Prague Castle hosting international conference marking 20 years of Czech membership in EU

Prague Castle is hosting an international conference on 20 years of Czech membership in the EU. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that in the past two decades the EU had significantly contributed to Czechia’s security and prosperity and the country had shown itself to be a reliable member, ready to take on its share of responsibility and defend European values. Mr. Fiala also spoke of the need to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and expressed support for EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine, which he said would become an essential security guarantee in the years to come.

Addressing the gathering, President Petr Pavel said Czechia should adopt the euro in order to become a first-league player in Europe. Pavel indirectly criticized the government’s unwillingness to set a date for euro adoption, saying that only those countries that have not yet adopted the currency are dissatisfied with the euro.

In a video message to participants, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked Czechia for actively helping Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression and expressed the hope that his country would one day be able to join the alliance. Europe can only be strong if no one is left out in the cold, he said.

The 20th anniversary of the country’s accession to the EU will also be marked by a gala concert at the Rudolfinum performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. The Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic is also planning an event on 4 April to mark the anniversary and to evaluate EU membership from a business perspective.