EU Should Return to Its Roots as a Peace Project, Slovak Commentary Argues

The European Union must recommit to its founding identity as a peace project, while adapting that concept to modern realities — including the capacity to defend itself against external threats. The argument reflects a broader debate within Europe about how the bloc should respond to growing security challenges, particularly in the wake of Russia's war in Ukraine. Originally conceived after World War II as a framework to prevent conflict between European nations through economic integration and cooperation, the EU now faces pressure to develop meaningful collective defense capabilities. For Slovakia, a member of both the EU and NATO, the question carries particular weight as the country navigates tensions between its pro-Russian government — led by Prime Minister Robert Fico of the social-democratic Smer-SD party — and its obligations to Western alliances.