The Czech Republic is richer thanks to the EU, Fiala said. Pavel promoted the adoption of the euro

Membership in the European Union has contributed to the fact that the Czech Republic is a much richer country today. This was stated by Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) at the 20 years of the Czech Republic in the EU conference at Prague Castle on Tuesday. According to him, the Union also gives the Czech Republic security guarantees and firmly anchors the country in the West, where it has historically always belonged, except for several decades of the communist regime, when it was forcibly torn from it. Fiala considers safety and competitiveness to be the current challenges. President Petr Pavel once again spoke out in favor of adopting the euro: “If the Czech Republic wants to play in the imaginary first league in Europe, it is logical, for example, to adopt the euro,” said the president.

According to the prime minister, the war in Ukraine has the biggest impact on security in the EU. “Ukraine is fighting for its right to belong to our civilization, for its right to be free. At the same time, its fight determines the security conditions in which we will live in the coming years,” he said at a conference in the Spanish Hall, where German President Frank- Walter Steinmeier. Fiala recalled the Czech initiative to secure ammunition for Ukraine in countries outside the EU or other European projects.

In connection with security, Fiala also mentioned energy, i.e. the need to diversify resources and move towards complete independence from, in his opinion, dangerous regimes. He considers the development of renewable resources and investment in the core to be essential, for which, according to him, a common pan-European approach is necessary. “If we agree on common rules and standards, the reactors will be able to be produced in larger series for more interested parties, and will therefore be more affordable and economically advantageous,” he noted.

Independence in critical industries, such as medicine, and in strategic raw materials and technologies, such as chips, is essential for European security, the Prime Minister believes. He considers it important not to rely on a single supplier, currently usually China.

In his speech, he also pointed to illegal migration, which has been putting pressure on the whole of Europe for ten years. He considers the EU migration pact to be the first, but not fully sufficient, step to solving the situation. “A common European solution to illegal migration is necessary, but it must be bolder and also deeper. Today we are only dealing with the situation when migrants come to Europe, when they have already arrived here,” stated Fiala. He considers additional measures sensitive to those who are entitled to asylum necessary, but will discourage others from traveling to Europe.

As for Europe’s competitiveness, according to Fiala, it has been gradually declining for several decades. He considers it most important to reconsider the approach to regulations. “Here we have to realize that progress and wealth do not arise from regulation and planning, but instead arise from competition between companies and from free decisions on what to invest in. And this also applies to green technologies,” he said.

He appealed for a rational withdrawal from coal or for not relying on massive subsidies. The change in approach to regulation according to Fiala will work with significant support for innovation.

Fiala reiterated the Czech support for the enlargement of the EU to include the countries of the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova. It stabilizes our surroundings and is a real necessity from a security and geopolitical point of view, he said. In this context, he stated that, according to him, it makes no sense to substantially change European treaties.

Pavel spoke in favor of adopting the euro

If the Czech Republic wants to play in the imaginary first league in Europe, the logical choice is, for example, to accept the euro, the president said. Dissatisfied are those who do not pay with it, he added.

According to Pavle, membership in the EU enabled the Czech Republic to raise cities and villages. Thanks to European funds, railways and roads are being modernized, monuments are being restored, schools, kindergartens and homes for the elderly are being built, and the quality of water and air is improving, says the president. On the other hand, among the challenges and problems of the EU, he ranks especially unnecessary bureaucracy, cumbersomeness and often lack of understanding, while in many cases even the Czech Republic complicates the rules with its own bureaucratic creativity.

Without European money, from which up to half of public investments were financed, many projects would not have been created at all, the president said. The support of small and medium-sized companies opens up the possibility to offer top products and services, the funds also contribute to people acquiring new abilities and skills and opening the door to better-paid work, he stated. In 20 years, the Czech Republic received a trillion more from the EU budget than it contributed to it, noted Pavel.

According to the president, the benefit of EU membership is that the Czech Republic does not face challenges alone. He recalled the joint purchases of vaccines against the coronavirus and the response to Russian aggression against Ukraine. Despite the catastrophic predictions, the Czech identity has not diluted after 20 years in the union, on the contrary, it is more pronounced, the head of state believes. Czech foreign policy, including the munitions initiative, shows that the country has once again gained attention and respect in the world, he noted.

Like Prime Minister Fiala, Pavel also spoke of the expansion of the European Union to the countries of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia as a geopolitical necessity. Otherwise, the countries would be at the mercy of players led by Russia, who do not think well of Europe, the president said. At the same time, he appealed for the preservation of the unity and capacity for action of the entire union.

Pavel sees a big handicap in reducing differences in the quality of life in some regions. “I consider the balanced development of the regions to be a long-term homework on which we must continue to work at all levels. The benefits of our membership should be felt by all citizens,” said the president.

“Let’s not be afraid to take more responsibility for Europe’s future. If we want to determine the direction, we have to sit behind the wheel and not in the passenger seat,” said Pavel. If the Czech Republic wants to play in the first league, it offers to adopt a common European currency, he thinks. According to Pavel, the experience of countries that have introduced it confirms that only those who do not have it are dissatisfied.

The Czech Republic undertook to accept the euro in the EU accession treaty. However, no date has been set for its introduction. The discussion about the adoption of the currency intensified in the Czech Republic precisely after Pavlov’s New Year’s speech. At the time, he stated that it was time to take steps that would lead to the adoption of a common European currency.

The president considers questioning EU membership and calls for withdrawal from the bloc to be irresponsible and dangerous, a real threat to Czech interests, a better future and security. “There is simply no credible alternative to EU membership,” he said. He considers it necessary to confront lies and misinformation.

At the end of the speech, Pavel called on citizens to participate in the June elections to the European Parliament, which are an expression of responsibility and interest in the future.