"In the coming weeks we will commemorate several anniversaries connected with our recent history and I am glad that we can see and discuss these milestones on the day before. In just a few days we will commemorate 25 years since Czechia, Poland and Hungary joined the North Atlantic Alliance. In May, we will celebrate 20 years since we joined the EU together with other Central European and Baltic states. In the same year, 2004, the second wave of NATO enlargement took place," the Czech diplomatic chief said at the beginning.

The initial topic of this year's ambassadors' meeting was security issues in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the continuing pressure for changes in the security environment and disruption of the rules-based international order. Discussions with National Security Advisor Tomas Poyar, Chief of General Staff Gen. Karel Řehka and other guests, the discussion focused on the broader implications for Czechia and Europe, as well as the opportunities for NATO and the EU to respond to these changes and actively shape the security environment in our neighbourhood.

The Minister for European Affairs, Martin Dvořák, then opened a debate on European and EU issues in the light of the upcoming European elections and on the so-called strategic agenda, i.e. the most important strategic issues that the EU will deal with in the coming years. The discussion also covered the topic of EU enlargement, of which Czechia is a long-standing supporter and which it sees as a tool for strengthening European stability.

The second day of the meeting was devoted mainly to economic issues and strengthening the Czechia's competitiveness. The discussion was opened by the Deputy Director General of the EU and Foreign Trade Section of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Lukáš Prokeš, who presented the priorities in this area. Prof. Vladimír Mařík, Scientific Director of the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics of the Czech Technical University, Radek Špicar, Vice President of the Confederation of Industry and Transport, and Martin Wichterle, businessman, also contributed their opinions.

The exchange of views and experiences of the Czech ambassadors on current and expected developments in the Central European region, whose importance in terms of our national interests is undeniable, was interesting. An important topic was public diplomacy with an emphasis on effective strategic communication and ways to counter disinformation from Russia.

The Czech Ambassadors from European Countries Held a Meeting at the Czernin Palace