The new leader of Hungary talks about the inclusion of Romania in the Visegrad Group. Peter Magyar's announcement
Peter Magyar, who officially took over the position of Prime Minister of Hungary on May 9, said that he is ready for a possible expansion of the Visegrad Group (V4), which currently includes Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The bloc, designed to promote Central European interests in the EU, has lost diplomatic power in recent years due to divisions among the countries that are part of the format, particularly between former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Politico wrote.
“The Visegrad Group could regain its vitality and influence within the European Union,” current Hungarian leader Peter Magyar said in a joint press conference with Donald Tusk in Warsaw. “Personally, I am ready to expand this Visegrad cooperation to include other countries,” he added.
The head of government in Budapest mentioned that such an expanded format could include “the Nordic countries, maybe Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania” or the countries of the Western Balkans, which are not part of the EU.
Magyar is considering holding a V4 Summit next month
Hungary, which currently holds the V4 presidency, could try to organize a summit of the format in June in Budapest, Peter Magyar also said.
“I will be more than happy,” said Poland's prime minister. “I have waited many, many years for this moment to sit down again at the same table with a Hungarian, a Slovak and a Czech to discuss what we can do together for our nations and in Europe,” Donald Tusk added.
Tusk said that Warsaw and Budapest will act in unity.
“Hungary and Poland will act as one fist, either in Brussels, or in geopolitical matters, or in promoting our various common interests, because we have almost exclusively common interests,” he added.
Donald Tusk offered to help Hungary reduce its energy dependence, saying Poland had quickly reduced its heavy dependence on Russian oil and gas.
“Energy security is the area where we can strengthen our cooperation, and of course we will gladly welcome the experience that Poland has to offer,” Magyar said.
