Eurosceptics in Slovakia take up positions that don’t and can’t have any rational foundations, as the country is a receiver of EU assistance and we've profited from our EU membership. These were the words of Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák at RTVS’ political discussion show 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday.
“Such scepticism is a result of the crisis, as there are fewer resources to be distributed”, observed Lajčák. At the same time he conceded that the EU seems to have lost its ability to communicate with people and it has become more technocratic. “The European institutions have detached themselves from people, which is one of the reasons why the Union has been facing criticism”, he explained. Lajcak's opponent in the discussion was Pavol Frešo, the leader of the political party SDKU-DS and chairman of the Bratislava Regional Government, who claimed it’s logical that there are eurosceptic ideas. “All reasonable people can see that they are better off in the EU than outside it. On the other hand, euroscepticism exists because people are afraid that such important powers – such as those related to taxes and employment - will be taken over by Brussels”, said Frešo.
