Foreign Ministry to work on V4 image

Slovakia will continue its efforts to improve the perception of the Visegrad Four group of countries (V4 - the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia), as the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry set this goal as one of its priorities. "In fulfilling our [V4] presidency's priorities, including a strong Europe, a secure environment and smart solutions, the focus was on added value and common interests. V4 made efforts to maintain a strong position of cohesion policy, common agricultural policy as well as other European policies that significantly contribute to EU growth and employment," stated the ministry in its stance, adding that progress had been made in the preparation of the high-speed railway project and that the EU V4 battle group had been put on alert. Moreover, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the V4+ formats with the countries of the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership are highly rated. "The V4 countries have agreed to make every effort so that the Western Balkans region and enlargement policy as well as the development of the Eastern Partnership keep an important place in the priorities of the new European Commission and the new European Parliament," stated the ministry.