EU wants Slovakia's presidency to be successful

The European Commission has given assurances to Slovakia that it wants to make Slovakia's presidency of the EU in the latter half of 2016 a successful one, the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry told TASR on Monday evening in reference to a meeting of the ministry's state secretary Ivan Korčok with EC first vice-president Frans Timmermans. According to the ministry, Slovakia has entered the final phase of preparations in terms of the presidency's content and negotiations with EU institutions. "I have a good feeling that we know almost exactly what we'd like to achieve in several topics - finance and budget, Energy Union and the digital economy", said Korčok. Korčok and Timmermans spoke about the migration crisis and the British referendum on the future of Britain's membership of the EU. "There's nothing worse than to reiterate what you've agreed on, not fulfil it and then propose new solutions", said Korčok, emphasising Slovakia's call for the rapid creation of a common European border and coast guard. With respect to the British referendum, Korčok stressed the importance of the EU summit that is due to take place in February, and where EC president Jean-Claude Juncker expects a deal on the reforms demanded by Great Britain. Korčok said that it's important to know the exact date of the referendum in order to find out whether it will take place before, during or after Slovakia's presidency.