EUROPE'S WORLD DEBATING FORUM

Autumn 2008

by Magdaléna Vásáryová

Thrill or excitement that was touchable before the day „D“ of a referendum on the question: “Are you in a favor of joining the EU?" on May 16-17, 2003 presented accumulated effort of few generations of Slovak intellectuals and businessmen who dreamt and suffered for that idea - to belong to the family of European nations. How the citizens of Slovakia will decide this time? However, the optimistic atmosphere, the little grain of doubt could bring inauspicious fruit. As so many time before. According to the referendum participation and the results may seemed that Slovakia had doubts about long-term direction of official politics towards the European Union. Following years has shown that it was only negligent appearance. Slovaks are Europeans.

Entrance to the family of mature democratic European states meant, that we have answered four main questions opened since arose of the modern Slovak nation in 19.century. As our historic memory show, it is not long time ago when we had to face the endeavors to lessen our life space and limit our culture. And I am not only thinking about 50 years of intensive influence of Hungary in the late 19. century when we were saved by 1918 Peace conference in Paris and origin of the Czechoslovak republic and Wilson doctrine. As well, Wiener arbitration in 1938 or secret contract on common borders between Hungary and Poland, not forget to mention that after 1948 we disappeared from the textbooks in Western Europe and became an amorphous red zone reaching to Vladivostok. This period of erasing us from cultural memory of the Europe, lasted 40 years and it would be interesting to see how many decades we would need to substitute the loss. From this point, membership of Slovakia in the European Union is a space of cultural and civilised living for Slovakians. Economic prosperity, that is a condition of integration process is on one hand the source of new citizenry self-confidence. And besides the proposal of understanding our Europeanism, it is also proposal to define the borders and content of modern Slovak patriotism.

This new self-confidence is the elementary assumption for a better and constructive relationship with our neighbors in Central Europe. We have not lived with the neighbors always in best shape, our regions were devastated by two World Wars and our mutual attacks. But we cannot divest ourselves of responsibility for political and cultural instability. In the area of Central Europe, there were started few decisive conflicts and wars in past, in this area we lost during the Second World War most of the civilians. Here are where, our Jews citizens suffered.

Membership of the states of the Visegrad Four in the EU presents constant pressure on mutual dialog. Alone V4, is historically first initiative in the modern history that allows us to cooperate and communicate. The first “touch” among the nations in Central Europe that overwalked the tension existed, still exist and will exist. Today, as a equivalent partners we are sitting not only by the Visegrad 4 table, but also as a close partners in European structure. Without regard to the size or economic power. This is also way how in the Central Europe was created assumption for gradual elimination of historical reminiscence and prejudice that still may influence. That is also why, I consider the Visegrad 4 initiative continuation as one of the priorities of foreign policy of all involved states.

Besides NATO umbrella that covered us since January 1st, 2004 and we dreamt about for long years and we envy neutral Austria (we understood the existence very tangibly on August 21st, 1968), the membership in the EU secures sensible cooperation with all other members on strategic and security questions. Slovakia and its citizens must for the first time think and consider the events and the consequences outside of the “yard”. Slovakia as a member of the EU took over a part of the European responsibility not only for the development at our continent, as well in the world. We consider ourselves to be no more longer lonely power politics victims of bigger neighbors, which were abused specially by populist politicians in 20th. century. But we apply for participation in global responsibility. We enroll to solve problems and help the Western Balkan countries. Geographic closeness and historical friendliness are the factors that help us to understand complexity of the opened questions in the European area and offer to use our transitional experience and reform process. This is the way to become a positive example for the countries – Croatia, Bosna-Hercegovina and Serbia. This is the direction of our still small and modest development aid. After an evaluation of effect of the public debates about European problems on ground of the National Convent, we initiated similar debate in Serbia. Our specialists and diplomats for a long time meet and discuss these questions with official and unofficial structure representatives in these countries. This is also why they are needed in European structures. The new responsibility, so unexpected and unseen in the Slovak history could have beneficial effects on the behavior of the elites in Slovakia. Even though we lost last year consensus of deciding political powers in the field of foreign policy. Priority to devote to Western Balkan is still inattackeable. It is little harder with our help and support of the democratic power and transition process in Ukraine and Belarus. Let’s hope that these priorities of Slovak foreign policy would after some time gain the importance and in the full range of beauty and power will assist to real and long-term sustainable dialog on the form and size of eastern policy of the EU.

Membership in the EU is teaching us, that win-loose strategy is not only penalising but as well inconvenient for the member country. Only using win-win strategy and strengthening principle of solidarity between member states and it t citizens we help each other to get richer, to manage crisis situation and keeping the peace in our continent. As well we “serve” as an example for whole world to show, how dangerous and perfidious neighbors could cooperate currently. European Union is historically unique way of cooperation and it is challenge for other continents like cooperation of the Latin-American states or Asian states. Membership in the EU means that we became a contributor from “petente” and we participate to stabilise democratic regimes and development of the economy of countries that Slovakia’s citizens had very brief information. Even that small part of the contribution is changing atmosphere in Slovakia. We stopped to whine about the poverty and helplessness. Four years ago, we jumped straight to a family of the 30 most developed countries of the world and became a member of the OECD. Public debates on the topic of the EU role( and Slovakia’s too), as the biggest donor in the world have not happen yet. And we should responsibly think about the transformation of the unmercenary donor to politically strong and action wide entity. EU that would help, the EU that would require responsible behavior. What are the ideas and which side will Slovakia be on in these debates, are questionable. Unity exist in the conviction that world need EU as the one distinguished researcher of modern the course of the world.

Slovak politicians must actively participate on these very current affairs on the ground of the EU. Especially on the question of European security. Military as well as energy security. Besides the clue topic of NATO and EU relationship, we must participate in the discussion about the Common Energy Security Policy. We are entitled because Slovakia is second biggest transit country (Ukraine is first) for the Russian oil and gas. At the same time, we are one of those new membership countries that are 100% dependent on the supplies of this transit from Russia. Slow liberalisation of the market with gas, rising prices of the energy and some lonely steps of the member states lately, are the facts that arouse among the citizens doubts and fear that EU is not able find a consensus in this topic. Germany prefers two-sided contracts versus a common progress. That means strengthening nation egoism by presentation of a better position of the few political personnel or parties towards Russian federation. That is not the way that Slovakian politicians should prefer and Slovak citizens support. We should make signals of the direction we would like to follow and the position we would like to stand.

New “constitutions” of the EU was not in Slovakia presented by responsible politicians as a threat of the lost of sovereignty, either as a senseless socialistic project. Through the Slovak political spectra everyone agreed upon Lisbon treaty approval. Some, actually also for the price of approval an undemocratic Press Act. The time of discussion about Lisbon treaty was not only time when Slovaks citizens and politicians understood the way they can influence the affairs in Brussels. After the harder years 1994-98 when Slovakia was part of the group to start negotiations within EU, Slovakia and its citizens experienced reform boom. Two governments of M. Dzurinda in the years 1998-2006 caught up the reform deficit surrounding countries in the sphere of economy and social life as well, we were able to present and try some of the modern steps that were not taken by some members very happily. I am talking about tax reform and so called flat tax. Transparent tax at 19% for entrepreneurial entities, stress on indirect tax and a lost 96% of exceptions were significant when strengthening competition of Slovakia on the European and world markets. And has shown that flat tax is progressive enough to serve as a anticorruption measures, prevent tax speculations and mainly increase of the income to state budget. It may have been the biggest surprise of skeptics in the EU. Slovak reform shown, that even in new small member country could begin the initiative beneficial for all others.

Slovak “reformators” worked similarly in the case of retirement system. Established so called Chile system with three pillars reacts on the demographic line in Slovakia, that is pretty much same in most of EU states. Less of the attention was brought to the revolutionary reform of the Labor Law and whole social system. Economic growth that is Slovakia known for and it is highest in the EU states is a proof of the success and meaningful of the political fight for them. At the same time it means active pressure on the EU states to think and not being afraid of the similar reforms.

Today question in Slovakia stays whether this government is able effectively use taxpayers money in the EU - almost 400 mld. SKK. It would be improper to rely on such help only as an “omni potenti“ of the development of the Slovakia. Structural funds should cover only the “underdevelopment gap” between Western countries and us. This is produced historically (Slovakia couldn’t approved Marshall plan) by 40 years of social-engineering communist experiment that was confirm in August 1968 by military entrance to Czechoslovakia and democratic countries were only looking at. Indeed, in 1968 Slovakia as a part of Czechoslovakia definitely failed down the economic ladder developed countries. In 1948 Czechoslovakia was part of the family of 10 most industrial countries, in 1972 failed and failed till 20th. century. And structural funds could mean only one part of help. It does not present any aversion for other reforms and especially for that most important though elementary – reform of the education system. The change the education, growing up younger generation with the emphasis on the change of lifestyle, soul ecology and support of research and science, reforms of the Unies and the whole supporting system for culture and its modernisation should be next “deposit” of Slovakia into the discussion within EU. The success of Lisbon treaty is in the hands of member states and many people in Slovakia do understand that. Although we are part of the historic area and we are rich in huge and unknown wealth of the European cultural heritage since the Great Moravian Empire, we should step against the tendency that EU is becoming historical skansen for the tourist around the world. We did not imagine our new responsibility that we gain by the EU membership.

First of May 2004 will be written in the Slovakian history with special color. No doubt about that. How the history of Slovakia as a member state of the EU will look like is in the hands of 26 other members too. That is why the efforts to marginalise the meaning of European politics, by some political power, not only in Slovakia, are trying to gain some more election votes, is policy going against Slovakia, as well against Europe. I am sure about that.