Polish-Czech inter-governmental consultations confirmed our partnership in many dimensions

03.06.2022

The issues discussed during today's meeting, chaired by Prime Ministers Mateusz Morawiecki and Petr Fiala, concerned further cooperation in the area of energy and infrastructure development and defence. During the consultations, the politicians also continued discussions on the Russian aggression against Ukraine and its consequences. The last meeting of the two state leaders took place at the end of April 2022. At that time, the Prime Minister declared that Poland would help its southern neighbours become energy independent from Russia. During the consultations, the Prime Ministers signed, inter alia, an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense and an agreement on cooperation in the development of transport connections. The Prime Minister, thanking for effective talks, expressed his hope for further good and intensive cooperation.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala during the visit of the Polish Prime Minister to Prague as part of intergovernmental consultations

Together against Russia

Poland and the Czech Republic agree on the most important issues concerning European security. From the first days of the war in Ukraine, the actions of Poland and the Czech Republic were similar. Both countries correctly recognised their own interests, the interests of the region and the interests of the European Union as a whole.

- Thank you for perciving the risks associated with the war in an identical way and helping with the supply of defensive weapons from day one, despite the fact that the Czech Republic does not border Ukraine directly – said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

Energy independence

Both countries understand the importance of energy independence. Joint Polish-Czech actions at the forum of the European Council lead to the introduction of tough sanctions against Russia, to the implementation of measures to help Ukraine win the war, and to strengthening of the development prospects of the two countries.

- We are helping to make Western Europe realise of how dangerous that hypnotisation of Europe was. Its policy was wrong. Today, the great majority of Western European countries share our view - concluded the Head of Polish Government.

The Prime Minister of Poland thanked the Prime Minister of Czech Republic for the support during the last EU summit, which made it possible to reach compromise and adopt the 6th package of sanctions against Russia. The Prime Minister also declared assistance in the implementation of the project of building the Stork II gas pipeline, which will connect Poland and the Czech Republic. The investment will make it possible for our neighbour to become independent from Russian supplies of gas. Poland will also make available ports on the Baltic Sea for trade and to meet the needs of the Czech Republic.

Investment in road and rail infrastructure - a development impulse

The politicians also discussed the issue of making the implementation of the project of Trans-European Transport Network TEN-T more realistic (the EU programme for road, rail, water and air networks). The investment in road and railway infrastructure will be an impulse for development of not only the Polish-Czech borderline regions but of entire economies of the two countries.

- Poland is a major trading partner for the Czech Republic, just as the Czech Republic is the main trading partner for Poland. Central Europe and the European Union win when they act together – summed up the Head of Polish Government.

During the joint consultations, the following were signed:

agreement on cooperation in the field of defence;
agreement on cooperation of the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic on the development of transport connections that will connect Polish sea ports with the territory of the Czech Republic.