The Central European approach to Brexit

The decision by the British citizens to withdraw the UK from membership of the EU in a referendum held on 23 June has opened up a debate in the countries of Central Europe on the directions of possible reforms within the EU and the future relations between the EU and the UK. These topics were discussed during a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries with their counterparts from Germany and France in Prague on 27 June.

On the same day in Warsaw the consequences of Brexit were discussed by representatives of 10 states, including the ministers and deputy ministers of foreign affairs of Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. Before the meeting of the European Council on 28 June, the Prime Ministers of V4 countries held their usual meeting and issued a joint statement entitled ‘Towards Union of trust and action’. According to the V4 states, a discussion at the EU27 level on how to change the functioning of the EU is essential. Slovakia, which on 1 July will take over the Presidency of the EU Council, has expressed willingness to moderate such a discussion. A meeting of the Prime Ministers of the 27 member states on the future of the Union will be held In Bratislava on 16 September.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Central Europe could be the region most damaged by Brexit http://www.europeansources.info/record/central-europe-could-be-the-region-most-damaged-by-brexit/

ESO: Background information: Visegrad Group call for chance of EU-27 in the aftermath of UK referendum on EU membership http://www.europeansources.info/record/joint-statement-of-the-heads-of-governments-of-the-visegrad-group-countries-towards-union-of-trust-and-action/

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