PM Babiš: Czechs should not blindly agree to proposals by Brussels “Eurocrats”

The Czech Republic’s membership in the European Union should not be part of the political debate, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), told a conference on transatlantic relations on Thursday. But he said that does not mean Prague should blindly agree to everything proposed by “Eurocrats” in Brussels or “progressive political elites in big countries”.

“We must constantly fight for our national interests in the EU and we should not be naive, because all the member states in the bloc are always fighting for their national interests,” Babiš said.

The EU common market, the free movement of people, goods, services and investments is important for the industrial and export-oriented Czech Republic, Babiš said, while calling for less regulation and bureaucracy.

The Czech prime minister further argued that migration policy should be fully in the hands of the EU member states, and asylum applications be assessed at checkpoints outside of the Schengen borders.

Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek (Social Democrats) said at the same conference in Prague that security remains the most important element of the transatlantic alliance, and called for a strengthening of cooperation between the EU and NATO. He identified free and fair trade without unnecessary trade barriers as another priority.