Donald Tusk talks about a new era in the EU after the defeat of Viktor Orbán. He claims that Robert Fico is relatively loyal on European issues and will not be an obstacle to the Union.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared on Friday that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) behaves relatively loyally in European issues and, according to him, will not pose a fundamental problem for the functioning of the European Union after the defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The Warsaw correspondent TASR informs about it.
- Donald Tusk described Robert Fico as relatively loyal on European issues.
- Tusk expects that after Viktor Orbán’s defeat, Fico will not be a problematic partner.
- The debate on the abolition of the principle of unanimity in the European Union remains extremely sensitive.
- According to Tusk, Poland should approach the issue of repealing the right of veto very carefully.
- Tusk advocates strengthening EU cooperation with Norway, Iceland and Canada.
“Prime Minister Fico – what he is, he is, but he tries to be relatively loyal on European issues, and I think I can say that I have an influence on him in terms of his behavior in Europe, and I have reasons to believe that, especially after the defeat of Orbán, he will not pose a fundamental problem,” Tusk said at a press conference.
Abolition of unanimity in the EU
The Prime Minister of Poland stated this in response to the discussion on the possible abolition of the principle of unanimity in the EU, which recently caused tension mainly due to the blocking of some decisions by Hungary.
At the same time, the Polish Prime Minister emphasized that the debate on the abolition of the veto right is sensitive and Poland should approach it with caution. According to him, the principle of unanimity in the past mainly helped smaller and medium-sized states to promote their interests.
Expansion of cooperation outside the EU
“Rather, I think that the European Union should believe in its strength again – not through more regulations and forced cooperation, but by defining a common interest,” he said.
He sees the opportunity rather in the expansion of cooperation with countries outside the EU, such as Norway or Iceland, which will soon have a referendum on the issue of EU membership. According to the prime minister, the possibility of an above-standard cooperation with Canada is also being discussed.
