President: In a changing world, Slovakia’s membership in the EU has an even stronger meaning

Bratislava – Currently, we are witnessing such significant changes in the world that we have not experienced for decades. Our membership in the European Union has a much stronger meaning, value, and perspective today. This was stated by the President of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini, on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of Slovakia’s accession to the EU. He also reminded that several economic and ecological initiatives of the Union have proven to be too ambitious, TASR reports.

“We live in times when the rules that have been established for decades are changing from day to day in the arrangement of the world. The law of the stronger is reviving, and international law is receding. And small, economically and security-vulnerable states like Slovakia must rely on their partners and allies in these difficult times. Without them, we would be at the mercy of those who do not recognize any rules,” emphasized the president, stating that from this perspective, our membership in the EU has enormous significance.

Pellegrini pointed out that the EU also has its shortcomings. “We can certainly criticize the Union for many things. From bloated bureaucracy that unnecessarily addresses what does not need to be addressed, to several fundamental economic and ecological initiatives that have proven to be too ambitious and nearly unachievable without cooperation with the rest of the world,” the head of state believes.

According to the president, the EU’s solutions have often failed to fulfill the basic pillars on which the European community was built – peace, economic cooperation without unnecessary barriers, and the security of our borders. However, Pellegrini sees Slovakia’s future precisely in the EU, because together we can change these things for the better.

“Despite these shortcomings, the European Union is primarily our value, civilizational, and increasingly in the future, security space. A civilizational anchor on which we can rely. And a common table at which we want to sit as a full-fledged and responsible partner, so that we can help change European matters for the better,” he added. The president also called for us to remember primarily those values that connect us with our European partners, rather than divide us. (May 1)

“We live in times when the rules that have been established for decades are changing from day to day in the arrangement of the world. The law of the stronger is reviving, and international law is receding. And small, economically and security-vulnerable states like Slovakia must rely on their partners and allies in these difficult times. Without them, we would be at the mercy of those who do not recognize any rules.” Peter Pellegrini