STA, 9 May 2020 - Prime Minister Janez Janša has joined the leaders of the other 26 EU member countries and representatives of the bloc's three key institutions for a joint video message on Europe Day, noting that Slovenia has chosen the EU in the hope of peace, freedom and prosperity.
In a video message posted on Twitter, the EU leaders underscored the significance of a united Europe and solidarity, in particular in the combat against the coronavirus crisis.
"The European Union is our conscious choice. A choice in the hope of peace, freedom and prosperity," said Janša, speaking in Slovene.
Each of the leaders delivered a brief message in their own language.
The first to appear on the clip, European Council President Charles Michel said: "Europe means freedom, tolerance, openness, diversity, respect, innovation, creativity, dynamism. Europe is also about solidarity and unity."
Janša appeared fifth in the clip after Michel, Croatian PM Andrej Plenković, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, and the leaders of the next two presiding countries ahead of Slovenia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Portuguese PM Antonio Costa.
Slovenia is scheduled to hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2021 after it held the stint for the first time between January and June 2008.
Europe Day commemorates the Schuman Declaration, presented 70 years ago to the day, to call for political cooperation for a lasting peace among European nations.
