EU – Clément Beaune participating in the informal meeting of European affairs ministers (Ljubljana and Brdo pri Kranju, 22 and 23 July 2021)

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Clément Beaune, Minister of State for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, was in Ljubljana on July 22 and 23 to meet with his fellow European affairs ministers at the informal meeting of the General Affairs Council hosted by the Slovenian presidency of the European Council.

Four main themes were discussed, reflecting the agenda of the Slovenian presidency:

  • resiliency and the revival of the European economy as the EU confronts the challenges of the green and digital transitions
  • the Conference on the Future of Europe
  • the rule of law and European values
  • the EU’s credibility and security on its territory, in its neighborhood and more broadly, in its foreign relations.

The Minister of State expressed France’s support for these priorities and underscored the importance of the agenda relating to the rule of law. In the wake of the European Commission’s presentation of its annual report, the Slovenian presidency will have the important responsibility of hosting substantive discussions on the rule of law in the second half of this year, during the General Affairs Council meetings.

Establishing conditions for boosting the EU’s resiliency, taking into account the lessons of the pandemic, means better identifying the ways and means to anticipate, prepare for and manage crises so that in the future, the EU will be able to detect, decide and act with even greater effectiveness.

Mr. Beaune will emphasize the need to include these considerations in an even more comprehensive framework of actions to support Europe’s strategic autonomy and independence.