Berlin - President Borut Pahor will visit his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier on 13 October, the president's office said, for what is most likely his last meeting with the German head of state before his term ends. Over the years, the pair have met on many occasions, as part of bilateral visits and international events.

Their last meeting took place in April during Pahor's working visit to Berlin, which focussed on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the situation in the Western Balkans.

Both presidents are strong advocates of the EU's enlargement to the Western Balkans.

To enhance the region's EU integration, Pahor launched the Brdo-Brijuni Initiative in 2013, and Germany followed suit with the Berlin Process in 2014.

In May last year, Pahor hosted a trilateral meeting with Steinmeier and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa as part of the then EU presidency trio, when the presidents underlined the role of the European idea and unity.

Pahor has often highlighted the great role of what he termed Europe's "Franco-German engine" and argued that Slovenia must remain part of the core EU countries.

He has led Slovenia since December 2012, while Steinmeier first became German president in 2017 to be re-elected in parliament this year, before which he was twice foreign minister in the Angela Merkel government and SPD leader.

Pahor's second five-year term ends on 22 December, after he previously served as prime minister and parliamentary speaker as the only politician to hold the three top offices in Slovenia.

Slovenian voters will go to the polls to elect his successor on 23 October, with a potential second round scheduled for 13 November.