Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

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Joint Statement of the Leaders of Political Parties Represented in the Parliament on the Negotiations on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union

 

On February 22, 2017, the leaders of all political parties represented in the Parliament of the Czech Republic agreed on a joint statement related to the UK withdrawal from the EU and Czech priorities for the upcoming negotiations.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a historic partner of the Czech Republic. We are linked by common ideals surrounding democracy and a respect for human rights. The Czech Republic will strive to achieve the closest possible future relations in all areas. We respect the decision of the citizens of the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union. Our primary goal is to ensure that the negotiations result in a future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union that is balanced and beneficial to both sides.

For successful negotiations, unity at the EU level is vital. It is also necessary to apply the same approach when forming the national position. The Czech Republic is prepared to actively participate on the formation and upholding of the common EU position.

We agree that we will strive for the closest possible political, economic, and security relationship with the United Kingdom, whilst at the same time ensuring that national interests of the Czech Republic, particularly the interests of our citizens and companies, and our priorities of EU membership are taken into account and that the negative impact on economic growth and employment is minimised.

We consider the areas of internal and external security, trade and services as essential for future relations with the United Kingdom. We agree on the need for further developing our alliance in the areas of military and security co-operation. We will focus on ensuring the continuation of our current economic ties and their eventual further development. We will also strive to prevent the rise of both tariff and non-tariff barriers in trade in goods and services.

Although an agreement on a future relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU is, from a long-term perspective, a key part of the process, it should be preceded by an agreement on the basic outline of the conditions for UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, which will serve as the framework for negotiations on future relations.

From the perspective of the Czech Republic, the main priorities for the negotiations concerning the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union are preserving the current access to the goods and services market, ensuring the rights of our citizens, and resolving budgetary matters.

We agree that the emphasis should be on preserving the current level of acquired rights of Czech citizens, not only for those that already reside in the United Kingdom, but also for students and academic workers who contribute to the growth of competitiveness across the entire Union. Our citizens currently living in the UK have made life choices based on legitimate expectations and made use of the rights granted to them by their citizenship and the membership of the Czech Republic in the EU. This should be reflected in the upcoming negotiations. Furthermore, we will endeavour to reach a just financial settlement between the European Union and the United Kingdom with consideration to the fact that the United Kingdom does not want to fully participate in the EU budget in the future.

Prague, 22 February 2017

 

Mgr. Bohuslav Sobotka, chairman, Česká strana sociálně demokratická

Ing. Andrej Babiš, chairman, ANO 2011

JUDr. Vojtěch Filip, chairman, Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy

Ing. Miroslav Kalousek, chairman, TOP 09

prof. PhDr. Petr Fiala, Ph. D., chairman, Občanská demokratická strana

MVDr. Pavel Bělobrádek, Ph.D., MPA, chairman, Křesťanská a demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová

Ing. Miroslav Lidinský, chairman, Úsvit – Národní koalice

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