Babis: V4 an economic group, not political bloc

The Visegrad Group comprising the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary does not act as a political bloc in the European Union, but is an economic group, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Wednesday before his departure for a meeting of the V4 premiers. The event is held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the group. Babis reacted to a commentary written by the Slovak Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok published in daily Sme on Monday. The V4 should not act within the EU as a political bloc, Korcok wrote, adding that Slovakia is able to promote its interests in the EU better than when it closes itself in central Europe. "It is not a political, but economic group with 67 million people in the region that is historically successful, has a low indebtedness, a good GDP growth rate, very diligent and skillful people," Babis said, stressing that now, the V4 was more important than ever before.