SLOVAK PRESIDENCY PRIORITIES

The Slovak Presidency comes at a time when the European Union finds itself in an unprecedented situation. The negative outcome of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU has presented us with a new challenge; for the first time in history, we are required to concern ourselves with the practicalities and political ramifications of a Member State leaving the EU. At this juncture, it is vital that the EU engage in self-reflection. Its aim should be to restore citizens' confidence in the common European project, develop its tangible benefits and defend the results of the integration process on our continent. We need a coherent, better and more comprehensible Europe. However, many other challenges persist. The migration and refugee crisis has tested our ability to manage external borders, maintain the integrity of the Schengen area and seek common solutions. The terrorist attacks have reminded us that there is still much to improve in terms of mutual cooperation in the field of internal security. The continuing consequences of the financial and economic crisis and the current global uncertainty are contributing to a very slow economic recovery and high unemployment

The Union finds itself at a crossroads. The path it chooses will determine whether it continues to fragment or whether it can mobilise itself towards greater cohesion and sustainable solutions which are more comprehensible to its citizens.

The priorities of the Presidency are a reflection of the ambition to increase the EU's unity and coherence and its resilience to external and internal challenges and to restore citizens' confidence in the European project. The Presidency's vision is therefore based on two pillars:

1. Positive agenda

The Slovak Presidency aims to specifically focus on the development of a positive agenda. Maximum effort will be devoted to projects that build on the good experience gained with the internal market and extend it to new pillars. Removing barriers between Member States leads to real benefits for the economy and citizens.

2. Sustainable solutions

The Slovak Presidency wishes to promote solutions which, in addition to the immediate response, take into account the long-term perspective. This approach is essential for the EU to move away from mere crisis management towards a systematic fulfilment of its strategic vision.

The EU agenda will be dominated in the coming months by the practical and political consequences of the referendum in the United Kingdom. The Union faces difficult negotiations on the future configuration of relations with the United Kingdom, the framework for which is provided for by Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. At this time of self-reflection, the Slovak Presidency aims to produce tangible results for citizens in four priority areas:

1. an economically strong Europe,
2. the modernisation of the single market,
3. a sustainable migration and asylum policy and
4. a globally engaged Europe.

The European economy needs a significant investment incentive that will support sustainable economic growth and the creation of new job opportunities. Making full use of and multiplying investment instruments, pursuing structural reforms and promoting a responsible approach to public finances are at the heart of an economically strong Europe. Progress in building the Capital Markets Union and in completing the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) will also contribute to the improved performance and stability of the European economy.

Despite the success of the single market, there are still shortcomings and barriers preventing it from realising its full potential. Modernisation of the single market also requires continuous technological development and new opportunities. The Energy Union can contribute to secure supplies of clean energy at affordable prices for industry and households. The digital single market, including e-commerce, has the unique potential to remove barriers and create new opportunities for businesses and citizens.

The protection of external borders and efficient cooperation with third countries are important elements of the efforts to manage migration effectively. A sustainable migration and asylum policy will make it possible for the EU to return to a fully functioning Schengen area and to consolidate Member States’ asylum systems. The use of modern technology at the external borders and closer cooperation between Member States in the field of internal security contribute to making the Union more resilient to current security threats.

Strengthening external relations will reinforce the global role of the Union. Strong trade links with key global economies are an integral part of active engagement on the global scene. It is also important to promote stability, prosperity and democracy in our neighbourhood. A credible enlargement policy remains an effective tool of political and economic transformation in Europe.

The Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU is confident that achieving progress in these priority areas will contribute to the coherence of the EU and will help restore the trust of citizens in the Union.

The programme of the Slovak Presidency is an expression of its determination to act as a fair and honest broker in fulfilling the strategic priorities of the European Union. The Presidency's mission is to achieve such solutions as are acceptable to all Member States and beneficial to the EU as a whole. For Slovakia this is a unique opportunity to contribute, more than ever in its history, to the functioning of the Union, with a sense of ownership over the EU's direction. The themes which will be at the forefront of the Presidency are driven by three interconnected principles:

• Achieving tangible results

The aim of the Slovak Presidency is to demonstrate to citizens that joint European projects have a practical impact on improving their quality of life. The Presidency will keep a pragmatic focus on areas in which it can achieve tangible results.

• Overcoming fragmentation

The Union needs to make significant progress in a number of areas where barriers still exist between Member States. The Presidency will also seek to contribute to connecting Member States more closely in the single market.

• Focusing on the citizen

The ability to deliver concrete results and overcome fragmentation is the key to bringing the EU closer to its citizens. The central role of citizens is also reflected in the social dimension, which is a high priority for the Presidency.