Klaus criticises EU in debate at Naples university

Naples, Sept 19 (CTK) - The European Union (EU) should deal with its own problems and not try to compete with China and the United States, Czech President Vaclav Klaus said in a debate with students at the university in Naples during his visit to Italy yesterday.

He also anticipated the end of the euro zone.

"I do not think that we should compete with Asia and the United States," Klaus noted.

Such a debate is useless, the considerations about competing with China and the U.S. evoke the world from novels by George Orwell, Klaus said, adding that the real problem is the centralisation of the EU.

He also said it would help the countries like Greece very much if they were allowed to leave the euro zone to get rid of the artificial exchange rate of their currency.

Klaus is in Italy on a four-day official visit.

On Tuesday, he met his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano, Prime Minister Mario Monti and other politicians in Rome. yesterday he stays in Naples.

Klaus returned to the town where he spent six months as a student of economics in 1966.

Klaus recollected the positive prospects during his study stay in Naples almost 50 years ago.

"We had a feeling that the world was opening to us, along with chances of far-reaching changes in our country," Klaus said.

Klaus is yet to open a business forum in Naples. He will end his visit to Italy on Thursday.