Kommissionsformand Ursula von der Leyens udtalelse på det fælles pressemøde med premierminister Janša i forbindelse med kollegiets besøg hos det slovenske formandskab

Thank you very much Prime Minister,

Indeed, the beginning of a new Presidency is always a very special moment. Slovenia is taking the helm of Europe's leadership at a turning point for our Union. Our vaccination campaign is progressing fast. The European Union is cautiously reopening, we are shifting now from crisis management to long-term recovery efforts.

And NextGenerationEU is kind of the engine of this recovery. It will be up to us, together, to steer this recovery, and make sure it works smooth and fast on the ground. And I count on the Presidency's support to approve as many national recovery and resilience plans as possible before the summer break. Because this is crucial, so the money starts flowing now as soon as possible.

As you have said Prime Minister, our recovery will be sustainable, it will be digital. With NextGenerationEU, we have EUR 800 billion - in today's prices - worth of investments, and this will make the European Green Deal a reality. It will enable our societies to embrace the digital revolution. Now, we have to match this exceptional level of investment we have through NextGenerationEU with a very much increased ambition, really to implement and to deliver on the ground.

The European Union's climate targets are now enshrined since a few days in our Climate Law, signed by the European Parliament and by the Council. And now it is a question of how we are going to reach these goals and how we are going to make the most out of NextGenerationEU's green investments. You know the numbers: Climate neutrality in 2050; at least 55% greenhouse gas emissions until 2030. How are we going to reach that? The Commission will present its so-called Fit for 55 package, that shows how we are going to reach our goals, two weeks from now. It will be one of the most ambitious EU policy overhauls ever. It is a dozen proposals from carbon pricing, through renewable energies - we spoke about it -, from protection of nature to innovation and investments, all interlinked. It is a very coherent package of measures to reduce emissions on the one hand, but also to drive clean growth and to create jobs - sustainable, future-proof jobs - on the other hand.

Prime Minister,

Your support of this package will be instrumental. And I look to the Slovenian Presidency to steer and structure the work of the Council on Fit for 55, and to keep it balanced and coherent for our citizens, for our economy and, of course, also for our planet.

We count equally on the Slovenian Presidency to help Europe achieve its digital transformation. And I welcome your intention to start trilogues before the end of the year on our proposals for a safer, more open European digital space, namely, you know them: the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, and on data governance.

Like you, the Commission is fully committed to support the Western Balkans' European path. We are also committed to making progress in the EU's enlargement process, by formally opening the accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. And I welcome the EU-Western Balkans Summit, which you have announced and will organise during your Presidency. We will work closely together, for the long-term recovery and stability in that region - this was also a topic we have been discussing together.

As a matter of fact, this week we had - you mentioned it - an important breakthrough on migration, with the agreement reached on the new European Union Agency for Asylum. It is a key initiative under the New Pact on Asylum and Migration. And this is good, and we should continue moving forward on the other proposals of the Pact. The screening proposal and EURODAC could be adopted quickly now - and I hope already under your Presidency. And hopefully we can advance towards Council negotiating mandates on the other key measures of the Pact by the end of the year.

Finally, a Presidency has an important role to play on the current rule of law files. For example, by managing discussions in the Council based on the Rule of Law Report that will come by mid- or end July this year. Because at such a crucial moment, as we collectively prepare and finance our recovery, trust is our most valuable asset. Trust in solid institutions. Trust in an independent and efficient judicial system. Trust in free, and independent, and properly funded media. Trust that freedom of expression, diversity and equality are always respected, and that the rule of law and European values are always upheld. This is the very essence of our European Union. This is how we earn the respect of the global community. And this is the key to recovering and living together, as a Union. And to be very clear: Political dialogue requires respect for all democratic political parties.

The Slovenian Presidency will be decisive. The tasks will be challenging. It is no less than laying the ground for our future prosperity, by setting NextGenerationEU in motion, and really implementing it now on the ground. And in this endeavour, you can count on my constant support and the College's cooperation.

Thank you very much.

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