Brussels - Prime Minister Janez Janša gifted on Thursday folding touring skis produced by Slovenia's Elan to French President Emanuel Macron as Slovenia symbolically handed over the EU Council presidency to France.

The Ibex Tactix Carbon Ion 12 skis is a "top technological innovation from Elan, a global manufacturer and supplier of sports equipment that is committed to advanced design through advanced technologies", the government said.

Macron was also presented with folding ski poles along with the skis, the government said on Twitter, attaching a photo of Janša and Macron chatting.

The two leaders met as the regular December EU summit was held in Brussels yesterday, the last during Slovenia's six-month presidency of the EU Council, with France taking over for its half-year stint in January.