Speech of the Prime Minister of the CR, Mirek Topolánek at the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary on 29th March 2007

Dear Chairman, dear members of the Parliament,

I feel honoured to have an opportunity to give a speech at the Hungarian Parliament. I will not speak too long; I would like to leave most of time for your questions. By the way, the European policy is becoming more and more domestic policy and thus I regard it as if I broke up a debate with Czech deputies and nipped out for a debate with Hungarian ones.
I will be speaking about our bilateral relationships in particular, and about our common policy of the Visegrad 4 in the framework of the EU. It means about issues that are from the traditional point of view foreign issues; however it is necessary to distinguish the policy within the framework of the EU and that concerning countries outside the EU. We assign great importance to relationships with Hungary and we appreciate their trouble-free character. There are no unsolved or open issues here, in fact. Our interest is to develop our relationships in all areas. Quality of our relationships can be documented by the fact that although we do not have common frontiers, Hungary is classified among our neighbour countries according the foreign strategy, which had been approved by the government. We speak about "honorary neighbourhood". To my great delight I note that this term is not mere empty rhetoric.
As far as our mutual trade is concerned, it develops very dynamically. Since 2004 Hungary is our tenth greatest business partner with 2,7% share in the foreign trade of the Czech Republic.
The Czech surplus is about not quite 470 million out of the total turnover of 4 billion Euros. Nevertheless, last year the growth of Hungarian exports surpassed dynamism of imports from the Czech Republic. So, I think that our trade relationships are balanced and equal. The balance of our relationships may be documented by the fact that Hungarian investors are more active in the Czech Republic than Czech investors in Hungary.
Good bilateral relationships enable us to concentrate ourselves to promotion of our common interests within the EU. The Czech Republic is now preparing for the takeover of the Visegrad Presidency just from Hungary. During our presidency we would like to put emphasis on energy, cooperation in the organs of the EU and other international institutions, in particular in the WTO.
We welcome initiative of V4 countries, which is aimed at development of Eastern dimension of the European neighbourly policy, I mean the region, which has been among priorities of the Czech foreign policy for a long time and which deserves the same attention and volume of resources allocated as the Mediterranean region, which is being preferred nowadays.
As to the cooperation within the V4 generally, we are of the opinion that it is necessary to concentrate on concrete issues, regarding which we are able to reach an agreement on common strategy and then to promote this strategy in the framework of the entire EU. We have been successful recently in the process of enlargement of the Schengen area, when we, together with other countries pre-empted its postponement to 2010, 11, 12 or even further. I believe we will be successful in finding more issues, which the V4 will be able to promote briskly, because it is crucial for importance of this organization.
The Czech Republic is now preparing for the EU Presidency in the first half of 2009. The motto of our presidency is "Europe without Barriers". We will be striving for elimination of discrimination of new countries, for full enforcement of four freedoms of the Union, for liberal trade policy and for increasing competitiveness. I suppose that these issues are very close to Hungary. Energy security and sustainable development will be further priorities of ours. Interest of the Czech Republic and Hungary is to accomplish full liberalization of the internal market of the Union. It was documented for example on the occasion of adoption of the Directive on Services, when both countries came under countries, which were trying to enforce more liberal wording.
Both countries are also facing restrictions regarding free movement of workers and services on markets of certain original countries of the EU. Our interest is to cooperate, so that these restrictions would be eliminated.
As far as the European integration is concerned, we prefer the "Europe of Projects", it means concrete results, to general proclamations. We support such projects like energy security, solution of migration, support of research and development. We are of the opinion that Europe faces neither a political nor an institutional crisis. Therefore, it would be a fault to prefer speed at the expense of quality during the reform. Long-term prospects must be given precedence over actual political interests. Apart from this, it is unthinkable for the institutional framework to petrify unequal position of old and new countries. Institutional changes must not put necessity of full liberalization of the EU on the sidelines. The reform of institutions cannot be restricted just to technology of power-political decision making. We are of the opinion that it should be concentrated on the support of policies, in particular those, which will increase security and competitiveness of the EU in a global scale.
It is important for the debate on the institutional reform not to put issue of further enlargement of the EU on the sidelines. We are of the opinion that enlargement of the EU is a basis of a civilization mission of the EU and that it contributes to the enlargement of stability and prosperity. The European Union should find a way how to operate with higher number of members regardless existing agreements and arrangements. It is important to keep door open for all those who fulfil hard access conditions. I can mention Turkey as an example. The process of adoption of standards of the EU is very painful for this country and it will not be accomplished within couple of years, definitely. But even this country, which is significantly different, deserves to get a chance. It would be a wrong signal for Turkey and other states in the Mediterranean area and in the Middle East and for further drift of the EU, if we do not fulfil our promises.
We are paying special attention to the course of negotiation process with Croatia. If everything goes according to our plans, it will be just the Czech Republic, which will be adopting Croatia to the Union in 2009. But the process of enlargement should not be stopped on Croatian frontiers. The Balkan region would be a source of instability without integration of the entire West Balkan. I am glad that we are of the same opinion as Hungary. Now, it is important to solve the status of Kosovo and the Czech Republic fully supports proposal and the time schedule of Marti Ahtisaari. It is also necessary to support pro-reform government in Serbia, which will lead country to the EU and which will cooperate with the ICTY.
I could pay my attention now to opinions of the Czech government regarding further issues, like relationships with the Russian Federation, anti-missile defence or human right in the world. I will be very pleased to answer them. But in case you do not ask, I would not like to prolong my speech much. In conclusion, allow me to quote words of philosopher Francois de la Rochefoucald: How can a man know what he wishes from the future, if he does not exactly know what he wishes from the present time?" I think it is a felicitous conclusion of a speech on the European Union.
Thank you for your attention.