Slovenia takes over EU presidency

Slovenia, the former Yugoslav country of 2 million, took over the European Union presidency today, becoming the face and the voice of the 27-nation bloc of 500 million people for the next six months.

Slovenia, which joined the EU and Nato in 2004, is the first of 12 EU newcomers to assume the rotating helm, and it is seen as one of its biggest achievements since the tiny Alpine country achieved independence in 1991.