The Visegrad Group's operations are based solely on the principle of periodical meetings of the member states' representatives on all levels (prime ministers, heads of states, ministers, experts, etc.). Official prime ministerial summits take place on an annual basis. Between these official summits—usually in June each year—one of V4 countries holds presidency over the group.
On July 1, 2026, Slovakia took over its seventh presidency of the Visegrad Group (V4). The motto of the Slovak presidency in the group is
"V4 a Stronger Europe – Together for a Stronger Europe".
Slovak seventh presidency of the Visegrad Group, the V4, comes in unprecedented times. Weare witnessing the substantial erosion of international relations, which were founded in respect for international law and, consequently, predictability. At the same time, it is evident that security concerns and the sense of threat are increasingly determining the onset and course of intergovernmental negotiations and interactions between countries. The Russian aggression against Ukraine, still ongoing four years later, armed conflicts in many regions of the world and trade wars of increasing frequency present challenges that threaten both regional and global stability. No state can face these challenges alone; they must be tackled in cooperation with our closest partners. In this vein, the V4 countries will support efforts aimed at bringing back lasting peace in Europe, particularly through diplomatic engagements, supporting Ukraine and exercising international pressure on Russia to uphold long-lasting standards of international law and UN Charter.
Among the V4 countries, cooperation takes place within the framework of their European Union and NATO membership. For more than 20 years, the V4’s aim has been to contribute jointly to fulfilling the objectives of these international structures. It is vital that we operate in a predictable environment within a strong, independent and competitive Europe that is building strategic partnerships and globally engaged. The Slovak Presidency believes the V4 countries should continue to aspire to offer joint responses to the challenges facing the EU and NATO, thereby strengthening their capacity for action. This is reflected in the Presidency’s motto: “V4 a Stronger Europe” – to contribute jointly and constructively to the unity, strength and synergies of the European Union and NATO. The V4 countries share similar interests and positions in a number of areas, and these can be defended or promoted through joint actions. The Slovak V4 Presidency will therefore propose a variety of meetings, such as joint coordination meetings on areas of common interest ahead of European Council meetings or Council of the EU meetings in their various configurations. The aim of the Slovak V4 Presidency is to engage, discuss and seek solutions in the V4+ format with strategic partners and key countries in the EU as well as outside, such as Germany, France, United States, United Kingdom, Western Balkan countries and Türkiye.
The Visegrad Group is the format of regional cooperation commonly used by the countries of Central Europe. Over the 35 years of its existence, it has made a major contribution to good neighbourly relations at both the highest political level and at the people-to-people one. Bearing in mind the
Kroměříž Declaration [PDF] of the Heads of Government (12 May 2004), the Slovak Presidency of the V4 will adhere to and utilise the principles and mechanisms of mutual cooperation among the V4 countries, set out in the annex to the declaration, in order to further deepen understanding and partnership in the region. The
International Visegrad Fund has an invaluable role to play here and supporting it will be one of the objectives of the Slovak Presidency of the Visegrad Group. Adopting a coordinated approach to promoting common positions and interests among the V4 is key to ensuring the prosperity and stability of the region as a whole.
The structured dialogue among the V4 parliaments on EU and foreign affairs related issuesconstitutes a significant dimension of the Visegrad Group on the level of the Speakers of Parliaments, as well as on the level of the parliamentary committees. The Slovak Presidency of the Visegrad Group intends to continue the practice of previous presidencies in enhancing the parliamentary cooperation on both levels, in V4 only and V4+ formats.
The recent fundamental shift in the international environment has been accompanied by a complete change in the way actors are perceived. The transatlantic partnership is the cornerstone of the foreign policy of the Visegrad Group countries. In the light of the developments on the international stage we need to recommit our efforts to maintaining and further deepening ties with partners in North America. The US is not only a key element of our security and defence, and a major player in Europe’s security architecture, but also an important trade and investment partner with great potential for cooperation in the energy sector. The aim of the Slovak V4 Presidency will be to seek to revive US interest in the Central European region, including through political contacts and broader consultations. The Visegrad Group will also work with Canada to deepen its engagement in and understanding of the V4 countries and our region.
In recent years, the Indo-Pacific region has become the world’s geopolitical and geoeconomic centre of gravity. Each of the V4 countries has of course responded to these changes. The aim of the Slovak Presidency of the Visegrad Group will be to seek to revitalise traditional and time-tested partnerships with countries in the region, particularly with Japan and the Republic of Korea. There is also scope for joint engagement by the V4 countries in the V4+format with India and China. Following the fall of the Iron Curtain and the emergence of the multipolar world, there was great emphasis on the role of multilateralism as a key instrument in international relations, yet it is now being dismantled. One of the long-term priorities of the Visegrad Group countries must therefore be to ensure the effective functioning of multilateralism, with the United Nations playing a central role. Effective multilateralism guarantees mutual interaction between countries based on equality; regardless of the size, power or economic performance of the country. The Slovak V4 Presidency will seek to contribute actively to discussions about reforming the UN Security Council, so the interests of the Visegrad Group countries are reflected in the overall direction of the discussions. A strong Europe is in the interests of every country in the Visegrad Group. The programme of the Slovak V4 Presidency will therefore be based on four interlinked pillars. The first focuses on fostering competitiveness, preparing the EU’s new multiannual financial framework, and on energy. EU enlargement policy is a long-term priority for the V4 countries and an investment in further developing the continent. Recent discussions within the EU have concentrated on the accession process for candidate countries, as well as on internal EU reform. The second pillar of the Slovak Presidency of the Visegrad Group will therefore focus specifically on enlargement. Sectoral policies are the key element of the third pillar, targeting police cooperation, defence cooperation and infrastructure links. While the fourth pillar is concerned with people, well-being, relationship building and connections between people.
Presidencies of the Visegrad Group:
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