Visegrad Four Presidents Issue Joint Declaration in Trencin: Backing EU Enlargement, Continued Aid for Ukraine and Cheaper Energy
The presidents of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries gathered on November 5 at Trencin Castle in Slovakia for a summit in expanded format that included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini hosted Czech President Petr Pavel, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Hungarian President Andras Baka. In a joint declaration, the four presidents set out shared positions on EU enlargement, support for Ukraine and energy prices.
On enlargement, the presidents backed further expansion of the European Union, calling it a strategic investment in peace, security and Europe's standing in the world, while stressing that accession must remain merit-based, with candidates meeting all the required conditions. Pellegrini ruled out any fast-tracking in accession talks, saying there should be no shortcuts or preferential treatment for one country at the expense of another; he also welcomed the Commission's announcement that Montenegro could provisionally close all its remaining negotiating chapters by the end of the year. Pavel stressed that the EU itself must prepare for enlargement so that new members do not undermine its unity or stability.
On Ukraine, von der Leyen made clear that Europe stands firmly behind Ukraine. She described continued military support as essential, including Czechia's ammunition initiative, and said Ukraine must negotiate peace from a position of strength. In their declaration, the presidents reaffirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to defend itself against Russian aggression. They called for a just and lasting peace in line with international law and stressed the need for continued military, financial, humanitarian and economic assistance.
Pavel stressed that Europe must speak with a more united voice in any potential peace negotiations, warning that a lack of coordination undermines Europe's credibility in the eyes of Russia and other partners, and that Europe must play an active part in decisions that directly affect its security. He also reiterated his proposal for a major post-war reconstruction plan for Ukraine, comparing it to the Marshall Plan that helped rebuild the European economy after the Second World War, and argued that European states and other democratic partners could jointly finance it to help stabilise Ukraine, pave the way for its future EU membership and reduce the risk of further migration waves. Pellegrini, however, warned that the war is beginning to wear Europe down, both morally and economically, arguing that Europe cannot keep spending up to 100 billion euros a year on a war of attrition while doing nothing to bring about peace.
On energy, von der Leyen identified high energy prices as one of the Commission's main priorities. Her plan to bring them down rests on three pillars: accelerating the clean energy transition, diversifying supplies and pooling energy demand. In their joint declaration, the V4 presidents called for energy supplies that are affordable, secure and reliable, and underlined the importance of energy competitiveness for European industry.
Source: Visegrad Group Presidential Summit
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：斯洛伐克 Trenčín 城堡，峰会举行地。Peter Zeliznak 摄，Wikimedia Commons，公共领域。 / Photo: Trencin Castle in Slovakia, the summit venue. Photo by Peter Zeliznak, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
