Prime Minister Janez Janša is attending a session of the European Council in Brussels. Yesterday, the leaders of the European Union focused on the relations with the United Kingdom and on the Brexit negotiations, assessed the epidemiological situation and talked about climate change. Today they will discuss some other foreign policy topics, especially the EU relations with Africa.
Arriving at today’s European Council meeting, Prime Minister Janez Janša said in a press statement that the European Council had unanimously supported the starting points for further negotiations with the United Kingdom. “Time is running out, but Europe is united nonetheless. We acknowledged and thanked our negotiator, Michel Barnier, for his work, which is aimed not only at reaching an agreement, but also at achieving an atmosphere in which the European Union can cooperate with the United Kingdom after Brexit is completely done, ”Prime Minister said.
He went on to say that the central topic of yesterday’s conversation and agreement, was an exchange of experiences related to the current wave of coronavirus. “We all welcomed the recommendations of the European Commission and the European Council regarding the crossing of internal borders across the EU. Slovenia has been following these recommendations since last month, when they were proposed. By following these recommendations, I am avoiding the congestion we have witnessed at the EU internal boarders in the spring,” said Prime Minister Janša. He added that “we also welcomed the Commission’s framework proposal on the preparations of the EU Member States for vaccination once the COVID-19 vaccine is available.” The recommendations make sense and Slovenia will strictly follow them during the preparations, which we will carry out in the shortest possible time, of course hoping that the vaccine will also be available soon,” said Prime Minister Janez Janša. He continued to say that a communication framework on the fight against fake news was also presented yesterday, namely referring to the denial of the dangers of the virus as well as the COVID-19 virus itself, which are spreading in Europe mainly through social networks, but in Slovenia often through the mainstream media.
“This causes great damage in the joint fight in the European and national context against the spread of coronavirus and forces Europe, as well as individual nation states, to take more drastic measures than would actually be needed if there were no false news and mass dissemination of completely unscientific and illogical denials,” said Prime Minister Janez Janša.
In a media statement, Prime Minister stressed that he hopes that today the European leaders will support Greece and Cyprus against the new Turkish provocation in order to „send a strong message that that this is not going to happen in such a way.“