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Netherlands, Slovakia, Malta broach framework for EU trio presidency

Xinhua, January 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta has managed to create a concise but structured Trio program seeking to provide a framework for the Trio Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the next 18 months, Secretary General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Renee Jones-Bos said here on Tuesday.

Addressing a public dialogue on the program and priorities of the EU Trio Presidency themed Taking Forward the Strategic Agenda, Jones-Bos stated that "gender equality and the environment are some of the issues the three of us have worked on together already."

She also highlighted the need to strengthen the Economic and Monetary Union and make it more robust while also continuing to address the issue of migration.

"Europe is under severe strain due to the influx of people fleeing repression and wars, apart from the fact that terrorists are attacking our way of life," she added while speaking in the context of a Trio Presidency that comes at a time when Europe is under a lot of pressure.

The event, involved delegations from the Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta, was organized by the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) and the archipelago's Parliamentary Secretariat for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds.

State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic and Government Plenipotentiary for the Slovak Presidency of the EU Council Ivan Korcok, stressed how public dialogue is extremely important to involve citizens in the preparations for the presidency.

He explained how the Trio decided to place the Strategic Agenda, agreed to by the European Council in 2014, at the core of the Trio program. "We will build on the Dutch presidency and the Trio program will serve as a basis for our priorities," added Korcok.

When responding to some of the issues raised by members of the public, Korcok referred to the situation of the United Kingdom, saying that the issues raised by the UK will be solved diplomatically.

The Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta will preside over the Council of the European Union from Jan. 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. Endit