Prime Minister evaluates benefits of Slovakia's EU membership

Eighteen months of Slovakia's EU membership have shown that the country is not a mere consumer, but also a participant in the creation of EU policies, said Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda during his special visit to the parliamentary committee for European affairs. In his report evaluating Slovakia's first year in the European Union, he mentioned the countrie‘s merits in re-opening accession negotiations with Croatia and Bratislava's contribution to the Minerva program, based on the Lisbon strategy. The Prime Minister made a point that prior to Slovakia's entry the country was divided into two camps of optimists and pessimists. He is delighted to report that the current situation proves the optimists correct.

Dzurinda set as key goals in the next period agreement on EU long-term financing, the Minerva program, introduction of the euro and Slovakia joining the Schengen area. Dzurinda claims that more and more Slovak villages are taking advantage of the EU's solidarity principle by accessing EU funds. Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan underscored good cooperation between the government, ministries, parliament and the parliamentary committee for European affairs when representing Slovakia at meetings at the EU level. Deputy Jozef Heriban was critical of the fact that Slovakia filled only 121 vacancies at the European Commission, although 279 jobs are reserved for Slovaks. He wonders if there is a shortage of talented people in Slovakia. The Foreign Minister reacted by saying that his ministry is preparing training for candidates for EU posts and believes that Slovakia will fill the vacancies by 2010.