Alberto Rubio
The ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Ivan Jancarek, and Slovakia, Juraj Tomaga, analysed the evolution of both countries since their agreed separation extinguished the former Czechoslovakia in 1993, during the conference ’30 years together in Europe’, organised at the Real Sociedad Económica Matritense by the Academia de la Diplomacia in collaboration with both embassies.
“The entry into the European Union was the materialisation of that dream we had when we separated“, said the Czech ambassador, for whom on 1 May 2004 both countries joined the European club with an advantage: “that our economies were quite similar and we shared interests”.
Juraj Tomaga agreed that “with the Czech Republic, apart from the linguistic advantage, there remains the closeness of having been born in the same country”, and added that, “from my own experience, I can say that relations flourished even more on joining the EU because our politicians see each other more frequently, at least once a month, and also call each other constantly; in fact, whenever something is discussed (in the EU), the first thing that is asked is how the Czechs see this”.
Both ambassadors considered that there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that the younger generation does not lose their understanding of each other’s languages. They recalled that in Czechoslovakia everyone spoke both Czech and Slovak. “There are more differences between the different accents in German than between Czech and Slovak,” said Juraj Tomaga. The two countries have an important economic potential for both countries.
“There is a lot of movement between our peoples,” explained Ivan Jancarek. “Many Slovaks go to work in the Czech Republic and many Czechs look for opportunities in Slovakia. If there is a major company in both countries, the next expansion is for the other republic.” Therefore, he concluded, “there are good prospects, but we have to take care of them by maintaining the policies of rapprochement”.
Juraj Tomaga proposed that “although in politics and economics perhaps no more can be done, there remains a very powerful weapon, which is culture”. And he launched the idea that “the most watched channels of the two countries should be made joint”. The Czech MEP also suggested that “films should not have to have subtitles and we should work together in the film industry”.
The conclusion of these ’30 years together in Europe’ is positive for both diplomats, although both agreed that it might have been more democratic to call a referendum to support a political decision, the split of Czechoslovakia, which many did not like.
However, they prefer to look to the future, where “there is only one notable difference”, according to Jancarek: “in Slovakia you can pay with euros while we continue with the Czech koruna, although I think we will eventually join the euro“. “That would be great,” Tomaga agreed.
