On Monday 16 July 2012, Hannes Swoboda, leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, visited City Hall.

The VIP guest was received by Mayor Zoran Janković, and following talks in City Hall's Green Hall, the Mayor took Mr Swoboda on a guided walk around the city centre. This included a visit to the renovated Congress Square and the refurbished banks of the Ljubljanica and a boat trip along the river.

This was Hannes Swoboda's second visit to City Hall this year. He was first welcomed by Mayor Zoran Janković on 23 April 2012, when the VIP guest signed Ljubljana's Memorial Book.
Since 1997, Hannes Swoboda has been Vice-President of the European Parliament's Interparliamentary delegation for relations with South-East Europe. As President of the Parliamentarian Working Group on the Western Balkans, a significant proportion of his parliamentary work has been dedicated to the Balkans. He was rapporteur for Croatia's accession to the EU, and in December 2011 recommended Croatian EU accession.

In the European Parliament, Swoboda is also a member of the Board for external relations with Central Asia and Russia and a member of the delegation for relations with the USA.
In addition to external relations and issues of integration, as a Substitute Member in the Committee on Energy, Research and Industrial Policies, Hannes Swoboda also devotes attention to economic policies. He also focuses on issues of discrimination against Roma people in Europe and has dedicated several missions to research the situation of European Roma. His experience is described in detail in his recently published book 'Roma - a European Minority'.