IG Live with Jerca Korče: “These elections will give a boost to the younger generation.”

On Friday, 20 March 2022, MEP Irena Joveva chatted live on Instagram with Jerca Korče, a National Assembly deputy and Vice-Chair of the LMŠ party. They touched on a number of interesting topics such as motherhood, women and young people in politics, demography and the current election campaign. They stressed, among other things, that politicians need to be aware of people’s real problems and expressed their conviction that the April elections will give a boost to the younger generation.

Korče and Joveva first chatted about their new roles in life, as they have both become mothers in the last year and are balancing motherhood and their work in the Slovenian and European Parliaments, respectively. Jerca Korče and her partner have agreed that she will return to the National Assembly after a few months, while her partner will take the rest of the parental leave. “I doubt that when he took parental leave, he had the right idea of what it would be like, because he now says that he is more tired than when he had to work twelve hours a day,” said Korče, who believes that a child really needs its mother by its side for the first five months, after which the father can take over, and that it is important for employers to be understanding of such decisions. However, she admits that balancing motherhood and work is exhausting. Joveva, too, wanted very much to be a mother: “I have always wished that someone should call me mum, but I don’t only want to be a mother, or a wife, or an MEP. Yes, it is exhausting, but the two of us see it as a challenge and I am now even happier and more eager to do certain things because I have someone in the next generation to think about.”

In the months after giving birth, both Korče and Joveva had to deal with chauvinistic and inappropriate comments. Although there aren’t many in everyday communication, they are all the more profuse in the virtual world. “This other world, the world of Twitter, allows for anonymous comments and trolls, and the things you read there make you wonder if it’s even possible that a human being would write something like that. Stay at home, go and breastfeed, I pity your child with a mother like that, and so on. I haven’t got used to this, much less accepted it, because we need to fight it, but I try not to let it get to me,” said Korče.

The two parliamentarians also commented on the statement by the current Minister of the Economy, Zdravko Počivalšek, who speculated with unplausible demographic goals that in ten years’ time there would be as many as three million Slovenes: “Such statements are inappropriate. It is up to every woman to decide whether she wants to have a child, and the state must provide the conditions for young people to be able to make this decision. If they are serious about demography, then they should start with tackling the housing problem,” insisted Korče, while Joveva agreed that the statement by Počivalšek was absurd. They mentioned the fun fact of the wider LMŠ team taking good care of the higher birth rate, with eleven babies born in this term, three of them to the teams of MEPs Irena Joveva and Klemen Grošelj.

They also touched on the painful experience of both of them   ̶  spontaneous abortion. Jerca Korče was clear: “Abortion is a constitutional right and a free choice. To curtail this right is to infringe on a woman’s freedom. To me, that is final and there is nothing else to discuss. I will always fight for this right.” The two women agreed that it was important that they have spoken out about this experience because as politicians sharing their personal traumatic experience, they have shown other women that they are not alone.

From here on, the conversation focused on more political topics. LMŠ is a party that gives opportunities to young people in every way and opens up space for them. In turn, young people are becoming more and more engaged, believes Korče:

“Since the referendum on water, I see that the generation that has recently been given the right to vote is much more engaged than mine used to be. When I speak to students at round tables, they view politics differently, they have much more formed opinions and they are much more aware of what the right to vote means. I expect great things from them when they stand up for justice and articulate their political views. These elections will give a boost to the younger generation.”

Both Korče and Joveva are members of committees on culture and are concerned about the brutal interference of politics in culture and the media. “Straight after the elections, media laws will have to be passed to prevent the influence of politics and enable the appointment of professional staff. The role of culture, freelance artists and art has always been to criticise and when you are in office you have to accept this as something good because it holds up a mirror to you”, stressed Jerca Korče.

The two parliamentarians also expressed dissatisfaction with the current number of women in politics, as it does not reflect their actual interest in politics, but rather the attitude of parties that do not place women candidates in seats they have a real chance of winning. “Politics is not an exclusively male world, this is a misconception. If you want to enter politics, don’t think about this and don’t let it scare you away”, added Joveva, who also stressed the responsibility of the media, which in the case of women politicians often report on their dress, hairstyle, marital status, whether they have children, etc.

The final topic of the conversation was the election campaign. According to Korče, the most important thing for a politician is to keep in touch with reality. “As a politician, you have to be aware of people’s real problems. If you become too removed, you no longer see that people are on the edge of survival, that they live on the minimum wage … It is only on the basis of this understanding that you can adopt the right measures.” A significant lack of such understanding can also be observed in the European Parliament, added Joveva: “With so many Member States and MEPs, this is even more noticeable. When making your choice as a voter at the polling station, it is precisely this that you should base your support for a politician on.” What they also find disconcerting is the normalisation and consequent growth of blatant and shameless lies in politics, as it is very difficult to fight lies with the truth.

And where does Jerca Korče see herself in the future? “As a politician, I don’t ask myself where I see myself. You shouldn’t ask yourself this question, because it means you are only interested in getting a political post. You have to ask yourself what you are going to do for the community,” she concluded.

You can watch the full conversation on MEP Joveva’s Instagram profile.

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“Young people want to live, not just to survive”

MEP Irena Joveva (Renew Europe/LMŠ) spoke to the Savinjske Novice newspaper about the legislative policies she is co-creating, which will also have a significant impact on the future development of the Upper Savinja Valley.

The pandemic has accelerated some of the EU’s political and legislative decisions, especially in the area of green and sustainable policies. In the Upper Savinja Valley, natural disasters have become rather common, and climate change is only making things worse.

Unfortunately, climate change is making things worse everywhere. A lot has been done during this term in this regard, even before the pandemic set in; the Green Deal was adopted in December 2019, but there is no doubt that certain decisions were accelerated by the pandemic. We are fighting the pandemic with a vaccine, but, unfortunately, there is no vaccine against climate change. It is therefore important to adopt legislation that is geared towards preventing natural disasters and, at the same time, has mechanisms in place to respond effectively when they happen. The starting points will be to lower insurance premiums and invest in solutions. The EU has already established aid mechanisms for natural disasters, and we have also initiated the creation of additional financial mechanisms for various prevention projects focused on reducing flood risks and fighting drought, fires and landslides.

We also hear a lot about making better use of wood, which is both a renewable energy source and an ecological material with a variety of uses.

Forests are an important part of our fight against climate change, which is why we want to establish a common way of managing them in the EU, but when it comes to how to protect them, there is a wide divergence of views in Member States. Still, the European Forest Strategy, finally endorsed last November, will support the socio-economic functions of forests for thriving rural areas and promote the bio-economy, while ensuring their protection and restoration. Wood was once the main material for construction, heating and furniture design, and now it is once more the raw material of the future. We need to think about how we wish to re-establish the wood-processing industry, which, in addition to economic growth, would bring many new jobs.

The EU devotes substantial resources to agriculture, promotes self-sufficiency and local production, and the European Parliament has recently debated the Farm to Fork Strategy …

That is true. The aim of this strategy is to accelerate the sustainable transformation of food systems, while ensuring a fair return for farmers, in such a way that crop production meets the objectives set out in both the Green Deal and the Biodiversity Strategy. It puts people first. The fact is that today – not least because of the pandemic – we are more aware of the importance of local production of good quality, organically produced healthy food. Farmers are, and always will be, the cornerstone of our food systems, and I am pleased that they are again being given the attention they deserve.

Before the pandemic, Slovenia was increasingly establishing itself as a tourist destination, and we are counting on tourists to start returning.

Absolutely. We all miss travelling, but we can actually find gems right on the doorstep. The unspoilt nature, the natural and cultural attractions, the cuisine … All of these attract tourists to Slovenia, including to your region. The Logarska Valley, the Matkov Kot and Robanov Kot valleys, the Golte Landscape Park …

But we must not forget about the infrastructure. Tourism and the economy will not flourish if it takes forever to get here.

Of course, infrastructure is the basis, both for tourism and industry and, just as importantly, for the accessibility and the environment. There are plenty of opportunities to draw on European funds, but one has to roll one’s sleeves up and have a vision. In fact, it is very straightforward: without the proper infrastructure, not only will businesses (and as a result jobs) move elsewhere, but also people themselves. Young people have to be offered something if they are to stay here. Rather than underestimating each and every one, the ruling politicians in particular should realise that young people want to live, not just to survive, and that they know how to stand up for themselves. All the more so in these days, and I am sure they will show this in the April elections.

Marjan Šarec: We place great emphasis on agriculture

As people of the Upper Savinja Valley, you can be proud of your oldest economic industry – agriculture. Agriculture has been put under the spotlight in the LMŠ party programme “Normalisation. Solutions. Development.” We are in favour of helping young people who take over farms or those who rent and rebuild dilapidated farms. We support State aid to ensure the future of farms whose heirs do not wish to continue farming, and we also embrace the idea of intergenerational cooperation, or ‘intergenerational cooperatives’.

The idea is to provide jobs for young people and to afford greater security to people who are left alone on the farm and persist there despite their old age.

Cooperation between the generations would make it possible to maintain and develop agriculture in the future. This is also linked to the sustainable development of tourism, based on natural, historical and cultural assets, with an emphasis on fine cuisine, wellness programmes and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. The State will have to help in these efforts by actively promoting the two activities in the main markets, by providing various incentives and measures for their development as well as by building better road links, so that you can continue to serve as a model for many other Slovenian regions, of which I am certain.

You can read the text also in the Savinjske Novice newspaper on this LINK.

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“There is a need for increased investment in renewable energy sources”

We continue our series of interviews in local media on topical issues, this time for a Posavje newspaper.

Irena Joveva (foto: Matjaž Kosmač)

The pandemic has proven the importance of a strong and good public health system.

That is true. While we were initially confronted with some existing shortcomings of the public health system, it soon became clear that it is vital for enabling a smooth coordination and cooperation of international health institutions, which is crucial in crisis management. This is precisely why it is essential to create the European Health Union, which will ensure sufficient financial investment in Member States’ public health systems, coordination, the maintenance of high standards of care and, last but not least, greater public health system resilience. We need a large network of public institutions to provide adequate health care for all European citizens, and I am therefore pleased that we have overcome the tendency to centralise health care and increased the financial input into decentralised public health systems.

But the health system also needs to be adequately staffed. This is not a problem that is unique to Slovenia, is it?

Unfortunately, the whole EU is facing a shortage of qualified staff in health care. These are physically and mentally demanding professions that require a lot of knowledge, specific skills and continuous training, and unfortunately most of them are underpaid. The financial compensation for this type of work is extremely important as it greatly influences the decision of young people who are still in the process of choosing their career. However, it should be stressed that it is not enough simply to increase the salaries of the healthcare professionals who already receive the highest pay as it is – in this case doctors. The arrangement needs to be done systematically, for the entire sector. Nor should we forget the highly relevant staff working in care homes, who are also part of the health system. At the EU level, we have mechanisms in place to encourage young people to choose such careers, but the most effective and fastest way to do this is through the state itself.

In Posavje, some energy-intensive companies were already facing rising energy prices before the current war in Ukraine. Will the current crisis be the final nail in the coffin of these companies, or the tipping point for a full green energy transition?

The current crisis, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, will be, or has already been, a major blow for businesses, which are facing ever higher energy costs. The price of gas was already at an all-time high before the Russian aggression, and now it has risen even further. According to the EU legislation, the most expensive energy source for electricity generation, currently gas, also determines the price of electricity. However, there is no need for the current situation to be the final nail in the coffin of these companies. State aid rules are being adapted at the EU level, and this is where the state should urgently come to the rescue to make it easier for companies to cope with the increased costs. Secondly, the electricity price market could be reformed so that the price is not set according to the current gas price. These are short-term measures, but in the long term, of course, there is a need for an accelerated green transition and for increased investment in renewable energy sources, which is not only necessary from the point of view of environmental sustainability, but also from the point of view of the energy self-sufficiency of Slovenia and the EU.

Marjan Šarec: “Energy independence and self-sufficiency will be crucial”

Marjan Šarec (foto: Matjaž Kosmač)

We are soon to hold the most important elections in independent Slovenia. We will decide what kind of country we want to live in, which is why a high voter turnout is extremely important. Until recently, we thought that the main campaign issues that would occupy us the most would be public education, quality and accessible public healthcare, higher wages for all and affordable housing. But the war in Ukraine has brought forward new issues such as energy independence and self-sufficiency, which are of inestimable importance for any country. It is my sincere wish for Posavje that we continue to develop the Brežice General Hospital. Time has shown that the ideas of some politicians who, 20 years ago, in the name of economic streamlining, advocated the centralisation of hospital care and the closure of smaller hospitals, including Brežice, were completely misguided. The period of the COVID-19 epidemic has confirmed that a decentralised public health system is much more flexible and resilient, and the Brežice hospital played a very important role in this respect as well. I would like to see you continue such good work – which includes the creation of additional suitable accommodation for acute patients, an increase in the nursing hospital capacity from 30 to 50 beds, the purchase of an MRI scanner, etc. Let me recall another challenge that lies ahead – the inaccessibility of care in care homes. We cannot be proud of the situation where some elderly citizens are forced to seek a solution for living out the final years of their lives in a neighbouring country. We will have to deal with all of this. In a sincere and realistic manner, without populist and lip-service promises, without empty and grandiose statements. This is how we approach work and this is how we intend to work after the elections on 24 April, when we are deciding on our common future.

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“The future is nations freely choosing their own destiny”

During the recent visit of Stéphane Séjourné, president of the Renew Europe political group, who came to Ljubljana at the invitation of MEPs Irena Joveva, Klemen Grošelj and the LMŠ party, most of the attention was directed at the current political situation and the upcoming elections, both in Slovenia and in some other European countries.

Stephane Séjourné is concerned about what is happening in Slovenia and in Europe, and Irena Joveva agrees with him. The methods, positions and actions of the 19th century have no place in 2022. “The future cannot be someone who is stuck in the past. In days gone by. The future cannot be someone who sees everything and everyone as enemies. If there are none, they will make some (up), because they simply cannot function otherwise. The future is nations freely choosing their own destiny, and no, I am not just talking about the people of Ukraine,” she said.

She expects the European Union to be united, to stick to values such as democracy, the rule of law, a free and critical media and, of course, peace.

“No one is eternal. Truth be told, I wouldn’t mind if the Russian president, who has ruled for 20 years and is even bombing civilians, were swept away by a democratic wave,” said Joveva on a critical note.

Marjan Šarec also believes that politics that glorifies the past, stirs up hatred and deepens differences is dangerous:

“Extremism should always be feared. It never solves anything. It offers seemingly quick and effective solutions, but once all that collapses, it is the moderates who have to save a country, humanity and the economy. That is why we need to say ‘no’ to the politics of extremism and enter the 21st century. Who cares in their daily lives what anyone did in 1945, 1960 or 1998? We need to move on.”

You can also read the text in the Gorenjski Glas newspaper on this LINK.

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“The green and digital transitions require the education, research and innovation of tomorrow”

On Tuesday, 15 March, MEP Irena Joveva hosted another annual reception of the European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (EPSA) at the European Parliament. This year, the meeting with this international organisation focused on skills and education for transforming health education. The participants discussed the impact of COVID-19 on young people and the need to upskill health professionals in the light of changing circumstances, especially in the context of increasing antimicrobial resistance, the high incidence of cancer and the growing need for vaccine development, disease management and related research and innovation. 

In her opening address to the 12th EPSA meeting, the MEP began by underlining the serious impact that the pandemic has had on young people in particular: “With the imposed curfews and closures, the pandemic has hit young people hard in various areas, including employment, the socio-economic sphere, education and mental health. With respect to the latter, numerous studies carried out in the EU have observed a sharp increase in rates of depression, anxiety and loneliness. Mental health issues and social exclusion, which young generations are increasingly facing today, can have a profound and long-lasting impact on their lives.”

The European Year of Youth will, among other things, bring a new European Strategy for Universities, which will allow for better opportunities for education, but also its transformation, since it will no longer focus only on the acquisition of relevant knowledge, but also on the development of new skills. “Favourable environments for education, research and innovation enable the development of high-level skills, the creation of breakthrough knowledge and its translation into practice. The green and digital transitions require the education, research and innovation of tomorrow, which is why we need to reduce the digital skills gap within the EU,” said Joveva, who believes that we also need to regulate vocational retraining and upskilling to meet new and emerging needs in society and the labour market.

Joveva noted that public health is not only threatened by the pandemic, but also by the lack of effective health promotion and disease prevention, the rise in non-communicable diseases, cancer and mental illness, as well as the spread of antimicrobial drug resistance, the emergence of epidemics of infectious diseases, and increased pollution of the environment. It is therefore important to develop a knowledge acquisition plan that will enable health professionals to find multidisciplinary, intersectoral and international solutions to tackle diseases.

“The European Union needs to create an environment to bring together the skills of academics, clinicians, regulators and industry, and foster their collaboration with health services, social services, patients, policy-makers and citizens to leverage public funding and deliver results in both clinical practice and health systems.”

The MEP believes that the European Health Union, the foundations of which have already been laid, will strengthen both disease surveillance and preparedness. The European Medicines Agency and the newly created European Health Emergency and Preparedness Authority (HERA) will also serve to support research and innovation to develop new medicines, address market challenges and strengthen industrial capacity, as well as to tackle challenges related to the availability and distribution of medicines. Most importantly, it will strengthen knowledge and skills in all aspects of public health countermeasures in all Member States.

“As pharmacy students, you have chosen a profession that has played a vital role in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Without pharmacists, there would be no vaccines and medicines to help us overcome various diseases. You play an extremely important role in society and we as policy-makers will do everything we can to create an environment in which you can thrive,” she concluded.

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WE. DON’T HAVE. THE RIGHT. TO DISCRIMINATE.

“We would go there for a couple of days to check things out. Two, three days.”

This was the plan in September 2015. And so I went. To Salzburg. I actually believed that I would be back in two, maybe three, OK, maximum four days. But before we set off, the cameraman asked me nicely if I was sure that I only wished to take one mini travel bag with me. It wasn’t even a real a travel bag, just a slightly bigger bag. “Sure, we’re only going for three days,” I replied.

And … the photo above was taken shortly before we arrived home. Where I returned ten days later weighing seven kilos less. And not for long, because I soon left for another assignment; this time we only stayed in Salzburg one day and then set off to somewhere else. To the heart of where a humanitarian crisis was about to unfold. To the south.

I really did not imagine the chaos that would ensue. Nobody did. Unfortunately, neither did the people in charge.

I vividly remember the assignment in Tovarnik, a Croatian town right on the border with Serbia. It was terribly hot. And terribly exhausting, although I didn’t realise it at first, because the adrenaline somehow did not allow it. We had breaking news, spread over the whole day, day in, day out. I had to report live – in journalistic jargon you say that you’re on – so, I was on again and again.

Just before one of these live reports, an elderly gentleman came up to me. He started shouting and I didn’t understand. The more I told him that we would talk as soon as I finished the live report that was due in half a minute, the more he shouted back. Not at me. He was shouting at the camera. His daughter and sons were calming him down, I did the report … and then I simply collapsed to the ground. This time the adrenaline didn’t help; all that pressure suddenly caught up with me. Watching tens of thousands of people fleeing war or danger every day, hoping and wishing for a better, safer, brighter future. No, it was not just young men. Among them were very many children and women. But yes, they were not light-skinned. I’ll explain this last sentence later.

To cut a long story short, it took me a while to pull myself together. Even the cameraman left me alone at first, probably a bit shocked, but then came to calm me down. The same people who had previously been calming down their father also came to comfort me – and explained that he was just loudly asking for help. Can you imagine? People with problems beyond our comprehension, who had gone through horrible things, were experiencing uncertainty and agony were comforting ME. I still feel embarrassed when I think of those moments when, in the end, we were all crying and laughing at the same time. But I will never regret that I was there. At that precise time.

“It’s terrible when people who are completely exhausted ask you where to go, how to get there … You don’t know how to help them. It’s horrible.” This was my tweet on 17 September 2015. After a devastated women asked me what she should do. I remember it vividly …

I also vividly remember one evening programme during which the then Minister of the Interior was in the studio in Ljubljana. She was explaining in a confident manner how well prepared Slovenia was, as one of the refugees, responding to my question about where they were heading to, exclaimed: “Slovenia!” This was the first time that somebody mentioned our country (until then, the reply that journalists got had practically always been “Germany!”). And this is when it all started. And nobody was really prepared for everything that happened and continued to happen months later.

The rest is history.

History repeats itself, but with one very important difference: this time, the EU reacted quickly. And it reacted as it should. Finally! We have shown that it can be done. Why wasn’t this the case in 2015?

Because some parties and governments used the developments then to spread hatred. Because “Ukrainian refugees come from a background that is culturally, religiously and historically very different from that of refugees from Afghanistan”. This was the tweet of the current Government of the Republic of Slovenia. Which was later deleted. That it was not a distinction based on “religion, race, colour of skin or eyes”, but a “very necessary distinction between refugees and migrants”, the Prime Minister explained.

Refugees and migrants are not one and the same, I absolutely agree. But please read the deleted tweet again. It says refugees. And then refugees again. Not migrants. Refugees. A very necessary distinction, right? Or racism (and other things)?

As a result of such self-serving spin, manipulation and exploitation of humanitarian disasters, the EU still did not have an adequate mechanism in place in 2015 to deal with migration. Nor is one in place today.

But it would be unfair to say that absolutely nothing has been done over the last six years. In the previous mandate, the European Commission did start to develop a common European model to tackle a migrant humanitarian crisis. I am referring to the European Agenda on Migration, which contains several legislative proposals and reforms of the migration and asylum policy. Unfortunately, not all of the proposed measures have been adopted. Most of the key ones were stalled, blocked. Why?

Before I offer an answer, let me say that also in its current composition, the European Commission has set a common migration and asylum policy as its priority. Nor has the issue been forgotten by the European Parliament, where a number of resolutions were adopted, and I myself have repeatedly and vociferously pointed out the existing shortcomings. Not only in terms of ineffective migration management, but also in terms of inhuman conditions and the brutal treatment of refugees by uniformed service representatives. In September 2020, the European Commission finally presented a Pact on Migration and Asylum. But it has yet to garner consensus. Again: why?

It is not the European Commission that is the main problem. Even less so the European Parliament – and I am really not saying that because I am a member of this institution. The problem is the leaders of some Member States who do not wish to understand the international system of shared responsibility for managing situations extending beyond national borders. The problem is that, more and more often, we are witnessing accelerated expansion of national interests and, above all, of national egoisms. If you ask me, these have no place in the EU.

Will perhaps the proposed legislative package for the EU’s migration policy be adopted at the level of ALL Member States this time? Are we dealing with the right type of refugees this time?

Let us be clear. What is happening in Ukraine is … a crime. It’s monstrous. Inhuman. Disgusting. I fully and unwaveringly support help to Ukrainians. It is the only right thing to do. It is only right that the EU should take in as many refugees as the situation requires. This is our moral and international legal obligation. ALWAYS.

Whichever way someone – a refugee, a migrant, a displaced person – a HUMAN – arrives at the EU’s external border or in the EU … No one has the right to deprive them of their fundamental rights.

Nor do we have the right to forget. Remember the dead Syrian boy on the Turkish coast? Red shirt, blue trousers? Did he drown too far away? Do you then remember the dead ten-year-old Rahima? She drowned in the Dragonja.

Therefore. In this context. The context of humanity:

We. Don’t have. The right. To forget.

We. Don’t have. The right. To moralise.

We. Don’t have. The right. To manipulate.

WE. DON’T HAVE. THE RIGHT. TO DISCRIMINATE.

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“Autocrats and democracy destroyers still exist”

On Tuesday, 8 March 2022, MEPs discussed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina at a plenary session in Strasbourg. MEP Irena Joveva drew parallels between Dodik’s destruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Putin’s actions in Ukraine.

Joveva began by pointing out that, unfortunately, in the 21st century, autocrats and democracy destroyers still exist on European soil, threatening peace, human rights and fundamental freedoms:

“Thirty years after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik is destroying the country and its institutions. He denies genocide. As if what the people there have been through were not enough. Thirty years after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a new war begins in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin is branded a criminal. And rightly so, because that is exactly what he is.”

Despite the EU’s immediate response to Putin’s actions, Joveva expressed concern that those of Dodik are noticed much less: “How can anyone fail to condemn his moves? Does his affiliation with some parties make him any less evil? The citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina are no less deserving of a better life and leaders who care.” In her opinion, the citizens of BiH should be supported on their path to the European Union. “In the meantime, we must stand up – just as loudly –to all autocrats and criminals, because we have long seen too much hypocrisy of the European Union in this respect. Even within our own ranks. The methods are very similar. Unfortunately,” she concluded.

Joveva’s contribution to the plenary debate can be viewed on the link below:

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“What next?”

It was early January, I had just finished an evening tennis game when, to my surprise, I got a video call from Irena, a Member of the European Parliament, and Jasna, her local assistant: “Žiga, welcome to Team Joveva”.

And my first thought was: “Do MEPs ever take a break?”

My first day in Brussels. Assistant Žana meets me in front of the European Parliament, because I certainly couldn’t have found the entrance to Parliament, which is a real labyrinth. After wandering through it for about ten minutes, we finally reach the office. It is spacious and modern, the conditions are ideal; this really is a good place to work and a place to do good work, I think to myself. On my desk, I am surprised by a pile of gifts and a welcome message – I already feel at home!

Well, not so fast, Žiga. I received a calendar of events, meetings, appointments and was in charge of the first “briefing”… Oops, this is a bit different from what I imagined. Lots of institutional jargon, unfamiliar acronyms, “political” speak – i.e. using figurative language, referring to older projects I had never heard of before. Reality gave me a much-needed slap in the face.

The Parliament has a convenient canteen where I usually went for lunch with other assistants or trainees from other political groups or countries. They smilingly confirmed to me that I was not the only one at sixes and sevens, to say the least. One of the Slovenian assistants candidly admitted that he had been in the Parliament for two years and still hadn’t managed to put all the pieces of the European institutional politics together, and in all likelihood never would. The European Parliament truly is complex, and it is precisely this complexity that gives it the special charm that is difficult to put into words.

Many people ask me what I will remember most.

Certainly the young, diverse, but nevertheless incredibly coordinated and above all interesting team of Irena’s assistants. Rok. One of the smartest people I have ever met, a walking encyclopaedia. Elma. A polyglot with superb networking skills (in my humble estimate she knows 90% of the EP), the epitome of kindness, and a heart as big as Mount Triglav. Žana. Slightly quieter in nature, but you know the proverb that still waters run deep. On a number of occasions, she had regulations, directives and acts that were all Greek to me right at her fingertips.

Furthermore, I could finally shake off the stereotypical prejudice that all politicians are corrupt, that all they do is talk and, above all, that they get nothing done. Really the vast majority of MEPs (and other staff in the EU institutions) are big-hearted, work late into the night and bring about gigantic shifts which, unfortunately, are not recognised and appreciated enough by Slovenian politicians, the media and, consequently, the people.

For all of you who are still to embark on a similar journey, the journey of a trainee in the European institutions, here is some useful and honest advice:

  • Don’t hesitate to ask. Nobody knows everything. There are no stupid questions, just don’t be ashamed.
  • Be proactive. Never miss an opportunity to attend meetings, conferences and work-related events. It’s a great way to learn about the culture and to network.
  • Build a strong network. A traineeship is an excellent opportunity to meet people and build a strong network that will definitely prove useful in the future. Participate in conferences, have the occasional coffee with colleagues or other trainees, enjoy activities outside work with complete strangers (who can later become great friends) or simply try to find the right connections with whom you can talk about projects that interest you.

The most important advice: Step outside your comfort zone, relax and enjoy the ride.

I’m sitting on the plane thinking – as probably all trainees do on their way home from the capital of Europe: “What next?”

 

– Žiga Papež

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IG Live with Uroš Velepec: “Such bloodshed serves no one any good”

In this time’s IG Live conversation Call me Irena held on Friday, 4 March 2022, MEP Irena Joveva hosted Uroš Velepec, former head coach of the Slovenian national biathlon team who is now working with the Ukrainian national team. They talked about biathlon and sport in general, and especially about the current war in Ukraine, as Velepec’s protégés have been conscripted into the army. “Nobody thought that someone could start such bloodshed, which serves no one any good”, said Velepec clearly, not mincing his words about the Russian president or his supporters and about the sanctions on athletes: “They are to blame for not speaking up. If you live in a country where you are not allowed to speak your mind, then that country is worth nothing.”

Velepec started by answering a question about how he ended up with the Ukrainian national biathlon team, and described the popularity of biathlon in Ukraine, saying that it is “the unrivalled number one winter sport”. He then touched on the recently concluded Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, where he, too, was present. He stressed that he is very happy for Slovenian athletes and their excellent results and that their successes were an inspiration for him as well.

Most of the questions were related to the current situation in Ukraine, where war is raging as a result of Russian aggression. Velepec admitted that he is very emotional about it. “So far, female athletes have only been called up, but their male counterparts are fighting, mainly in those places where it is currently the worst. There are 14 of them in my team, and I spend more time with them than with my family.” He said that talking to them is very difficult, and the worst thing is if there is no response for a while, because he imagines the worst. He tries to help as much as he can, although he constantly feels there is more he could do. “People talked about it during the Olympics, but nobody thought that it would come to this, that someone could start such bloodshed, which serves no one any good and goes against all logic,” he added.

Biathletes are usually employed in the army, and he himself was part of the Slovenian Armed Forces sports unit for 25 years. “These jobs are great in peacetime. No one in my team ever thought they would ever have to pick up a weapon save in competition,” he said.

He and the MEP shared the wish that the situation would calm down as soon as possible. When asked about Russian president Vladimir Putin, Velepec’ answer was very direct:

“He is definitely a tyrant. I would suggest to the Russophiles who support him – and there are some in Slovenia – to go and live in Vladivostok or Novosibirsk and see what it is like to live on $25 a month. People there are oppressed, this is not a fairy tale. I have been to Russia several times and I know how people live there.”

In his opinion, Putin dislikes democracy, which will sooner or later bring an end to his regime, too. Velepec was also clear in his support for sanctions on Russian (and Belarusian) athletes, specifically biathletes:

“These sanctions may make them grumble back home that they cannot pursue their profession because the international public is against them and that they are not to blame for anything. They are to blame for not speaking up. /…/ If you live in a country where you are not allowed to speak your mind, either stupid or clever, then that country is worth nothing.”

Joveva and her guest also discussed the future of Russian and Ukrainian biathletes in competitions, the possibility of post-war trauma, the interconnection between politics and sport, and, not least, Velepec revealed his favourite biathlon location.

Finally, they both hoped that as few lives as possible would be lost and that next time – as soon as possible – they would talk about how the Ukrainian national biathlon team is training in Slovenia and that everyone is alive and well. Velepec concluded the conversation by expressing his gratitude to Slovenes for their response and help to Ukrainians.

You can watch the full recording of the conversation on MEP Joveva’s Instagram profile.

 

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“To me, Gorenjska is the most beautiful part of Slovenia”

For three years now, MEP Irena Joveva, elected on the LMŠ list, has been working in Brussels in a determined and successful manner, co-shaping policies for the future, such as those pertaining to the green transition and youth issues.

You live in Ljubljana, work in Brussels and Strasbourg, and you come from Jesenice. How often do you return to Gorenjska?

I go home whenever I can. But it’s true that I cannot visit very often anymore, because unfortunately, with working from home and taking care of my baby girl, I run out of time. But Jesenice will always be my home town; this is where I grew up and I have many fond memories of Gorenjska in general. Many people say that Jesenice is grey and dreary, but neither is true. Jesenice is beautiful … and red (laughs). All joking aside, the ironworks is no longer the only thing worth a mention in Jesenice, and the locals are aware of the importance of a clean environment and green solutions. To me, Gorenjska is the most beautiful part of Slovenia, and it’s not right that all the attention is always focused on – no offence – Kranjska Gora, Bled and Bohinj … All other places in between are just as splendid, we just have to take care of them the way they deserve.

Green policy is becoming an increasingly important topic in the European Parliament. In fact, the green transition has been greatly accelerated by the pandemic.

In fact, green policy is already the most important topic. As we speak, the Committee on the Environment, of which I am a member, is deliberating on 14 legislative dossiers with far-reaching effects. Last March, we adopted legislation on emission reduction and on achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. We need to achieve this ambitious plan, because the status quo is simply not sustainable. But such a green transition will not come cheap. That is why we are sticking to the principle that the cost should be borne by those who pollute the most and that the population should not be affected by these measures. Substantial funds have already been made available and there will be even more, and as Slovenians, we need to make sure that they are invested wisely.

Nowadays, all avenues are open to young people, nothing is holding them back anymore. You work a lot on youth policies. How can we keep promising young people in Slovenia?

To me, young people having all avenues open a positive thing. It is right that they should use their potential and create the life they want for themselves. This is not to deny, of course, the problem of youth emigration, which is observed throughout the EU. But it is crucial that national and European policies are geared towards creating good conditions for young people –what I particularly have in mind is addressing housing issues, ensuring quality jobs and good conditions for young families, in short, mechanisms that will provide the conditions for young people to achieve their goals and aspirations in their home country.

Marjan Šarec: “Sustainability is becoming our everyday reality”

It is no secret that the Upper Sava Valley is one of the leading tourist destinations in Slovenia. I have no doubt that you will continue to be able to use your natural assets to shape sustainable tourism, and in this way become an example not only in Slovenia, but globally. The key to all this is cooperation between all stakeholders, and it will be just as important to successfully compete for European grants. The word ‘sustainable’ is becoming part of our everyday language. And in this sense, the citizens of Kranjska Gora and its surroundings have a golden opportunity.

Considering everything mentioned thus far, it is of the utmost importance to increase the capacities of the Jesenice hospital with the help of the state. Just as we supported the idea of regional hospitals and the preservation of a general hospital in the Jesenice area during our government, we support it now and will continue to do so in the future. Let us not forget the fact that during the epidemic, the hospital in Jesenice was one of the busiest in the country, which is why I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all the employees of Jesenice General Hospital for their dedicated, selfless and hard work.

You can also read the interview in the newsletter of the Kranjska Gora municipality, Zgornjesav’c, by clicking HERE.

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