German Foreign Minister: Slovakia already in EU core

Slovakia and Germany will cooperate more closely. The framework for cooperation is defined by the Memorandum on systemic inter-state cooperation between both countries, which the Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs Miroslav Lajčák and his German partner Sigmar Gabriel signed on Friday in Wolfsburg. As Lajčák explained at a news conference, this cooperation is not limited to ministries, but is also open to federal states, towns and municipalities, or parliaments. When asked by a journalist whether the signing of the Memorandum signifies that Slovakia is coming closer to the European core, the German foreign minister replied that Slovakia already forms part of the EU core. "Slovakia is already within the EU core; it doesn't have to move closer to it. You make it sound as if you almost underestimate your country," said Sigmar Gabriel.