Ljubljana - National Assembly President Igor Zorčič symbolically took over from Portugal the parliamentary dimension of the presidency of the Council of the EU on Wednesday alongside National Council President Alojz Kovšca. Slovenia's presidency will mainly focus on the EU's post-pandemic recovery and efforts to strengthen the bloc's resilience, Zorčič said.

Slovenia will do its job at the helm of the Council of the EU in a responsible manner and will be able to boast achievements that will benefit all 27 EU member states at the end of the six-month presidency stint, Zorčič said on the occasion as quoted in a press release by parliament.

Slovenia's presidency will be mostly dedicated to the EU's post-pandemic recovery, efforts to strengthen the bloc's resilience, as well as to security and stability - including in the light of the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, and efforts to beef up the rule of law, according to the speaker.

Zorčič pointed to an opportunity that has not yet been seized by the EU for the bloc to establish itself as a global partner of other countries, including in so-called vaccination diplomacy that has been used by other world superpowers to extend their influence.

"Addressing global issues, such as the coronavirus epidemic, the EU as a community of most developed countries and global partner should approach countries that do not have access to vaccines," Zorčič said.

Portuguese Speaker Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues and Luis Capoulas Santos, head of Portugal's parliamentary EU Affairs Committee, represented the parliamentary dimension of Portugal's EU presidency that is wrapping up.

Handing over the parliamentary dimension to Slovenia, who takes over the EU presidency tomorrow, Santos said via videoconference that the epidemic had exacerbated global injustice.

It is key for the EU to establish a partnership with third-world countries, particularly those in Africa that are also the main source of migrations to the EU, he noted.

Rodrigues meanwhile said he was certain this time around Slovenia would be as successful in its EU presidency as it was in 2008 when it was at the helm of the Council of the EU for the first time, the release reads.