Slovenia's EU Presidency comes at a critical time for the Union's role as a global player and its relationship with developing countries. The Slovenian government can use its Presidency to secure some important victories for the international development agenda. Recent trends show that some European governments are failing to meet their aid commitments. The Slovenian Presidency, with the support of the Commission and sympathetic member states, will have to hold defaulting governments to account and prevent an era of aid decline.

The EU's trade policy has enormous potential to improve the livelihoods of millions of poor people and generate wealth in developing countries. The Slovenian Presidency has a unique opportunity to lead the EU to substantially overhaul the interim Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) signed in 2007, and enable African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries to choose an adequate development path while fostering indigenous regional integration processes.

The beginning of 2008 will be a crucial time to help the millions that have fled their homes and are in need of protection and assistance in Darfur. But for the EU and Slovenia, a specific responsibility will lie in ensuring the success of the EU force to Sudan's neighbour, Chad. The EU's response to these crises under the Slovenian Presidency, along with those in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere, will demonstrate Europe's true commitment to the responsibility to protect civilians from genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

Europe has cast itself as the leader in the challenge of climate change. Slovenia will need to continue EU leadership in pushing for agreement on a post-2012 framework in 2009. This should include binding commitments on funding for climate change adaptation, with rich countries' share based on their responsibility for causing climate change and their capability to assist.

Slovenia will also supervise EU negotiations to make it mandatory by 2020 for ten per cent of all member states' transport fuels to come from biofuels, on the condition that it is reached sustainably. . The EU must embrace both environmental and social standards, and develop mechanisms by which the agreed target can be revised if it contributes to the destruction of vulnerable people's livelihoods.

Slovenia is so far the only state from the former Yugoslav Republic to have joined the European Union, and will be the first of the bloc's 10 new members to assume the rotating Presidency, when it takes over from Portugal from January to June 2008. It will be succeeded by France.