Blanár sets Slovakia's priorities during V4 presidency

Slovakia is set to assume the presidency of the Visegrad Group (V4) on July 1, with Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár outlining key priorities aimed at revitalizing regional cooperation.

During an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Limassol, Cyprus, Blanár discussed these priorities with his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski. Slovakia intends to focus on areas where the V4 countries share common interests and can achieve practical results for their citizens. "The goal of the Slovak presidency is to revitalize the Visegrad Four and focus on topics where our interests and positions overlap. This creates a solid foundation for joint action and concrete results," Blanár stated.

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The goal of the Slovak presidency is to revitalize the Visegrad Four and focus on topics where our interests and positions overlap. This creates a solid foundation for joint action and concrete results.

Key priorities for Slovakia's V4 presidency include enhancing European competitiveness, ensuring energy security, supporting EU enlargement, fostering sectoral cooperation, and strengthening interpersonal contacts. The Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that partners also expressed unified support for involving additional international partners within the V4+ format.

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We have an interest in the Slovak-Polish partnership gaining an even more pronounced practical dimension through concrete projects and joint activities.

Discussions between Blanár and Sikorski also touched upon bilateral relations and cross-border development between Slovakia and Poland. Blanár praised the "intensive dialogue" and the strengthening of parliamentary contacts, highlighting a forthcoming memorandum of prime ministers on cross-border development. He emphasized Slovakia's interest in giving the Slovak-Polish partnership a more pronounced practical dimension through concrete projects and joint activities.

Furthermore, the Three Seas Initiative, a platform of 13 EU member states focused on developing transport, energy, and digital infrastructure between the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas, was also on the agenda. Slovakia is scheduled to host the initiative's summit in the spring of 2027 and plans to build upon previous presidencies by focusing on innovation, digital development, and artificial intelligence alongside infrastructure projects. The ministers also addressed the ongoing situation in Ukraine, stressing the need for diplomatic initiatives to achieve a just and lasting peace, with Slovakia maintaining its strategic interest in a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Ukraine with an EU membership perspective.

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Slovakia wants to build on previous Three Seas presidencies and focus, alongside infrastructure projects, on innovation, digital development, and artificial intelligence.