Czech Republic Votes To Become Part Of EU

Message of Ramiro Cibrian, European Commission Ambassador to the Czech Republic, on the Czech referendum

Dear friends,

The people have spoken, and Europe has heard their voice. In the clearest possible way they have gone to the polls and given a decisive ANO to Czech membership of the European Union.

The Czech people's decision is the right one, for them, for the country and for the future of the Czech Republic. I applaud and thank them for their foresight in approving accession to the European Union. This result is a historic milestone for the Czech Republic and a milestone for the European Union.

This decision marks the final stage in a long process of reform and restructuring that has taken place in the Czech Republic over the last 14 years. The prospect of EU membership has maintained the political and social consensus to take the necessary steps required for the Czech Republic to join the Union.

Membership will bring new perspectives and new opportunities for people here in the Czech and Europe. Like their fellow European citizens in Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, Slovenia and Malta, they have given a decisive endorsement of the European project. It is a vote of confidence in themselves, their future and in Europe.

For those of us who are already in the Union, we are delighted that the Czech people have decided to join us. To be a success, this enlargement process needed the Czech Republic for its peoples, its rich history, culture and the centrality of its geographical position in Europe. Without the Czech Republic in the EU, there would have been a large void, political, moral and physical, in the new enlarged Europe. We are pleased that the people have placed their confidence in EU membership.

I would like to thank and congratulate the present and previous Czech governments, as well as other political figures in Czech life for the pro-European path they have followed over these years, I also applaud their efforts to inform the Czech people about the consequences of EU membership. I would also like to mention the outstanding work of the non-governmental organisations in the Czech Republic, the role they have played in building an open and pluralistic civil society has been hugely significant. Without their efforts, we would not be at this point today.

Finally I say: Welcome, Czech Republic, welcome back again to the European family!
We look forward to working alongside you in the enlarged European Union.

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