During today's plenary session MEPs discussed the priorities of the Slovak Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the EU with Prime Minister Robert Fico. The ambition of the first Slovak Presidency of the Council, in the aftermath of the British referendum on membership of the EU, is to increase the unity and coherence of the EU's resistance to external and internal challenges and restore confidence in the European project.

 
The Presidency intends to focus its six-month term on the following priorities: an economically strong Europe, a modern single market, sustainable migration and asylum policy, and strengthening the position of the EU in the world.

MEP Šuica congratulated Slovakia on the presidency and pointed out that in difficult times that Europe is currently experiencing, faced with the economic crisis and migration and terrorism, it is understandable why Slovakia chose these four priorities. She agreed that turning towards citizens is the correct and pragmatic solution and that she wants people to understand the interests and benefits of the EU.
 
˝My question is how do you reconcile the interests of the Visegrad Group and the rest of the EU. I believe that you will succeed in this and understand the dilemmas that fellow lawmakers have highlighted. One of the pillars of the EU is solidarity and I believe that will be developed in your country as well,˝ concluded Dubravka Šuica.