did not 
state what Commissioner slot he wanted, although the GoS 
has stated its desire for either the Enlargement, Regional 
Development, or Budget posts.  Potocnik stated for the 
press that his biggest objectives would be to ensure the 
success of EU enlargement and to bring the Commission and 
its work "closer to its citizens." 
 
OPPOSITION AGAINST POTOCNIK 
---------------------------- 
 
4.  (U) The opposition parties in the National Assembly 
approved of Potocnik when he was put forward as interim 
Commissioner after EU accession.  During the European 
Parliamentary election campaign in June, however, Potocnik 
appeared at a rally for the governing coalition Liberal 
Democrats (LDS).  Although Potocnik has publicly stated 
that he is not a member of LDS and will remain strongly 
independent, the opposition Social Democrats (SDS) has 
challenged his nomination this time around.  SDS' main 
criticism is that LDS has been making long term 
appointments while ignoring the traditional Slovenian 
method of consensus building for important decisions, and 
Potocnik's appointment is the highest profile example.  SDS 
Party leader Janez Jansa stated that making such 
appointments are "an assault on taxpayers" that could top 
100 million SIT (approx 500,000 USD) if those appointed are 
removed from office. [NOTE: If someone is removed from an 
appointed post, he is still entitled to the full salary 
until he gets a new job with comparable pay.  END NOTE.] 
The opposition Slovenian People's Party (SLS) has echoed 
SDS' criticisms, while the opposition National Party (SNS), 
an extreme right wing party, has taken its criticism of 
Potocnik in a different direction.  SNS has criticized 
Potocnik's public support of Croatia's accession to the EU. 
 
POTOCNIK'S BIOGRAPHY 
--------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) Janez Potocnik, born in 1958, headed the 
Slovenian Negotiation Team for Accession from 1998 until 
accession, and directed the Government Office for European 
Affairs for six months in 2000.  In January 2002, he was 
appointed Minister without Portfolio for European Affairs, 
a post he relinquished upon becoming Slovenia's EU 
Commissioner after the 01 May accession.  Potocnik's 
background is in economics, an area in which he holds a PhD 
from the University of Ljubljana.  He was a member of the 
task force charged with bringing Slovenian economic and 
agricultural policies in line with EU norms, and also 
headed the Institute of Macroeconomic Development of the 
Republic of Slovenia from 1994 until 2001.  Potocnik 
participated in the Voluntary Visitor Program in January 
2004, and was very enthusiastic about the program (ref: A 
and B). 
 
COMMENT 
-------- 
 
6.  (SBU) The fact that no opposition parties objected to 
Potocnik's nomination earlier this year as interim 
Commissioner lends credence to the idea that current 
objections can be attributed to electioneering ahead of the 
03 October national elections.  SDS seems to be using 
Potocnik's single appearance at an LDS rally as a ploy to 
get into the news and to highlight its differences with 
LDS.  Potocnik is one of the main targets of SDS, but they 
have also criticized LDS for making other long-term 
appointments without first finding consensus.  Post 
believes that SNS and SLS are also using Potocnik's 
appointment to highlight their differences with LDS. 
Despite opposition statements to the contrary, Post 
believes that Potocnik remains stoutly independent, and his 
comments to the press have strengthened this view. 
 
7.  (SBU) Potocnik does not have a voting record on Trans- 
Atlantic relations, but from our meetings and dealings with 
him, Post characterizes him as a pragmatist and a genuine 
friend of the US.  He supports Turkey's accession to the 
EU, and he is someone we could call up and ask for help 
from within the EU context.   Post believes that US 
interlocutors will find him articulate, rational, 
intelligent and friendly. END COMMENT. 
 
YOUNG 
 
 
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