Press Advisories

25. 3. 201722:20

Prime Minister Sobotka: Rome Declaration on future of EU also contains important Czech priorities – security and prosperity

In Rome Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka took part in an informal summit of 27 member states of the European Union. Together with his European partners he agreed on the main pillars of the EU’s future and all 27 states including the Czech Republic signed a joint communiqué containing these priorities. The summit in Rome took place symbolically on the day of the 60th anniversary of the founding treaties.

“I consider today as exceptionally important both for the European Union and for Europe. Together all the leaders of the Member States of the European Union reached agreement on the priorities for the future direction of the union. We have agreed that we want to work for a Europe which is safer, prosperous, more cohesive and with greater social justice. Today’s summit took place on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the signing of the Rome treaties, which were at the birth of the union. While 60 years ago, when the foundations of European integration were laid down in Rome, Czechs were living behind the Iron Curtain and integration was taking place without us, today we have a seat at the table and can influence the path which Europe will take in the future. The Rome Declaration reflects our priorities, which indeed are security, cohesion and prosperity”, said Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.

The aim of the Rome Declaration signed today is to set out the further direction of the EU so that Member States can together overcome the problems which we face in today's unsettled times. Whether it be the threat of terrorism, armed conflicts in Ukraine and in Syria, illegal migration and the reverberations of the economic crisis, Europe must remain united and resolve these problems as one.

European statesmen have today agreed that in the future the EU will focus on achieving four principal objectives: providing internal security, an active role for the EU on the international stage, securing prosperity and economic growth and collaboration in the social sphere including support for convergence between Member States.

The Rome Declaration signed today also reflects the long-term priorities of the Czech government in European politics. Above all, this is about strengthening prosperity and evening out living standards between EU states. Of no less importance from the Czech point of view is providing for the security of Europeans. This means both ensuring protection of the Union’s external borders and collaboration in the fight against terrorism, and enabling the Union to defend its interests and support stability in its neighbourhood.