The Czech Republic wants to increase the coalition potential of the Visegrad Four (V4) group in the EU during its V4 presidency, which it assumed on July 1, Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek said during a debate organized by the Institute of Politics and Society in Prague.
Minister Petricek said the V4 group, which comprises the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland, should actively focus on issues it considers important such as the deepening of the single market and strengthening defence cooperation within the alliance. He also spoke in favor of more intensive cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries and stronger support for the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU.
The Slovak ambassador to Prague, Peter Weiss, stressed the need to change the perception of the V4 as a troublemaker that only blocks EU decisions in its own interests. Minister Petricek agreed that the V4 group should show a constructive attitude to the issues debated.
Via Radio Praha