The State Secretary for the European Union, Juan González-Barba, held a meeting with representatives from the four countries that make up the Visegrad Group: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.
The State secretary began his trip to Warsaw by taking part today in a video-conference from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs with representatives from the four Visegrad countries: the State secretaries from Poland, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, from Hungary, Peter Sztáray, from the Czech Republic, Aleš Chmelař and from Slovakia, Martin Klus. This is the first meeting in the V4+ format involving Spain’s participation. This format allows the Visegrad Group to maintain dialogue with third countries and explore channels for cooperation. It is of particular interest to Spain to step up its dialogue with this sub-regional group that is made up of four EU Member States in Central Europe.
During the meeting, the participants exchanged opinions on the European response to the pandemic, the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Western Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods of the EU, and relations between the EU and the United States, and with Latin America.
The Visegrad Group was set up in 1991 to reflect the will of its members to move towards democracy and the free market economy. The outcome of this vision and the aim of the group was for its members to join the European Union, which was achieved some years later.
During the current Polish Rotating Presidency of the Visegrad Group, two important anniversaries will be held: the 30th anniversary of its creation, and the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Visegrad Fund, its instrument to support scientific, academic and cultural cooperation in the region.
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