Prime Minister Janez Janša gave the following statement to the media on his arrival at the meeting: “Before us lies an important meeting of the European Council. The focal point will be the exchange of experience relating to the new coronavirus epidemic. A large majority of the EU member states are faced with increasing numbers, or a very slow decline in the number of infections. We are anxiously waiting for information about the availability of the first vaccines approved by the European institutions, which represent a light at the end of the tunnel for all of us.”

On the recovery package, he noted: “I am very happy that we have a compromise proposal regarding the instrument with which European assets, the common European budget, and the recovery and resilience fund are protected with the rule of law.” He continued to congratulate Germany for its presidency, and Poland and Hungary for all their efforts in the last few weeks and especially in the last few days. “It is not over yet, but we are faced with a very good compromise. If it is approved at the European Council, then we will have appropriate protection with the rule of law for all the financial mechanisms of the EU, which will enter into force on 1 January next year, as well as the appropriate funds we desperately need in order to recover after the epidemic.”