In the last few years, the European Union has faced a variety of challenges that have taken a heavy toll on our lives. An exceptional, additional test has emerged with the pandemic, to which the European Union has responded with unity, solidarity and - we can hopefully now say - success. Now the time has come for recovery, for building a crisis-resilient Europe, a safe and credible Europe that respects its fundamental values and principles, and for turning to Europe's future again. The Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU will focus on adopting decisions and measures that will allow us to move forward successfully on the path to recovery and together shape an even better, greener, fairer and more socially-oriented future for Europe, where it is strong both on the inside and in its relations with the outside world.