“Europe Is Enriched by Nations, Not by Conformity”

Minister for European Union Affairs János Bóka

“We are not Europeans because we meet the expectations and standards set by others,” emphasized the Minister for European Union Affairs at the Meeting of Speakers of the Parliaments of the Visegrád Countries on Thursday in the Parliament Building.

János Bóka recalled that some believe that the goal of European integration is to align with a centrally defined economic and social model, and that only this central model can be considered European.

Others believe that each member state is different, but that they all enrich the EU with their European economic and social models.

He added that he himself shares the latter view and considers this to be particularly true of the relationship between the European Union and the Visegrád countries.

“We are not Europeans because we meet the expectations and standards set by others. We are Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, and Hungarians, and that is who we are.

We are also Europeans, and we enrich Europe with our own identity, and only with our own identity can we enrich Europe.”

If others expect us to enrich Europe in a different way, then that is not integration, but empire building,” he emphasized.

He added that this principle also applies to Europe’s economic performance: the EU can thrive only if its member states are competitive, and its success must not undermine national economies.

Via hirado.hu; Featured photo: Facebook/ Bóka János

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