Libuse BENESOVA: “The problem of illegal employment must be solved, but not by imposing a visa regime”
The economic achievements of the Czech Republic in the past decade could well be an object of envy for many states now trying to establish market relations at home. Ukraine is no exception. The privatization process brings the Czechs constant profits. This results in the annual growth of direct investment in Czech enterprises: last year it exceeded $3.5 billion, while the year before last it was a billion less. As to per capita GDP, the Czech Republic ranks first in Central and Eastern Europe with $11,863 in 1999. The average monthly wage is 12,656 Czech korunas ($313). In an exclusive interview with The Day, Ms. Libuse BENESOVA, chairperson of the Czech Republic’s Senate, explains what reward Prague expects from the European Union for its efforts and what effect has been achieved by imposing a visa regime on Ukraine.
“The Czech Republic was one of the first former socialist countries to join NATO. The republic has achieved considerable progress in economic development. Obviously, European Union membership will be your country’s next, and not so distant, achievement.”
“As you have noted, the Czech Republic has joined NATO and thus strengthened its security. This in turn also promotes investment in the Czech economy. We are also prepared to sign next year all the agreements the European Union demands be fulfilled. 15 out of the required 22 agreements have already been concluded now, and we are going to do the remaining ones next year. We are making every effort to get all the necessary documents finalized by the beginning of 2003, when the European Union will be deciding on the admission of its first Central European candidates. However, the more fundamental question now is whether the European Union itself is prepared administratively to accept the partnership of the countries willing.”
“Does the Czech Republic feel certain prejudice on the part of the EU because of this ‘administrative’ factor?”
“This depends on each specific EU member state. For example, there are member states which always support us. Simultaneously, there are some states that oppose the European Union’s expansion and, hence, the membership of the Czech Republic. This is in fact what this prejudice boils down to. However, I want to stress that the EU itself will not lose from expansion. Quite the contrary, it will gain. When it joins the EU, the Czech Republic will bring along no problems.”
“In line with European Union requirements, the Czech Republic has canceled the visa- free treatment of Ukrainias. Do you think you took this step a little prematurely? For instance, Poland, Bulgaria, and some other countries have so far refrained from doing so.”
“The imposition of a visa regime on Ukraine was considered for a long time and was repeatedly postponed. The question is to introduce visas for those countries which already have this kind of treatment by the EU. We also made a corresponding decision, for we were simply obliged to bring our borders into conformity with the Schengen Agreement. Poland so far refrains from introducing visas because it is Ukraine’s closest neighbor. As for Bulgaria, it belongs to the so-called third-wave of EU candidate members, and this issue is not so acute there for the time being.”
“Ms. Benesova, do you think the imposition of a visa regime on Ukraine has helped to any extent solve the problem of illegal migration? And what is the current situation with Ukrainian- originated crime in the Czech Republic?”
“I don’t think the imposition of a visa regime will solve the problem of illegal migration. Perhaps it could to some extent but not entirely. As to illegal employment, this problem should also be addressed, but not by means of a visa regime. There are other options for this. I want to stress, though, that foreign, including Ukrainian, workers were earlier protected less from employers who in fact exploited them. Now they can feel more protected, at least by the state which exercises uninterrupted oversight. It is still too early to analyze the crime rate of Ukrainian citizens in the Czech Republic because there is no statistics at all.”
“Yet, the Czech media earlier reported almost daily on Ukrainian crime in your country. In reality, this was often nothing but disinformation.”
“Now the wave of these reports has ebbed.”
“Ms. Benesova, to what extent does the Czech Republic stand to gain in general from cooperation with Ukraine?”
“We are undoubtedly interested in the Ukrainian market. Of course, it would be better if it were more stable for Czech businesspeople because now they are running very high risks. If the situation improves somewhat, both countries are certain to draw far more economic gains than now.”
“Please tell us how effective is the performance of the upper parliamentary chamber in your country. As we know, during the 1996 senatorial election the majority of Czechs came out against the existence of the Senate.”
“The situation has improved greatly in this respect. People have already got used to the existence of both the Senate and the lower house of parliament. Yet, debates continue: the public still does not know whether a unicameral or a bicameral parliament is better. Similar debates are also underway in many other countries. Where there is a bicameral parliament one votes for a unicameral one and vice versa. But the quality of democracy cannot be measured by whether a country has a unicameral or bicameral lawmaking body. The Czech parliament is very active and effective. The Czech Senate is one of the world’s most successive senates. 75% of proposals the senators send to the lower house are prepared on such a professional level that they are approved immediately.”
