There is an initiative of the Polish-Slovak bilateral group for the parliamentarians to prepare the declaration on deepened cooperation between the Sejm and the National Council of Slovakia, which could open the way for the organization of the Year of Slovakia and Slovak culture in Poland in the near future - said Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchcinski during the conference summarizing the meeting of the Presidium of the Polish Sejm and the National Council of Slovakia.

The Marshal reminded us of important anniversaries for our nations, which could lay the foundations for the mentioned initiatives. - Next year Poland will celebrate the 100th anniversary of regaining independence and Slovakia the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Czechoslovak state. These are exceptional events of great historical significance, but they cannot overshadow another important anniversary - in 2018 it will be 50 years since the invasion of Czechoslovakia," Marek Kuchciński emphasised.

Among the most important tasks facing our parliaments, he included the development of bilateral cooperation between the parliaments of Poland and Slovakia, emphasizing the strong foundation of cooperation, which is our sympathy for the Slovaks and the Slovaks. Slovakia is also our important partner in the field of security. The Marshal pointed out that, given the fact that we are in Central Europe and form the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance and the Great Eastern Borderline of the European Union, we should increase our efforts to stabilize both the Union and its immediate eastern and southern environment. So act on both sides of Schengen.

The Speaker of the Sejm also emphasized the support of the Sejm for all the initiatives and projects that would signal the development of our cooperation in all the possible areas of our activity, especially the support of governments for the acceleration of infrastructure development, railroads, roads, aviation.

Speaker Kuchcinski, referring to the Brexit issue, said that defending the interests and rights currently enjoyed by Polish and Slovak citizens living in the UK could be more effective if the two parliaments engage "more strongly" in cooperation.

According to the Speaker, strengthening the Union and stabilizing its environment are achievable if four conditions are met:

A consistent policy of openness towards Eastern and Southern European countries either aspiring to join the community or interested in developing different ties.

Strengthening cooperation between sovereign nation-states that make up the Union, rather than dividing the community into "various-speed" groupings, e.g. by creating a eurozone.

Strengthening the role of national parliaments and democratizing the EU in this way, instead of presenting more plans for deepening cooperation in the form of "white papers".

A decisive halt to the regionalisation of Europe. That is, the renewal of the EU by cleaning up its internal workings, introducing transparency and sorting out its value system.

Both the Speaker of the Sejm and Chairman Danko stressed that only a Union of sovereign and solidary states representing European nations can guarantee the continued existence of the EU as an important global player that merges rather than disintegrates European states. The freedom experience of our nations deepens the aversion to EU federation.

The meeting of the Presidium of the Sejm and the National Council in Tatranska Lomnica was also attended by Vice-Marshals Ryszard Terlecki (PiS), Joachim Brudzinski (PiS), Malgorzata Kidawa-Błońska (PO) and Barbara Dolniak (Nowoczesna), as well as the Chairman of the Polish-Slovak Parliamentary Group Jerzy Polaczek (PiS).