France takes over baton of EU presidency
The outgoing and incoming presidents of the European Union gathered here on Monday for a special ceremony at which Slovenia passed on the baton of the EU presidency to France.
By Agencies |
NOVA GORICA (SLOVENIA): The outgoing and incoming presidents of the European Union gathered here on Monday for a special ceremony at which Slovenia passed on the baton of the EU presidency to France.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel met with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner at a ceremony held on a square that symbolised Slovenia's accession to the 27-nation bloc four years ago.
Back then, the square was created by demolishing a fence that had divided two parts of the same metropolitan area - Slovenian Nova Gorica and Italian Gorizia - since the end of World War II.
Ljubljana was leaving to France the union in "rather good shape," Rupel told Kouchner.
"You say it's in good shape ... well, yes, let's rather say it is in average shape," the Frenchman retorted.
The EU has been plunged into crisis after Ireland rejected earlier the so-called Lisbon Treaty, designed to streamline EU decision-making following enlargement of the bloc to 27 members.
Slovenia was the first eastern European state to hold the EU's six-month rotating presidency.
The official handover falls at midnight (2300 GMT) and, symbolically, Rupel presented Kouchner with a relay baton and an EU flag.
The French minister praised the verve with which Slovenia had served its term.
France hoped to be able to show the same "enthusiasm, self-confidence and true devotion" to moving the EU forward, Kouchner said.
Rupel thanked France for the assistance it provided to Slovenia over the past six months.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel met with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner at a ceremony held on a square that symbolised Slovenia's accession to the 27-nation bloc four years ago.
Back then, the square was created by demolishing a fence that had divided two parts of the same metropolitan area - Slovenian Nova Gorica and Italian Gorizia - since the end of World War II.
Ljubljana was leaving to France the union in "rather good shape," Rupel told Kouchner.
"You say it's in good shape ... well, yes, let's rather say it is in average shape," the Frenchman retorted.
The EU has been plunged into crisis after Ireland rejected earlier the so-called Lisbon Treaty, designed to streamline EU decision-making following enlargement of the bloc to 27 members.
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Slovenia was the first eastern European state to hold the EU's six-month rotating presidency.
The official handover falls at midnight (2300 GMT) and, symbolically, Rupel presented Kouchner with a relay baton and an EU flag.
The French minister praised the verve with which Slovenia had served its term.
France hoped to be able to show the same "enthusiasm, self-confidence and true devotion" to moving the EU forward, Kouchner said.
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Rupel thanked France for the assistance it provided to Slovenia over the past six months.
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