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| Miroslav Lajčák holds discussions with his Irish counterpart in Dublin |
| Dublin, 15.10.2018 |
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| Miroslav Lajčák, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, paid an official visit to Ireland today (10 October 2018). He spoke with Simon Coveney, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and also visited the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. “Meeting with you – local people and business leaders living in the border area – enabled me to feel your fears about Brexit and provided me with a more detailed picture of its possible negative impacts on your everyday lives,” stated the head of Slovak diplomacy.
The talks with Coveney were dominated by Brexit and Slovakia realizes that Ireland will feel the Brexit impacts most from among the EU member countries, according to Lajčák. The partners agreed that the outcome from the Brexit talks should be an agreement that will not threaten the integrity of the single market and will keep the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland open at the same time – as the fundamental principle of the peace process on the Irish island.
The ministers also delved into current European topics – the future of the EU, migration and expectations from the multiannual financial framework, as well as current international policy issues, including developments in EU-Russian relations. Minister Lajčák told his counterpart about the main aspects of Slovakia´s OSCE Chairmanship in 2019 as well as its Presidency of the Visegrad Four. “Slovakia is also linked to Ireland with similar geopolitical attributes – we are mid-sized countries with pro-export economies, both EU and euro zone members, but our economic cooperation has not developed to correspond to its potential, especially as for small and mid-sized enterprises,” said Lajčák vis-à-vis economic and trade relations. In his view both countries are challenged to deepen their cooperation in new technologies, innovations and start-ups.
The head of Slovak diplomacy also gave an address at the most important Irish think-tank, the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) on “The future of the EU 27 from the perspective of the Slovak Republic”. In his address he stated that in the near future Slovakia wants to see a unified, prospering and secure European Union with the EU playing an important global role in the world politics, adequate to its economic power. “The EU is a society believing in and promoting values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, social solidarity, ecological sustainability, rationality and openness to international cooperation based on the principles of multilateralism. We want to be part of a European Union in which strategic decisions are adopted based on a consensus and mutual respect,” stated Lajčák, adding that Slovakia does not believe in nationalism, protectionism and unilateralism. The head of Slovak diplomacy also highlighted the wish for a fully functional Schengen zone and a prospering euro zone. He also expressed support for the Western Balkan countries in their Euro-integration efforts, under the condition of adopting reforms. “We are also ready to help the Eastern Partnership countries in their transformation efforts,” he stated.
At the end of his working agenda in Dublin, Minister Lajčák will meet with representatives of the Slovak community in Ireland to discuss opportunities for their support by the Slovak government, especially through the Office of the Slovaks Living Abroad
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Address : Euro-Brew Ltd., Hlboká 22, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia
Tel. : +421 33 53 418 53, Fax : +421 33 53 418 52, E-mail : info@eurobrew.sk |
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