Slovenia symbolically assumes EU chair

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates symbolically passed the EU presidency on to Slovenian counterpart Janez Jansa. The symbolic handover took place yesterday at a ceremony dedicated to the expansion of the Schengen Zone in the border town of Skofija. Slovenia symbolically assumes EU chair “I’m glad we’ve reached the end of the Portuguese presidency and because we’ve accomplished all our aims: we’ve held top level meetings with Brazil and Africa, signed the Lisbon Treaty, reached agreement over Galicia, and finally, expanded the Schengen Zone,” said Socrates in Skofija, adding that Portugal would support Slovenia wholeheartedly during its presidency, and wished her all the best. After yesterday’s symbolic handover, Slovenia will officially assume the six-month EU presidency on December 31. A number of high-ranking officials attended the ceremony, including the Slovenian leadership, Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini, European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik and the interior ministers of all nine new members of the Schengen Zone. Jansa said that Europe would expand further and warned, above all, of the importance of stability in the west Balkans, which would be one of the biggest challenges during Slovenia’s presidency. Janez Jansa (FoNet, archive)

Slovenia symbolically assumes EU chair

“I’m glad we’ve reached the end of the Portuguese presidency and because we’ve accomplished all our aims: we’ve held top level meetings with Brazil and Africa, signed the Lisbon Treaty, reached agreement over Galicia, and finally, expanded the Schengen Zone,” said Socrates in Škofija, adding that Portugal would support Slovenia wholeheartedly during its presidency, and wished her all the best.

After yesterday’s symbolic handover, Slovenia will officially assume the six-month EU presidency on December 31.

A number of high-ranking officials attended the ceremony, including the Slovenian leadership, Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini, European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potočnik and the interior ministers of all nine new members of the Schengen Zone.

Janša said that Europe would expand further and warned, above all, of the importance of stability in the west Balkans, which would be one of the biggest challenges during Slovenia’s presidency.