Programme and priorities of the Slovenian Presidency
On 1st July Slovenia took over the six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union under the motto "Together. Resilient. Europe".
The priorities of the Slovenian Presidency are set out in four chapters:
- The resilience and recovery of the European Union. A strategically autonomous European Union.
- The 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.
The Slovenian Presidency happens when the European Union is adopting important legislative packages, in particular in the field of environmental policy. Indeed on 14th July the EU will present its ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package, which will include a comprehensive set of measures (revision of the EU emissions trading system, a Regulation on effort sharing between Member States, CO2 emission standards for vehicles, adequate regulation of land use, land-use change and forestry) to achieve the increased EU climate target, i.e. at least a 55 % net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The Slovenian Presidency will begin the debate on this package, trying to identify as many outstanding issues as possible and find balanced compromise solutions.
As part of building the circular economy, the Slovenian Presidency will seek to reach agreement on a general approach to the legislative act on batteries, with which the EU is pursuing a life-cycle approach for products and responding to the challenges of increased battery use.
In the field of technical harmonisation, in line with the prioritising of artificial intelligence, the revision of the Machinery Directive will be to the fore. The Slovenian Presidency intends to address this in parallel with the horizontal act on artificial intelligence.
The Slovenian Presidency will strive for as much progress as possible regarding the proposal for Corporate Sustainable Reporting Directive (CSRD), the main goal of which is to improve the reporting of sustainable information of certain large companies.
In the field of international trade, the Slovenian Presidency will continue to address the most important bilateral, regional and horizontal dossiers in trade and investment policy. Priority will be given to strengthening the partnership with the United States and establishing a fairer, rule-based economic relationship with China. Efforts will be made to diversify relations and make alliances, including a wide network of trade agreements. The Slovenian Presidency will work towards progress in the process of signing the agreement with Mexico and Mercosur. It will monitor the ongoing negotiations focusing on Australia and New Zealand and updating the agreement with Chile, and work to deepen cooperation with India and the African continent and African countries.
More information can be found here.
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