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Slovak PM shows cautious optimism in dealings with "Brexit"

Xinhua, February 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico Thursday left with cautious optimism for the two-day summit of the European Council in Brussels.

"I believe that some sensible compromise can be hammered out because we care for Great Britain to remain in EU," said Fico at the parliamentary European Affairs Committee session prior to his departure.

Fico considers it important that the motion to address British demands, drafted by European Council President Donald Tusk, doesn't bestow veto rights on eurozone non-member states.

"Hence, they can't veto our decisions. However, we're not opposed to having eurozone non-members involved in big decisions," stressed Fico.

Slovakia fully supports British demands to bolster EU's competitiveness and cut red tape. Bratislava also harbors no objections to strengthening powers of national parliaments and the introduction of so-called red card mechanism, allowing 55 percent of national parliaments to block European Commission-sponsored legislative bills.

Still open remains the issue of work migration from other member states, which London wants to restrict. Visegrad Four group (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia), for instance, advocates the notion that these limitations shouldn't have retroactive effect and shouldn't apply to pensions. Also under debate is the length of transitional period during which access of foreign workers to social benefits is to be limited. Endit