Czech President Petr Pavel wants the Visegrad Group – a regional cooperation consisting of Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary – to be as democratic and pro-European as it was when it was founded, he said at a meeting of Czech heads of embassies in Prague.
Although he was previously rather critical of Visegrad cooperation, primarily because of Hungary’s illiberal and pro-Russian behaviour, he does not want to condemn regional cooperation formats.
“Regional formats are not losing their importance, and I am glad that I will welcome my counterparts from the Visegrad Four countries here at Prague Castle in November,” said Pavel.
Czechia holds the one-year rotating presidency of the Visegrad Group till July 2024. The organisation of high-level meetings is thus expected from the country. However, Pavel admitted that he would like to see a change in the current format.
“I believe that in the long term, it makes sense to strive to ensure that Visegrad is true to its founding spirit, which was democratising and pro-European,” the Czech president added.
The Visegrad Group was formed in the 1990s after the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary regained freedom after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Within the group, they worked together to join Western democratic structures – the EU and NATO.
However, Poland and Hungary have disputes with Brussels over issues including the rule of law, corruption, democratic backsliding, and illiberal policies. Meanwhile, pro-Russian sentiments are strong in Slovakia and Hungary, with elections in the former being closely watched.
“The parliamentary elections (in Slovakia) in just a few weeks will show what kind of future the Slovaks want and will choose. I believe that, whatever the outcome of the elections, our above-standard friendship will remain strong, and I will personally work for this,” Pavel said.
(Aneta Zachová | EURACTIV.cz)
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