Speaking as the main guest at the Fairmont Golden Prague hotel, Topolánek stated that the EU’s original reform goals remain largely unfulfilled.
Prague Meeting Marks 17 Years of Conservative Alliance
The ECR gathering returned to Prague after seventeen years, bringing together dozens of conservative europoslanci to discuss security, trade, and competitiveness. Topolánek recalled his role in launching the conservative European movement, including signing the Prague Declaration on July 10, 2003, alongside British conservatives and Poland’s Law and Justice party. That foundational meeting established the ideological basis for cooperation that later became the ECR manifest in March 2009. He noted that while the group correctly identified bureaucratic overreach two decades ago, it failed to implement necessary changes.
Seven Areas of Declining European Freedom
Topolánek outlined seven areas where European states are losing autonomy, spanning the economy, energy, defense, information space, market functioning, and individual freedoms. He criticized the growing role of state and EU institutions in regulating daily life and business, arguing that centralization undermines prosperity. In his critique of economic policy, he pointed to heavy reliance on subsidies, climate regulations, and wealth redistribution.
Energy Policy Compared to Jumping Without a Parachute
Focusing heavily on energy, Topolánek criticized the pace of the EU’s climate transition and urged greater diversification of energy sources. He likened abandoning traditional energy sources too quickly to jumping out of an airplane without a parachute and hoping someone invents one during the fall. While acknowledging climate change, he advocated for gradual economic tools, habitat preservation, and water conservation over heavy administrative mandates. He labeled corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rules and climate subsidies as a form of corporate socialism that distorts open competition.
Geopolitical Realities and Support for NATO
Addressing European security, Topolánek drew on his experience of the 1968 Soviet occupation to warn against Russian aggression. Despite his sharp criticism of EU bureaucracy, he explicitly rejected the idea of destroying the bloc or exiting it, stating that the Czech Republic has no other geopolitical alternative. He identified NATO as the irreplaceable pillar of European defense and emphasized the need for credible deterrence.
Personal Health Advocacy and Cancer Research Fund
During the Prague event, Topolánek distributed letters introducing his foundation, Štěstí nestačí (Luck Is Not Good Enough), established in May to support early pancreatic cancer diagnostics and research. The foundation aims to connect Czech experts with foreign workplaces and fund clinical projects to improve survival rates for an illness notoriously detected at late stages. The working program of the ECR Prague meeting runs from Tuesday, September 29, to Friday, October 2, 2026.
Trace Origins of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in Prague
What is the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group?
The ECR is a political group in the European Parliament that brings together conservative and reform-oriented europoslanci from multiple countries. Its current co-presidents are Italian europoslanec Nicola Procaccini and Polish europoslanec Patryk Jaki, alongside Czech representatives like Veronika Vrecionová, Alexandr Vondra, and Ondřej Krutílek.
Why does Prague hold special significance for the ECR?
Prague is the birthplace of the movement’s foundational ideas, stemming from the Prague Declaration signed on July 10, 2003, by Czech, British, and Polish conservative leaders. The city hosted the group’s anniversary working meetings from September 29 to October 2, 2026, marking 17 years since the adoption of the 2009 ECR manifest.
What are the primary goals of Topolánek’s foundation?
The Štěstí nestačí (Luck Is Not Good Enough) foundation supports research and early diagnostics for pancreatic cancer. Launched in May 2026, the initiative seeks to fund clinical projects and connect Czech medical specialists with international institutions to improve patient survival outcomes.
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