The chair of the Slovak Parliament Richard Raši (Hlas-SD) paid a working visit to the United Kingdom on Wednesday, meeting with Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle to discuss renewing and strengthening interparliamentary dialogue. This was the first official visit of a Slovak parliamentary chair to the UK in more than 20 years.
Raši also met with the Speaker of the House of Lords, John McFall. The talks focused on restoring platforms for regular meetings and exchanges between Slovak and British MPs, including the renewal of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Slovakia and the re-establishment of a Slovakia–UK Friendship Group.
Other topics included engaging younger generations and expanding cooperation in education.
Discussions in the House of Lords highlighted the importance of stronger ties in the post-Brexit era. McFall welcomed the visit as an opportunity to deepen dialogue with the EU.
The visit also underscored the UK’s strategic importance for Slovakia, supported by a 2023 joint declaration. At a commemoration at the Czechoslovak Military Memorial in Westminster Abbey, the Slovak Parliament chair emphasised the countries’ shared history, including the heroism of Czechoslovak pilots and soldiers in WWII, describing these bonds as a lasting foundation of today’s partnership.
Source: TASR
