SaS: To Address Challenges, EU Must Strengthen Competitiveness and Defence

Bratislava, May 1 (TASR) - The biggest challenges for the EU include Russia and China, with a specific challenge posed by the customs and trade threats from the US conflict with the rest of the world, said MP Juraj Krupa from Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party, on the 21st anniversary of Slovakia joining the EU, adding that to address these challenges, the Union must strengthen its competitiveness and defence capabilities, while also calling for the removal of the veto in foreign and security policy matters. "Among the greatest threats and challenges, as usual, is Russia, which views the EU as a threat to its dictatorial regime, imperial ambitions and its intention to regain political influence in Central Europe, thus breaking the unity of the EU," said Krupa to TASR. He considers China another challenge, as its approach to shaping international trade is discriminatory. "Strengthening its position in Europe could lead to increasing restrictions on political and economic freedom, which contradicts the export-oriented nature of the EU and Slovakia itself," he added. According to SaS, the customs and trade war between the US and the rest of the world would have a negative impact on the EU's economy and security. According to SaS, the EU must streamline and deepen cooperation among member states, fully utilising the competitive potential of countries such as the UK, Norway, the Balkans, and Ukraine. This , according to the party, requires reforms in decision-making processes, removing veto power in foreign and security policy matters, and enforcing adherence to common democratic and rule-of-law standards. SaS also believes Europe must once again become a hub for development and research, investing in the future through areas such as artificial intelligence, space programmes, and cyber development to compete with China, the US and others. lin/mcs