Polish Premier Tusk: Fico Relatively Loyal to EU and Won't Pose Major Problem

Warsaw, 17 April (TASR-correspondent) - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated on Friday that his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico (Smer-SD) behaves relatively loyally on European issues and, in his opinion, he won't pose a major problem for the functioning of the European Union following the defeat of Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban, TASR has learnt from its special correspondent in Warsaw. "Prime Minister Fico - he is what he is, but on European issues he tries to be relatively loyal. I think I can say that I have some influence over him when it comes to his behaviour in Europe, and I have reason to believe that, especially after Orban's defeat, he won't pose a major problem," Tusk told a press conference. The Polish premier made these remarks in response to a discussion about the possible scrapping of the unanimity principle in the EU, which has recently caused tension, particularly due to Hungary's blocking of certain decisions. Tusk also emphasised that the debate on abolishing the veto is a sensitive issue and that Poland should approach it with caution. According to him, the principle of unanimity has in the past helped smaller and medium-sized states in particular to advance their interests. "I believe rather that the European Union should once again believe in its strength - not through more regulations and forced cooperation, but by defining the common interest," he said. am/df