Prime Minister Andrej Babiš held talks in Hungary with the leaders of the revived V4 group
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš attended the summit of the heads of government of the Visegrád Group countries in Gödöllő, Hungary. During the summit, the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia discussed coordinating their approach ahead of the European Council meeting, the European Union’s future multiannual financial framework, migration, energy security, energy prices and the competitiveness of European industry.
Leaders from Hungary, Péter Magyar; Slovakia, Robert Fico; Poland, Donald Tusk; and the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš, met at a summit in Gödöllő, Hungary, taking place under the revived V4 format. The prime ministers discussed the main areas of cooperation in Central Europe.
“I would like to thank the Hungarian Prime Minister for initiating this meeting, for his hospitality, and for ensuring that the V4 is functioning once again.” I think we’ll work together brilliantly, just as we have in the past. We’ll achieve excellent results and do our very best to make that happen. Our main task is to address energy prices, review the emissions trading scheme and negotiate the multiannual financial framework. We are all part of the Friends of Cohesion and Friends of Competitiveness groups. “I am delighted with today’s meeting; I look forward to working together, and I am confident that the coordination we have always had ahead of European Council meetings will once again be successful. I would like to thank my colleagues very much for the fact that we are once again in the same boat and that we will fight for the interests of our countries and the entire region,” said Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.
A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to preparations for the European Union’s new multiannual financial framework post 2028; other key topics included the competitiveness of the European economy and energy prices. The leaders discussed the need to generate the conditions necessary to maintain the competitiveness of European industry, including energy-intensive sectors and the automotive sector. They also focused on energy security and the role of nuclear power in ensuring stable and affordable energy supplies. The Prime Ministers noted that the V4 countries, alongside other like-minded nations, have long been calling attention to the detrimental impact that high energy prices and the current framework of European climate policy have on industrial competitiveness. Therefore, they welcomed the European Commission's recent commitment to present a revision of the EU ETS system and to swiftly prepare an adjustment of the benchmarks for calculating the free allocation of emission allowances.
Another crucial topic of the summit was the discussion on migration. The V4 prime ministers emphasised the need for rigorous protection of the European Union's external borders, an effective return policy, and further tightening of measures against illegal migration.
The leaders also focused on the future enlargement of the European Union, particularly on supporting the Western Balkan countries on their path toward EU membership.
The summit also included a discussion on developing regional cooperation in the areas of transport, digitisation, defence, and security. The prime ministers also addressed the future operation of the International Visegrad Fund and options for further strengthening contacts between the citizens of the V4 countries.
At the same time, the Gödöllő summit symbolically concluded the one-year Hungarian presidency of the Visegrad Group. The Slovak Republic takes over the presidency on 1 July 2026.
