Meeting of Czech and Slovak parliamentary assistants in Prague

A total of 19 Slovak parliamentary assistants from various opposition parties, including both newcomers and experienced assistants, had the opportunity to meet Czech parliamentary assistants at an introductory networking dinner. The professional programme continued on Monday with a visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a discussion with Jaroslav Kurfürst, Senior Director of the European Section. During his opening remarks, he discussed not only the common Czech-Slovak history, but also the Czech approach to the conflict in Ukraine and the possibilities for regional cooperation and enlargement of the European Union. This was followed by a visit to the Ministry of the Interior, or the Centre against Hybrid Threats, which presented its activities.

The last part of the programme included a visit to the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, where Slovak assistants again met with their Czech counterparts to exchange Czech and Slovak perspectives on common political topics. The exchange covered both the Czech and Slovak context of the current political situation, highlighting the importance and lessons learned from how different political parties work together, whether in coalition (Czech context) or in opposition (Slovak perspective). The aim of this cooperation is to preserve the rule of law and other democratic standards.