The talks focused on the preparations for the Slovenian EU Council Presidency and the priorities awaiting Slovenia in the second half of the year. The discussions touched on the EU’s action during the pandemic and the cooperation of the country holding the Presidency with the European Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU in the formulation and implementation of priorities. We welcome the unanimous assessment that, in the second half of the year, the adoption and implementation of plans for the economic recovery of EU Member States will be at the forefront, along with efforts to raise the EU’s resilience to various forms of crisis. The Conference on the Future of Europe, which is a shared responsibility of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the EU, awaits to be led. We will also make every effort to strengthen the common understanding of European values, particularly the rule of law, which is an important element of the European way of life. We will also advocate the adoption of measures in support of a credible and secure Union capable of ensuring security in its immediate neighbourhood, too.

Slovenia has a strong interest in positive and close cooperation with both the European Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council. Their support for the Presidency’s ambitions is crucial in achieving the objectives set. We are pleased to see the similarity of views on the challenges facing the European Union, which Slovenia will help address in the second half of the year as the country holding the Presidency.