Despite entry into the Schengen zone, Slovakia is not yet a full member of the European Union. This is because the country is still being deprived of one of the fundamental rights on which the Union is built - free movement of labour, political analyst Ivan Štefunko said on Slovak Radio weekly debate show Sobotné Dialógy (Saturday Dialogues) on December 22, the TASR newswire wrote.
Speaking on the air with political analyst Samuel Abraham, Štefunko also agreed that Slovakia lacks public debate on the country's entry into the euro zone set for January 1, 2009.
"In Slovakia, nothing is debated thoroughly, so let's not be surprised there's no discussion on the euro," he said.
In this context, Abraham added that if people declare themselves to be defending or opposing the common European currency, they become "publicly boxed in", which is viewed as largely disadvantageous in terms of one's career.
Both political analysts described 2007 as a calm year, with nothing particularly dramatic having taken place. However, Štefunko said that - in view of the coming euro adoption - next year will be different. Abraham added that, in politics, he predicts more coalition crises.
Compiled by Jana Liptaková from press reports
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