Cerar and Tusk are expected to discuss the topics of the summit, primarily the mega investment plan and other priorities of the union. Cerar is also expected to present the situation in Slovenia, in particular fiscal consolidation measures.

After the bilateral meeting with the new EU president and before the session of the EU heads of state and government, the Slovenian prime minister will attend a summit of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

The EUR 315bn investment plan, to be discussed at the summit, is the first priority of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for the coming year. Its main goal is to facilitate economic growth and employment in the EU by encouraging private investments.

The plan is supported by three pillars: establishment of an EU fund for strategic investments, a set of well-prepared, economically sustainable and credible projects and legislative changes aimed at facilitating investments.

The EU leaders are expected to express political support to the plan on Thursday, with a focus on the first pillar. They are expected to call for the fund to be established by June 2015 based on a legislative proposal from the European Commission.

Also expected to be discussed at the summit are the energy union, with Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov opening the question of alternatives to the Russian South Stream pipeline project, and relations with Ukraine and Russia.