The European Union is the largest peace project in the history of the continent, membership in the Union and in the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) is the basis of the country’s freedom, prosperity and security. President Petr Pavel said this today at a conference dedicated to 20 years of the Czech Republic in the EU at Prague Castle. If the Czech Republic wants to play in the imaginary first league in Europe, it is logical, for example, to adopt the euro, he 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 Petr Fiala (ODS), Pavel also spoke of the expansion of the European Union to include 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.
More about the Czech Republic’s membership in the EU
Pavel sees a big handicap in the reduction of differences in the quality of life in some regions. “I consider the balanced development of 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 seat of the passenger,” said Pavel. If the Czech Republic wants to play in the first league, the adoption of a common European currency is offered, 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.
