On Friday, July 1, Slovakia is set to assume its sixth presidency of the Visegrad Four (V4: Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary). According to documents that were dealt with by the Government this week, the country's priorities in this role will be four thematic areas: connectivity, sustainability, people and the economy. "The Slovak presidency of the V4 will build on the priority initiatives within the strategic objectives set out during the previous presidencies, with an emphasis on a clear contribution to common European solutions and with a practical positive impact on the public," said the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The ministry noted that given the ongoing war in Ukraine, cooperation between the four countries must be based more than ever on the principles of respect for human rights, freedom, democracy, the rule of law, good neighbourly relations and commitment to European integration and transatlantic cooperation. Following the European Council's decision to grant EU-candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, the V4 countries will continue to support them on their path to the EU. "At the same time, we will assist in the implementation of the priorities set to grant candidate status to Georgia," the ministry added. Particular attention will be focused on mitigating the consequences of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
In the area of connectivity, the Slovak presidency will focus on deepening regional cooperation in the field of transport development, including building cross-border connections. It also wants to focus on further developing nuclear energy and ensuring a level playing field for all low-carbon technologies. As for the economy, the presidency intends to concentrate on green and digital transformation. Sustainable financing will be a priority. When it comes to sustainability, emphasis will be put on the development of cooperation in the areas of the circular economy, climate change and the protection of air and landscape. In terms of goals concerning people, the presidency will reflect a recent increase in the annual budget of the International Visegrad Fund, with a view to strengthening cooperation in particular in the field of youth mobility and people-to-people contacts.
Source: TASR
