During the plenary session (13-16 September 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Ursula VON DER LEYEN delivers the State of the European Union (SOTEU 2021) to the MEPs. Statement by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

state of the Union

LOGAR, Anže (SI)

state of the European Union 2021 (T)

State of the European Union 2021 debate: Statement by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable members. Madam President of the Commission. First of all, on behalf of the Council, I thank and congratulate president Von Der Leyen four address a strong and continued pro-European conviction, and her action in this moment, when the EU is gradually recovering from the pandemic, but facing great challenges in terms of climate change and the international situation. You underlined strong soul is needed. Strong soul will be delivered from the presidency side.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, We continue to be guided by the strategic agenda 2019-2024, and in my view, the Slovenian presidency priorities fits perfectly well with President Von der leyen address today. During our presidency, we are focussing in particular on building up health and cyber resilience and also highlighting the need to ensure resilience to any type of crisis. Covid showed that in the time of crisis, the internal market and the four freedoms come very fragile. Therefore, I believe that further strengthening of the single market must stay in our focus and an unhindered functioning of the internal market is of key importance for the European economy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regarding the health union intensive work between the Council and the European Parliament is ongoing. The Council is working towards achieving final agreement on the three proposals in the package by the end of the year. We certainly need to use this political momentum and to show our citizens that together we are building a more resilient union that will be better prepared to cope with future health crisis. We are welcoming the head of proposal published yesterday. I can assure you that the Slovenian presidency will make every effort to advance negotiation. We see the proposal in complementary with the health union package.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ladies and gentlemen, let me use this opportunity to thank the European Commission for a strong leadership in the past year that brought us to a point where a successful vaccine rollout has contributed to a stabilisation of the epidemiological situation. Nonetheless, due to the vaccine hesitancy in many countries, as well as the threat of variants, we will need to remain cautious. Application of measures to kerb the spread of virus will be with us for some time to come. As with the need to coordination of Covid related measures, we intend to continue to ensure a coordinated approach.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vaccines in sharing with countries most in need is an important gesture of solidarity. As a presidency, we will therefore also do our best to contribute to an accelerated effort as regards EU vaccine donation to third countries. Dear members of the European Parliament. Prime Minister Jan&scaron;a addressed in this hemicycle in July and stated that I quote: "The most important thing for our short term future is to stop the pandemic and recover economically as soon as possible".

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, The virus, it put a halt on social life and the economy for the greater part of 2020 and 2021. It is estimated that Covid-19 took away more than five million jobs in the first half of 2020. The economy, the EU economy has shrunk by six percent. Yet in the second quarter of 2021, we see a remarkable recovery across the EU. This recovery must include the green and digital transition. Allow me to stress the proposal on digital services and digital markets. The Council is working on both acts intensively and we aim to agree council position by the end of the year.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, As Mrs Von Der Leyen stated today, digital is a make or break issue. The presidency can only approve to the announcement of building a new EU chip ecosystem and new cybersecurity act. I would like to thank the Commission for the tremendous work on the for 55 package. In very short time, you presented a huge legislative agenda across EU policies and with far reaching impact on our economy, industry and our way of life. All of this is also very important in light of our preparation for the COP 26 in Glasgow.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, It is never easy to change our social and economic patterns, even more so if this implies higher costs for our citizens. Therefore, the social consequences of this transition have to be properly addressed. So we compliment the announcement of new climate social fund. We will work together with the Commission to ensure that the Council swiftly endorsed the necessary act for the adoption of the National Recovery Plan of the remaining member states and the disbursement of funds. These are essential for recovery. Since the beginning of the Slovenian presidency, we have been able to approve 18 national plans. I'm convinced that this will provide additional boost for the European recovery.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ladies and gentlemen, all of these topics plus rule of law, strategic autonomy, global action, migration and asylum, European Defence Union, all this will determine our future and the future of next generation for decades ahead of us. This is why they are part of the Conference on the Future of Europe discussion managed jointly by the European Parliament, European Commission and Council.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, We should be able to ensure that we engage and listen to our citizens in search to answer the question in what kind of Europe they wish to live. These discussions should go far beyond the Brussels bubble and far beyond our capitals. I am glad that first citizens panel is about to kick off at the end of this week. It is also important that when debating the future of the EU, we also look beyond current borders. Process of enlargement is taking place. The regional Western Balkans has EU perspective. As presidency, slovenia pay special attention to the Western Balkans. The Western Balkans Summit will take place in Slovenia in October. Enlargement should be one of the EU strategic priorities. Accession of the Western Balkan country should be part of our common vision.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Finally, we welcome the commission's letter of intent, which the Council will discuss next week, together with the annual Strategic Forsight Report. We are convinced that the report will be useful tool not only for political deliberation but also for finding proper expert solution to the issues that the world of today and tomorrow face. We look forward to continuing the fruitful dialogue amongst the three institutions on our common priorities for the next year. The Council will subsequently, in November discuss the new Commission work programme with a view to the joint declaration on legislative priorities for 2022.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Our joint programme can help us and our three institutions achieve result in a focussed and targeted way. Let me reaffirm the Council's commitment to this process and assure you that the presidency will continue to be a determined partner. Let me once again reassure that presidency possess a strong soul, European soul. And if you ask me how to summarise today's State of the Union speech in only three words, I would say "together, resilient Europe". The exact motto of Slovenian EU presidency.