Minister Logar attends the European Parliament's Plenary Session
In his capacity as High Representative representing the Council of the European Union in relations with the European Parliament, Foreign Minister Anže Logar attended the Plenary Session of the European Parliament, which took place in Strasbourg from 5 to 8 July 2021.
On Tuesday, 6 July, the Minister made his first appearance as the representative of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. On his behalf, Mr Logar intervened on the subject of the European Union’s global sanctions regime in the field of human rights, underlining that the EU would continue to monitor serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide closely. The Minister then went on to discuss the situation in Tigray, Ethiopia, on behalf of the Council of the European Union. At the Foreign Affairs Council meeting scheduled for next week, the Foreign Affairs ministers, together with the High Representative Borrell, will call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access and the withdrawal of the Eritrean forces from the region. He concluded his speech by mentioning the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, highlighting its universal importance and the importance of the right to asylum. The Slovenian Presidency will continue its work on the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
On Wednesday morning, 7 July, a discussion on the rule of law and fundamental rights in Hungary and Poland took place. Regarding the rule of law in the EU, the Minister stressed that the member states and EU institutions are responsible for the respect, protection and promotion of our common values. Therefore, the Slovenian Presidency will promote a common culture of the rule of law in the Union and continue its rule of law dialogue. Minister Logar concluded his visit with a discussion on Antarctic Marine Protected Areas, stressing the need for the European Union to continue its efforts to establish MPAs that make a significant contribution to biodiversity.
On the margins of the plenary session, Minister Logar also met with the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Antonio Tajani, with whom he discussed the Conference on the Future of Europe and close cooperation during the Slovenian Presidency. The Minister also met the President of the Socialists & Democrats parliamentary group, Iratxe García Pérez. They discussed the possibilities for cooperation in the enlargement of the EU and Schengen Area, economic recovery and green transition.