Martin Klus: “The EU leadership and the solidarity between Member States play an irreplaceable role in dealing with the current pandemic situation”

'Cooperation within the European Union, sharing experiences and mutual assistance are key in our fight against the coronavirus, even one year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Slovakia has already been convinced of this several times previously. Therefore, we continue to communicate intensely with our close partners, including Slovenia and Ireland, with whom we share similar views on many current issues in the Union, the eurozone and international organizations. Brexit, as well as new plans for the recovery of the European economy after the corona crisis, make our relations even more important.'

This was stated by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic (MZVEZ SR), Martin Klus on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 in Bratislava, after his meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the Slovak Republic, Gregor Kozovinc, and after a video conference with Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs of Ireland. The main themes of both discussions were bilateral relations and cooperation, the joint fight against the coronavirus and mutual assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as some current topics in European and foreign policy.

'I am pleased that relations between Slovakia and Slovenia are smooth and friendly. Our open dialogue takes place at the regional, European and multilateral levels where we also support each other in candidacies for positions in international organizations. We are also connected by a lively economic cooperation and the development of tourism, which can bring several new opportunities for cooperation after the end of the pandemic,' said Martin Klus, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic.

He also thanked Slovenia for its recent assistance in the form of hospital beds for patients with severe cases of the COVID-19 disease. The Slovenian Ambassador to Slovakia welcomed the donation of approximately two thousand RT-PCR tests sensitive to new coronavirus mutations from the MultiplexDX company.

'We also very much welcome the priorities of the forthcoming Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will take place in the second half of 2021. In addition to the emphasis on the economic recovery of the EU and increasing the resilience of the single market, we especially appreciate its support of the European integration of the Western Balkans, which is another common theme of the Slovak and Slovenian diplomatic policy,' added Martin Klus.

Post-Brexit relations, the implementation of the agreements on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU), as well as the Conference on the Future of Europe were discussed during the meeting between the State Secretary of the Slovak foreign ministry and the Minister of State for European Affairs of Ireland. With regard to the spread of new coronavirus mutations, the partners agreed on the need for the leadership of the Union and its bodies to further ensure a sufficient number of authorised vaccines. They also expressed the same view on the continued restrictions of free movement and the adoption of new restrictive measures by some EU member states.

'Just as the COVID-19 pandemic is not a problem only for some countries but a global challenge, so also Brexit affects the whole of Europe. Therefore, Slovakia supports Ireland in this issue and, even after the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, calls for the need for the EU member states to continue to stay unified. We are aware that the effects of Brexit are particularly noticeable in Ireland, and so we stand behind our Irish friends and welcome all actions to preserve the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement on the island of Ireland,' said Martin Klus, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic.

In connection with the preparations of the Conference on the Future of Europe, which was postponed last year due to the corona crisis, the partners called for an early start and a genuine dialogue with citizens. According to Martin Klus, all available communication tools, including digital platforms, should be used to thoroughly assess the current state of the EU, while the civic dimension of the Conference on the Future of Europe must be priority.