Peter Magyar of Hungary, Donald Tusk of Poland, Andrej Babis of the Czech Republic, and Robert Fico of Slovakia agreed to "agreed to strengthen the V4 cooperation, building on shared interests and joint achievements that have already been demonstrated in the past in areas such as joint positions on European Union policies, such as tackling high energy prices and migration."

The prime ministers "also agreed to seek cooperation with regional, European and global partners based on shared interests", the statement said.

The document made a special mention of the European Union's Multiannual Financial Framework, cohesion and agricultural policy, a resilient internal market, sustainable agriculture and food production, merit-based integration of candidate countries, a balance between clean energy and competitiveness, as well as a package concerning the automotive industry and trade policy as areas in which Visegrad countries have shared interests.

Participants in the summit "agreed to ask their relevant ministers and EU chief negotiators to reestablish channels of cooperation in the field of the EU policies in order to reinstate the previously efficient coordination framework of the Visegrad countries," the statement said.

As Reported Earlier: 

Magyar met with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at the Grassalkovich Castle in Godollo.

The prime minister said Hungary, Czechia, Poland and Slovakia were committed to strengthening Visegrad cooperation. He added they wanted to build a V4 that could deliver tangible results and speak with a strong, credible voice in European decision-making.

The prime minister said central Europe was currently one of the Europe's most rapidly expanding regions, adding that its industrial capacity, innovation potential and skilled workforce represented significant value for all of Europe.

"The V4's 65 million people trade more with Germany than Germany does with France," he added.

Magyar said the V4 leaders had focused on the European Union's next seven-year budget, agreeing that cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy remain key tools for European and regional development.

They also underscored the need for a budget that supports growth, investment, infrastructure development and competitiveness.

Magyar also presented the Czech, Polish and Slovak prime ministers with plans for a high-speed railway linking Warsaw, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest.

He proposed that they seek an agreement on the project and additional EU funding during Slovakia's V4 presidency, if possible, to deliver tangible results for their citizens.

"We all believe that a competitive economy is the foundation of Europe's future success," he said, adding that affordable energy prices were essential to achieving this.

He added that the V4 countries wanted to strengthen cooperation in digitalisation, artificial intelligence, research and development, cybersecurity and innovation.

The meeting also addressed energy security, regional connectivity, and the potential development and expansion of north-south transport and energy corridors, he said.

Also, Magyar said the Visegrad countries continued to support the European integration of the Western Balkans.

"We agree that the stability, development and future of the region are in Europe's common interest, and it is important that the credibility and predictability of the enlargement process contribute to Europe's long-term security and competitiveness," he said.

He noted that the V4 was re-established 35 years ago by Lech Walesa, Vaclav Havel and Jozsef Antall, who had recognised "that the countries were bound by far more than what divided them".

"Hungary is delighted to return to this cooperation at the highest level," he said. "Czechia, Poland and Slovakia can always count on Hungary."

"V4 cooperation stands on solid foundations and is capable of adapting to 21st-century challenges," Magyar added.

He said the success of the V4 was not just about government relations, but scientific, cultural, educational and civil society cooperation was just as important. He expressed Hungary's support for strengthening the International Visegrad Fund.

Magyar said all four countries had endorsed Slovakia's V4 presidency programme and pledged active participation, including in a possible V4+ format. The leaders agreed to coordinate their positions before EU summits, seeking common ground to represent central Europe effectively in Brussels and other international forums, he added.

"The heart of Europe beats in central Europe today," Magyar said. "We have every opportunity to look back in 10 or 20 years and say we did everything to ensure that it's not only that the heart that beats, but that the region’s economy and competitiveness also grow stronger."

Asked what had caused the "crisis" in V4 cooperation, Magyar attributed it primarily to strained Polish-Hungarian relations under the previous government, calling it "regrettable" given the countries' thousand-year friendship and historical alliance.

Magyar added that in recent years, his predecessor had "pursued a path that was unacceptable to Poland, and to much of Hungary", citing relations with Russia and the previous government's decision to take in "Polish fugitives and criminals".

"Perhaps it's no longer worth dwelling on the past," he added. He said it was "not an empty gesture" that his first foreign trip as prime minister was to Poland, including stops in Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk.

He recalled the "moving experience" of walking with thousands of Poles and Hungarians in Gdansk, Tusk's hometown, and seeing people rejoice that Polish-Hungarian friendship was restored. "This gives us the opportunity to restore V4 cooperation as well," he said.

Magyar said the Visegrad Four did not plan to admit new permanent members for the time being, though under the V4-plus format, it could occasionally invite guests, including from outside the EU, to discuss various topics.

In response to a question, Magyar also noted that a longer Hungarian-Slovak bilateral meeting would be held soon to find solutions beneficial to both countries.

He said the results of strengthened V4 cooperation would be visible in a year's time. "If we find a common voice and express it, then on issues such as illegal migration, enlargement, the seven-year budget and energy prices, we will have a greater impact on EU decisions," he said.

He cited the construction of a high-speed railway linking the capitals as a possible example of such results.

Magyar said that in addition to economic ties, it was also important to strengthen cultural cooperation to reinforce a common central European identity, for which funding could be applied for from the International Visegrad Fund.

To mark the 35th anniversary of the Visegrad cooperation, Magyar presented silver commemorative medals to the Czech, Polish and Slovak prime ministers.

Tusk thanks Magyar for restoring faith in V4's future, Fico stresses competitiveness, Babis optimistic

"I thank my dear friend Peter Magyar for restoring hope" in the Visegrad Group, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a press conference after the V4 summit in Godollo on Tuesday.

 "Hungary, too, can once again have a voice at European events, and we can cooperate again despite our differences, because we all know that we do not see eye to eye on every issue," he added.

Tusk noted there had always been differences, but "when this was a loyal cooperation, it was built on full trust, everyone was convinced of good intentions, no one deceived the other, and we often moved forward as a fist, and were able not only to influence decisions but also to dictate some in Europe."

He expressed hope that in the future, they would be able to jointly represent their interests on key issues such as energy, migration, cohesion and agriculture.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told the press conference that boosting competitiveness was one of the main goals of the Visegrad Four's Slovak presidency, which begins on July 1. Fico said the four countries wanted to become very strong again.

The main problem with the European Union's competitiveness was high energy prices, and electricity prices must be reduced in the EU, he said.

Fico said it was important for the V4 countries to hold coordination meetings before European Council sessions, as they often shared a common position on many issues, such as the migration pact.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said at a press conference: "We are once again all in the same boat, and we will fight for the interests of our countries and our region."

The Czech prime minister said the V4 was working again, "and I believe it will work perfectly."

"These four countries are the future of Europe, and I am convinced we will work perfectly together again, as we did in the past," Babis said, adding: "We will have beautiful results, and everyone will do their best for that."

V4 summit - C Europe one of EU's most rapidly expanding regions

Central Europe is currently one of the Europe's most rapidly expanding regions, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said in Godollo on Tuesday after a meeting of the V4 prime ministers.

At a joint press conference with his Czech, Polish and Slovak counterparts, Magyar said the region’s industrial capacity, innovation potential and skilled workforce represented significant value for all of Europe.

He said the V4 leaders were in agreement on the need for an EU budget that supports growth, investment, infrastructure development and competitiveness.

Magyar also presented the Czech, Polish and Slovak prime ministers with plans for a high-speed railway linking Warsaw, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest. He proposed that they seek an agreement on the project and additional EU funding during Slovakia's V4 presidency, if possible, to deliver tangible results for their citizens.

V4 summit - Future of Europe depends on competitive economy

The future success of Europe depends on a competitive economy, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said at the Visegrad Four summit in Godollo on Tuesday.

At a joint press conference with his Polish, Czech and Slovak counterparts, the Hungarian prime minister said this required many things, but affordable energy prices were essential.

He added that the V4 countries wanted to strengthen cooperation in digitalisation, artificial intelligence, research and development, cybersecurity and innovation.

Magyar said the Visegrad countries continued to support the European integration of the Western Balkans.

"We agree that the stability, development and future of the region are in Europe's common interest, and it is important that the credibility and predictability of the enlargement process contribute to Europe's long-term security and competitiveness," he said.


MTI Stock Photo

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.

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