The European Union (EU) can no longer focus solely on crisis management, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico told the European Parliament (EP) here Wednesday.

Setting out the priorities for the Slovak presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, Fico said: "We need a discussion on how to make the EU better and more efficient. The outcome of the British referendum is proof of that."

Europe must offer EU citizens a "long term vision," he added. "We cannot focus on crisis management only."

The Slovak presidency intends to introduce a "deep reflection on what the EU wants and must offer the European public." The prime minister promised it would seek to "deliver tangible results," so as to "regain confidence" of EU citizens and "fight growing populism and nationalism."

"The EU has to listen more closely to critical voices" and "become more flexible, less bureaucratic and more responsive to diversity," he continued.

Slovakia has taken over the helm of the EU at a time when the entire project has been shaken by multiple crises -- economic, social, political, migratory -- all compounded by the shockwaves of Britain's 'Brexit' vote to leave the bloc.

Fico spoke of overcoming citizens' widespread fears about migration, terrorism and economic uncertainty as well as the "fear among political leaders that we will not be able to overcome these crises." He said citizens had lost confidence in the EU which had bred extremism and nationalism.

In the debate following Fico's address, there were numerous calls for unity and action to get out of the "political impasse that is the EU." MEPs from all sides stressed the "crucial role" of the Slovak presidency, but some parts of the political spectrum expressed reservations about their confidence in the Slovak prime minister in some policy areas.

During the debate, EPP group leader Manfred Weber said he regretted the populist tone of the most recent Slovak parliamentary elections. "We have to make sure we fight populism in all our countries," Weber stressed and warned against using migration "for scaremongering."

On the other hand, Czech MEP Petr Mach, sitting with the Euroscpetic EFDD group, praised Fico's government for being "brave" enough to bring a European Court of Justice case against the Council's decision on a migrant relocation mechanism.

"The EU should take account of concerns of people in terms of migration and security," said Mach. Enditem

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