In an informal debate on current developments in Ukraine and their consequences for the European Union, the ministers and state secretaries condemned as one the invasion of Russian troops into the sovereign state of Ukraine. They underlined the willingness to deepen relations with Ukraine, calling for further strengthening of European crisis management mechanisms, resilience and the Union’s ability to cope with the various forms of crisis. State Secretary Dovžan advocated a clear European perspective for the Eastern Partnership partner countries and stressed the importance of continuing the enlargement process in the Western Balkans. He highlighted the long-term consequences of the Ukrainian crisis, upholding preparations for countermeasures by the Russian Federation and called for continued strengthening of the EU’s resilience with a view to building greater strategic autonomy of the Union, notably in the areas of energy supply, nutrition and other strategic goods and technologies.

In the second part of the ministerial meeting, the ministers and state secretaries for European affairs exchanged views on various aspects of reinforcing the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights in the EU. The existing instruments were generally considered appropriate and improvements were proposed. State Secretary Dovžan commended the mechanisms available, advocating the resolution of the dilemmas that had not yet led the EU to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights. This step is necessary to ensure that human rights are also afforded adequate external judicial protection vis-à-vis individuals and vis-à-vis the European institutions.

The ministers and state secretaries for European affairs also discussed the way forward on the Conference on the Future of Europe and the preparation of the conclusions to be presented at the Conference on 9 May 2022 in Strasbourg. They stressed that the final report of the Conference should be comprehensive and balanced and reflect the recommendations of EU citizens. They also discussed current events, exchanging views on the possible impact of the Ukrainian crisis on the course of the conference. State Secretary Dovžan expressed his expectation that the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe should be based on citizens’ expectations, outlining that transparency of the process and effective communication of the results of the conference are of particular importance for Slovenia. The final report of the Executive Committee of the Conference should reflect the new reality created by the Russian attack on Ukraine. He proposed the inclusion of a clear EU commitment to further enlargement, which is of the utmost importance for both the Western Balkan countries and Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.