BRATISLAVA, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Parliamentary leaders from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia on Thursday called for greater consideration of Central European interests in European Union policymaking, stressing the need for fair measures that would also strengthen the region's economic competitiveness.
According to the News Agency of the Slovak Republic (TASR), the call was made after parliamentary speakers from the four countries, or the Visegrad Four (V4) signed a joint declaration at Bratislava Castle during a meeting held under Slovakia's V4 presidency.
Slovak House Chair Richard Rasi said the declaration would be forwarded to senior EU officials. It calls for postponing the implementation of the EU's second emissions trading system (ETS2) until 2030, supporting nuclear energy and the automotive industry, ensuring fairer access to EU programs and funding, and backing further EU enlargement.
Czech Senate Speaker Milos Vystrcil said the declaration could have gone further by explicitly addressing Europe's security challenges. He stressed that the continent's competitiveness was closely linked to the security of Europe and the V4 region.
Polish parliamentary leaders also underscored the importance of European unity in addressing the conflict. Wlodzimierz Czarzasty, speaker of the Polish lower house, said a united and further-enlarged European Union would remain an important partner for the region.
Hungarian National Assembly Speaker Agnes Forsthoffer stressed the importance of ensuring affordable and reliable energy supplies for V4 citizens. She added that climate targets should be maintained but implemented in a way that would not undermine the economic potential of member states.
Rasi also stressed that security remained a shared priority among the participating countries while reiterating their support for achieving a lasting and just peace in Ukraine.
The meeting was held as part of the parliamentary dimension of Slovakia's V4 presidency, under the slogan "V4 for a Stronger Europe."
