Today 3 June, a video meeting was held between the foreign ministers of the Nordic-Baltic cooperation format (Nordic-Baltic 8, NB8) and the Visegrád group (Visegrád 4, V4). It is an annual and eighth NB8+V4 meeting, organised jointly by the Czech Republic, the current President of the V4, and Estonia, the coordinator of the NB8 this year.
The ministers talked about the COVID-19 crisis and its geopolitical impact, as well as current issues in the European Union and international cooperation. They agreed that the crisis has once again demonstrated the importance of cooperation and information exchange, particularly when planning exit strategies. On European Union issues, they underlined the need to conclude negotiations on the multi-annual financial framework, including the recovery instrument, while taking the objective of climate neutrality into account. Minister Reinsalu highlighted infrastructure projects that are important for Estonia, such as Rail Baltic, and synchronisation, and the importance of the cohesion policy, common agricultural policy and digital agenda of the European Union.
In his statement, minister Reinsalu emphasised that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Eastern Partnership countries needed the support of the European Union. “In the current situation, it is even more important to focus on boosting the resilience and strategic communication capabilities of our partner countries,” Reinsalu said. “By supporting the Eastern Partnership countries in overcoming the coronavirus crisis, we should focus more on using digital solutions and coordinated activities to achieve the best results.”
“Lasting international security, stability and peace requires genuine and continuous adherence to international law and norms, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states,” Reinsalu emphasised. “At the meeting, we reaffirmed our support for the Eastern Partnership countries, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and Ukraine. We must implement substantial reforms to increase the stability and resilience of Eastern Partnership countries.”
The foreign ministers discussed organising a high-level summit this June. “Regular high-level dialogue is important to keep the Eastern Partnership countries up to date with the reforms of the European Union,” Reinsalu said.
“However, if the Eastern Partnership summit cannot be held physically this year, it should take place in early 2021.”
At the meeting, as the respective coordinators of the NB8 and V4 cooperation formats, Estonia and the Czech Republic adopted a joint statement: https://vm.ee/et/uudised/joint-statement-foreign-ministers-visegrad-group-and-nordic-baltic-eight
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmNBgAzK
NB8 or the Nordic-Baltic cooperation is a regional cooperation format founded in 1992 to bring together five Nordic countries and three Baltic States (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) in an informal setting to discuss important regional and international issues. Estonia is the NB8 coordinator in 2020.
The Visegrád Group or the V4 comprises Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic holds the rotating presidency of the V4 until 30 June and will then pass the baton to Poland for one year.
Additional information:
Pia Kuusik
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Media Adviser
Communication Department
+372 637 7628; +372 5635 7866
www.vm.ee
