Danko Has Breakfast with Diplomats, Assures Them of Slovakia's Support for EU

Danko Has Breakfast with Diplomats, Assures Them of Slovakia's Support for EU

Bratislava, September 18 (TASR) – On the occasion of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Parliamentary Chairman Andrej Danko (Slovak National Party/SNS) on Tuesday had breakfast with diplomats from EU-member countries serving in Slovakia, Parliament’s communications department told TASR on the same day.

Danko assured the diplomats that Slovakia maintains its position of strong support for the EU project. “As a relatively young and small country, drawing from its rich history, we do understand the patterns of international relations very well. We also realise the value of alliance and partnership cooperation, striving to develop it equally in all cardinal directions,” he said. However, Slovakia has its own opinion that can also be critical and audible if necessary, he added.

The parliamentary chairman assured the diplomats that Slovakia wants to advocate closer coordination and enhancement of cooperation on issues in which it has sufficient expertise and experience. He said that Slovakia gained experience during its EU integration and wants to come up with proposals for interesting measures within formats relevant for the EU, its member states and partners in its neighbourhood.

Danko pointed to the fact that the Austrian presidency is addressing the issue of subsidiarity in decision-making processes at the EU level, which Slovakia has identified with. He stressed the role of national parliaments in this connection, as they have to work actively, timely and responsibly in the process of creating EU draft legislation.

According to Danko, parliaments are the personification of representative democracy at the national as well as the EU level. “Last but not least, they are pillars of legitimacy of the Union as such,” he stated, adding that Austria has Slovakia’s full support during its presidency.