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Slovakia is a cleaner, fairer, better place to live – all because of Europe Slovakia is a cleaner, fairer, better place to live – all because of Europe
(3 months later)
In the spring of 1990 during my first trip to London, I was surprised to find that there was no heating in my hotel room, and separate taps for hot and cold water. Having grown up on British literature, I made the following conclusion: given that a Briton’s purpose in life was to combat evil and make the world a better place, they probably despised personal comfort, as it would only weaken their noble pursuits.In the spring of 1990 during my first trip to London, I was surprised to find that there was no heating in my hotel room, and separate taps for hot and cold water. Having grown up on British literature, I made the following conclusion: given that a Briton’s purpose in life was to combat evil and make the world a better place, they probably despised personal comfort, as it would only weaken their noble pursuits.
Naive as it sounds, such a conception of Britishness was widely shared – in different variants – by many nationals of central Europe, including Slovaks. The UK was part of our idealised notion of the west. The “west” that helped us defeat communism in 1989 and then extended the opportunity to improve our own lot.Naive as it sounds, such a conception of Britishness was widely shared – in different variants – by many nationals of central Europe, including Slovaks. The UK was part of our idealised notion of the west. The “west” that helped us defeat communism in 1989 and then extended the opportunity to improve our own lot.
In 2016, it is fashionable to speak of the failure of the west, and more specifically that of the European Union. Slovakia, however, is a vivid testament to the ways in which the EU has improved the lives of its citizens over the past 25 years. Those more tangible elements of change pertain to money and public space: effects range from new highways through refurbished town squares to schools, parks and playgrounds. All these places bear a sign informing you that they were built thanks to EU structural and cohesion funds. You are reminded of the EU’s omnipresence by the ubiquitous blue flags that hang from town-hall facades in villages across the country.In 2016, it is fashionable to speak of the failure of the west, and more specifically that of the European Union. Slovakia, however, is a vivid testament to the ways in which the EU has improved the lives of its citizens over the past 25 years. Those more tangible elements of change pertain to money and public space: effects range from new highways through refurbished town squares to schools, parks and playgrounds. All these places bear a sign informing you that they were built thanks to EU structural and cohesion funds. You are reminded of the EU’s omnipresence by the ubiquitous blue flags that hang from town-hall facades in villages across the country.
European funds helped clean up our rivers and our air. EU farming subsidies restored the country’s romantic combination of wild meadows and pastures with grazing sheep. For those of us who remember Slovakia’s countryside in the communist days it is almost a miracle: back then, rivers flowing through beautiful mountains were muddy and filled with poison, our cities covered with smog.European funds helped clean up our rivers and our air. EU farming subsidies restored the country’s romantic combination of wild meadows and pastures with grazing sheep. For those of us who remember Slovakia’s countryside in the communist days it is almost a miracle: back then, rivers flowing through beautiful mountains were muddy and filled with poison, our cities covered with smog.
Related: The real danger isn’t Brexit. It’s EU break-up | Pavel Seifter
The intangible effects of Europe are even more significant. After Czechoslovakia’s break-up in 1992, Slovaks had to fight hard to obtain an invitation from the EU for their new state, defeating an authoritarian government in the process. Membership helped steer Slovaks on to a path toward democracy. Even today, it is EU institutions that ensure that our democracy doesn’t succumb to the corruption and arrogance of local politicians. Thanks to Slovakia’s eurozone membership, its public finances are controlled by Brussels, and hence in relatively good shape. It is also for these reasons that Slovaks tend to trust the European commission more than they trust their own government, with 75% of them identifying as EU citizens.The intangible effects of Europe are even more significant. After Czechoslovakia’s break-up in 1992, Slovaks had to fight hard to obtain an invitation from the EU for their new state, defeating an authoritarian government in the process. Membership helped steer Slovaks on to a path toward democracy. Even today, it is EU institutions that ensure that our democracy doesn’t succumb to the corruption and arrogance of local politicians. Thanks to Slovakia’s eurozone membership, its public finances are controlled by Brussels, and hence in relatively good shape. It is also for these reasons that Slovaks tend to trust the European commission more than they trust their own government, with 75% of them identifying as EU citizens.
But if the EU is our “living space” – to quote Slovakia’s prime minister – the UK is an obvious part of it. It is difficult to comprehend how that narrow strip of water could be a reason for Brexit, itself a potential trigger for the unravelling of the EU as a whole, and thus a danger to my own country’s security – not least because Russia would sense its geopolitical opportunity.But if the EU is our “living space” – to quote Slovakia’s prime minister – the UK is an obvious part of it. It is difficult to comprehend how that narrow strip of water could be a reason for Brexit, itself a potential trigger for the unravelling of the EU as a whole, and thus a danger to my own country’s security – not least because Russia would sense its geopolitical opportunity.
In 1969, one year after the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia, my parents went on holiday to the UK, but left myself and my brother back home with grandparents, so as not to give in to the temptation of emigration once on British soil. Back then, I could not bring myself to forgive them: had they brought me along, I would have British citizenship today.In 1969, one year after the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia, my parents went on holiday to the UK, but left myself and my brother back home with grandparents, so as not to give in to the temptation of emigration once on British soil. Back then, I could not bring myself to forgive them: had they brought me along, I would have British citizenship today.
They did return. The communist regime then put my father in jail and threw my mother out of her university teaching position. She taught English literature (and translated George Orwell’s 1984 into Czech). British authors dominated our family library. It was through their books that I acquired the romantic idea that Britons feel a special responsibility for making the world a better place. However, if Britons exit the EU to seek “comfort” in their independence, they would leave the rest of the world dramatically worse off. For me, Brexit would invite a paradox: I would thank my parents for not raising me as a Brit, so that I could remain a European.They did return. The communist regime then put my father in jail and threw my mother out of her university teaching position. She taught English literature (and translated George Orwell’s 1984 into Czech). British authors dominated our family library. It was through their books that I acquired the romantic idea that Britons feel a special responsibility for making the world a better place. However, if Britons exit the EU to seek “comfort” in their independence, they would leave the rest of the world dramatically worse off. For me, Brexit would invite a paradox: I would thank my parents for not raising me as a Brit, so that I could remain a European.
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