Prague, Sept 19 (CTK) – The informal EU summit in Bratislava last week has contributed to that the EU future is becoming an exciting topic not only for journalists, but also for common Europeans which is good since it was their indifference that harmed the EU, Martin M. Simecka writes in Respekt out on Monday.
The summit was held in Slovakia, which now presides over the EU, after Britons decided to leave the EU in June. That is also why British Prime Minister Theresa May did not attend it.
The politicians’ speeches and the first information on the summit indicate that it was animated and that it cast light on the stands and goals as far as some points at least are concerned, Simecka writes.
He writes that the non-extension of an invitation to the informal debate to European Parliament President Martin Schulz was an important signal.
Brussels was only represented by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker by which the member countries’ leaders made it clear that they want to boost their position to the detriment of the EU bureaucrats, Simecka writes.
However, they do not want to go so far as the Visegrad Four, or the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, he adds.
Particularly Poland and Hungary take a great interest in the power shift. Their conservative governments cannot reconcile themselves to the sharp criticism by the EU Commission as well as Parliament over domestic violation of democracy, Simecka writes.
At the same time, it is important that both the Czech Republic and Slovakia refused to join Hungary and Poland and their planned “counter-revolution” which is to include a revision of the European treaties with the aim of removing Brussels from power formally as well, Simecka writes.
French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel made it clear with their joint conference that their countries remain the EU’s driving force, Simecka writes.
He writes that they did not forget to praise Juncker several times, by which they made it clear that they do not consider Brussels, the leading force of European integration, their rival, Simecka writes.
One of the accommodating steps taken in relation to the countries from the eastern part of the EU which reject refugee quotas was that no one insists on the quotas any more and that the accepting of refugees is to be voluntary, Simecka writes.
This may be behind these “rebellious” states’ surprising agreement with a part of money from European funds to be designated for support for the southern countries which are burdened by the immigrant inflow, Simecka writes.
However, the importance of the Bratislava summit rests in that all politicians said the European project is unique and they will try not only to preserve it, but also to explain its importance to their voters, Simecka writes.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico used the most emphatic words to praise the EU as a project which brought prosperity and security to his country, Simecka writes.
