Closer cooperation within the EU is crucial

Today, the Slovenian President attended the official opening of the Forum and then participated in a plenary panel together with the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, the former President of the Republic of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, and the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of Microsoft, Brad Smith. In the debate, President Pirc Musar highlighted the rapidly changing world, especially the changes that are having a major impact on the international stage. In her opinion, one of the key issues for the EU and its Member States will be addressing the inevitability of some of these changes. She stressed the need to focus on developing policies that will ensure a prosperous and competitive Europe. She highlighted the importance of strengthening Europe's technological and economic sovereignty and fostering strategic cooperation between EU Member States. President Pirc Musar also underlined the need to invest in the development of advanced technologies and digital competences, which are key to the future security, stability and competitiveness of the European area.

On the future of the European economy, the President said: "If we want to increase our economic competitiveness and preserve our social model, we need to cooperate more closely within the EU and with our international partners." She called for "more EU" and stressed the importance of adopting a European perspective on economic issues rather than focusing solely on national interests. She pointed to the need to deepen the EU's single market. The President also strongly advocated for strengthening the EU's economic security, reducing dependence and diversifying and safeguarding strategic supply chains. She also highlighted the Green Transition as one of the opportunities for a stable and competitive future for the EU. 

The President highlighted the importance of innovation and research to strengthen the EU's ambitions on the global stage. In this context, she also underlined the importance of education, especially in the light of adapting curricula to the new skills required for the 21st century. The President also pointed out that in advancing digital technologies, we must pay particular attention to respect for fundamental values and rights, citing as an example the recently adopted European legislation on artificial intelligence, which demonstrates that progress can be made while respecting human rights. She stressed that we must never choose between technological advancement and respect for human rights. 

Later in the Forum, President Pirc Musar took part in a discussion with young participants of the GLOBSEC Young Leaders Forum, focusing on disinformation, its rapid dissemination and the fight against its dangerous effects.

The participants agreed that the dissemination of disinformation is a major threat to democracy and the stability of societies. President Pirc Musar is convinced that the fight against disinformation is crucial to safeguard democracy and that action must be taken at a global level using artificial intelligence. She welcomed the efforts of young people for a fairer use of technologies and media and stressed the importance of politicians, influencers and journalists in promoting more respectful public discourse. She also underscored the importance of control over artificial intelligence, and stated that Slovenia supports the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence Advisory Body within the United Nations framework as a positive step towards the global governance of artificial intelligence.

Tomorrow, President Pirc Musar will hold separate meetings with President Petr Pavel of the Czech Republic and President Alexander Stubb of Finland to discuss current global issues and the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. As part of the Forum, she will also engage in a discussion with a BBC journalist about Slovenia's experience in the UN Security Council.