From the aspect of Slovenian interests, the debate on a multi-speed Europe is not something that should worry us, Cerar told the press after the summit.

According to him, the debate focused on what a multi-speed Europe meant and whether the concept should be encouraged in the future, while establishing that a multi-speed Europe was a fact.

"Slovenia participates in every form of enhanced cooperation. We're in the group of the most integrated member states, which is certainly a big advantage for our development within the EU."

Slovenia should not worry about a multi-speed Europe, on the contrary, it should fully participate in the debate with its own vision and ideas for common development, Cerar said.

According to him, a multi-speed Europe should not be perceived as a Europe in which some countries would develop further, while others would lag behind or be excluded from the EU.

"When one speaks about the idea of different speeds, one speaks about member states deciding independently in what part of EU integration they will cooperate more closely," Cerar said.

He does not see this concept as posing a risk to Europe's disintegration. He believes it should be understand as something that unites the Union which is going in the same direction, with member states picking different paths.

Today's meeting also debated the content of a joint declaration of EU leaders that is expected to be adopted at the 25 March summit in Italy's Rome, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Rome treaties.

The Rome declaration is expected to describe the achievements of the Union so far, emphasise European values and define future goals.

Europe must be safe and solidarity-based, it must be development-oriented and must be modernised in all areas, it must be based on social values and equal opportunities, the Slovenian prime minister stressed.

Cerar expects a quality and intensive debate on the future of the EU-27 in Slovenia, not only at the government level, but also in parliament and in civil society, which would produce proposals for making Europe more efficient and successful.

The debate also touched on the idea to establish a European public prosecution service, with the participants confirming that a consensus could not be reached.

According to Cerar, Slovenia is among the 17 countries which are ready to start a serious debate on the idea and endorse this project.

This is a good example of how to build enhanced cooperation connections which exclude no-one and which do not hinder the functioning of the Union as a whole, he said.