"Today I am honoured to be able to celebrate two things that are close to my heart – the rule of law and the arts"

As part of the efforts of Slovenian judges at the Court of Justice and the General Court of the EU to have Slovenian artworks showcased there, following the example of other EU Member States, the National Gallery of Slovenia last year prepared two outstanding paintings by the academic painter Tugo Šušnik. In cooperation with the Director of the National Gallery, Dr Barbara Jaki, and the Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, the statue of a Lipizzaner horse by renowned academic sculptor and Prešeren laureate Janez Boljka was selected for this purpose this spring.

Today, in a formal ceremony, the Slovenian President presented all three works of art to the Court of Justice of the European Union, stressing that she was honoured to be able to celebrate two things that were close to her heart – the rule of law and the arts – at the same time. "Talking about the rule of law and the arts is very important in these difficult times," said the President. She emphasised that the freedoms we enjoy today cannot be taken for granted and must therefore be protected, adding that we must defend the principles and fundamental values on which the EU is founded. "It is our responsibility to safeguard them, particularly by upholding the rule of law, the supremacy of EU law and the authority of the Court," she added.

"Public spaces should be decorated with art," President Pirc Musar continued, thanking the three Slovenian judges, Dr Ilešič, Dr Brkan and Dr Kukovec, for their contribution in selecting and displaying the works of art that will now grace the Court of Justice premises, representing Slovenia and its cultural heritage.

President Pirc Musar also said a few words about the statue of a Lipizzaner horse by Janez Boljka, which is symbolically important not only because it is a magnificent work of art by a Slovenian artist, but also because the same statue will adorn both the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana and one of the main staircases at the seat of the Court of Justice of the European Union. "When we discussed earlier this year what would be an additional work of art of special significance to adorn the Court of Justice, a collaboration between the National Gallery, the Office of the President and the Court of Justice resulted in the proposal that a statue of a Lipizzaner similar to the one gracing the pedestal of the central staircase at the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana would be a fitting addition to the Court of Justice," she explained. Only four casts were made, however, and the one in the Presidential Palace is the only one in public hands. After some research, the President's husband, Dr Aleš Musar, found another of the casts in one of Slovenia's largest private collections, owned by the NLB bank. On his initiative, NLB lent the statue on a long-term basis to the National Gallery, which in turn lent it to the Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, the Slovenian President also talked to the President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, Koen Lenaerts, and to the Slovenian judges Dr Mark Ilešič, Dr Maja Brkan and Dr Damjan Kukovec, who briefed her on the Court's work and on the most important current issues and aspects of EU law. "The full and timely implementation of the Court's judgments is both a cornerstone of the rule of law and an absolute duty of the Member States," the President stressed. She expressed her respect and support for the efforts of the Court's judges and President Lenaerts to uphold the excellence and professionalism, integrity and standing of this key EU institution.

After visiting the Court of Justice, President Pirc Musar went on to meet Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg. This was their first meeting and was aimed at further strengthening the already excellent relations between the two countries. Slovenia and Luxembourg both recognise the importance of respecting the EU's fundamental values in advancing effective development of EU policies and the pursuit of a secure, economically strong, sustainable and sovereign EU, dedicated to the welfare of its citizens. They exchanged views on the EU's fundamental values, including the rule of law, and reaffirmed their commitment to pluralism, solidarity and human rights.

They discussed the possibilities for closer cooperation between the two countries, with the Slovenian President expressing her commitment to enhancing economic cooperation with Luxembourg. In this context, she praised the recent establishment of a direct air route connecting Luxembourg and Slovenia.

The two countries' highest representatives also exchanged views on current international challenges, focusing on the war in Ukraine and the fight against climate change. They attached great importance to effective multilateralism. Slovenian and Luxembourg cooperate well in NATO, the UN and other international frameworks and support each other's international candidacies.

President Pirc Musar extended an invitation to Grand Duke Henri for an official visit to Slovenia, with the aim of further advancing the friendly relations between the two nations. The Grand Duke previously visited Slovenia in 2001 during his inaugural year as Grand Duke, marking his first official visit to the country.

The visit ended with a reception for Slovenians living in Luxembourg, hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Brussels.