Since July 2020, the V4 foreign ministers have conducted talks both within the Group (the “V4 only” formula), and in a wider format (“V4+”). So far, the V4+ consultations have been held with, among others, Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State (in Brussels on 23 March 2021), the heads of diplomacy of Japan (in Warsaw on 7 May 2021), and earlier – France (in Bratislava on 8 October 2020).

Moreover, as part of the permanent dialogue of the V4 with the Eastern Partnership countries, a video conference of the V4+EaP foreign ministers took place on 29 April 2021. The event was also attended by foreign ministers of Portugal, Finland, and Sweden as well as by representatives of the European Commission and the EEAS.

Under the Polish presidency of the V4, the plans are for the V4 foreign ministers to hold consultations in June with their counterparts from the Western Balkan states. The Visegrad Group actively supports these countries on their path to European integration.

The forthcoming talks, scheduled to take place in Łódź this Friday, will cover issues that are of key importance for the V4 foreign ministers’ common agenda. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the V4 cooperation, the ministers will sum up the Group’s achievements to date and discuss future actions, including the implementation of provisions developed during the anniversary summit of the V4 heads of government that was organised in Kraków in February this year. The chiefs of the V4 diplomacy will discuss the potential for strengthening mutual cooperation also in non-European international organisations, outside the EU which is the traditional area of the V4’s greatest joint activity. The talks will also cover challenges related to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic – at the regional, European, and global level – both in terms of the EU’s strategic autonomy and its relations with key external partners. Another important item on the agenda will be the current state of transatlantic relations and prospects for further fostering the EU-US cooperation. 

 

MFA Press Office