Thread by @IJoveva

Wishing all the best to Slovenia during its Presidency of the Council of the EU 🇸🇮❤️🇪🇺. There are huge challenges and legislative files ahead, and I sincerely hope Slovenia can make as much progress as possible. I welcome the efforts for some outlined priorities. BUT!... Thread👇

https://twitter.com/EU_Commission/status/1410281989395996672

The European citizens and its institutions should feel a little uneasy since, in the words of @bpolitics, a Trump-inspired Twitter troll gets to set (although in a very limited sense) the EU agenda.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

The Slovenian government has followed Poland and Hungary down to the authoritarian path with "war on media", unlawfully canceling the nominations of EPPO delegated prosecutors, therefore inadmissibly undermining the independence of the judiciary.

ft.com/content/100454…

The Slovenian Press Agency, at the dawn of their 30 year anniversary, was under severe existential threat with the government withholding its funds and proscribed by Slovenian law. A prime example of an attempt by authoritarians to subdue the press.
economist.com/europe/2021/04…

And these were all just attempts with the (abuse of) power of the state, separately creating a parallel private media landscape with money from HU for outlets for "post-truth" alternative reality, smear campaigns, SLAPPs, ...

politico.eu/article/sloven…

And this mode of "governance" is not limited to the press but is applied to all sectors, agencies, institutions, NGOs, Universities, including cultural institutions (for example, in the NYT piece). We have seen this before in Europe (now and in the past).

nytimes.com/2021/01/27/art…

I welcome the efforts to make progress for pre-assession talks to the EU regarding WB countries. If Slovenia succeeds in Bulgaria and others dropping objections, it would be a fine achievement and, btw long overdue for the aspirations of WB and the credibility of the EU.

However, the role of the Slovenian government in the other defined priorities, such as the role on the CoFoE, rule of law, "promoting European way of life" (migration pact) sound extremely cynical (mildly put) judging from the situation in Slovenia and affinity for HU and PL

from JJ. It is important to remember that such an "illiberal vision" of a one-party state lead by authoritarian strongmen, undermining legal order and fund. values, of the future of Europe do not reflect the views of the majority of Europeans, EU countries, nor Slovenian citizens

@NoahBuyon correctly pointed out in today's column that "European leaders should put Janša and his ministers in the hot seat at every meeting they chair in the half-year ahead", and that "Orbán’s model of “illiberal” democracy cannot be allowed to spread"

politico.eu/article/sloven…

@vonderleyen and other Commissioners who are today in Slovenia should keep this in mind as well, and at least try to restrain the worst impulses of Janez Janša on his illiberal crusade. They have the leverage with RRP, infringement procedures, and other regulations🤫 in place.

I hope the government will leave as much freedom as possible to the competent, professional experts at perm rep @EU2021SI to find compromises on legislative files in the Council and on trialogues. Any progress on #DSA, #DMA, #DGA, #ePrivacy, #AI, #Taxonomy, #Fitfor55 will be 👌.