SLOVAKIA will take over the rotating presidency of the Visegrad Group beginning July 1 for one year when Hungary completes its term, the SITA newswire reported.
The Slovak cabinet has adopted a programme, drafted by Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák, which will be submitted to partners from the Visegrad Group at a ministerial meeting in Hungary. The theme of the programme is “Effective Visegrad – Continuity, Cohesion, Solidarity and Information”.
The programme spells out the current priorities in foreign policy, the economy and other individual sectors. The Slovak presidency wants to strengthen solidarity within the V4, as well as to work to alleviate the impact of the global economic crisis. The activities of the working groups of top representatives of the V4 also include energy security and social inclusion of Roma citizens.
During its presidency, Slovakia will host two summits of V4 prime ministers. Two meetings of foreign affairs ministers are also planned; the first focusing on the western Balkans and the second on the EU's Eastern Partnership. Activities and projects of Slovakia’s presidency will be financed by individual ministries and central organs of the state administration from their budgets for 2010 and 2011.
