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Radicova and Necas Re-affirm Proximity of Stances
Monday 18 Octtber 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Prague, October 18 (TASR-correspondent) - Nuclear energy, the EU's new budgetary procedures and the consolidation of public finances featured strongly in talks between Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova and Czech Premier Petr Necas in Prague on Monday.
This is Radicova's first official visit to the Czech Republic following her appointment as premier.
"We've been in informal touch on a regular basis but it was about time we met up officially," said Radicova, explaining that the informal contact has included phone calls, letters, e-mails and text messages.
"We had each other's phone numbers even before we became prime ministers. We called each other before and we continue to do so," said Necas, adding that his talks with Radicova have re-affirmed a close proximity of views between the two countries and governments.
Slight differences can be seen, however, in the two countries' stances when it comes to penalties for states that fail to adhere to the EU's Stability and Growth Pact, even though Radicova said that the she and Necas did concur on the need to come up with a system of penalties. According to Necas, the differences are logical as they stem from the fact that Slovakia, unlike the Czech Republic, is a member of the eurozone.
Radicova and Necas agree that in order to ensure the proper functioning of such a system the penalties have to be automatic, rather than imposed on a customised basis.
The countries fully agree on the need to change the criteria for calculating the deficit so that they will be clear and objective.
Radicova's schedule during her trip includes talks with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and the chairs of both Houses of the Czech Parliament - Miloslava Nemcova of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate's Premysl Sobotka. A meeting with former Czech president Vaclav Havel is on her agenda as well.
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