V4 premiers, at a summit in Bratislava on Monday, agreed that recent events in Russia do not pose a threat to the V4 region. Prime Minister Ludovit Odor stated that instability in Russia could primarily affect neighboring countries like Belarus and emphasized that there is no need for Slovakia to reconsider its position on the war in Ukraine. Odor highlighted the importance of communication with other countries and the need to protect external borders effectively.
"It is important for us to communicate with the countries where migrants come from or through which they pass the most. It is also very important for us to be able to protect our external borders as effectively as possible".
The Visegrad Four (V4) countries reject mandatory quotas and forced resettlement regarding illegal migration. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban proposed that migrants entering the EU should apply to enter its territory, with their applications being assessed while they remain outside the EU. He also criticized the EU's budget amendment on migration, considering it a frivolous proposal, and requested a new budget proposal from the European Commission. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala emphasized the importance of a functional refugee return policy and increased cooperation with migrants' countries of origin.
"We need to focus on a functional return policy. In terms of effective border protection, we need to strengthen cooperation in terms of preventing illegal migration and human trafficking. We need to cut off the routes by which people enter Europe, and we need to be much more effective than we have been so far."
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for effective protection of internal borders and support for countries in the EU's immediate neighborhood. The summit marked the end of Slovakia's one-year presidency of the V4. The Czech Republic will take over the presidency on 1 July.
Source: TASR
