Brdo pri Kranju - Slovenia will formally take over the six-month presidency of the Council of the EU on Thursday, focussing on tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and recovery, enhancing resilience to future crises, and the EU's enlargement. The government will host the College of European Commissioners for a working visit today.

Slovenia starts its second stint at the helm of the Council of the EU since it joined the bloc in 2004 after holding the presidency in the first half of 2008.

The country's six-month stint will begin with a working visit by the College of Commissioners and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as is customary when a country starts the rotating presidency.

The officials will review priorities for the next six months and von der Leyen will present an assessment of Slovenia's recovery and resilience plan.

Von der Leyen is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Janez Janša after meetings between commissioners and ministers by five thematic sections: the European Green Deal, digital transformation, recovery and resilience, foreign relations with the emphasis on the Western Balkans and migration, security, the rule of law and the Conference on the Future of Europe, all priorities of Slovenia's EU presidency.

A working lunch will follow and a joint press conference featuring Janša and von der Leyen is scheduled for 3:30pm.

European Commission representatives will meet the representatives of the National Assembly, while the Commission president and members will also be received by President Borut Pahor.

The EU delegation will wrap up the visit by attending a ballet extravaganza on Lake Bled that will mark the start of the Slovenian EU presidency. Based on a ballad by Slovenian Romantic poet France Prešeren, Merman has been choreographed by Edward Clug, the artistic director of the SNG Maribor opera and ballet ensemble.