Press Advisories

28. 6. 201623:30

V4 Prime Ministers issue joint declaration on the future of the EU following the British referendum

The Prime Ministers of the Visegrad group of countries this morning met for their customary coordination meeting before the meeting of the European Council. Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico issued a joint declaration in which they expressed their view on the need for EU reform and for further collaboration between the 27 Member States.

The V4 Prime Ministers agreed that the British decision to leave the EU is to be regretted. The European Union will continue in the collaboration of the 27 Member State, while the result of the upcoming negotiations on the withdrawal of Great Britain from the EU must not be a worse position for EU citizens and companies than for British citizens and their companies.

The Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia further agreed on the need for EU renewal and a revival of citizens’ trust in European integration and institutions. The European Union should once more start up convergence both within and between Member States. In the opinion of the V4 states, the EU should focus on cohesion policy, economic growth and increasing prosperity. Nor should development of joint internal and external security policy be left aside.

Today’s customary coordination meeting of V4 Prime Ministers before the European Council was the last Visegrad meeting to be held under the direction of the Czech Presidency. From 1 July this is being assumed by Poland. For this reason Prime Minister Sobotka today wished Polish Prime Minister Szydło every success.