State Secretary Gašper Dovžan at the Enlargement Day of the European Committee of Regions

13. 7. 2021

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Permanent Representation to the European Union Brussels

On 13 July, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan attended via video conferencing the 6th Enlargement Day organised by the European Committee of Regions in cooperation with the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. He presented the Presidency’s key topics and plans to the high-level audience which included Maciej Popowski, Acting Director-General of the DG for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, and Nikola Dobroslavić, Rapporteur of the Committee of Regions for the Enlargement Package 2020.

sitting with computer screen — State Secretary Dovžan during talks | Author Ministrstvo za zunanje zadeve

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State Secretary Dovžan stressed that progress in the enlargement and strengthening the European Perspective for the Western Balkans are among the important priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will also focus on continued efforts for closer cooperation with the region in areas of common interest. He expressed his conviction that certain challenges, such as migration, climate change and cybersecurity, can only be addressed by member states working together, stating that it is vital to enhance the EU's positive role among the Western Balkan countries and direct concerted attention to the future.

In the discussion that ensued, State Secretary Dovžan exchanged views on how the Western Balkan countries could participate in the Conference on the Future of Europe, particularly via the European Commission’s digital platform, and in the Bled Strategic Forum, and talked about the connecting role of the Slovenian Presidency in future enlargement negotiations.