The Slovak government wants to join the presidency of the Vyšehrad Group (V4) with the principle of strict observance of international law, also with the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and respecting the path that other countries choose as the path of managing their internal affairs. This was announced by Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in his speech on the occasion of the opening of the Slovak presidency in the V4. According to him, the V4 countries are interested in being a strong regional grouping again. Fico emphasized that the issue of peace is also a priority of the Slovak presidency.
Fico emphasized that the Slovak presidency of the V4 begins in difficult geopolitical times, when the principles of international law do not apply and the principles on which the world order stood are being violated.
“The Government of the Slovak Republic wants to enter this presidency with clear principles and principles. First of all, it is the principle of strict observance of international law, then the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and the third important principle – respecting the path that other countries choose as the path of managing their internal affairs. And in this spirit, as Prime Minister, I will behave when managing this format in 2026 and 2027,” the Prime Minister emphasized in his speech before the concert to mark the beginning of the Slovak Presidency in V4.
In addition to the four priorities within the framework of the Slovak presidency, Fico also mentioned the issue of peace, which he considers to be the fifth priority. “Despite the fact that I belong to a very narrow group of prime ministers within the European Union who support dialogue and the vast majority of European Union member states support the war in Ukraine, I will do everything to ensure that primarily peaceful messages are heard within the V4,” he declared, saying that the Western world was practically at war with Russia.
Competitiveness is also among the priorities of the presidency. In this context, the prime minister reminded that Europe was overtaken by other regions of the world. According to him, it is necessary to respond to the most urgent problem of EU competitiveness, which is high energy prices.
“I believe that in a short time there will be a meeting between the Prime Ministers of the V4 and the German Chancellor, and that the main topic will be high energy prices. We have to move with them,” he stated. As part of the priority of EU enlargement, Fico reiterated that the best prepared countries for joining the Union are three countries – Montenegro, Albania and Serbia. According to him, these countries can bring common sense and fresh blood to the EU. According to him, Slovakia respects Ukraine’s interest in becoming a member of the EU, but does not agree to any shortcuts or exceptions.
The prime minister also recalled the multi-year financial framework of the EU. “I am very pleased to note that the member states, partners in the V4, have very similar views on two fundamental topics, namely the issue of cohesion policy, cohesion, the elimination of regional disparities and the common agricultural policy,” he emphasized. As part of the priority of interpersonal relations, he recalled the Vyšehrad Fund, which has a long tradition.
“We lived through the dark ages,” said Fico about the period when the V4 was weakened and, according to him, there was an interest in canceling cooperation within the region. “There were several years when the V4 meetings were as formal as possible. We met without results, our positions were empty political declarations without coordinating common policies,” he added that in the past the V4 achieved significant results in the framework of European politics, for example the joint veto of the proposal to introduce mandatory migration quotas.
Fico appreciates that at the recent meeting of the prime ministers of the V4 countries, all four leaders expressed their willingness to cooperate again in this format. “We were strong, then we were practically non-existent, and we are interested in being very strong again.” concluded.
