Ondřej Krutílek: We need more space for businesses to open their potential
Ondřej Krutílek is a member of the ruling Civic Democratic Party and is running in the European elections within the coalition SPOLU, made up of Civic Democrats, Christian Democrats and TOP 09. He is an expert on EU legislation and is familiar with the workings of the EU.
This is a critical time for Europe, when decisions on security, migration and climate change will decide the future of the Continent. What kind of leadership does Europe need at this time?
“Not the European Union itself, but member states are the key, because if member states are strong then also the European Union is strong.”
“It is not just about the leadership, but also about the structure of the European Parliament and its composition. In my view it is not necessary to have a revolution in the European Parliament, it is necessary to have forces who are aware of the fact that there is a war on Europe’s borders and that we need to be safe in Europe. Security is the key, and to come back to your question –what kind of leadership – I think that not the European Union itself, but member states are the key, because if member states are strong then also the European Union is strong. Because I do not trust in the concept of a European federation.”
Let us start with security, which is one of the two top issues Czechs are concerned about –security and migration. Czechia has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since the war started and says it will continue supporting the country for as long as is necessary. On the other hand, some parties are now pushing for peace talks on the argument that providing Ukraine with more and more ammunition is not working. What is your take on this? What is crucial for European security at this point?
“I think it is clear. If we want to help not only Ukraine, but also the European Union, we need to keep Ukraine secure, which means that we need to give them as much support as possible. If we don’t, then the Russians could come back to our country. We experienced this before and I don’t think any of us want to experience it once again.
“We need to keep Ukraine secure. If we don’t, then the Russians could come back to our country. We experienced this before and I don’t think any of us want to experience it once again.”
“We are trying to help a country that was attacked by an aggressor – and that aggressor is Russia – and if there is any call for peace talks it should come from Ukraine itself, not from the European Union countries. Because this is not our fight, it is Ukraine’s fight and the only thing we can do is to just help them as much as possible.”
Another big issue being debated ahead of the elections is migration. The European Parliament recently passed a Migration Pact by a narrow majority and Czechia abstained from the vote. Are you one of the parties seeking to reopen and revise it?
“We have to think about the Migration Pact in a different way, I think. It is not a single legislation which was on the table, but something that consists of 10 particular legislatures. Some of those could be supported. We – from the SPOLU coalition – supported four of those 10 proposals.
So what would you want to change?
“Rather than changing anything, I would like to add one more proposal, which has not been discussed yet and that is the one on return policy. The other issue is that we need to keep migration out of Europe. We are now solving the problem on our borders, but not in the country of origin.”
Is Europe able to do that? Is that in its power?
“Yes, I think so. Some of those countries can be named as “secure countries”, which means that some of those steps could be done there, and not at the European borders. In my opinion that is one of the issues that needs to be opened in the next parliamentary term.
What about Czechia’s ability to handle more migrants? Some parties running in the elections claim that the pact involves “masked” quotas that the country will have a problem dealing with.
“The Migration Pact, or some parts of it, will not work in practice and that is why I think that the discussion should be renewed and we should come up with something that is more convenient to the situation we are facing now.”
“To be honest, I think that any rules approved need to be enforced. The legislation that is in force at the moment could do much if all member states do their job –which is not the case. So anything that is written on paper and is not enforced does not help anyhow. My opinion is that if we would like to keep the Schengen area open then we definitely need some rules. My only concern is that the Migration Pact, or some parts of it, will not work in practice and that is why I think that the discussion should be renewed and we should come up with something that is more convenient to the situation we are facing now.”
Another very divisive issue is the Green Deal. A lot has changed since it was adopted. Czech voters are now particularly concerned about the looming ban on combustion engines, on gas boilers and farmers have been protesting against regulations linked to the Green Deal. Are you in favour of revising the Green Deal, and if so in what way?
“The Green Deal is a buzzword, which people use for their own ends. In my opinion it stands on four pillars; three of those pillars could be supported in principle and one of them should be revised. The first one –which I am OK with – is circular economy, which is good. Then there is the part on protecting biodiversity, OK, the third is about agriculture and lowering its impact on the environment, that’s OK as well. Those three pillars should be kept, but the fourth one, which deals with de-carbonization is a problem for our economy, which is energy intensive and we need more time to adopt to the steps which are embedded in the legislation. That is why I think that this part of the Green Deal should be revised. There are review clauses in every legislation and I think the European Commission should secure an impact assessment study which was not prepared properly when the legislation was in process. The impact assessment should not only be prepared for the European Union as a whole but for every single member state because the situation in the member states is different and we need to know what will be the impact of the steps we have endorsed.”
So if you found out that it would badly undercut the economy, what would you suggest –hitting the brakes and adopting the measures at a slower pace?
“The review clause would enable opening the legislation and lowering the impact of the measures on the economy. I think the European Union is overregulated and we need more space for businesses to open their potential, which is not the case at the moment.”
So in addition to less regulation, what else would increase Europe’s competitiveness?
“I am not a friend of subsidies and I think the EU should not make its budget bigger and be in debt because it will not help economic performance, maybe locally and short term, but not long-term.”
“I think that that less regulation is not one of the answers, but the only answer. We need room for maneuver for businesses and the businesses themselves will come up with innovation, I think that is obvious. I am not a friend of subsidies and I think the EU should not make its budget bigger and be in debt because it will not help economic performance, maybe locally and short term, but not long-term.”
So you would be in favour of fewer subsidies across Europe, to farmers and businesses?
“If we would like to keep the subsidies, we should know what they are for. For example in agriculture, I think that we should support those activities which are focused on adaptation to climate change, not for production.”
Another big issue that particularly opposition parties have brought up ahead of the elections is the right of veto. You only have right of veto in three areas – foreign policy, finances and defense – do you think there should be qualified majority voting in these areas as well?
“No, no. As you said, there are only some areas where the right of veto is still used, and I think it is for a good reason. For example in foreign policy if you want to be seen as a monolith against your partners or you enemies –for example Russia, at the moment – then adopting anything with a qualified majority vote lowers the impact of the decision you make. So it takes longer, but the symbolic impact of the steps approved, including sanctions, is much bigger with unanimity voting.”
Would you be in favour of further expanding the European Union to the Western Balkans, Moldova, Ukraine?
“Of course. I come from a country, which waited for EU membership for many years, and I would like to show that there is a European perspective for other countries as well. The more member states we have, the more resilient and secure the European Union is. On the other hand, we need to follow the set procedure, which is quite difficult, and for example with Ukraine at the moment, we do not know what Ukraine, what territory of Ukraine, could possibly become a member of the European Union. So first of all, the war must end and then Ukraine must fulfill the requirements and undergo the screening process and only then can the country gain accession. It is not a process for months, it is a process for years, but the European perspective for those who would like to be members and fulfill the conditions should be open.”
Looking ahead at a future Europe – are you in favour of a tight-knit union or a looser alliance of states?
“I think we should keep the European Union as it is and fix what does not work. I am not a friend of big steps and revolutions and a federation as a concept of European integration, because I think that people, or citizens in the member states understand what it means to be a member state, they can feel to be Europeans, but I think their bond is closer to their country than to the European Union as a big player on the European scene. So, I think that we should work with the cards which we have in our hands and not to dream dreams which cannot come true.”
According to a recent survey, only around 30 percent of eligible voters in Czechia are planning to vote in the European elections? Why is it important for people to go to the elections and cast their ballot – and why should they vote for your party?
“Because the European Union and European integration is coming closer to our homes. A couple of years ago it was completely different. If you experienced anything that was prepared in Strasburg or Brussels, it was just the Schengen area when you went on holiday and took advantage of the no roaming fees, which were agreed on in the EU. Now, with the Green Deal, the European Union comes much closer -with the effects of the policies –to our homes. And I think that for this reason, not only Czechs but all the European citizens should go to vote in the elections and vote for those forces which would like to build Europe, not to destroy it.
“Our SPOLU coalition is one of those who would like to build Europe, but also to judge what is possible and what is not in our home countries. We are not pro-European in the sense that we endorse everything that comes from the European Commission; on the other hand, we are not those who would like to support Czexit or to destroy anything. We think that the European Union is an arena for proposing things, which could work for the whole of Europe, but also for the specific countries with their specific conditions.”
Ondřej Krutílek is a member of the ruling Civic Democratic Party. He graduated in political sciences and international relations at Masaryk University, where he lectures. Since 2019 he served as an assistant to Czech MEP Alexander Vondra. He is an expert on EU legislation and is familiar with the workings of the EP.
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