Deepening bilateral relations, cooperation within the Visegrad Group (V4), strengthening joint activities in the field of infrastructure projects and the future of the European Union - these are some of the topics of Monday's meeting of the Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński with the head of the Czech Senate Milan Štěch. The Speaker of the Upper House of the Czech Parliament is currently on a two-day official visit to Poland.
The politicians discussed the prospects for the development of the very good Polish-Czech relations and the issues that could be addressed by the two countries within the framework of interparliamentary cooperation, such as the problem of air condition. The Speaker of the Sejm and the President of the Czech Senate also talked about strengthening the Visegrad cooperation, including the agenda of the Summit of the Heads of Parliaments of the V4 countries planned for 6-7 March in Warsaw. As Speaker Marek Kuchciński said, among the proposed topics of the upcoming discussion in the V4 format are, inter alia, joint undertakings in the field of culture promoting the several hundred years of Visegrad cooperation tradition.
The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the possibilities of expanding transport connections and cooperation between Poland and the Czech Republic in the field of infrastructure, including the construction of the Odra-Danaj Canal. The Speaker of the Sejm stressed the fundamental importance of joint activities for the strengthening of the corridor connecting the northern and southern parts of Europe. The head of the Czech Senate also expressed the opinion that it is necessary to connect North and South, East and West of the European continent by infrastructure.
They also referred to the ongoing discussion on the future shape of the EU after Brexit. Politicians agreed on the need to define the competencies of governments and national parliaments on the one hand, and the European Parliament or the European Commission on the other hand, so that EU decisions are understandable for citizens of member states. Speaker Marek Kuchciński pointed out the need to strengthen national parliaments in relation to EU institutions.
Photo: Rafał Zambrzycki, KS
