Government Office Objects to Dutch Parliament's Call to Take Slovakia to ECJ

Bratislava, 21 October (TASR) - The Government Office has objected to a call by the Dutch Parliament urging the Dutch government to file a lawsuit against Slovakia before the European Court of Justice over recent constitutional amendments, the Government Office's press department told TASR on Tuesday, stressing that Europe is not the United States and doesn't function as a superstate. "It is unclear whether it's now common and acceptable in the European Union for countries to deal with the internal affairs of other partner states. However, if they are assessing the constitutional amendments adopted by democratic and constitutional means, this is one of the worst signals they could have sent us," stated the office. The amendments were supported by 75 percent of citizens, claimed the office, calling it a rare moment of consensus between coalition and opposition voters. The Government Office also stressed that it respects the affairs of the Netherlands and the results of its general election, which determined the current composition of the Dutch Parliament. Likewise, according to the office, Slovakia respects the fact that the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriages and euthanasia, and to decriminalise marijuana. "Even though our values in this area are different, it would never occur to us to sue the Netherlands before an international court. We respect the citizens of the Netherlands, its democratically elected institutions, and recognise their right to determine the country's direction in terms of fundamental values," stated the Government Office, adding that Europe will only be strong if its member states respect each other's differences and traditions, while at the same time staying united. jrg/df