Launch of virtual V4 Centre for COVID-19
12.10.2020
“We are in the middle of the pandemic, and facing its second wave. Therefore, it is key that individual countries, also at the level of the V4 region, inform each other of their actions and plans, and share experiences and knowledge to fight the pandemic more efficiently,” said Deputy Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk during a meeting to launch the virtual V4 Centre for COVID-19. The V4 initiative will complement contacts within the EU, WHO and other international structures.
The centre will operate through cyclical VTC meetings of experts from the ministries of health and foreign affairs. The officials will also hold consultations with other ministries ahead of the regular sessions about the current situation in terms of managing the COVID-19 crisis. Representatives of other institutions and other experts will be invited to join thematic meetings.
The ministerial experts will meet weekly to share information on healthcare management in the context of COVID-19, border traffic, air transport, as well as internal regulations and restrictions introduced by domestic laws. “We hope that the V4 Centre for COVID-19 will become an important platform allowing us and our partners to tackle the pandemic more effectively, showing at the same time the practical importance of cooperation within the Visegrad Group in times of crisis,” emphasised Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk.
During a meeting in Lublin on 11 September, prime ministers of the Visegrad Group countries discussed the idea of introducing a more organised way of sharing information related to COVID-19 between the V4 countries. The V4 heads of government agreed to create a framework to facilitate the flow of information between the four countries. In this context, we decided jointly to establish the V4 Centre for COVID-19 Information Exchange which is launched today.
MFA Press Office
Photo: Sebastian Indra / MFA