French Ambassador Lauds Slovenia's EU Presidency

Ljubljana, 10 July

The Slovenian EU presidency did very well in many areas and even surpassed many expectations, French Ambassador to Slovenia Chantal de Bourmont said in an interview for a Slovenian political weekly.

According to the ambassador, the first half of the year went very well, from the Slovenian side events were organised flawlessly and delegates were cared for professionally - the Slovenian presidency did its job responsibly.
The ambassador highlighted measures taken when Kosovo declared independence. "Under the Slovenian leadership, the EU first worked to cool the situation. This is the real 'soft power' of the Union - decisions are made gradually and in a calm manner, with a care for the prosperity of the people living in the region."
De Bourmont also praised the cooperation between Slovenia and France, which took over the EU presidency from Slovenia on 1 July. The cooperation has grown stronger, numerous French delegations visited Slovenia, and dialogue has become more regular and more direct, she explained.
The ambassador is optimistic about the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. "The Irish have to find a suitable political and legal solution allowing the Treaty of Nice to be transformed into the Lisbon Treaty. This will not only make way for future enlargement, but also for the normal functioning of EU institutions," she said.
She also stressed that this was not the first time the EU was in a crisis, but pointed out that the bloc had always found a way out of the crisis, and it will do so this time around, too.
There is no alternative for the EU, she explained. "I think the EU is the only real chance for progress and stability of European nations and it will remain this way. The French will make extra efforts for that during our presidency," she concluded.

French Ambassador Lauds Slovenia's EU Presidency

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