Slovenia in charge of EU until July

BBC Photo

For the next six months Ljubljana will be the site of the EU Presidency. Slovenia will be 'running the EU show'. The spotlessly clean city, for centuries dominated by other powers, becomes the focus of European power for a day, or a month, or...half a year. For the time being, the objectives will not be very great. According to Jelco Kacin, EU MP and rapporteur for Serbia, Slovenia was chosen because it is suitably 'boring'. For others, it seems it will be a challenge to simply see that nothing goes wrong. Much of the focus will be on the EU's changing borders in the region--as much of Europe adjusts to the changes brought about by the Schengen group, and stabilizing the region between EU member state Greece and Slovenia (the Balkans). The border between Slovenia and Italy will fall, but the Slovenia-Croatia border will not, since Croatia is not an EU member. The Croatian border is being strengthened. Meanwhile, negotiations to bring Turkey into the EU are potentially nearing a head.
It's only for a brief time, but Ljubljana has her work cut out for her. Ambitious or not, her program will include many challenges. But, it will hopefully be fun, and profitable, and definitely not boring. read more