The minister also touched on Brexit and said that discussing the EU’s future should not be taboo. He said the NATO summit in Warsaw last month had strengthened European cooperation.

Waszczykowski said Russia’s actions since 2014 had caused some cracks in the security system but expressed hope that Russia did not intend to undermine NATO’s credibility.

He underlined the need for the V4 to contribute to the security of Europe and the region through defence cooperation and joint military exercises.

Lubomír Zaorálek, the Czech foreign minister, said the European Commission should be unbiased and trustworthy and should represent unity. But this is not the case at the moment, he added. Europe’s job is to rebuild its unity, he said.

The most important task right now is to ensure the stability of the European project after Brexit. Britain’s decision to leave the EU should be taken as a sign of impending radical institutional change, he said.

Zaorálek said the V4 was useful for helping its four member states enforce their interests, especially regarding the migration crisis. Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák said the EU had two options: either it acts according to the needs of the people or it sinks into permanent crisis.

Europe cannot allow euroscepticism to gain more ground because the EU is the solution, not the problem, he said. Lajčák said Europe must be brought together and that the people need to be listened to.

The minister underlined the importance of a sustainable migration and refugee policy within the framework of the Schengen system. Europe’s global engagement should also be strengthened, he said.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Bruzák Noémi