Dzurinda: Not Slightest Reason to Consider Alternative to EU

Bratislava, April 29 (TASR) - Ex-premier Mikulas Dzurinda, who led Slovakia into the European Union (EU) 20 years ago, doesn't see the slightest reason to consider any alternative to the EU at the moment. "The only question is how Slovakia can contribute to the EU's common prosperity and how effectively it is able to participate in this prosperity," Dzurinda told TASR in anticipation of the anniversary of Slovakia's accession to the EU. Slovakia will mark the 20th anniversary of joining the EU on May 1. The Union is also talking about the need for self-reform, Dzurinda thinks that the EU will undergo internal reform one day. "The only question is when and under what circumstances. The project of Europe's unification must be completed in both directions - in the horizontal one - i.e. by accepting the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries, but also in the vertical one - i.e. by completing the EU's building into a political union," added Dzurinda. Dzurinda stressed the need to strictly respect the principle of subsidiarity in the process of building the EU into a political union. "It is necessary to respect member states' full sovereignty in cultural, ethical and educational issues. There's a need to bear in mind the cultural diversity of Europe and not succumb to the temptation to 'harmonise' this diversity," he said. According to Dzurinda, it will then be easier to identify areas in which joint decision-making, rather than endless arguing, will be beneficial for all EU-member states. "In my opinion, foreign policy and security are such areas. Decisions here need to be made by a qualified majority," said Dzurinda in connection with a debate on the possibility of applying veto in decision-making in the Council of the EU. ko/df