Ahead of Brexit, Minister Cerar holds talks with UK’s Ambassador to Slovenia Sophie Honey

30. 1. 2020

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Today, the day before the United Kingdom withdraws from the EU, Minister Dr Miro Cerar held talks with the British Ambassador to Slovenia Sophie Honey. They agreed on the excellent bilateral relations and stressed that despite Brexit, Slovenia and the UK will continue to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in economy, tourism, investment, science, education and culture, and the cooperation within multilateral forums. The countries will pursue their endeavours in all areas of common interest, including in South-East Europe.

Bilateral meeting between Minister Dr Cerar and British Ambassador Sophie Honey

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Minister Cerar and Ambassador Honey discussed the steps following 31 January, when the UK will leave the EU. They agreed that an efficient approach to implementing the withdrawal agreement will be crucial in all matters, especially citizens’ rights. Regarding the latter, Minister Cerar stressed that Slovenia will uphold the provisions of the agreement and that British citizens will continue to benefit of the same rights. Slovenia expects the UK to reciprocally implement in full all the provisions of the agreement, in particular concerning citizens’ rights.

The transitional period will be marked by intense negotiations the future relations. Slovenia supports the guidelines set out in the Political Declaration on the future relationship. Slovenia wishes for a wide and ambitious future partnership between the EU and UK, based on a balance of rights and obligations. We expect the negotiations to be conducted in a positive spirit, where the main focus should be on the interests of Slovenian and other EU citizens and their companies.