Slovenian media declared on Wednesday that the discussions of European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn in Ljubljana were a “secret mission” as Rehn did not specifically address the proposals that should contribute to resolving the Slovenian-Croatian border dispute, which has led Slovenia to block Croatia’s accession negotiations.
However, the Slovenian commercial television station POP-TV, based on Rehn’s statements to journalists after the meeting with Pahor, concludes that Rehn offered good services, namely the mediation of the European Commission in the dispute, of course, if both sides accept it. Unofficially, POP-TV reports this evening in its main news program that the European Commission would assist both countries in finding an "appropriate arbitrator" in the border dispute. POP-TV reminds that Slovenia had been counting on Germany or Švedska, which will take over the EU presidency in the second half of this year, to mediate in the dispute, while Croatia advocated for a bilateral meeting of the prime ministers in the presence of a member of the European Commission.
Now, POP-TV states, Rehn’s proposals, if accepted, could also be interpreted as a success for both countries in the dispute, as Slovenia managed to turn the "bilateral issue" of the border into a dispute that the European Union will be involved in, and Croatia succeeded in that a meeting will indeed be convened, which will include not only the two prime ministers but also people from the EC. Slovenian media emphasize this evening that Pahor highlighted that the unblocking would be possible when Croatia removes the documents that caused Slovenian reservations due to "prejudicing the border" and that he is not inclined to meet with Prime Minister Sanader at a handball match, but remains open to resolving the impasse.
