The Meeting of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Visegrád countries took place on 26 February 2026 in Budapest in the frame of the Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrád Group (V4), organized by the Hungarian National Assembly. The event was hosted by László Kövér, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly. At the meeting the Slovak National Council was represented by Speaker Richard Raši, the Czech Chamber of Deputies by Speaker Tomio Okamura, the Czech Senate by President Miloš Vystrčil, and the Polish Parliament by Vice Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia and Deputy Marshal of the Senate, Maciej Żywno.

The participants discussed two agenda items during the meeting. First, they exchanged views on the contribution of the Visegrád countries to the competitiveness of the European Union, followed by a discussion on the demographic challenges facing the Visegrád countries. In his welcoming speech, László Kövér recalled the birth of the Visegrád cooperation 35 years ago, in February 1991, and stressed the importance of maintaining the cooperation of the V4 countries in the current dynamically changing international environment, despite their differing perceptions on certain issues. Under the first agenda item, in his introductory presentation János Bóka, Minister for European Union Affairs, spoke about the state of competitiveness of both the EU and the V4 countries, as well as about the decline in Europe's competitiveness. He pointed out that the EU can only be competitive if its member states are also competitive, and they "can become competitive in accordance with their specific characteristics." 

The heads of the V4 delegations agreed, among other things, on the problems posed by high energy prices, on the EU's inability to respond to competitiveness challenges, on the urgent need for change, as well as on the steps and economic solutions required to achieve this change. With regard to demographic challenges, they emphasized that no common solution can be found to these problems and that the EU does not have the power to solve the demographic challenges affecting the entire continent. The heads of delegation welcomed the sharing of experiences on the topic and the opportunity to learn about the different practices of the V4 countries. They agreed that it is the responsibility of individual governments to find financial and economic funding options, and to ensure the appropriate institutional and intellectual environment for solving demographic problems. 

The following day, on 27 February 2026, the participants attended the 12th Conference of Speakers of the Parliaments of the Countries of South-Eastern Europe organized by the Hungarian National Assembly in the Parliament Building, during which the heads of delegations adopted a statement on the European integration of South-East Europe.

+ Statement
+ Photos (Office of the Hungarian National Assembly)