President Zuzana Čaputová, Parliamentary Chair Boris Kollár and Prime Minister Igor Matovič signed a joint declaration to express their willingness and joint commitment to cooperate in the pursuing of a single unified and responsible foreign, European and security policy and bolster the foreign affairs consensus. The document was inked on Saturday to mark the celebration of Europe Day.
"By signing this declaration, we have made it unambiguously clear that we care deeply about a responsible and unified foreign, European and security policy. We care about how Slovakia is to be perceived abroad," stated Čaputová, adding that it is important for Slovakia to be perceived as a responsible and predictable partner.
The declaration posits that EU and NATO memberships are the best vehicle for making sure that Slovakia remains a successful, prosperous, socially just and secure country and develops further along these lines in the future. This holds true specifically at the present times of serious challenges, including violations of international law, disrespect for the concept of state sovereignty and the impacts of climate change.
The declaration also plans to prevent the spreading of disinformation and propaganda. The signatories declare to pursue active cooperation within the Visegrad Four countries [V4: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia], meet commitments stemming from NATO membership, support the strengthening of European security and defence and pass a new Slovak security and defence strategy.
Chief of Slovak diplomacy Ivan Korčok (a SaS nominee) perceives the signing of the declaration as an important signal and legacy. "This is truly an important watershed, when the top constitutional officials are signalling their consensus on the direction in which Slovakia wants to be steered," he claimed, adding that it is his wish to start a discussion among Slovaks as to why it is beneficial to belong to the EU and the community of democratic states. "The EU is a good project, although not perfect. That's why I am calling for a factual debate, informed by arguments but not demagoguery," he said.
