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Leaders of four Central European countries meet in Hungary to reboot regional group

On Tuesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar hosted Czech Premier Andrej Babis, Polish Premier Donald Tusk, and Slovakian Premier Robert Fico at Grassalkovich Castle in Gödöllő, marking the Visegrad Group's first summit in over two years.
The alliance previously fractured over former Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán's pro-Russian stance regarding the war in Ukraine; since succeeding Orbán in May, Magyar has shifted Hungary's policy, including lifting the veto on Ukraine's European Union membership process.
Magyar proposed developing a high-speed rail line linking the four capitals while counterparts discussed common ground on energy security, agricultural policy, and immigration; Babis declared the group is 'once again fully operational,' adding, 'These four countries are the future of Europe.'
Tusk urged leaders to coordinate before European Council meetings to present common positions, suggesting the group can act as a 'beacon of hope' to help dictate policies at the European Union level.
Hungary currently holds the rotating presidency but will hand the role to Slovakia at the end of the month, as the bloc attempts to finalize common ground on initiatives to seek a stronger voice in European decision-making.

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