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Slovak EU presidency "milestone" of country's EU membership: official

Xinhua, November 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Slovakia's first presidency of the Council of the European Union in the latter half of 2016 will be a milestone in Slovakia's EU membership, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak said Thursday.

"The presidency of the Council of the EU is a unique chance for Slovakia to demonstrate leadership and readiness to take on its share of responsibility for developments in the EU and the whole of Europe. In a way we can even view it as the definitive fulfillment of our integration process," said Lajcak.

A meeting in the run-up to Slovakia's preparations for the rotating presidency is currently being held under the aegis of the National Convention on the European Union.

"The EU presidency concerns our whole country, so it should be our common ownership. Therefore, we seek to discuss European affairs within the Convention, too. The Convention is an open platform for political parties, the executive branch, Parliament, NGOs, Churches, interest groups, representatives of municipalities, the economic and social spheres," added Lajcak.

The Convention is expected to produce framework stances on core issues that will also provide the Slovak government with the groundwork for the objectives and roles of Slovakia's presidency of the Council of the EU. Endit