Brussels, 01/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - Although the Slovakian Prime Minister, Robert Fico, took pains to reassure his audience on a visit to Brussels on Wednesday 1 June, repeating several times that during his country's rotating Presidency, he will be an “honest broker”, he nonetheless reiterated that his country would not change its stance, with Slovakia having come under fire over the migration crisis.
“We are fully aware of the role of the country [holding] the Presidency; we aim to be an 'honest broker'”, he explained at a press conference with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. “However, this does not mean that we are prepared to change our national positions, this just means that we will not put them on the table”, he warned. The President of the European Commission confirmed that the Slovakian Prime Minister had promised him that he would be a “very pro-European leader over the next six months”.
On one of the most sensitive dossiers of the Presidency, migration and, in particular, the reform of the Dublin regulation on the member states' responsibilities in asylum matters, Fico acknowledged that it would be “hard” to agree on some of the Commission's proposals, first and foremost the reform of Dublin.
But “our government will do its best” to support the fastest possible adoptions, the Prime Minister said. Repeating his intentions of being an honest broker for the next six months, Fico said that all subjects would be tabled, even though his country is opposing the relocation programme for asylum seekers launched in September of last year. However, Slovakia will make sure that “every member state gets to have its say”.
The Slovakian Prime Minister added that certain proposals were welcome, such as the one on the future European border guard agency or the intention of fully restoring the Schengen free-movement area by the end of 2016, as provided for by the Commission's roadmap.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the first days of the Presidency would be dominated by the subject of migration, but also the issue of the British referendum. On this subject, Fico said that it would be in the interests of both sides if the “UK stays”. Furthermore, he believes that the British people will vote to stay.
Lastly, the Slovakian Prime Minister said that as well as “sustainable” migration, Slovakia's priorities will be for an economically stronger Europe, the development of the single market, particularly regarding digital, and external aspects (see EUROPE 11550). He also expressed his hopes that the European Union will communicate in language that is easier for the European citizens to understand. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic and Camille-Cerise Gessant)