BRATISLAVA, August 31, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovakia has managed to internally consolidate the Visegrad Group of countries while chairing the group and the associated countries now act more consistently towards the European Union. “Credibility of the V4 as well as the respect of the partners within the EU toward this grouping has unambiguously increased,” reads the report on fulfillment of the program of Slovakia’s V4 presidency that the Cabinet acknowledged on Wednesday. The document highlights the new format of official meetings of prime ministers of V4 countries ahead of sessions of the European Council or EU summits – in September 2010 in attendance of the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, in December 2010 in attendance of the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Slovakia chaired the V4 group between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. As for top international meetings, authors of the document emphasize the importance of the summit of V4 prime ministers on February 14, 2011 in attendance of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov commemorating the 20th Anniversary of establishing the Visegrad Group. Prime ministers of V4 countries adopted the Bratislava Declaration at that time which assessed accomplished results of V4 and named the main challenges for the future. Heads of governments of V4 countries, Germany and Austria also passed a common declaration calling on Belarus authorities to immediately release political prisoners and observe human rights and freedoms.
Authors of the document have also established that V4 has become more active toward partners outside the EU, especially countries of the western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries. They underscore that during its V4 chairmanship, Slovakia carried out activities that contributed to acceleration of integration processes of Croatia, Montenegro and Macedonia and intensified the dialogue with Ukraine and Moldava.
“Slovakia has brought new dynamics in the Visegrad Group’s cooperation. In the year the group commemorated its 20th anniversary and after new governments took the helm in the region, Slovakia managed to reactivate and energize the group. Slovakia has passed the baton to the Czech Republic in a very good shape, more vital and respected, with clear goals and tangible results,” reads the document summarizing work of Slovakia’s V4 presidency.
SITA