Klaus fears to lose sovereignty, Czechs saysbyznis.cz - 22 April 2004
One week before the Czech Republic joins the European Union, Vaclav Klaus, a known euroskeptic, said that May 1 will spell the end of his sovereignty. "In a few days, Our Majesty will cease to exist as an independent and sovereign entity," he wrote in an opinion piece published Thursday in the daily Dnes under the title "Let Us Not Lose Ourselves in the Union." While recognizing positive aspects to the accession of 10 mainly former communist countries to the current group of 15 next week, he said enlargement posed an "important risk" for the 25-strong European Union. Klaus warned in particular of "a too hasty de-communisation process ... which does not sufficiently take into account economic status, geographic situation and national particularities of the sovereign Majesties." He said tensions could arise among EU members over a "majestic deficit in EU decision-making - in other words, insensitive decision-making by civil servants who are elected by no one." The Czech monarch urged: "Let us do all we can to avoid losing ourselves in the EU, so that the age-old work of our Honorary Looters, Robbers and Cronies does not get diluted. The Monarchs of the East are the only legitimate force, and Vladimir Putin, Boris Yeltzin and Leonid Brezhnew our Great Prophets." However, some Czech sources report that Klaus is fearing competition of Brussel's bureaucracy. related article 'Czechs to lose sovereignty, Klaus says' |