About: Visegrad Four
Czech, Slovak premiers bristle at beefing up of Frontex
The European Union should steer funds to individual member countries to help them guard their own borders against illegal migration, rather than emphasise funding for Frontex, the common EU border force, the Czech and Slovak premiers said on Monday (17 September).
Czech MEPs downplay V4 role in EU’s migration policy change
The EU is finally heading the way we are proposing in terms of migration policy, the Visegrád Group countries say. But two Czech MEPs point out that the V4’s contribution to the change may be limited and other factors should be considered as well.
Salvini and Orbán launch anti-immigration manifesto ahead of EU elections
Hungary’s illiberal Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Italy's hardline Interior Minister Matteo Salvini launched Tuesday (28 August) an anti-migration manifesto aiming at next year's European parliament elections, targeting a common enemy.
Political scientist: Germans are used to V4’s strong “No” from time to time
The EU's stand on migration policy is moving towards the demands of the Visegrad group, one of the best functioning groups in the bloc, says Dr Kai-Olaf Lang, adding that in many respects, Germany and V4 are much closer to each other today than Germany and France.
Italy’s Conte calls for EU body to coordinate migrant arrivals
Italy has asked the European Commission to set up an agency to oversee the distribution of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, Prime Minister Giovanni Conte said yesterday (19 July).
EU summit approves tortured conclusions on migration after sleepless night
EU leaders reached a much-needed deal on steps to tackle migration after resolving a bitter row with Italy's inexperienced prime minister. Extended talks lasted through the night and only wrapped up on Friday morning (29 June).
EU summit to focus on lowering Mediterranean immigration
European Union leaders meeting over migration later this week will agree to further tighten their external borders, give more support to Libya and look at creating "disembarkation" centres outside of their territory for people who arrive by sea.
Tensions build ahead of hastily prepared migration meeting
Jean-Claude Juncker's invitation to a handful of EU leaders for an informal mini-summit on Sunday (27 June) to discuss migration and asylum appears to have raised more issues than the meeting can solve.
Czech PM flatly rejects EU post-Brexit budget proposal
Czech billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babiš yesterday (18 June) rejected the European Commission's multi-year draft budget as "completely unacceptable", lashing out at spending priorities imposed by Brussels.
EU ministers to debate compromise plan to break asylum impasse
EU interior ministers meet today (5 June) to try to break a two-year deadlock over reforming asylum rules with a deadline looming and pressure from Italy’s new populist leaders. The ministers will hear Bulgaria’s new compromise proposals on how to...
Commission proposes more spending on Italy and south, less on Visegrad Four
The European Union's executive proposed on Tuesday (29 May) to spend more of the bloc's money on Italy and other southern states hit by the economic and migration crises, while giving less to the Visegrad Four countries refusing to accept refugees.
Juncker upbeat on Slovak presidency of Visegrad
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who received yesterday (12 April) the new Slovak PM Peter Pellegrini, made optimistic remarks on the upcoming Slovak presidency of the Visegrad countries, in the perspective of a deal to reform the Dublin asylum system.
The Belt and Road Initiative: Visegrad Four’s Chinese dilemma
China has used the international economic crisis to elbow its way towards a dominant position on the global market. Its New Silk Road is seen as an attempt to create a massive, multi-national zone of economic and political influence, including in Central Europe. EURACTIV Poland/Czech Republic/Slovakia and Political Capital report.
Austria plans to put immigration and borders at heart of EU presidency
Austria plans to use its upcoming presidency of the European Union this year to shift the bloc's focus from resettling refugees within the EU towards keeping further waves of migrants outside the bloc's external borders, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Friday (9 March).
Jo Leinen – Visegrad Four ‘attack European democracy’
The recent statement by the Visegrad Four on the future of Europe is “an attack on European democracy”, Jo Leinen, a respected federalist MEP (S&D, Germany), said in a strongly-worded statement on Tuesday (30 January), ahead of a key summit in February focusing on the 2019 European elections.
EU struggles to settle refugee quotas row by June
EU ministers yesterday (25 January) started their countdown toward overhauling their asylum rules by a June deadline but struggled to settle a row over refugee quotas that has dogged them since the migration crisis erupted in 2015.
Dzurinda: EU must seek solution for migration outside its borders
The solution to the migration crisis is beyond the European Union borders and the EU must be prepared to talk to all relevant players in troubled countries and provide financial and logistical help, the former prime minister of Slovakia told EURACTIV.
Slovakia a pro-European island in its region, Fico says
Slovakia's prime minister, president and parliament speaker pledged yesterday (23 October) to keep to a pro-European path, a day after its Czech neighbours became the latest central European ex-Communists to elect a populist taking a hard line on the EU.
EU steps up action against Hungary over ‘anti-Soros’ NGO law
The EU yesterday (4 October) intensified its legal action against Hungary over a crackdown on education and foreign-backed civil society groups that critics say targets US billionaire George Soros.
Study: Cautious Slovaks take EU approach to refugees
Central European member states are reluctant to accept refugees. The Slovak government filed a lawsuit against the relocation scheme, followed by Hungary. The European Court of Justice ruled against Poland and the Czech Republic. EURACTIV Slovakia reports.
Poland warns multi-speed Europe could spawn ‘more Brexits’
Polish President Andrzej Duda warned on Tuesday (5 September) that a multi-speed Europe could spawn "more Brexits" and the breakdown of the EU, after powerful eurozone members like France and Germany backed the model.
Macron courts EU’s eastern leaders over posted workers, antagonises Poland
Snubbing Poland, French President Emmanuel Macron is touring eastern EU countries to gather support for tightening EU rules over the employment of cheap labour in other member states. But Warsaw said it would oppose this reform “to the very end”.
Czechs may seek observer seat at beefed-up Eurogroup
The Czech Republic may try to get an observer seat at the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers if its decision-making powers are boosted under plans to reshape the European Union, the foreign minister said on Monday (21 August).