Matevž Hribernik specific policies to the ambitions; ensuring timely implementation of the mea­sures; and properly monitoring the progress made in achieving the NRP goals. The spring European Council in 2008 will show whether the efforts for incre­ased ownership are enough and whether the EU will get another renewal of the already renewed Lisbon Strategy. MACROECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICY FRAMEWORK IN SLOVENIA Slovenia has narrowed its developmental gap relative to the EU but the catching up has been too slow in view of the set objectives. In 2004 Slovenia achieved 79% of the average GDP per capita in PPS in the EU(81% according to Euro ­stat's estimate for 2005). Slovenia narrowed its development gap 2 vis-à-vis th e EU-25, by 4 percentage points in 1996-2000 and by 6 percentage points in 2000­2004, however if it continues to develop at such a pace it will only achieve 94% of the European average in 2013 instead of exceeding the average development level of the EU as set by Slovenia's Development Strategy. The comparison of real GDP growth rates leads to a similar conclusion. In 2000-2005, Slovenia's average economic growth exceeded the average growth in the EU-15 by 1.6 percentage points while calculations indicate that it should have exceeded it by almost double this rate if the set strategic objective is to be met. These results show that Slovenia should bring about some radical changes and reforms in order to achieve the goals set in Slovenia's Development Strategy and Reform Programme for Achieving the Lisbon Strategy Goals. Macroeconomic stability provided good conditions for development. Accord­ing to macroeconomic indicators(except inflation), Slovenia was ranked in the upper half of EU countries, scoring highest in public debt which was only lower in four countries(the Baltic states and Ireland). Inflation continued to decrease and converged with the Maastricht price stability criterion at the end of 2005. The adoption of the euro in 2007 will additionally stabilise the national macroeconomic environment. Slovenia's performance in the area of ensuring macroeconomic stability and employment was more favourable than the results regarding the competitiveness of the economy. Economic growth also enabled a rise in employment. The employment rate is rising steadily and has been above the EU average since 2004. The unem­ployment rate is slightly below the EU average, as is Slovenia's long-term 2. Measured as GDP per capita in PPS. 98