Jadranka Winbow (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Elena Shekerletova (Bulgaria), Franc But (Chairman -Slovenia), Anne-Marie Descôtes (France), Dr. Snežana Janković (Serbia) and Gordan Bakota (Croatia).
Thursday, 1 July 2021, Representation of North Rhine-Westphalia to the German Federation, Berlin, Germany: The Slovenian Embassy in Germany led by Ambassador-Chairman Franc But celebrated the 30th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence as well as the start of Slovenia’s second EU Presidency with a diplomatic reception in Berlin that gathered his European counterparts.
The selected guests were welcomed by the State Secretary for European and International Affairs, Dr. Mark Speich, Plenipotentiary of the Land North Rhine-Westphalia in Berlin, Ambassador Franc But as well as Miguel Berger, State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office, who highlighted the goals and ambitions pursued by Slovenia during the period of its Presidency of the European Council which is held under the slogan “Together. Resilient. Europe.”
Slovenia held the presidency for the first time in the first half of 2008; its current turn is in the second half of 2021.
The key content-related task of the presidency country is to manage the work of the Council, particularly by directing the legislative work of the EU and formulating the joint positions of the Council regarding talks with the European Parliament as the co-legislator, as well as with the European Commission.
The presidency must ensure compliance with legislative procedures and impartially direct harmonisation among the Member States. It is expected to act as an honest and neutral broker that does not emphasise its own national interests but strives for common solutions.
For further information:
Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council: https://slovenian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/
Embassy of Slovenia to Germany (Ambassador Franc But): http://www.berlin.veleposlanistvo.si/index.php?id=21&L=2
Photography by Sablotny Fotografie Berlin – Courtesy of the Slovenian Embassy in Germany
