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Slovakia to take economic issues, migration as priorities during EU presidency

Xinhua, May 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Slovakia, during its presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of this year, will promote deeper economic and monetary union, and sustainable migration and asylum policies, announced Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak at a parliamentary session on Tuesday.

"The priority theme of our presidency will be an economically powerful Union. We'll push through the strengthening of economic and monetary union, including fiscal integration. We'll focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and we'd also like to make progress with the Union's capital markets," stressed Lajcak.

Regarding migration and asylum policies, Slovakia will promote the protection of the EU's external borders, reinstating the Schengen area, cooperation with third countries and legal migration.

"We aim to make it more attractive for highly-qualified migrants, such as the founders of start-up companies and entrepreneurs, to live in the Union," added Lajcak.

Slovakia will also focus on the active implementation of a revised European neighborhood policy.

"Enlargement policies remain the most effective EU transformation tool in relation to countries in its neighborhood. We'll aim to sustain the dynamics and credibility of the enlargement process," stated Lajcak.

A total of 19 events at the ministerial level will take place during Slovakia's presidency, along with seven at parliamentary level.

"We're expecting the participation of around 20,000 delegates from EU member states," said Lajcak. Enditem