The speaker of Hungarian parliament calls for closer Visegrad Four cooperation within EU

National parliaments must maximise their impact on European policymaking and Visegrad cooperation should “jointly promote a shared future” in the European Union, László Kövér, the speaker of parliament, said in Cracow on Thursday at a ceremony to hand over the V4 rotating presidency to Hungary at parliamentary level.

The Hungarian presidency “cannot aim for less than to maintain V4 unity and its ability to react to major European issues,” he said, adding that Hungary’s presidency would also seek to further strengthen the group’s stabilising role in the region while sending “a strong message that the V4 will contribute to the stability and growth of Europe, and seek to participate in key European discussions as a constructive partner.”

European security will “remain fragile” in the coming year, he said, adding that he expected further disputes over migration. “The European Union will pay less attention to our immediate vicinity, the Western Balkans and eastern Europe, or to further enlarging the community.”

“Political pressure from Brussels and some EU members” on the Visegrad countries, especially on Hungary and Poland, will not ease, Kövér said, adding that the “attempts to weaken cohesion within the Visegrad group” would continue.

Concerning details of the Hungarian presidency, Kövér highlighted support for tighter relations with the Western Balkans and with countries in the Eastern Partnership programme, as well as infrastructure, digital, and research and development projects in those regions.