The Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the EU in Brussels represents and promotes Slovenia’s interests in the EU. The Representation is thus a miniature state administration, employing diplomats who are experts in their fields and who come from Slovene ministries and government services. Our interlocutors in Brussels are the representatives of the other 26 EU Member States. Together we constitute the Council of the EU and maintain daily contact with representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament.

No doubt our biggest project yet has been Slovenia's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2008. During this time we increased in numbers and focused all our energy into making Slovenia's first EU Presidency a success. More on the Presidency can be found at www.eu2008.si.

After the end of the Presidency we returned to 'business as usual'. Many big EU-related projects marked the last five years (EU membership in 2004, adoption of the euro in 2007, joining the Schengen area in 2007 and 2008, and finally the Presidency) and in reality Slovenia is only now starting to grasp all the aspects of EU membership. But whatever the size of the challenges, our job is to represent                                                  Slovenia in the EU and this is what we are here to do.

Igor Senčar,
Ambassador, Permanent Representative
of the Republic of Slovenia to the EU