Slovenia's turn at the EU helm off to a tense, rocky start

Slovenia’s presidency of the European Union is off to a rocky start

KRANJ, Slovenia -- Slovenia’s presidency of the European Union got off to a rocky start Thursday, as the EU’s chief executive demanded that the right-wing government end a funding rift with the small Alpine country’s main news agency. At a news event meant to usher in Slovenia’s six-month term at the EU’s helm, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also urged Prime Minister Janez Jansa to swiftly nominate a delegate to the EU prosecutor’s office, a new body aimed at investigating graft across the 27-nation bloc. “We need media, and free media, that is critical as an oversight of governmental activities or, for example, European Commission activities. This is the essence of democracy,” von der Leyen told reporters during a visit to Slovenia with her team of commissioners. “We think that Slovenia must ensure the independence and the appropriate funding of the public service provided by the agency. So, we expect that swift solutions are found to unblock the funding, and we will follow up the developments,” she said.