State Secretary for European Affairs Tomáš Prouza: The EU will rally

As reactions to Brexit pour in, the most common argument to be heard from Czech politicians is that Britain’s decision to leave the EU desperately signals the need for change. Will Brexit be the beginning of the end for the EU or is there a chance that the alliance can rally in the wake of this shock? And, are there fears that Britain’s decision will fuel the anti-EU camp here in the Czech Republic? Those are questions I put to the Czech State Secretary for EU Affairs Tomáš Prouza shortly after the outcome of the vote was announced. I began by asking for his immediate reaction to the news.

Tomáš Prouza, photo: archive of Czech Government

“I think it is a warning that when you are good at fearmongering, at scaring people and using misrepresentations you can still win – and that is a warning not only for us, but for all the other European countries.”

How will Britain’s decision to leave the EU impact the alliance? Could it be the beginning of the end for the EU or do you think it will rally in the wake of this shock?

“I am 100 percent sure that the EU will rally, that we will finally have the discussion we need on how to re-think the EU, how to make sure that we focus on things that are important, that we do not waste time on divisive issues, that is the discussion that we need to have over the summer; what are the key issues and how do we once again explain to the people that the EU is something they benefit from. I think they lost faith, we just saw that in the UK referendum, but we also see it in many European countries. People do not believe in the EU anymore and we need to explain once again why Europe matters.”

Is the Czech Republic ready to take an active part in reforming the union?

“Definitely, it is in our utmost interest that the EU is functional, that the EU is strong economically and politically and from the point of view of security. We will do all we can to drive the discussion forward and to be able to come to an agreement.”

Photo: CTK

Are you worried that Brexit could strengthen the anti-EU camp here in the Czech Republic?

“No, I do not believe that. If you look at which parties are pushing an anti-EU agenda altogether their polling preferences are about 10 to 12 percent, so it is marginal and I do not believe the UK’s decision will strengthen them. And if we start talking about the benefits of the EU once again I think these anti-EU parties will diminish in influence.”