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This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by TASR.

AZZZ SR: EU membership brings fundamental benefits to Slovak companies and citizens

by AI | 19.Jan 2025 | Europe in brief AI

The Association of Employers’ Unions and Associations of the Slovak Republic negatively perceives statements about Slovakia’s withdrawal from the EU.

Association of Employers' Associations and Unions of the Slovak Republic warned about the risk of statements about leaving the EU. Photo: TASR

Bratislava – Membership in the European Union brings essential benefits to Slovak companies and citizens. For Slovakia, as a small economy, integration into such large and stable entities is crucial. This follows from the statement of the Association of Employers’ Unions and Associations (AZZZ) of the SR, which responded to the statements of the Vice-Chairman of the National Council (NR) of the SR Tibor Gašpar (Smer-SD) about a possible exit from the EU and NATO. TASR was informed about this by the spokeswoman of the association, Miriam Filová.

“Any steps or populist statements aimed at weakening this integration could lead to economic and political isolation, a loss of investments with a negative impact on the living standards of the population,” Filová stated. She added that the statements send a warning signal to investors, which reduces Slovakia’s credibility.

Filová reminded that instead of using emotionally charged topics, it is important to focus on rational solutions that will contribute to the improvement of the business environment. “They will attract investments and ensure stable conditions for the long-term development of Slovak companies,” she added.

Vice-Chairman of the NR SR Tibor Gašpar commented in a news broadcast of the television station STVR on the proposal of the opposition party SaS to enshrine in the constitution the membership of the SR in the EU and NATO. He reminded that the SR joined both communities based on a referendum, and any potential exit should be governed by the same rule, which he described as an extreme solution.

At the same time, he stated that Smer-SD currently does not prioritize or aim for an exit from the EU or NATO.

“But both of these unions evolve over time. They may change some fundamental issues or principles of functioning that were in place when we entered them. Therefore, there must remain open doors for the situation that we might eventually consider even such an extreme solution as exiting the EU,” Gašpar said. (January 18)