If Slovakia wants to join European Union there shouldn’t be only completed the requirements, but also our nation must be familiar what European Union is and which pros and cons it brings.
The positives I consider as the most important for joining the European Union are:
First and most important advantage is economic help in a form of financial support to Slovak industry and market. Social life can be also improved by the spread of foreign investments that could decrease unemployment and improve the living standard in Slovakia. Also the closer police and military cooperation in the battle against drugs and organised crime, which is related to high corruption would be an advantage.
Another advantage is the removing of borders and custom barriers, this would increase the international trade with Slovakia. There is also one, mainly emotional, positive. Slovaks as members of European Union could feel like a part of democratic and rich Europe, using Euro, free to move and having a lot of possibilities to improve or change their lives.
There are many other advantages, which are more or less important, but also the opponents have numerous very important arguments that should be considered:
Mentioned foreign investments and enlargement of the market means also the increase of competition, that can cause weakness and even extinction of small and not so strong domestic companies. Lower salaries in Slovakia can result that the most educated and qualified work force cut move abroad, where their skills would be paid better. Also the domestic agriculture can be weakened very much by the European Union’s restrictions and as a result of low competitiveness with the agricultural products from Western Europe (foreign products will be cheaper and more available because the custom taxes would be removed). The last negative is that unifying of Europe can suppress the unique national and regional traditions and identity.
1234All these doubtful things are exactly the subject of the negotiations and should be solved in a way of compromises. But only the reality and experience can show whether the negatives can be prevailed by the positives of joining the European Union.