30 let polemiky o Evropě – Klaus Václav (2024)

Twenty years ago, the only referendum held in our country decided by a significant majority on the citizens' wish for the Czech Republic to become part of the European Union. Fifteen years after the fall of communism, the public viewed EU membership as a confirmation of successful transformation and as an expression of our renewed belonging to the community of normal developed European countries. This feeling was accompanied by a number of great, often quite naive expectations. Today, twenty years later, we can rightly emphasize their illusion and naivety.
Today's EU is not a dynamic and significantly prosperous entity; it lives off its essence and, in many respects, is no longer a rescue and hope, but a cause or part of the problems that are piling up before us.
Václav Klaus not only formulated and practically implemented our policy towards the EU but also intensely and regularly discussed it publicly from the very beginning of his political career. The book 30 Years of Debate on Europe presents texts that bring closer the perspective of the former Prime Minister and President on the union. Readers thus have the opportunity to assess whether he was mistaken in his views on European integration and the direction of the EU or not.