30/04/2024 / 21:23 | Updated:
30/04/2024 / 21:27
Yes, it has been 20 years since the Czech Republic returned to where it always belonged in terms of value, geography and history – to the family of developed and democratic countries that became members of the European Union after World War II. The Czech Republic has always been part of the Europe that was based on the values of democracy and freedom. After the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, of which the current Czech Republic is the legal successor, these values were a clear attribute that placed our country among the top democratic states in the world. In 2004, the entry of the Czech Republic into the European Union – after already five years of membership in NATO – was a definitive confirmation of our anchoring in the liberal-democratic world. We found ourselves in a community inspired by the Enlightenment idea of permanent peace.
The recent, second consecutive Czech presidency of the Council of the EU in 2022 brought a number of successes: the Czech Republic reached a broad consensus on how to respond to the energy crisis. We have held a strong united position against Russia and announced several sanctions packages. We finalized the framework of long-term financial assistance to Ukraine. The Czech Republic has a clear idea of the direction in which the European Union should develop. Safety and prosperity are our top priorities.
However, the vital interest of the Czech Republic is also to maintain the internal unity of the EU, its decisiveness and ability to act in times of geopolitical changes and the clash of values represented by Russian aggression against Ukraine. We want to deepen the internal market, strengthen the competitiveness of the EU and support a rational approach to EU reforms based on a factual analysis of common policies and the EU budget, taking into account the future admission of new member states.
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Tags: commemorate years Czech Republic joined
