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Video conference of foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group, Nordic and Baltic States

04.06.2020

“The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world as we know it. Rapid mitigation of its effects will be one of key tasks for the European community. Poland will also focus on this challenge during its upcoming presidency of the V4 group,” declared Minister Jacek Czaputowicz during the video conference that brought together the heads of diplomacy of the V4 and Nordic-Baltic Eight. The event was organised within the framework of the Czech presidency of the Visegrad Group.

2020.06.03 Warszawa . Minister Jacek Czaputowicz . Wideokonferencja V4 . Fot. Tymon Markowski / MSZ

The consultations of the V4 and NB8 foreign ministers were an opportunity to exchange opinions on important matters for Northern and Central Europe. The panel on global challenges focused on relations with China, Russia, the Eastern Partnership, and the Western Balkan countries.

The ministers also discussed the worrying developments in Belarus on the eve of presidential elections in that country as well as issues concerning cyber security and the Estonian presidency of the UN Security Council.

Minister Czaputowicz drew attention to the fact that, despite the coronavirus outbreak, Russia has not changed its attitude towards Western countries, therefore it is crucial to maintain a coherent position towards Moscow.

The head of Polish diplomacy also indicated that during the pandemic an increased number of hostile activities threatening cyber security had been observed, such as cyber-attacks and dissemination of false information.

As regards the EU agenda during the Covid-19 pandemic, the ministers discussed the multiannual financial framework and the EU's Recovery Fund, as well as the Green Deal, digitalisation and the rule of law. "Poland invariably calls for an ambitious EU budget, especially for cohesion policy as a tool to support rebuilding the EU after the crisis," underlined Minister Czaputowicz.

“Poland is actively engaged not only in assistance to the EU’s neighbouring countries, including the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkan states, but also to developing countries within the framework of the EU’s Team Europe initiative,” highlighted the minister.

The chief of Polish diplomacy also noted the importance of digital transformation as a tool to mitigate the negative effects of the crisis but also as a means of economic development and progress.  

Organised regularly since 2013, joint V4 and NB8 consultations aim to reinforce regional cooperation along the North-South axis. This has been the eighth meeting of the twelve foreign ministers in this formula.

The video conference replaced a meeting scheduled to take place in Prague on the sidelines of the Prague European Summit.

The next meeting of the foreign ministers in the V4 and NB8 format will be held within the framework of the Polish presidency of the Visegrad Group that starts on 1 July 2020.

 

MFA Press Office

Photo Tymon Markowski / MFA

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