Vaclav Klaus
Vaclav Klaus
Václav Klausis a Czech economist and politician who served as the second President of the Czech Republic from 2003 to 2013. He also served as the second and last Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, federal subject of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic, from July 1992 until the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in January 1993, and as the first Prime Minister of an independent Czech Republic from 1993 to 1998...
NationalityCzechoslovakian
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth19 June 1941
among countries defined european eurozone monetary obvious optimum union work
It is obvious that the monetary union among 17 very different European countries does not work. As an economist, I know that the Eurozone is not an optimum currency area, as defined in economic theory.
europe states
I live in Europe and care about democracy and sovereignty of nation states there.
almost czech economic entry eu european historical necessary process side sufficient
For the Czech Republic, EU entry was necessary for historical and geographical reasons. But I would almost say that to be a part of the economic side of European integration process is sufficient for Iceland,
benefits connected costs eu gives
In my opinion, this gives Icelanders all the benefits ensuing from it, but they have no costs connected with EU membership,
past europe czech-republic
Czech Republic is an important part of central Europe. It's clear that we must participate in European integration. I am convinced that the Czech Republic - or, in the past, Czechoslovakia - would have been one of the founding members of the EU if it hadn't been for the communist takeover in 1948.
country russia europe
But how can you speed up the transformation of society in a country as large as Russia? Those sounding the moral outcry are the ones who are trying to dictate their standards from the outside. Of course, that isn't the right way to go either. One cannot impose democracy from the other side of national borders, which is something we ourselves experienced during the communist era. The West's policies toward Eastern Europe, the Helsinki process - none of that really helped us.
europe democracy eastern-europe
EU didn't advance our [Eastern Europe] democracy by a single millimeter.
europe two goal
The development of European integration can be divided into two phases. The first era ended with the Maastricht Treaty. It was a liberalization phase, with the main goal of European integration at the time being the removal of various barriers and borders in Europe. The second phase is a homogenization or standardization phase, one that involves regulation from the top and growing control over our lives. This no longer has anything to do with freedom and democracy.
zero government europe
This is crossing the Rubicon, after which there will be no more sovereign states in Europe with fully-fledged governments and parliaments which represent legitimate interests of their citizens, but only one State will remain. Basic things will be decided by a remote 'federal government' in Brussels and, for example, Czech citizens will be only a tiny particle whose voice and influence will be almost zero. ... We are against a European superstate.
although broad colleagues consensus faster issues move needs share
I share with my colleagues a broad consensus on what needs to be done, although there are issues where I want to move faster than they.
civic expect forum june parliament visible
But the Civic Forum has put me in a very visible position, and I expect that I will be in the parliament after the June elections.
allow government quite
Nonsense. I would like to say, quite formally and clearly, that my government would never allow something like this.
board created property selling state temporary
This week, we created a Board for the Temporary Administration of State Property that will look into selling government-owned assets.
awful
It's an awful thing and I take it very seriously,