Simecka: European Council Gives Premier Task that He's Not Able to Fulfil

(JOJ 24,'Politika 24', March 9) Nothing new emerges from the conclusions of this week's European summit, leader of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party Michal Simecka said on JOJ 24's discussion programme 'Politika 24' (Politics 24) on Sunday, adding that the European Council (EC) gives Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) a task he has been unable to fulfil for a long time - to negotiate gas transit with Ukraine. "Nothing new emerges from the conclusions, only that Robert Fico isn't yet doing what he's supposed to do," noted Simecka, pointing out that the PS has long maintained that the solution to the gas transit issue is between Slovakia and Ukraine. He criticised that Fico instead tried to look for solutions in Moscow and expressed a hope that Slovakia will return to normal dialogue with Ukraine as soon as possible. Simecka agrees that it's necessary to increase the defence capacity of the European Union and its member states, seeing the loosening of the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact as a positive step. He expects a specific plan from the government on how it wants to support Slovakia's defence capability. The PS chair also expects an answer from the premier to the question who are Slovakia's allies, accusing Fico of isolating Slovakia from the most important international negotiations and decisions. He considers this to be fatal for Slovak foreign policy. "When you're not at the table, you're on the menu. ... I'm afraid that under the influence of this government, Slovakia will no longer sit at important negotiations because Robert Fico doesn't want to," said the PS leader, adding that he doesn't understand the premier's position. am