GÖDÖLLŐ, Hungary — The heads of government of four Central European nations came together Tuesday in Hungary, signaling a fresh start for their regional alliance after years of tension stemming from the pro-Russian stance of Hungary’s former prime minister.
The leaders of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia convened for the first Visegrád Four — or V4 — summit in more than two years. The informal regional bloc had been strained by Hungary’s previous leadership and its approach to the war in Ukraine, which put it at odds with the group’s other members, especially Poland.
The gathering took place at Grassalkovich Castle in Gödöllő, a suburb of Budapest. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar served as host. Since taking over from his predecessor in May, Magyar has repeatedly stressed the need to reinvigorate the alliance.
Speaking to reporters after a one-hour meeting with his fellow prime ministers, Magyar said he put forward a proposal to develop a high-speed rail corridor connecting the four countries’ capital cities. The leaders also discussed shared priorities including energy security, agricultural policy, and illegal immigration.
