Slovak EU presidency begins symbolically today

Even though Slovakia's Presidency of the EU Council will officially begin on July 1, the Slovak Government's visit to Brussels today should be viewed as its symbolic beginning, European Commission Vice-president for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič told TASR on Tuesday. Šefčovič noted that this will be the first official meeting between Slovak ministers and members of the EU executive. It will feature separate talks between Slovak Premier Robert Fico and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, which will be followed by a three-hour working lunch held by the College of Commissioners with members of the Slovak Government at which the priorities of the Slovak presidency will be high on the agenda. The debates will concern four main spheres: economic growth and the EU's budget; the internal market, Energy Union, the digital market and completion of capital union; European security and migration; and EU enlargement, reported Šefčovič.