“In July we will take over the presidency of the Visegrad Group. Warsaw will make every effort so that we can overcome the crisis caused by the pandemic together,” emphasised Minister Jacek Czaputowicz during his talks with the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomaš Petřiček. The head of the Polish MFA pointed out that in 2020 we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the cooperation within the Visegrad Group and that its success is to a large extent the result of efforts made by four countries to coordinate their positions on the fora of international organisations. “Over these years we earned a good reputation,” added Minister Czaputowicz.

The ministers shared their experiences in fighting the coronavirus epidemic. The chief of Polish diplomacy highlighted the efforts made by European countries to repatriate the EU citizens who were stranded far from their homes because of the epidemic. “In the spirit of solidarity and as part of the #LOTdodomu campaign we transported over 800 EU citizens. Sixty-seven of them were Czech nationals,” noted the Polish MFA head. Minister Czaputowicz also thanked the Czech side for its help in transporting Polish citizens from the Philippines, Colombia, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Nepal.

While in Budapest, the Polish MFA head met with his Hungarian counterpart, Minister Péter Szijjártó to discuss cooperation within the Three Seas Initiative. “We see a need to identify key projects which will facilitate engaging other entities, including potential investors from the US. This is all the more important considering the declaration by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stating that Washington will donate USD 1 billion to support the Three Seas Initiative projects,” pointed out Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. The chief of Polish diplomacy expressed his satisfaction with the recent declaration by Minister Szijjártó that Budapest will join the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund.

The ministers also talked about the cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries. They discussed prospects for the construction of Central European energy corridors. 

The trip of Minister Jacek Czaputowicz to Prague and Budapest was his first official visit in 10 weeks, that is since the beginning of the pandemic. 

 

MFA Press Office

 

Fot. Tymon Markowski / MFA