STA, 31 December 2021 - As the Slovenian EU presidency is about to end, Prime Minister Janez Janša said on Friday he considered the six-month stint a success. The project has been both a great challenge and tremendous opportunity, and a number of important steps have been achieved, he said.
The year that is drawing to a close has been special, as Slovenia celebrated 30 years of independence and was at the helm of the Council of the EU for the second time since joining the bloc, the prime minister said.
Above all, the presidency has been an opportunity for the country to show and prove to itself, as well as to others, that it has "the ideas, know-how and ambition to actively contribute to shaping Europe's present and future", he said in an address published by the Slovenian presidency on its website.
"We find that we have seized this opportunity. The presidency project has been a success," he said, adding that despite Covid-19 most of the planned events, including those at the highest level, had taken place in-person. "The organisation of the events was of a high standard and the guests left Slovenia with a positive impression," he added.
Janša pointed out that during the Slovenian presidency there had been numerous and significant steps achieved. "The priorities we set at the start of the presidency have proved to be well-thought-out, while we have also had to respond to many unforeseen crisis situations," he said.
The prime minister also noted that the presidency had been a team project. "We have proved that together we can do it," he told his colleagues, thanking them all for their efforts.
"May your pride and confidence in the successful completion of the project be a guiding light for the further development of our homeland and for Slovenia's sovereign position in the European Union and the world," he said.
Slovenia is wrapping up its second EU presidency today with France taking over tomorrow, on New Year's Day.
