Welcome
Foreign Minister Maas before leaving for Slovenia
Prior to departing for Slovenia, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas issued the following statement today (3 July):
Today’s trip marks the start of our joint trio Presidency with Portugal and Slovenia. Our triad shares a clear pro-European approach. We want to use this opportunity to move forward on pressing tasks in Europe.
Our cooperation will be pivotal for European crisis management in the next 18 months. This is a responsibility we want to shoulder. Our trio Programme reflects our determination to overcome this crisis together in the spirit of European solidarity. We need to improve the European Union’s resilience, not least its resilience to crises, and strengthen its social and economic base.
Despite the crisis, Europe cannot afford to lose a year bearing in mind the other key questions that will define our future. We therefore want to step up the green and digital transformation together. And we want to ensure Europe’s interests and values are heard more in the world.
Background information:
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is flying to Slovenia today for a one-day visit.
The trip marks the start of the joint trio Presidency of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia in the Council of the European Union from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2021. Each trio Presidency draws up a joint 18 month programme. Germany also formed a trio with Portugal and Slovenia in 2007-08.
That is why a trio meeting is being held today in Ljubljana. The Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva will take part via videolink. After the meeting, a joint press conference with the three Foreign Ministers is scheduled for 12 noon.
In the afternoon, Foreign Minister Maas will meet his Slovene counterpart Anže Logar, President Borut Pahor and Prime Minister Janez Janša for bilateral talks.
Foreign Minister Maas will arrive back in Berlin in the evening.
Programme of the trio Presidency of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia