Ljubljana - Prime Minister Janez Janša spoke via videoconference on Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. They discussed the Covid-19 situation in Europe, the EU presidency trio's activities and the situation in the Western Balkans, the government said on Twitter.

Close bilateral ties, the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the joint work of the two countries as part of the current EU presidency trio were highlighted as topics of discussion on Twitter by German government spokesman Steffen Seibert.

Janša told the press at the government's Covid-19 briefing that Germany had offered emergency medical equipment should Slovenia require it.

He said the conversation with Merkel lasted an hour and involved a very in-depth estimate of the measures both countries have been taking to contain the virus.

Germany has been presiding the Council since July as the first in the current presiding trio, which also features Portugal and Slovenia. Slovenia will take over the presidency in the second half of 2021.