President: EU and NATO Membership Among Slovakia's Greatest Achievements (2)

Bratislava, April 30 (TASR) - Slovakia's membership of the European Union (EU) and NATO is one of the country's greatest achievements, President Peter Pellegrini stated on Wednesday in Slovakia during a meeting with acting head of the European Commission Representation in Slovakia Radim Dvorak, held to mark the 21st anniversary of Slovakia's accession to the EU, TASR learnt from the President's Office on the same day. The president noted that membership of the EU enjoys strong and stable support among the Slovak population. However, he also emphasised the importance of continuously reminding people of the benefits this membership brings. "We must not take this support for granted. It's essential to keep highlighting the positives of our membership of the European community. People need to be aware of the advantages the EU offers us, but at the same time, we must also recognise Slovakia's important contribution to the future of Europe," Pellegrini stated, adding that the EU must continue to take steps that enhance the quality of life for its citizens. They also touched on the importance of addressing regional disparities between EU-member states. "Reducing inequalities and catching up with more developed EU countries will always be a priority for me," the president said. He noted that the EU is entering a challenging period in which it will have to rely increasingly on its own resources, whether in strengthening its competitiveness, resilience, or in the economic sphere. One of the topics discussed was the approach of the new European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen. The president welcomed its active stance on innovation and artificial intelligence, which he described as crucial for the EU’s future and competitiveness. He also appreciated the Commission’s positive position on the fifth payment request from the Recovery and Resilience Plan. Pellegrini also stressed that the future of the EU depends in part on the admission of new member states. According to the President's Office, he was referring in particular to the Western Balkan countries, which have long sought EU membership. "I know how important EU accession was for Slovakia. I plan to gradually visit all countries in the Western Balkans to support them on this path—provided all conditions are met," he said. They also discussed European security and defence, particularly strengthening the EU's role within NATO. The president said he would continue to focus on this issue as Commander-in-Chief of the Slovak Armed Forces and will attend the NATO summit in The Hague in June. lin/mcs