On 25 June this year, we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the independence of the Slovene state. A stable democracy, economic success, social sensitivity and an international reputation connected with this tells us that ten years ago it was a soundly based project of a modern nation, which is aware of its history, which knows well what it wants and how self-confidently to achieve it. The success of these first ten years has been made up of many victories, difficulties in overcoming of our own limitations, decisively confronting others - it is a mosaic of stories of success written by all the citizens of Slovenia. Even today, after ten years, we know and we are well aware that before us are new challenges, and major opportunities with them.

The biggest and most demanding of them is the European Union. On mere appearance, or superficially, it is unusual that a country which was barely well established after leaving, the former Yugoslav community, including at human cost, should devote such great energy to the project of a new European integration. This is not, of course, a sign of weakness or insufficiency - on the contrary, it is proof of exceptional self- confidence, decisiveness and courage. It is awareness of the realities of the modern world; not reconciliation with them, but a determination to change them. Europe without Slovenia would be a different Europe, as would Slovenia be without Europe. Just as many other nations we see in the European Union an exceptional opportunity to strengthen our own sovereignty and confirm our identity. So a great deal of our attention has already been focused on the external environment and strengthening our international position and alignment with the European Union. We have done a lot in that field - we are negotiating intensively, we have adopted a range of measures and laws so that Slovenia, from last year's cautious assessment has become a positively evaluated, one of the best prepared candidates for membership of the European Union. We will accede to the European Union as an independent state, on a basis of equality.

We have achieved success and balanced development in recent years not just in diplomacy but also in the economic sphere. Economic trends are good in the majority of economic indicators, though in some areas we must do more, remove the state from the economy to ensure its greater effectiveness and competitiveness. The government has given a great deal of attention to implementation of the project e-Slovenija, as well as to an anti-bureaucratic programme about which we have not just talked in pre-election promises but have already introduced and are bringing the state closer to its citizens.

Before us is great responsibility to complete successfully what was begun, to invest in people, in their knowledge, so that we will be capable of quickly adapting to world challenges. It is a matter of how we live today, and tomorrow. What aims and values will be given greater stress. How much solidarity we display and how much effectiveness. It is a matter of our shared assessment and decision on legal relations, on the balance of our common life and development.