Slovakia Takes V4 Presidency, Fico Emphasizes International Law

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has outlined the priorities of Slovakia's upcoming presidency of the Visegrád Four (V4) group, placing emphasis on international law as a key focus area. The V4, also known as the Visegrád Group, is a regional alliance of four Central European nations — Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic — that coordinates on political, economic, and cultural matters within the European Union framework. Fico, who leads the social-democratic Smer-SD party and has positioned himself as a critic of mainstream EU foreign policy, indicated that respect for international law would be a guiding principle during Slovakia's term at the helm of the group. The presidency rotates among the four member states.