Back to Basics: Poland Begins Year-Long Presidency of Visegrad Group V4 Comprising Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary

Today, Poland begins its one-year presidency of the Visegrad Group V4 - Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. As the Polish Foreign Ministry told Ukrinform, the three priorities of the presidency will be to improve the welfare of the citizens of the four countries, including multidimensional security; development of infrastructure links and transport links between the V4 countries; and actions aimed at unlocking the potential for cooperation between the countries. Poland has chosen "Back to Basics" as its slogan. 

This slogan means a return to the foundations on which the Visegrad Group was built, and it refers to freedom, human rights, the rule of law and engagement in the process of European integration and cooperation for security in Europe.

"An element inextricably woven into the three priorities of the Polish V4 Presidency will be support for Ukraine, which is fighting for independence against the Russian aggressor," the Polish Foreign Ministry said. 

The programme of the Polish V4 presidency also includes initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine, in particular in the areas of internal security, civil protection, development of transport routes, transfer of regional experience in the process of transformation, and education of Ukrainian refugee children.

The Polish V4 Presidency also plans to hold a number of expert meetings, seminars and conferences related to the priority areas, as well as ministerial meetings.

As previously reported by The Gaze, on 1 July, Hungary took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union from Belgium and took over the organisation of the Council's work for the next six months. This is Hungary's second presidency of this European body. The Hungarian government has chosen a slightly modified but well-known slogan of American ex-President Trump: "Make Europe Great Again".