Analysts urge Slovenia to assert itself as EU faces crossroads

Dragan Barbutovski, an expert on the EU and strategic communication, told the STA ahead of the anniversary of the Treaty of Rome that merely issuing statements in Rome would not be enough.

"A clear vision is necessary," he said, arguing that this vision should not be rooted in the opinions of the political elites, but tailored to the needs of the people.

Until people start feeling every day that that the EU is working for their benefit, they will not support the European project, Barbutovski argued.

Stefani Weiss of the German Bertelsmann Foundation also does not expect any major breakthrough in Rome, saying the only option EU leaders had was to send out a message of unity.

She doubts that this will also involve an idea on where the EU is headed, said Weiss, who possibly expects some ideas on the next projects as part of the enhanced cooperation...