Lisbon Agenda Implementation: the Example of Slovenia Better communication with citizens: Far more emphasis must be placed on engaging citizens with improved understanding of why reforms and the Lisbon Strategy are relevant to every person in every household in Slovenia. The government should undertake the reforms because of the improved welfare for all citizens in the long run, not only because of the obligations to the international community, for example the EU. Problems in obtaining political support for the reforms arise from the uneven distribution of costs and benefits of reforms across the economy and time. The long-term effects of reforms should be positive for all, though some ultimately lose in the short term. With this in mind it is important to present a cost-benefit analysis with all the positive and negative consequences of reforms over time. Best use of the EU: The EU does not only mean a free and open internal market, as especially in the area of services the trade is not yet liberalised. The EU also means substantial financial support for the countries that are seeking to develop. Both at the time of EU accession and EU membership a country must make the best use of its support mechanism, pre-accession and structural and cohesion funds. Therefore it is essential to improve administrative and absorption capacity for EU funds. From the EU view, greater emphasis should be laid on promoting real convergence and economic cohesion of all member states. The selection of measures aimed at promoting growth, productivity and employment should therefore place special attention on those member states that lag behind most markedly, while the measures intended to increase economic cohesion should prioritise those that are also aimed at achieving the Lisbon goals. The implementation of the Lisbon Strategy through carefully selected measures can increase economic convergence and cohesion between old and new member states. LITERATURE European Commission(2006), Annual Progress Report on Growth and Jobs[online]. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/growthandjobs/annual-report_en.htm. European Council(2006), Spring European Council Conclusions. Facing the Challenge: The Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Employment: Report from the High Level Group chaired by Wim Kok[online]. November 2004. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/growthandjobs/pdf/kok_report_en.pdf. Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development(2005), Development Report[online]. May 2005. Available from: http://www.gov.si/umar/projekti/pr/2006/pr06.php. Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development(2005), Slovenia's Development Strategy [online]. June 2005. Available from: http://www.gov.si/umar/aprojekt/asrs/ssd-new.pdf. 113