Presser With Parl't, Commission Presidents & Slovenia's Jansa Starts 1145CET

A joint press conference between European Parliament President David Sassoli, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Slovenian Prime Minister Janesz Jansa - who currently holds the chair of the rotating presidency of the European Council - is due to begin at 1145CET (0545ET, 1045BST).

• Link to livestream: https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/press-con...
• The presser follows Jansa's speech to MEPs in which he sought to outline the priorities of the Slovenian presidency of the Council in its six months to the end of 2021.
• Jansa's controversial media reforms in Slovenia have garnered significant criticism from liberal and leftist MEPs, with prominent Dutch MEP Sophie in 't Veld physically presenting Jansa with a list of questions in the plenary chamber, claiming that he has previously refused to answer her queries.
• Von Der Leyen has attempted to smooth over relations between Jansa and various groups and institutions in the EU, but given the ill-feeling between Jansa and his liberal detractors the next six months could prove difficult for EU cohesion amidst attempts to distribute funds to aid recovery from the pandemic.