Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek's address on the occasion of a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Charles University on 20 October 2008
I think it is more than appropriate to meet with Madam German Chancellor here at Charles University. Emperor Charles IV founded this institution, the first in Central Europe, so that it could serve all who desired an education. Everyone, without difference. Over the centuries, Charles University has fulfilled this task. It became a European center of education. It was a university that was Czech, German and Jewish at the same time. A long line of famous personalities of various nationalities taught at Charles University. I can name at least two here: Jan Hus and Albert Einstein. It is an institution we can all be proud of. We Czechs, we Germans, we Europeans.
Charles University is more than ten times older than the European Community. But it was founded on the same principles as the European Union. On universalism, on faith in shared values. And of course in the desire for education and knowledge. Here at Charles University, we become aware how close we Europeans are to each other. We have problems in common and together we must find their solutions. At the same time, the opinions of experts must be a guide to political opinions. Whether it is about financial instability, energy or the climate, to name some of the more current European issues, it is always good to request serious analyses in advance.
I am convinced that even if the national interests of 27 countries come into conflict in the European Union, we must expert opinions in mind. Or maybe precisely for this reason. Debate itself in the EU is based on finding the greatest common denominator, on searching for a point of intersection of local, regional and national interests. We call this consensus. But we could easily also call it synthesis. Synthesis on the level of a continent with more than 500 million inhabitants, one which is preceded by detailed analysis of all the individual aspects down to the smallest details. Analysis and synthesis, the basis of the scientific method, is the basis for the functioning of the complex mechanism of Europe. I am convinced that only detailed analysis of problems and the resultant equitable synthesis is what will ensure the European Union's success into the future.
In around 10 weeks, the Czech Republic will take over the role of the presidency. And we honour this scientific method. First analysis, or the precise definition of individual differing interests – which the media perceives as fights. Then synthesis, or the search for consensus, the smoothing out of disputes.
The role of the presidency in the EU is more to moderate in this debate than to lead it. To enable both an open definition of interests as well as to contribute to the search for their intersections. In this regard, I believe that it cannot depend on size or on length of membership. When we forget about prejudices and media clichés, what is decisive is a reasonable and foresighted conduct of debates, and not the parameters of the presiding country. Of course, during the time of our functioning, we have tried to learn from others, as well as from Germany.
What awaits us in this moderating? A number of controversial and sensitive topics: But also one topic which I hope will find universal agreement. It is support to education, science, research and innovation. It is this emphasis on education, on new patents and inventions, that has always created the backbone of European success. This was valid 650 years ago, 50 years ago, is valid today and will be valid in coming centuries. Wisdom was always a fortunate European fate, whether it lie in the cradle of Charles University or the European Community.
We must massively increase investment into education, science and research. Especially in private investment, where we in Europe feel the greatest shortage. We must create terms for our companies so that we do not unnecessarily siphon away money from them, so that they can become globally competitive and so that they have motivation to invest into research, innovation and new technologies.
I am sure that raising Europe's level of education and innovation is a fundamental priority. It is a goal we must unswervingly go toward, regardless of current problems and disputes. If we lose in the race of new thoughts and ideas, we lose our own future. I believe that together, Europe will not allow this loss, and that we will be strong as a whole, no matter where we head, as was written in Emperor Charles' founding document.
