"We have no formal circle, no clear ally, no sponsor," agreed Mojmir Mrak, a lecturer at the Ljubljana Economics Faculty.

Several experts, government and parliament officials and MEPs taking part in the debate on Slovenia's vision of the EU's development nodded to this assessment, including MEP Tanja Fajon (S&D/SD).

She said that since Slovenia lacked great allies, it needed to play a more proactive role. There should be unity within the country regarding the areas where it could take a leading role, she believes.

Igor Mally, a state secretary at the prime minister's office and the architect of the current government's EU policy, disagreed with the assessment that Slovenia is inactive and lonely in the EU. But he did admit that more could be done.

Most participants in today's debate agreed that Slovenia's future is in the EU. Moreover, they stressed that the country should strive to be in its core.

MEP Klemen Grošelj (RE/LMŠ) said there was no doubt about that, because the core was where all the talents would go to.

Former PM and MEP Lojze Peterle said Slovenia should win its place in the core of the EU with clear viewpoints, while Mrak said it would soon become clear that countries would have to show competence to be in the core group, in terms of staff, institutions and financially.

In contrast, several officials agreed that all countries should have the same power in the EU regardless of their size. MEP Milan Zver (EPP/SDS) proposed that Slovenia initiate an alliance that would prevent changing the way decisions are made at the European Council, and a too great unification of Europe.

A proposal was also made that Slovenia should have a special institution or a body that would deal with the EU and its future, and President Pahor upheld this view.

He said he would propose the setting up of a permanent committee on the future of the EU at the annual meeting of the top Slovenian officials at the end of the year.

Pahor hosted debates on the future of the EU already in 2013 and 2017.