State Secretary Metelko-Zgombić participates in informal videoconference of EU affairs ministers

State Secretary for Europe Andreja Metelko-Zgombić participated in informal videoconference of European affairs ministers under Germany’s Council of the EU presidency

State Secretary for Europe Andreja Metelko-Zgombić participated in informal videoconference of European affairs ministers under Germany’s Council of the EU presidency. Also participating in the meeting were EC Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, ministers of the six Western Balkan countries and representatives of the Young European Ambassadors.

The meeting started with a keynote address by the chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia, Ivan Krastev, on the transformation of European society in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ministers then held a brief discussion on the status of the Conference on the Future of Europe. Metelko-Zgombić recalled that it had been one year to date since the European Council tasked the Croatian presidency to hold discussion with the member states and adopt the Council’s position on the Conference. Following the adoption, the Council is now in the final phase of interinstitutional talks with the Commission and the European Parliament on adopting a mandate and launching the Conference.  

In addition, the ministers exchanged views with the representatives of the Young European Ambassadors on the vision of Europe in the following 101-15 years, with special emphasis on climate and energy, asylum policy, democracy, digitalization and healthcare. Metelko-Zgombić welcomed the young ambassadors’ participation, underscoring that the EU institutions should work together with the member states on strengthening cohesion, solidarity and legitimacy of the Union by involving all citizens in the dialogue on the future of Europe.

Ahead of a formal GAC meeting and a meeting of the European Council scheduled for next week, the ministers discussed coordinating a response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the European level. Metelko-Zgombić underlined the importance of collective efforts in fighting the pandemic, notably by bolstering the resilience of healthcare systems and ensuring all EU citizens the access to vaccine.

 

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