France marks the start of its six-month presidency of the European Union by lighting up the Eiffel Tower in Paris June 30, 2008. The 300-metre (984-foot) high tower will take on its blue hue every evening for two months from June 30, the eve of the French presidency. [Agencies]

Potocnik said in an interview with the STA that European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso best summed up the Slovenian presidency by saying that it had been "committed and marked by political and intellectual honesty."

He said the main outcome of the presidency for Slovenia was getting to know first hand the functioning of the European Union, including its administration and decision-making processes.

Potocnik said the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland "in the finishing leg of the presidency" had again raised important questions about the future of European coexistence.

"Instead of a strong Europe, there is now a Europe of questions and doubts," he said.

According to Kouchner, the site of Monday's handover is a "very powerful and important symbol", situated in a place where two opposing countries and regimes used to border. An exceptional symbol is also that Slovenia, which was in a very different situation only 17 years ago, led the EU and contributed to better harmony in the Balkans.

The ceremony was also attended by the mayors of Nova Gorica and Gorizia, Mirko Brulc and Ettore Romoli.

"The wall was brought down here even before Slovenia joined the EU," Brulc said.

France marks the start of its six-month presidency of the European Union by lighting up the Eiffel Tower in Paris June 30, 2008. [Agencies]

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2008)