The Czech Presidency will follow up on the Slovak Presidency programme. The Czech Presidency's overall aim is to strengthen the Visegrad Group's position in the EU and NATO while fostering unity and cohesion of the two organisations. We would like to apply a rational, pragmatic and constructive approach, put emphasis on European agenda and formats and work on the broadening of the coalition potential of the V4 within the EU and in its neighbourhood. Visegrad cooperation should remain effective, informal, flexible and inclusive. The motto of the CZ V4 PRES will be „V4Reasonable Europe“.

The main priority areas of CZ V4 PRES will be 3R:

Reasonable solutions: During CZV4PRES we will recall several anniversaries (the fall of communist regimes, accession of V4 countries to NATO and the EU, International Visegrad Fund) that provide an opportunity to revitalise the positive ideals with which the V4 countries welcomed the return of freedom and democracy, and their hopes for reunification of Europe based both on universal human values and on respect for national particularities. With this inspiration on mind, CZ V4 PRES will try to deliver constructive proposals benefiting people in the V4 and also in the whole EU: support deepening of the internal market of the EU and the preservation of its four freedoms, economic and social convergence in the EU, the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and the EU Eastern Neighbourhood Policy, defense cooperation (V4 Battle Group on standby in II/2019) and will encourage the excellent level of people-to-people relations, including the role of the IVF.

Revolutionary technologies – innovative economy and its social impacts: CZV4PRES will concentrate on support for research, development and innovation, innovative ecosystem, Digital Single Market, artificial intelligence but also on education and adaptability of people to the related changes in the labour market. In the area of RDI, V4 countries aspire to become a source of inspiration for others.

Reconciling approaches: CZV4PRES will try to overcome the dividing lines and contribute to cohesion of the EU. We will promote cooperation in the V4+ format with the goal of expanding the V4 coalition potential, especially with the key EU partners such as Germany, France, Austria, Benelux and the Nordic and Baltic countries. This will regard the final stages of negotiations on MFF, future of migration and asylum policies, regional cooperation on infrastructure connections and energy policy, especially nuclear energy.

Formats

CZV4PRES plans traditional V4 high-level meetings: 1 summit on the level of the Presidents of V4 countries, several summits with EU partners on the Prime Ministers´ level, traditional MFA ministerial meetings (V4 + Western Balkans, V4+Eastern Partnership, V4 Nordic/Baltic8) and line ministers´meetings, expert meetings with EU (mainly DE, AT, FR, Benelux) and traditional non EU partners (mainly USA, Korea, Japan, Israel). Apart from the meetings of the V4 governments, the parliamentary cooperation will continue.