Pellegrini Opposes Speeches Questioning Slovakia's EU Membership

Bratislava, November 8 (TASR) - Parliamentary Chair Peter Pellegrini (Voice-SD) has spoken up against speeches questioning Slovakia's membership of the European Union, adding that he wants to explain to the public the benefits of EU membership in the run-up to next year's anniversary of Slovakia's accession to the Union. Pellegrini said so after meeting head of the European Commission's Representation in Slovakia Vladimir Sucha on Wednesday. The parliamentary chair declared that Slovakia is interested in developing good and mutually beneficial relations with the European Commission. "I oppose any speeches that call into question our membership of the EU, especially when next year we will commemorate the 20th anniversary of our accession," Pellegrini stressed, noting that 85 percent of Slovakia's public finances are implemented via the European Structural Funds and the recovery plan. "Slovakia is a small open economy which has benefited greatly since its inception from being part of the single common European market," he added. At the same time, Pellegrini claimed that he told Sucha that Slovakia's foreign policy won't change. In this vein, the House chair informed Sucha that the country wants to remain an active sovereign member of the EU and that it wants to discuss its further development and enlargement. zel/mcs