The new Czech government coalition will push for the renewal of Visegrád cooperation, according to a draft program statement made public in Prague on Monday.
“An important priority of our foreign policy is to renew and strengthen damaged relations within the framework of the Visegrád Group, which are based on mutual respect, common interests and effective regional cooperation,” the document reads, as cited by Mandiner.
The cooperation between the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia has been paralyzed in recent years, primarily due to differing stances on the war in Ukraine.
While the Czech Republic and Poland have been two of Ukraine’s biggest supporters against Russian aggression, including the supply of weapons and military equipment, Hungary and Slovakia have tried to distance themselves from the conflict as much as possible, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán continuously pushing for peace.
However, now, according to the daily Pravo, the new Czech government’s program statement does not contain any “warmth” towards Ukraine. Instead, Kyiv gets one line: “We will support diplomatic steps that would lead to an end to the war in Ukraine and to removing the risks of the war spreading to Europe.”
The document also makes it clear that the Czech Republic “wants to maintain good or at least standard relations with other key global powers.”
As to Czechia’s EU and NATO memberships, the new government says these are “of key importance” and “unquestionable.”
According to the draft government program, Czech foreign policy will be “realistic and pragmatic,” with incoming prime minister Andrej Babiš telling press that he will personally take responsibility for foreign policy.
His goal is sovereignty and collaboration. “A self-aware EU is a community of sovereign nation-states that work together where it makes sense, and at the same time retain their freedom in matters that concern only them,” the draft document reads.
