On 1 July, Slovakia officially assumed the Presidency of the Visegrad Group at Bratislava Castle. To mark the occasion, Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Richard Raši hosted a ceremonial concert. Addresses were delivered by President Peter Pellegrini, Richard Raši and Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Richard Raši emphasised: “The Visegrad Group is not merely a political format; it is also a community of people, cultures, traditions and stories. It is a reminder that our histories have always been interconnected and that our future will, to a large extent, depend on our ability to work together.” He also pointed out that the strength of the Visegrad Group does not lie in the V4 countries sharing the same views on every issue. On the contrary, it lies in their ability to engage in dialogue, build trust and cooperate wherever they share common interests. He also expressed his confidence that the V4 countries would continue to demonstrate that Central Europe is not merely a geographical area on the map, but a place defined by shared values, partnership and joint responsibility for our common future. “The Slovak Republic intends to build on everything positive that the Visegrad Group has achieved throughout its existence during our Presidency. We want to promote practical cooperation in areas that have a direct impact on the lives of our citizens – from culture and education to science, innovation and investment, competitiveness, as well as cross-border projects and the development of people-to-people relations,” he said. According to him, Slovakia also intends to place particular emphasis on young people and on strengthening cooperation between the parliaments of the V4 countries.
Illuminated Bratislava Castle.
The ceremonial concert took place at Bratislava Castle.
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