State Secretary Korčok: Slovak Presidency in the Council of the European Union also had a strong external dimension

Bratislava (26 January) - 'The Bratislava summit was an impetus for several EU measures of a global nature,' said State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Government Proxy for the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU Ivan Korčok at a meeting with non-EU ambassadors accredited to the Slovak Republic.

The Slovak Government Proxy Korčok pointed to the context in which the Slovak Republic took over its historically first Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The crisis of the EU citizens´ trust was also addressed by summoning the Bratislava Summit in last September. Adopting the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and concluding the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA ) serve as the examples having the global character during this timeframe. The meeting of 27 EU leaders sent signals of unity and resolve to continue in the European Union project.

At the meeting State Secretary Korčok talked about the most important tangible results of the Slovak Presidency. He also emphasized the progress achieved by the Slovak Republic in the EU enlargement process adding that despite many challenges the European Union faces, the Slovak Republic is still interested in maintaining this topic in the center of interest. 'We consider the European Union enlargement process to be the most effective instrument for spreading stability, European norms and economic prosperity in the European neighborhood,' underlined State Secretary Korčok. The Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union also aimed at achieving maximum progress in Council deliberations on visa liberalization for Georgia and Ukraine.

Address by State Secretary I. Korčok