Sutaj Estok: Voice-SD Rejects Any Discussion of Possible EU Exit Scenarios

Bratislava/Presov, May 1 (TASR) - Voice-SD leader and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok firmly rejected any discussion about possible scenarios of Slovakia leaving the European Union on Thursday, in response to 21st anniversary of Slovakia joining the EU, calling such a debate a red line for the party, describing the Union as Slovakia's vital space, and stressing the need for constructive dialogue on returning the Union to its core principles. "I want to state clearly on behalf of the Voice-SD party that we firmly reject any discussion about possible scenarios of our departure from the European Union. The EU is our essential and vital space. For us in Voice-SD, any debate about leaving the EU is a red line, and we'll never allow that line to be crossed as long as Voice-SD is part of the governing coalition. Especially at a time when the world is changing rapidly, it's crucial for us to remain part of a strong alliance of states. That's why today, we shouldn't be engaging in public debates about hypothetical conditions for leaving the European Union," he said during a press conference in Presov. The party declared itself a guarantor that the current government will never put the issue of leaving the European Union or NATO on the table. "However, that doesn't mean we'll behave in a servile or overly submissive manner in matters of foreign policy," he added. lin