Deputy Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk visits Slovak Republic
08.10.2020
- Slovakia is our close partner. We share not only the obvious good neighbourly relations, but we also cooperate closely within regional and European formats. Today’s meeting reflects that particularly well. Despite difficulties, we sustain a regular good dialogue in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, while following necessary safety rules, - highlighted Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk during his conversation with Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Martin Klus.
The bilateral consultations focused on the next round of the Polish-Slovak intergovernmental consultations, infrastructural cooperation (completion of key sections of the Via Carpathia project on the borderland between Poland and Slovakia), and the situation in Belarus. Another important topic was regional cooperation and its new conditions created by the epidemiological situation. In this context, the activities within the Visegrad Group (V4) are key for the Polish-Slovak relations. The interlocutors also discussed the potential of holding events to mark the 30th anniversary of the V4. - For Poland, the V4 is key to strengthening the position of the region and our countries in Europe. It has proven effective many times throughout the 30 years of cooperation, - emphasised Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk. The officials also talked about the Three Seas Initiative and the prospects of Slovakia joining the Three Seas Fund.
Furthermore, while in Bratislava, Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk attended the GLOBSEC conference. He took part in the panel of foreign ministers, held traditionally as part of the forum. This year’s discussion panel of the V4 chiefs of diplomacy focused on the future of this cooperation in the context of current challenges.
In the margins of the GLOBSEC conference, under the auspices of the Polish presidency of the Visegrad Group, the V4 foreign ministers met with France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian (within the so-called V4+France format). The main topics discussed were the situation within the EU’s immediate neighbourhood – in the east and in the Mediterranean, as well as the EU’s relations with global partners, the most important aspects of the migration policy and the new pact on migration and asylum.
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The GLOBSEC Forum is an annual two-day event organised by the Slovak side. It is usually held in May, but this year it was postponed due to the pandemic. The conference is devoted to various issues in the area of economy and politics. The event attracts many prominent personalities from the world of politics, economy, academia, analytical groups and is a recognized format of discussions on international topics in the region.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Office
Photo: Tomas Bokor / MFA of the Slovak Republic
