Europe More Divided Than During Cold War, Warns Slovak Commerce Chief

Europe finds itself at a critical juncture, arguably more fragmented today than during the height of the Cold War, according to Peter Mihók, President of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SOPK). Speaking on the 22nd anniversary of Slovakia's accession to the European Union, Mihók delivered a stark assessment of the bloc's current state and future trajectory.

Mihók pointed to a confluence of factors undermining European integration and its global standing. Excessive bureaucracy emanating from Brussels, coupled with demographic challenges and the devastating conflict on the continent, has stifled the EU's dynamism. Furthermore, he lamented the continent's lagging innovation potential in science and technology, which, alongside other political and economic headwinds, is eroding the EU's share of the global economy.

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Riešenie je v celoeurópskej spolupráci, teda v tom, čo otcovia integrácie nazývali Európou od Atlantiku po Ural. Európa v roku 2026 je viac rozdelená ako počas studenej vojny, pritom jej súčasné dve časti sú výrazne komplementárne. Rast nákladov na obranu - či správne povedané na zbrojenie - má zničujúci dopad na rozvoj ekonomík členských krajín EÚ

The SOPK president issued a powerful call to action, advocating for a return to the spirit of cooperation envisioned by the EU's founders – a vision of 'Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals.' He argued that the current division is particularly detrimental given the complementary nature of Europe's distinct parts. Mihók stressed that the escalating costs of defense spending, or 'arms buildup,' are having a crippling effect on the economic development of EU member states.

"Let's return in the spirit of Helsinki from confrontation to cooperation. Otherwise, Europe will end up among the losers in the current dramatic global political, economic, and social turbulences," Mihók warned. He highlighted that while the 2004 enlargement significantly benefited the original EU-15, the bloc's overall share of global GDP has shrunk considerably, from 21.6% in 2000 to about 14% currently. Despite this, Slovak businesses remain largely supportive of EU membership, with positive assessments consistently ranging between 80% and 94% in SOPK's surveys.

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Vráťme sa v duchu Helsínk späť od konfrontácie k spolupráci. Inak Európa v súčasných dramatických globálnych politických, ekonomických a spoločenských turbulenciách skončí medzi porazenými