Lajcak: Preparations for Slovakia's Presidency Get into Final Phase

Bratislava, May 13 (TASR) – Preparations for Slovakia’s Presidency of the Council of the EU are progressing as planned, said Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak (Smer-SD nominee) at a meeting with the European Commission (EC) top representatives in Bratislava on Friday.

“Preparations are entering their final phase,” said Lajcak.

With EC Secretary General Alexander Italianer and EC President Cabinet Head Martin Selmayr, Lajcak discussed preparations for the presidency, Slovak priorities, as well as cooperation with other EU institutions.

Slovakia’s chief of diplomacy stressed that during the presidency, Slovakia will focus on activities that could bring Europe closer together.

“The presidency programme as well as our priorities will be ambitious, yet realistic. They will be aimed at achieving concrete results in order to make our presidency successful not only for Slovakia but also for the whole European project,” said Lajcak.

With his partners from the EC, he also discussed preparations for a joint session of the EC College of Commissioners and members of the Slovak Government in Brussels in June as well as the Commission’s visit to Slovakia at the beginning of its presidency in July.

The EC is among the three most important EU institutions and is responsible for proposing legislation and implementing decisions of the EU.