BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 22. State Secretary
of Slovenia Neva Grašič attended the regular meeting of the EU
General Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Trend reports.

The main focus of the ministers for European affairs was the
discussion of the draft conclusions for the October European
Council meeting and the key substantive highlights from the
European Commission’s proposal on the multiannual financial
framework for the period 2028–2034.

The EU General Affairs Council also held a hearing on Hungary
under Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union, concerning the
state of the rule of law in the country.

In the discussion on preparations for the European Council
meeting on 23 October 2025, State Secretary Grašič emphasized the
importance of continued support for Ukraine. Slovenia supports all
efforts for a ceasefire and an end to the war in Ukraine, based on
international law and respect for the country’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity, leading to a just and lasting peace. Ukraine
also remains at the center of European security efforts and the
future development of the defense industry. In the field of
European defense and security, Slovenia supports a comprehensive
approach and highlights the importance of including small and
medium-sized enterprises.

Regarding the recent agreement to end the war in Gaza, she
stressed that consistent respect for and implementation of all
stages of the agreement, as well as refraining from any actions
that could undermine it, are essential. Until verifiable and
lasting progress is achieved on the ground, Slovenia will continue
to support appropriate EU measures and, together with the EU and
its partners, strive for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.
The State Secretary noted that the unity of the EU, its commitment
to contributing to peace, humanitarian access, and accountability
for violations were also the central themes of the recent MED9
summit in Slovenia — a gathering of Mediterranean EU member states,
attended by Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

As part of efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of the
European economy, Slovenia emphasizes the importance of a strong
single market and the need for the EU to build on the findings of
the Draghi and Letta reports. Slovenia calls on the European
Commission to remain ambitious in its actions for the green
transition in order to boost investment, innovation, and ensure a
fair transition for all Europeans.

The State Secretary supported the inclusion of housing policy on
the agenda of EU leaders, as it is one of the key priorities of the
Slovenian government. Like many other member states, Slovenia faces
a housing crisis characterized by rising prices and a shortage of
affordable housing, and therefore welcomes European measures that
would support planned national initiatives.

Regarding the European Commission’s proposal on the multiannual
financial framework for 2028–2034, Slovenia emphasizes that the
flexibility of the EU budget in responding to unforeseen crises is
crucial — as demonstrated after the devastating floods in Slovenia
in 2023, when the EU showed true solidarity — but it must remain
balanced with predictability for beneficiaries and national
administrations implementing the budget. Simplification of rules
must be the guiding principle of the new multiannual financial
framework.

The European Competitiveness Fund should focus on strengthening
industrial competitiveness in a balanced way — across industrial
sectors and geographical regions. At the same time, respect for
European values and the rule of law is the foundation of European
integration, which is why Slovenia supports conditionality
mechanisms and their link to compliance with the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The State Secretary underlined the importance of respecting the
EU’s fundamental values and supported the continuation of the
procedure as an opportunity for open dialogue with Hungary.
Slovenia is committed to resolving outstanding issues in line with
EU principles and respect for national sovereignty. Key priorities
remain the continuous monitoring of judicial independence, media
pluralism, anti-corruption measures, and fundamental rights. A key
part of this commitment is Slovenia’s support for the role of
international courts and organizations in promoting justice at the
global level.

The ministers for European affairs were also briefed on the
state of implementation of legislative packages aimed at
simplifying legislation. During a working lunch, ministers held an
informal discussion on preparations for the European Democracy
Shield.

Under “any other business,” State Secretary Neva Grašič and
Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration and Family Claudia
Plakolm reported on their recent joint visit to the Western Balkans
region. Grašič emphasized that, in light of geopolitical shifts,
Slovenia continues to strive to keep peace, stability, and security
in the Western Balkans high on the EU agenda. She also underlined
that close mutual cooperation and connectivity in the fields of
energy, environmental protection, and digitalization are key to
accelerating the region’s development and its rapprochement with
the European Union. Both reaffirmed their support for the
initiative to use qualified majority voting (QMV) in the interim
steps of the enlargement process, which could help speed up the
EU’s enlargement policy.