Czech Republic Backs Fico's Call to Revive V4 EU Summit Coordination

Prague/Bratislava, 3 July (TASR-correspondent) - The Czech Republic supports Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's proposal for the Visegrad Group (V4) countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) to resume coordination meetings ahead of EU summits, TASR learnt from its special correspondent in Prague on Friday. Responding to TASR at the start of Slovakia's presidency of the V4, the Czech Foreign Ministry said that it welcomes the platform's return to active cooperation. "After a period of reduced activity, we welcome Visegrad cooperation becoming active again. The Czech Republic wants the V4 to serve above all as a practical platform for cooperation among four sovereign states on issues where we share common interests," said Czech Foreign Ministry spokesperson Adam Corgo. Speaking at the V4 summit in Godollo last week, Fico called for the prime ministers of the V4 countries to hold talks before every meeting of the European Council to coordinate their positions. The Czech Republic supports this proposal. "We support the resumption of regular coordination meetings ahead of European Union summits. If common positions can be found, it's only natural to promote them together at the European level," added Corgo. Slovakia assumed the rotating V4 presidency on 1 July, taking over from Hungary. During its one-year term, it aims to strengthen the group's ability to seek common solutions in areas of shared interest while making a constructive contribution to the unity and strength of the European Union and NATO. mf/df