Rule of law was high on Council of EU's agenda during Slovenia's term presidency: Statement

ANKARA

Slovenia said on Thursday that during its tenure term presidency, the Council of the EU thoroughly discussed the rule of law, better jobs, sports, and young people in the bloc.

Releasing a written statement, the Slovenian Presidency of the council said it had "addressed the area of the rule of law at four out of the five meetings of the General Affairs Council, contributing to the consolidation and strengthening of the annual dialogue on the rule of law in two constructive discussions."

It also focused on "accountability and maintaining a balance between the different branches of government during the period of measures to contain the COVID-19 epidemic" at the General Affairs Council held in October, the statement said.

This month, the presidency continued the process under which the union took note of "the rule of law situation in Poland and the situation regarding the Union's values in Hungary," it added.

"A report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental (Rights) (FRA) on the challenges of and recent trends in anti-Semitic incidents in the EU between 2010 and 2020" was also discussed and took note of in the December General Affairs Council.

During the presidency of Slovenia, the council also made progress on minimum wage in the EU and more equal pay between women and men, the statement said.

It noted that the body's Employment and Social Policy Council had reached a compromise on "directive on adequate minimum wages," which it said would "ensure fair working conditions" in the bloc.

"It is estimated that the directive could allow minimum wages to increase in more than half of EU member states, having a positive impact on more than 25 million workers," it added.

The European Sports Model was also adopted during the presidency of Slovenia, which the statement said was "based on European values such as fairness, solidarity, good governance, human rights and the voice of athletes in all sports organisations."

"We worked with the European Commission and the European Parliament to declare 2022 the European Year of Youth, providing young people with a range of opportunities for their personal, social and career development," said the statement, adding that events and information, as well as promotional campaigns, at the European, national, and local levels would be organized throughout next year by the EU member countries and European institutions.

Slovenia's six-month term presidency will end on Dec. 31, 2021, and France will take over the presidency of the council on Jan. 1, 2022, until June 30, 2022.