The crisis prompts a new beginning

Over the past weeks Europe’s attention has been focused on the Balkans. The agreement signed on Monday April 22 in Brussels between Serbia and Kosovo gave the kick off to a new stage for Balkan countries, strengthened by Croatia’s EU accession next July 1st. How are these changes perceived in Slovenia, the first Balkan Country that joined the EU in 2004? SIR Europe asked Monsignor Andrej Saje, General Secretary and spokesperson of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference. How do you view Croatia’s entry in the EU along with the opening of negotiations with other Countries, including Serbia? “I believe that both aspects will lead to the improvement of the living conditions of many citizens from Slovenia and from the interested States, especially those of weekly or daily commuters. This adhesion is likely to step up economic cooperation among Balkan countries, extending the area of the free circulation of goods, commodities and currency. In particular, Croatia’s adhesion is expected to boost tourism and cultural cooperation in the region, under the banner of common history and shared Christian roots, especially as relates to Croatia, bordering with Slovenia”. A recent OECD report guarded against the situation of Slovenian banks and launched a cry of alarm on the risks of a new crisis, after that of Cyprus. How did this situation come about?”To this regard, it’s important to make some important clarifications. In the past the State was the majority shareholder of Slovenian banks. This meant that each decision was the result of both an economic and a political approach, and led the banks to provide scarcely guaranteed credits, even to semi-guaranteed credits, also to large financial structures run by the private and public sectors. For this reason, following Slovenia’s independence of Slovenia (1991), the national government endorsed a project entailing the State’s withdrawal from the economy and the establishment of a bad bank. The bad bank allows for a just and equal solution, leading to the banks’ emission of sound loan portfolios, for a renewal of the economy”. How is the Catholic Church of Slovenia reacting to the crisis? “The Church is the victim of the crisis just like other areas of civil society. State aid to Church mission, such as partial coverage of social security for priests and consecrated persons, has decreased with equal if not greater proportions compared to other areas of civil society. Many people have lost their jobs; thousands of family businessness went bankrupt, not so much for lack of job, but especially due to lack of income. They worked, purchased the material they needed, paid all contributions, but they did not execute payments for work or services. This brought to the fore a set of problems at the level of the rule of the law”. Which initiatives are being taken to address these urgent issues? “The Church, with her human resources, notably volunteer work and financial means, takes part in State activity in the framework of aid to the poor, formation, cultural development. A special role is played by Caritas that provides material and psychological support to people in need. It forms and informs. In fact, it should be borne in mind that the economic crisis is rooted in a crisis in values, justice, and honesty. For this reason the Slovenian Church strives to provide dedicated education resources, also through the creation of universities”.In the light of this situation, which are the primary concerns? “The task of the State is to consolidate public finances in the direction of a balance between revenue and expenditure, promoting financial activity, notably by regulating the market and ensuring the creation of a social security system for weak and vulnerable social brackets. The crisis is also an opportunity for a new beginning, leading to a reflection on individual action at public and ecclesial level, to build a future on sound and honest grounds”.