Brussels, 24/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - Responding to the British vote in favour of Brexit, on Friday morning 24 June, Robert Fico, the Slovakian Prime Minister, said that EU policies required "fundamental changes". He also said that the EU should profoundly change its economic and immigration policies based on the wishes of the people.
On 1 July, Slovakia will take over the reins of the Council of the EU and Mr Fico pointed out that "It is no tragedy but reality, with the remaining 27 EU member countries now having to react quickly. It'd be a big mistake if the reaction of these 27 countries were the same as the EU's policies have been so far. Let's realise that a great part of people living in Europe reject the EU's migration policy, there is great dissatisfaction with the EU's economic policy".
According to several media outlets he also said "It is up to us, the remaining 27 union member states, whether we find enough strength to say that fundamental policies of the EU must go through fundamental changes".
Mr Fico explained that he had already proposed during a number of meetings with European leaders that an informal debate on the EU's future be organised during the Slovakian Presidency. He affirmed that "We must propose more attractive policies to issues that are being viewed negatively".
The Slovakian Prime Minister also provided assurances that questions relating to Brexit would be treated by the EU and Slovakia as the country presiding over the Council of the EU. He said that in this connection, the Slovakian government therefore had "huge responsibilities" and called on the political opposition in his country to refrain from attempts to destabilise the Slovakian state (in a reference to the attacks from the opposition against him and the Minister for the Interior, Robert Kalinak, concerning allegations of fraud). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)