After talks with Jagland, Pahor will visit the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and meet its president Dean Spielmann.

The issue of the erased is likely to come up in talks in Strasbourg as Slovenia is running late with launching a compensations scheme for citizens of former Yugoslav republics who were wrongfully stripped of permanent residence in 1992. The European Court of Human Rights tasked the country with preparing the scheme by 26 June.

Interior Minister Gregor Virant held a meeting with Jagland last week and said the law implementing systemic compensation would be passed by autumn this year or the end of the year at the latest.

Under the current proposal, those eligible for compensation would get EUR 30 per month of the erasure, which amounts to up to EUR 7,500 for each of some 8,000 people eligible for the compensation.

Eligibility would be limited to those who have restored their permanent residence or obtained citizenship or have at least made an effort to do so since the erasure, which occurred in the year following Slovenia's independence and involved an estimated 26,000 people.

Apart from the erased, Slovenia has in recent years also faced ECHR rulings against lengthy court proceedings. A Bosnian lawsuit regarding foreign currency deposits of the defunct Slovenian bank LB is still pending after a commission of the Grand Senate ordered a renewal of proceedings.

Other topics of Pahor's talks with CoE officials could include the reform of the organisation and the ECHR to improve effectiveness, while corruption as a threat to democracy in Europe could also be on the agenda.

On day two of his trip to Strasbourg, Pahor is due to visit the European Parliament, where he is scheduled to meet its President Martin Schulz.

The president is also due to address MEPs at the plenary session of the European Parliament and meet Slovenian MEPs.

Addresses by heads of state and government to the European Parliament are usually an opportunity for the speakers to present their views on topical international and European issues.

As a former MEP and speaker of the Slovenian parliament, Pahor is expected to touch on the role of the European Parliament and national parliaments in promoting European integration.

The president's office said he would also present the Slovenia 2030 project that he launched in April in an effort to spur debate among decision-makers and intellectuals about the future of Slovenia.

pc/pc