Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini announced his government's commitment to keep Slovakia, a Member State with a positive net migration 15 years after joining the European Union, "in the group of the most integrated countries", on Tuesday 12 March during a debate on the future of the EU in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Giving his speech a social focus, Mr Pellegrini called for a "prosperous" Union that ensures socio-economic convergence, in particular by introducing a "minimum wage at European level". He also underlined his country's willingness to host the future European Labour Authority (see EUROPE 12208/16).
For the Slovak leader, the Union must also be "frank" with its citizens, especially young people, by offering them a credible vision of the future through investment in research, innovation and qualifications, carbon neutrality and the defence of the four fundamental freedoms of movement. In this respect, Mr Pellegrini warned against excessive European regulation.
The Union must also be "relevant" at the global level by increasing its defence capability (PESCO) while ensuring it complements EU/NATO, Mr Pellegrini said.
East-West stereotypes. As Slovakia currently holds the presidency of the Visegrád Group, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of unity among Member States by getting rid of "East-West stereotypes" to address challenges from both outside (Russia, China, climate change) and inside (breach of the social contract, ageing of the population).
"Isolationism, protectionism and nationalism are not the solution", the social democrat said.
Referring to the success of the Bratislava European Summit, which launched the reflection on the future of the Twenty-seven, three months after the British referendum on Brexit (see EUROPE 11626/1), the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, welcomed the Slovak Government's support in reviewing the European rules governing the posting of workers and in promoting the European Pillar of Social Rights, "which contains the idea of a minimum wage".
Ján Kuciak. Interventions by political groups focused on the Slovak authorities' response to the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée in early 2018, as well as on defending the rule of law in the country.
Esteban Gonzáles Pons (EPP, Spain), Josef Weidenholzer (S&D, Austria) and Sophie in't Veld (ALDE, Netherlands) called for Slovakia's justice system to complete its work by bringing those responsible to justice. The Dutch Liberal also called for the appointment of nine judges to the Constitutional Court, which is "currently inoperative", and for the restrictions on freedom of information to be lifted.
For Ska Keller (Greens/EFA, Germany), a commission of independent experts could be appointed at European level to report on the situation of the rule of law in the EU, or even recommend sanctions. But, in its view, since citizens should not suffer from offences potentially committed by a government, the Commission could then take over the management of European funds allocated to that state in order to maintain a concrete link between citizens and the EU.
Mr Pellegrini promised to do everything in his power to complete the investigation into the murders of Mr Kuciak, who was investigating cases of European aid fraud, and his partner. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)