Mr President, country rapporteurs are sometimes accused of being unpaid ambassadors of their candidate state and of being blinded by their love. There is that risk and I am going to try to prove the opposite is true in the case of Slovakia. Rapporteurs who take their work seriously develop close contacts. This is how understanding and compassion grow. Slovakia is not an object but a country where people actually live, people who are ambitious yet extremely frustrated and who, in the language of meetings, are weighed down by a long and punishing agenda. I do not want to encumber this agenda any more, nor do I want to lighten it. A badly prepared Slovakia cannot become a member of the European Union. We are in the middle of the negotiating process. Slovakia belongs to the so-called Helsinki group and would naturally like to reach the premier division. This is where that country should have been classified all along, but relations with the European Union were strained under the previous government. We support the ambition of the current government. Slovakia has not been condemned to the second division and it is logical that it should like to join together with the Czech Republic. The Slovak Government is trying to carry out an overtaking manoeuvre. We will assess this based on our criteria. Slovakia does not really gain from political exemptions either. The requested reform is needed. Next year, Slovakia must seize its chance. Then we will have the really important negotiating chapters to deal with. My report, which is before us today, contains some points of criticism which can nearly all be lumped under the same title of implementation. Many aspects have been regulated well, and still are, at least on paper, but when it comes to translating them into practise, that is where the problems arise. In fact Slovakia is not alone in this. I would like to list a few issues in no particular order. Slovakia is the transit country for many criminal activities. Policing must be stepped up, also in tandem with the European Union, and more investments must be made to improve border control. The government has set up an anti-corruption programme which has my admiration and appreciation. I applaud it, but we are waiting for the assessments with concrete results. As Commissioner Verheugen said before, the fight against corruption is a key priority, because corruption undermines democracy and also deters foreign investors. The situation of the Roma people leaves a great deal to be desired. This has been mentioned more than once already today. More funds are needed to implement existing government proposals. Once again, the plan is there, but the implementation has not quite got off the ground. Moreover, Slovakia needs to hold an open debate on how people perceive the Roma people. A distinction must be drawn between judgment and prejudice; otherwise we will continue to have a lack of understanding, which will stand between them and us like an invisible wall. The Law on the Use of Minority Languages is a large step in the right direction but the technical implementation of this act has been inadequate. I am also critical of Slovakia’s capacity to govern and its organisation of financial control. This was, in fact, confirmed when we debated other countries. I would also call on Slovakia to set up an active regional policy because the socio-economic discrepancies within that country are still far too pronounced. Now for the good news, because this actually eclipses the bad news. Slovak democracy is developing at a steady pace, which has not always been the case. We have noticed a great deal of improvement in macro-economic terms. The Commission reports have so far been very positive. The level of improvement has even been such that Slovakia has been admitted to the exclusive club of the OESO, and I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Slovakia on this achievement. I believe that this decision came into force last week. The privatisation of public companies, including banks, is on the agenda. The reform of the legal system, as requested, is in full swing and the agreements on the closure of the nuclear reactors are being respected. I would like to concur with Commissioner Verheugen in this respect. The acquis is also being implemented at a satisfying rate. Moreover, the government is constantly working on maintaining social consensus – this is in itself a different matter – an important point in most enlargement countries, because without social consensus, it will not be possible to implement the heavy reform programme, and as is apparent in Slovakia, this can also be done in a way which is successful because the support for EU membership is still very strong in Slovakia. What Slovakia must now do is to bite the bullet. The overtaking manoeuvre which I mentioned a moment ago can now be carried out. The problems I mentioned are not insurmountable. Over the past few years, Slovakia has developed a new dynamic which will enable the country to move towards the European Union quickly and effectively and to turn its accession into a success. On a final note, I would like to take the liberty of making one comment on Slovakia’s home affairs policy. We do not make a habit of interfering in home affairs, but there are proposals to call for early elections in Slovakia. There has even been a referendum to gauge whether people are in favour of this. It is, of course, up to the Slovaks to decide. I believe it would be harmful to Slovakia to organise elections at this point in time. It would once again delay the accession process, which has happened before under the Meciar administration. It would be wise, therefore, if the present administration were to try to complete the task in hand.

Political group: PSE