Latest News
25. 1. 201822:00
Premier Babiš: The World Economic Forum in Davos is a great and efficiently spent time
On Thursday 25 January 2018, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš took part in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. During two panel discussions with premiers, presidents, politicians from all over the world, EU commissioners and representatives of international organisations, he was debating an efficient reform of the European Union and its further direction. He met most of the European premiers and had bilateral talks with premiers of Luxembourg, Portugal, Estonia, Israel and the Chairman of the UN General Assembly.
“I am very pleased at participating in the World Economic Forum. It is a unique event bringing together hundreds of important people, premiers and presidents from all over the world, EU commissioners, finance ministers, representatives of the International Monetary Fund, OECD as well as big companies. I regard it as a great and efficiently spent time. In a short time span you can meet many important partners with whom you can have a coffee and discuss what is needed and, therefore, I regard the whole event as positive as could be,” said Premier Andrej Babiš.
In Davos, Premier Andrej Babiš held talks with several foreign partners. He and Premier of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel discussed particularly European issues, Eurozone, Brexit, EU budget and cooperation in the field of defence. During their talks Premier Babiš invited his Luxembourg colleague to visit the Czech Republic. The Chairman of the UN General Assembly Miroslav Lajčák and our Premier discussed the Czech presidency in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), preparations of the Council meeting in New York in May and the Global Migration Compact being prepared. In March Miroslav Lajčák will come to Prague. Premier Babiš and his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa analysed mainly the migration issue and the upcoming Multi-Annual Financial Framework (i.e. the budget) of the EU for the period of time after 2020. The main topics of the meeting of Premier Babiš and Estonian Premier Jüri Ratas were digitisation and e-government which are among programmatic priorities of the Czech government. At the end of the today’s agenda in Davos, Premier Andrej Babiš met Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed particularly cooperation in science, innovation, cybernetic security and economy. They also talked about the better-than-average mutual relations and next inter-governmental consultations which will take place in Prague this year.