Slovak leader Fico preparing for EU exit, opposition says. (https://www.reuters.com/resizer/v2/RDDKUK5C2RMJZLSCGA6I5IEDEI.jpg?auth=59d6c388e73da9fa7beb6c422de0d76b0398d23a17e802b223e0f81ff1a09087&width=640&quality=80)

"This cannot be read in any other way than... what we had warned of: that the government of Smer is preparing the ground for leading Slovakia out of the European Union," Simecka, leader of the Progressive Slovakia party, told parliament.

"I see this as such an existential threat to our national interests that we do not need anything else to declare no-confidence."

Fico told parliament that foreign policy was determined by NATO and EU membership but Slovakia could not be "static" in a fast-developing world.

"What if a group of 3-4 large countries comes and says, ladies and gentlemen, either there will be a superstate where you lose all your national sovereignty ... or go your own way?" Fico said. "We are speaking of a development that can happen very fast."

Fico's cabinet is expected to be backed by Smer as well as deputies from the nationalist SNS and centre-left Hlas party, giving him enough votes to survive. However, Hlas has rejected any discussion over EU membership, and several of its deputies have protested against Fico's foreign policy.

Read more (https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/slovak-leader-fico-preparing-eu-exit-opposition-says-2025-01-21/)

🇪🇺@EU_Report 🇸🇰