"To mark Slovenia's presidency of the
European Union, the Republic of Slovenia has issued collector coins with
a "dynamic" EU star in the form of a windmill on the front side. The
star represents Slovenia's initiative, movement, energy, volition,
strength and active role during the EU presidency. Furthermore, the
inscription on the coin "Facta loquuntur" ("works speak"), indicates
that the EU presidency will be geared to results and success. On the
reverse side, 27 dynamic stars represent the 27 EU Member States.
The presidency of the EU Council is an
important political honour for Slovenia. In 2007, Slovenia became the
first new Member State to adopt the euro, a process which proved to be
fast and efficient. Slovenia will also be the first new Member State to
serve as president. The presidency is confirmation that Slovenia is a
country that Europe trusts and treats as a stable political institution
capable of responsibly representing Europe on the international stage.
In December 2004, the Council of the
European Union adopted the decision that Slovenia will preside over the
EU Council from 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008 together with Germany and
Portugal in the first joint presidency. Slovenia will have three
important groups of duties during its presidency: (1) managing the work
of all structures of the Council of the European Union and the European
Council, (2) representing the EU Council in its relations with other EU
institutions and (3) representing the EU in the international community.
The EU Council presidency of Member
States was introduced by the Treaty establishing the European Community
(the Treaty of Rome of 1957), which provides that Member States
alternatively assume the function of president of the Council of
Ministers for a period of six months.
Original design: Gorazd Učakar, Ljubljana
Minting: Royal Dutch Mint, the Netherlands"
Vir: Banka Slovenije
1991- | Slovenia - Republic
