BERLIN, July 3, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovak and German governments have very close positions on European integration issues and solutions to the financial crisis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after Tuesday’s talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. „We agreed that in future we need more Europe rather than less, especially in the euro area. The Slovak Republic, similarly as Germany is open further integration steps,“ said Merkel.
„There are no open political issues between the Slovak Republic and Germany; on the contrary, today’s talks confirmed that the attitudes of both countries on the most important bilateral and multilateral issues are getting very close,“ said Prime Minister Fico. He also agreed with Chancellor Merkel regarding the procedure for granting financial assistance to risky countries in the euro area. „On the one hand, solidarity is important, on the other hand, it is necessary to do your homework. These areas must be interlinked,“ Merkel noted.
According to Fico, it is questionable whether Slovakia will be willing to help in the future euro area countries. „First, they must show that they are interested in taking consolidation measures, then we can talk further about whether there can or cannot be some help. But the limit of public patience is exhausted. For every politician in the European Union it will be very complicated to say that we are prepared to help somebody without the beneficiary accomplishing their homework,“ he said.
Chancellor Merkel does not admit the possibility that the euro area could split into two blocks, she said she wants to preserve it in its present form. In her conversation with Fico, they therefore did not deal even with the possibility that Slovakia remains one club with Germany. „We did not discuss these issues and that is where it will remain,“ said Merkel.
SITA
