Address by the President of the Slovak Republic at the Gala Opening of the 18th Central Europe Summit of Heads of States, Bratislava, Reduta, 12. 6. 2013

Today, 20 years after the formation of the independent Slovak Republic and 20 years after the idea to hold our summits was born, it is a great honour and satisfaction for me to welcome you – the symbolic Twenty highest representatives of the countries from our region. I am noting with gratitude that so many dignitaries have accepted my invitation to the 18th Central Europe Summit of Heads of States and Governments. It confirms that we want to be a part of the pan-European quest for a broader vision of positive changes for Europe.     

From the perspective of Slovakia, the two decades of our modern statehood represent a period of dynamic development and fundamental changes in the domestic and European contexts. We have successfully completed the process of our transition to democracy, rule of law and market economy. At the same time, Slovakia got firmly anchored in the European and Euro-Atlantic integration groupings. Within the Eurozone, Slovakia belongs to the core group of those who advocate European integration and is taking an active part in designing the future shape of the Union. Our recent historic experience has taught us that success is not granted, it must be deserved, usually through hard work. By the way, there is a very apt saying for that: “God helps those who help themselves!” Hence the past two decades are a clear success story for Slovakia and its citizens.   
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, despite the existence of numerous regional groupings in Central, South-eastern and Eastern Europe, our summits are, in fact, the only presidential format which brings together, year by year, the highest representatives from the entire region, including EU member states, candidate and aspirant countries. The motto of our present summit – “Growth Strategy for Post-Crisis Recovery” – has been selected after careful consideration. For five years now, we have been struggling with the impacts of the financial and debt crisis which affects the whole of Europe, irrespective of the actual political geography of our continent.

It looks like a great deal of work has already been done. Yet there are further tasks to accomplish to ensure that our victory over the crisis is irreversible. How successful have we been here, in the region which spans from the Baltic to the Adriatic seas? What could we do better and more efficiently? How can we foster synergies in the efforts pursued by the EU member and non-member states? How can we restore hope, zest and trust among our citizens in the system which is going through very complicated internal developments? 

These are some of the questions we will address during our tomorrow’s plenary discussions. The dynamic region of Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe should – within the framework of the pan-European discussion on how to get out the crisis – have the right to offer also its own authentic solutions. We are entitled to do so by virtue of the results of the immense effort which we invested, maybe with differing degrees of success, into the transformation processes across our societies after the fall of the bipolar division of Europe. Into integration with the so-called advanced West. This is also why our region should speak with a more resounding voice in this pan-European discussion with the ambition to heighten sensibility on the part of our partners in the west of the continent. I am looking forward to our plenary discussion which, I believe, will be interesting, interactive and rich in terms of offering inspiring conclusions.          

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am truly honoured that the President of the European Council Mr Herman Van Rompuy has accepted my invitation. I consider the presence of the “First Man” of the European Union very important for it is primarily the institutions of the European Union which – together with member states – define the strategies, tools, vectors and pace of the reforms and anti-crisis measures on our continent. It is now my pleasure to turn the floor over to the President of the European Council to share with us his views on the current situation and, at the same time, sketch the basic contour of a vision for the post-crisis Europe of which is in an advocate.