Session I - EU Approach to the European Neighbourhood and Challenges for the Slovak Presidency

(In partnership with GLOBSEC) In July 2016 Slovakia took over the half-year-long Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It is the historically first Slovak “EU Presidency”. In the same period Poland is taking over the Presidency of the Visegrad Group (V4). The Visegrad regional cooperation is also marking 25 years since its founding this year. Visegrad countries have been traditionally strong supporters of cooperation of the EU with partner countries to the East and strong promoters of the EU’s Policy of the Eastern Partnership (EaP). This support is based on their own experience with political transition from totalitarian regimes to democracy and from centrally planned economics to laissez faire. Together with the Baltic states, they are therefore historically, culturally, socially, economically as well as geographically the closest EU members to EaP countries. Moreover, all Visegrad countries have made the strategic decision to join European and Euro-Atlantic integration – just like Georgia and some other EaP countries. With all the experience and political will Visegrad countries can be helpful as providers of know-how, experience as well as the much needed political support for further EU enlargement. The goal of this panel will be to present the Slovak EU Presidency’s priorities in such areas as enlargement agenda, partnerships, EU neighbourhood and EaP on one hand, and on the other hand exploring possibilities of enhancing cooperation between V4 and the EaP countries in the context of current geopolitical challenges in the region.