Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, July to December 2021

Summary:

Information Guide providing an overview relating to the Slovenian presidency of the Council of the European Union, which runs from 1 July to 31 December 2021.

Further information:

The Slovenian Council Presidency is the last of a Presidency Trio also comprising Germany and Portugal. This is the second occasion in which Slovenia holds the rotating Council Presidency (previous occasion took place in 2008). The motto of this Presidency is Together. Resilient. Europe.

The Presidency plans were strongly influenced by the effects of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the need for economic recovery across the European Union (EU) and the wider need for resilience against future crises. It also takes into account the discussions held in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe. This Presidency also vowed to address matters relating to rule of law, to focus on the relations between the European Union and the Western Balkans region and its path to EU membership.

In other words, the main priorities of the Slovenian Council Presidency include:

• The resilience, recovery and strategic autonomy of the European Union;
• Conference on the Future of Europe;
• A union of the European way of life, the rule of law and equal criteria for all;
• A credible and secure European Union, capable of ensuring security and stability in its neighbourhood.

The plenary of the European Parliament held a discussion on the priorities of this Presidency on 6 July 2021.

Commentary and Analysis

Wikipedia: 2021 Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Slovenian_Presidency_of_the_Council_of_the_European_Union

European Urban Knowledge Network: Slovenia's EU Presidency (July–December 2021) https://www.eukn.eu/eu-presidencies/slovenias-eu-presidency/

Intellectual Property Institute (IPI), 27/01/2021: How is Slovenia prepared for its EU Council Presidency? https://www.ipi.si/en/how-is-slovenia-prepared-for-its-eu-council-presidency/

Balkan Insight: Opinion, 04/06/2021: Slovenia’s Jansa is at War With Reason and the World https://balkaninsight.com/2021/06/04/slovenias-jansa-is-at-war-with-reason-and-the-world/

AmChamEU: Recommendations to the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (9 June 2021) http://www.amchameu.eu/sites/default/files/publications/files/presidency_recommendations_slovenia_2021.pdf

EPC: Events: Policy Briefing, 10/06/2021: Slovenia’s priorities for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vOusUee5VI&ab_channel=EuropeanPolicyCentre

TEPSA: Recommendations from members of the TEPSA network to the Slovenian Presidency (11 June 2021) https://www.tepsa.eu/recommendations-from-members-of-the-tepsa-network-to-the-slovenian-presidency/

EPRS: Briefing, June 2021: Priority dossiers under the Slovenian EU Council Presidency https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2021)690680

BEUC: News, 23/06/2021: What do consumers expect from the Slovenian EU Presidency? https://www.beuc.eu/press-media/news-events/what-do-consumers-expect-slovenian-eu-presidency

Reporters Without Borders (RSF): News, 25/06/2021: Slovenia’s EU Presidency must not obstruct efforts to improve media freedom in Europe https://rsf.org/en/news/slovenias-eu-presidency-must-not-obstruct-efforts-improve-media-freedom-europe

Foreign Policy, 30/06/2021: In Slovenia, a Trumpian Populist Assumes a Key European Post https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/06/30/slovenia-janez-jansa-trumpian-populist-illiberal-european-council-presidency/

International Press Institute: Newsroom, 30/06/2021: EU leaders urged to address media freedom in Slovenia as country takes on EU Presidency https://ipi.media/eu-leaders-urged-to-address-media-freedom-in-slovenia-as-country-takes-on-eu-presidency/

EurActiv: Opinion, 30/06/2021: Slovenian Presidency with Janša: What happens on Twitter should stay on Twitter https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/opinion/slovenian-presidency-with-jansa-what-happens-on-twitter-should-stay-on-twitter/

Politico: Opinion, 01/07/2021: A call for vigilance as Slovenia’s EU presidency begins https://www.politico.eu/article/slovenia-eu-presidency-begins-prime-minister-janez-jansa-european-union/

Euro|topics, June-July 2021: EU presidency: which face will Janša give to Europe? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/263666/

The Conversation (UK), 05/07/2021: Concern over rule of law as Slovenia takes over EU presidency https://theconversation.com/concern-over-rule-of-law-as-slovenia-takes-over-eu-presidency-163767

Euro|topics, July 2021: EU Council presidency: Janša's conciliatory inaugural address https://www.eurotopics.net/en/264051/

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News

Politico, 04/02/2021: Slovenia seeks to calm nerves over EU presidency https://www.politico.eu/article/slovenia-eu-presidency-council-calm-nerves-anze-logar/

Hungary Today, 10/02/2021: Many in EU Fear Council Presidency of Slovenia Led by Orbán Ally PM Janša https://hungarytoday.hu/eu-slovenia-council-presidency-orban-ally-jansa-article-7/

EUObserver, 01/04/2021: EU institutions brace for impact of Slovenia's Janša https://euobserver.com/democracy/151422

N1 Info, 23/04/2021: Slovenia: Strong focus on Western Balkans during our EU Council Presidency https://rs.n1info.com/english/news/slovenia-strong-focus-on-western-balkans-during-our-eu-council-presidency/

The Slovenia Times, 10/05/2021: Janša presenting EU presidency priorities in Athens https://sloveniatimes.com/jansa-presenting-eu-presidency-priorities-in-athens/

EurActiv, 20/05/2021: Slovenia PM faces impeachment vote ahead of EU presidency https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/slovenia-pm-faces-impeachment-vote-ahead-of-eu-presidency/

Politico, 26/05/2021: Slovenia’s Janša describes plans to Balkanize the EU https://www.politico.eu/article/janez-jansa-slovenia-eu-council-presidency-balkans/

Total Slovenia News, 04/06/2021: Slovenia Releases EU Presidency Slogan, Logo & Website https://www.total-slovenia-news.com/politics/8390-slovenia-releases-eu-presidency-slogan-logo-website

EurActiv, 11/06/2021: Slovenia to speed up legislative agenda for key digital files, ambassador says https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/slovenia-to-speed-up-the-legislative-agenda-for-key-digital-files-ambassador-says/

The Independent (UK), 30/06/2021: European Union braces for Slovenia's unorthodox presidency https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/european-union-braces-for-slovenias-unorthodox-presidency-slovenia-european-union-janez-jansa-viktor-orbn-brussels-b1875300.html

EUObserver, 30/06/2021: EU Presidency row - MEPs call out Slovenia's prosecutors failure https://euobserver.com/democracy/152296

Reuters, 30/06/2021: East-West rift over values as Slovenia assumes EU's presidency https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/east-west-rift-over-values-slovenia-assumes-eus-presidency-2021-06-30/

Associated Press, 30/06/2021: EU chair Slovenia to stay on liberal course, president says https://apnews.com/article/european-union-slovenia-europe-health-coronavirus-pandemic-50068ed68b4efcf901d1fcfafe2636f9

France24, 01/07/2021: Concerns over rule of law as Slovenia takes over EU presidency https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210630-concerns-over-rule-of-law-as-slovenia-take-over-eu-presidency

EurActiv, 01/07/2021: Slovenia hosts College of European Commissioners for working visit https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-council-presidency/news/slovenia-hosts-college-of-european-commissioners-for-working-visit/

Balkan Insight, 01/07/2021: Slovenia Takes Over EU Presidency Amid Wave of Criticism https://balkaninsight.com/2021/07/01/slovenia-takes-over-eu-presidency-amid-wave-of-criticism/

Politico, 01/07/2021: Rule of law disputes cast shadow over opening of Slovenia’s EU Council presidency https://www.politico.eu/article/rule-of-law-dispute-shadows-ceremonial-opening-of-slovenias-eu-council-presidency/

Euronews, 01/07/2021: Slovenia's Janez Jansa takes over EU presidency amid fears for rule of law https://www.euronews.com/2021/07/01/slovenia-s-janez-jansa-takes-over-eu-presidency-amid-fears-for-rule-of-law

Deutsche Welle, 01/07/2021: Slovenia vows to be honest EU broker on rule of law row https://p.dw.com/p/3vttA

The Guardian, 01/07/2021: Senior EU figure refuses to be photographed with rightwing Slovenia PM https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/01/eu-commission-urged-to-reject-hungary-covid-recovery-plan

EurActiv, 02/07/2021: Slovenia faces mountain of climate legislation as it takes on EU presidency role https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/slovenia-faces-mountain-of-climate-legislation-as-it-takes-on-eu-presidency-role/

EUObserver, 02/07/2021: Slovenia takes over EU presidency amid wave of criticism https://euobserver.com/democracy/152330

The Brussels Times, 02/07/2021: Slovenia takes over EU presidency with focus on unfinished business https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/eu-affairs/175957/slovenia-takes-over-eu-presidency-with-focus-on-unfinished-business/

Politico, 02/07/2021: Janša pushes gripes with Brussels as Slovenia takes EU presidency https://www.politico.eu/article/slovenian-prime-minister-janez-jansa-battles-eu-slovenia-european-council-presidency/

The Guardian, 04/07/2021: Imposing ‘imaginary’ values risks EU collapse, Slovenian PM claims https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/04/imposing-imaginary-values-risks-eu-collapse-slovenian-president-claims

EUObserver, 05/07/2021: Slovenia to push for Western Balkans enlargement https://euobserver.com/world/152336

Total Slovenia News, 05/07/2021: Janša to Present Priorities of Slovenia’s EU Presidency to MEPs Tuesday (Background) https://www.total-slovenia-news.com/politics/8550-jansa-to-present-priorities-of-slovenia-s-eu-presidency-to-meps-tuesday-background

Euronews, 06/07/2021: Slovenia's EU presidency off to a rough start, amplifying concerns on press freedom https://www.euronews.com/2021/07/06/slovenia-s-eu-presidency-off-to-a-rough-start-amplifying-concerns-on-press-freedom

Deutsche Welle, 06/07/2021: Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa on the defensive https://p.dw.com/p/3w6oR

The Brussels Times, 07/07/2021: Slovenia EU Presidency regains trust in the European Parliament https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/eu-affairs/176533/slovenia-eu-presidency-regains-trust-in-the-european-parliament/

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Official

Official Website of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (2021) https://slovenian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/

Slovenian Government: Projects: Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2021 https://www.gov.si/en/registries/projects/slovenian-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-eu-2021/

Slovenian Government: News, 04/06/2021: Slovenia presents the Presidency's slogan and logo https://www.gov.si/en/news/2021-06-04-slovenia-presents-the-presidencys-slogan-and-logo/

UNCHR: Press Release, 30/06/2021: News Comment by UNHCR EU Representative on launch of Slovenian Presidency of the European Union https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2021/6/60db1a4c4/news-comment-unhcr-eu-representative-launch-slovenian-presidency-european.html

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Prime Minister Janša on the occasion of the College visit to the Slovenian Presidency (1 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_3382

Slovenian Government: News, 01/07/2021: Slovenia's plan for resilience and recovery gets green light at the beginning of the Presidency https://www.gov.si/en/news/2021-07-01-slovenias-plan-for-resilience-and-recovery-gets-green-light-at-the-beginning-of-the-presidency/

IOM: Slovenian Office: News, 02/07/2021: IOM Releases Recommendations to the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://slovenia.iom.int/news/iom-releases-recommendations-slovenian-presidency-council-european-union

European Parliament: Press Release, 06/07/2021: Slovenian Presidency to focus on digital and green reforms and future of Europe https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210701IPR07510/

European Commission: Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary on the presentation of the programme of activities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU (6 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_3501

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Sassoli and Prime Minister Janša on the presentation of the programme of activities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU (6 July 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_3505

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