V4 Presidents to Discuss Key Challenges Facing Europe at Trencin Summit

Bratislava/Trencin, 3 November (TASR) - The city of Trencin will become a hub for Central European diplomacy for the next two days (4-5 November), hosting the Visegrad Group (V4 - Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland) presidential summit, the Slovak President Office's communications department has informed TASR. The heads of state will discuss key challenges facing Europe. The summit, hosted by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, aims to strengthen cooperation between the four Central European countries and bolster their voice in shaping the future of Europe. Affordable energy, a competitive industrial sector and a secure future for the region will be high on the agenda of the summit. Talks will focus, among other things, on the need to ensure affordable and reliable energy supplies, which are essential for economic growth and the preservation of jobs. The heads of state will also address the EU enlargement as an important prerequisite for the stability and security of the continent. They should also deal with the situation in Ukraine, particularly the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure, diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace, and the country's post-war reconstruction. The summit will begin on Wednesday with a discussion on the region's economic future. This will include the presentation of key conclusions and recommendations from a meeting of the V4 central bank governors and OSCE Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. A concert by the Lukas Oravec V4 Quartet, made up of musicians from all the four member countries, will take place at the Trencin synagogue in the evening. The first day will conclude with a dinner attended by heads of delegations, the central bank governors and the OECD secretary-general. The main talks will be held at Trencin Castle on Thursday. A formal welcome ceremony will be followed by a plenary session, with International Visegrad Fund executive director Linda Kapustova Helbichova in attendance, and a working lunch providing the presidents with an opportunity for further discussion on current foreign-political issues. The programme will also include a presentation of the revitalisation project for the old Fiesta railway bridge, which serves as an example of the tangible benefits of European cooperation for the region. ko