Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Citizens of Slovakia,
Today we stand on the threshold of one of the watershed moments in our country modern history. Now is the moment when we take over the European baton and for the first time ever preside over the Council of the European Union. The Slovak Republic has undergone during its era of modern history many significant milestones that have proven to us and to the world that we are able to make challenging and courageous decisions. We Slovaks are solid and responsible partners with a historical experience that shapes our worldview and national values. We have yet to bear on our shoulders this degree of global responsibility, especially relevant in today's difficult and dynamic period of world politics. For our Slovakia, for all of us, this is a huge challenge and responsibility; we are aware of this, and have been preparing for it thoroughly and dutifully for a long time. I believe that Slovakia will become a responsible and strong partner, as it has been always, leading the resolution of the most current, pressing European issues by its rational and pragmatic leadership.
We are fully aware that the privilege to preside over the Council of the EU predominantly brings with it the responsibility to implement the issues of the day in Europe – and throughout the entire world. It is also an opportunity to introduce a certain vision, even more so, given our parliamentary dimension. At the stomping grounds of the Slovak legislature, we would like to introduce our wider concept of the direction we would and should take; how and what we could and should discuss together with our citizens within Europe. Citizens must feel that their opinions and concerns matter – that their voices are heard, as we stand by them and their interests at the European level, and that we can listen, not just preach; that we, as countries, can listen to each other, too, responding readily, not belatedly.
The National Council of the Slovak Republic, in the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the Slovak Presidency, has prepared seven major - in terms of the contents, as well as the attendance - inter-parliamentary events. Several of these events, such as the Plenary Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of the Parliaments of the European Union, the Inter-parliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy, or the Conference of Speakers of Parliaments of the European Union, will be the biggest official events to be held during our presidency.
In 2016, the National Council of the Slovak Republic will organize the so-called small COSAC or the COSAC Chairs, the Inter-parliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination, and Governance in the European Union and the Meeting of Chairpersons of the Economic Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union on the Energy Union. Given the fact that the Slovak Republic will preside over the Council of the EU during the second half of the calendar year, we are also entitled to host the annual presidency of the Conference of Speakers of Parliaments of the European Union; this implies an obligation to organize further events in 2017. Our parliamentary presidency will thus continue into the next year when we will become the organizer of the Meeting of Chancellery Heads of Parliaments of the European Union, and lastly of the Conference of Speakers of Parliaments of the European Union Member States.
The engine of our shared European success has always consisted of courage, determination, and responsibility. Today, the European Union, as a united community, is facing many challenges. Some of these, such as security, stability, common European legitimacy, or the social security of our citizens, will be undoubtedly included amongst the topics covered during our presidency. Slovakia does not want to stand aside the debate. We believe that it is in the vital interest of our common home - the European Union - to be honest and open with each other and our citizens. Responsibility and courage are - now, as well as they were in the past - the keys to solving the current challenges we face.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As the Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, I believe that Slovakia will be successful in this, our historical role as the presiding country of the European Union. I am sure it is in our common interest to support and promote the European approach to life, to our proven values and rules, and thus jointly strengthen our identity. I am convinced that Slovakia will conduct our presidency responsibly and courageously.