EU20: Berenyi: EU Membership Has Brought Stability to Slovakia for 20 Years

Bratislava, April 30 (TASR) - Membership of the European Union (EU) has mainly brought stability to Slovakia over the past 20 years, leader of Hungarian Alliance's slate for the EP elections Jozsef Berenyi told a news conference on Tuesday to mark the upcoming 20th anniversary of Slovakia joining the EU. Berenyi pointed out that the ethnic-Hungarian community was also part of the negotiations regarding Slovakia's EU membership. However, some of the EU's decisions, especially those concerning illegal migration or cultural and ethical issues, have caused instability, he said. Berenyi stressed that Slovakia joined the EU under good and suitable conditions, with agriculture being the most difficult element. "It was a very difficult process, as the surrounding V4 [Visegrad Four] countries [the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland] were ahead of us, they started negotiations much earlier than Slovakia," said Berenyi, who was one of the negotiators for Slovakia's integration into the EU. According to him, the biggest positives of Slovakia's membership in the EU include significant economic growth, the arrival of foreign investors, a decrease in unemployment and the modernisation of society. Berenyi views open borders as one of the biggest benefits, which is also important for ethnic Hungarians living in Slovakia, who can more easily maintain contacts with the Hungarian side. According to Berenyi, instability has been caused, for example, by the decision to let a huge number of illegal migrants into EU territory, as well as by a war within Europe. "The Russian-Ukrainian war failed to be prevented," he said, calling it a big source of instability. "By forced assertion of gender ideology and excessive measures in the field of green policy and agriculture, EU institutions have provoked resistance from some EU-member states," stated Berenyi, who also criticised the EU for not dealing with the issue of ethnic minorities. Nevertheless, Berenyi stressed that pushing for changes within EU institutions and criticising Brussels doesn't add up to efforts to quit the EU. According to him, Slovakia has no other alternative but EU and NATO membership. ko/df