Slovakia Takes Over Visegrad Group Presidency, Aims to Boost EU Competitiveness

Slovakia has assumed the rotating presidency of the Visegrad Four (V4), a regional alliance comprising Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland that coordinates on EU policy and regional issues. Prime Minister Robert Fico has outlined plans to use the presidency to push for lower electricity prices at the European Union level, framing the initiative as part of a broader effort to strengthen the competitiveness of the EU economy. The V4 presidency rotates among its four member states and gives the presiding country an opportunity to set the group's agenda and amplify its priorities within wider European discussions. For Slovakia, which has faced energy cost pressures in recent years, reducing electricity prices represents both an economic priority and a political message ahead of ongoing debates about EU energy and industrial policy.