Cerar and experts agree Slovenia needs strong and united EU
Slovenia needs a union which would efficiently address the key needs of its citizens, especially the young, the prime minister summarised the opinions of the participants.
In a constructive discussion, Cerar exchanged views on the future of the EU, key conceptual guidelines on which Slovenia should focus, as well as operational aspects of the implementation of Slovenia's interests within the bloc, the prime minister's office said in a statement.
The participants also agreed that the discussion on the future of the EU would be continued at similar working meetings, to which other experts on the EU would be invited.
Today's meeting is part of the preparations for the informal EU summit in Bratislava in September and a series of meetings that the prime minister will hold with his counterparts in the coming days.
"After a number of serious challenges in the recent years, the time has come for a reflection on the future of the Union also from the Slovenian perspective," Cerar's office said as it announced the meeting.
The prime minister believes that the recent developments are however also an opportunity to establish a better and more efficient EU.
The meeting also discussed the recent decision by British voters to leave the EU, the reasons for the decision and possible consequences and opportunities.
The debate focused on key challenges in the EU and topics that member states should pay particular attention to in the short and medium run.
The participants were united in the opinion that Slovenia should insist on a strong, unified and future-oriented EU, which would be capable of responding to current and future global challenges and the needs of its citizens.
Only in this way the EU, which is of key importance to Slovenia in the changing world, will remain a guarantee of peace, stability and social progress, the prime minister's office said.
The key priorities are security, respect of human rights, keeping borders within the Schengen system open, employment of young people and modern digital society.
The meeting was attended among others by European Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc, ex-European Commissioner Janez Potočnik, president of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts Tadej Bajd, economist Mojmir Mrak and law expert Matej Accetto.
Cerar will present the conclusions from the meeting to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Austrian, Bulgarian and Croatian counterparts in Berlin on Saturday.
On Monday, the Slovenian prime minister will travel on to the Netherlands and Luxembourg, where he will meet the prime ministers Mark Rutte and Xavier Bettel, respectively.