Bratislava – Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas-SD) has strongly criticized remarks made by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who described Slovakia and Hungary as “slightly problematic” in an interview with CNN. The Minister expressed his preference for a unified response to US tariffs rather than divisive commentary. This was reported by TASR.
Šutaj Eštok pointed out that President Stubb suggested that nations that oppose continuous military support for Ukraine or espouse non-liberal views should be considered part of an “OUT” group, implying that they should exit the EU.
“I reject and condemn such statements from any leader,” stated Šutaj Eštok, emphasizing that the EU is fundamentally a community of peace. He also criticized former US President Donald Trump for imposing tariffs on a weakened and divided EU without regard.
The Interior Minister expressed his desire for the Finnish president to advocate for a collective response to US tariffs, thereby averting a trade conflict, rather than issuing “thoughtless remarks.” He called for unity and compromise among EU member states.
In his CNN interview, President Stubb commented on the evolving landscape of Europe following Britain’s exit from the EU, noting a shift towards more flexible relations on the continent. He described a potential reconfiguration of the EU as “EU plus and minus,” with the “plus” including the UK, Norway, and Iceland, while “minus” refers to member states like Hungary and Slovakia, which he currently views as somewhat problematic within the EU framework. (March 31)
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