AUSTRIA, July 12 - On 13 July 2022, during the informal “Central 5” (C5) coordination forum in Budapest, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg met with his Slovenian counterpart Tanja Fajon as well as his counterparts Ivan Korčok from Slovakia, Jan Lipavský from the Czech Republic, and Péter Szijjártó from Hungary. The central issues of the meeting were the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its worldwide effects, the sanctions against Russia, the priorities for the Czech EU Council Presidency, and the need for credible EU prospects for the Western Balkan states.

The Central 5 initiative was created to coordinate the handling of the pandemic jointly with neighbouring states. The range of topics addressed in this neighbourly format now includes much more than just COVID-19.

The C5 format was born during the pandemic. The situation at that time made the importance of our neighbours very clear. Only by working together could we find our way back to a kind of normalcy for cross-border economic activity and travel. And now, in light of the Russian war of aggression in our immediate vicinity, this collaboration is essential,

said Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, pointing out the strong solidarity of the C5 states with Ukraine when it comes to providing neighbourly aid.

However, the war’s shock waves can be felt far beyond the borders of Ukraine and Europe. The foreign ministers of the five Central European countries came together to discuss migration issues, food security, energy supply, and humanitarian aid, and considered how they could further strengthen their collaboration in these areas. The sanctions against Russia can only be effective, while causing as little damage as possible to the European economy, if there is a neighbourly exchange.

Further, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský introduced the priorities for his country’s EU Council Presidency. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg promised his counterpart Austria’s full support, and particularly welcomed the Czech focus on the Western Balkans. Now that the EU has sent a clear signal by granting candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, it is important to credibly affirm the Western Balkan states’ prospects for joining the EU, and to finally fulfil the EU’s promises. In this context, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg expressed his gratitude for the Slovenian initiative for a joint C5 venture regarding the EU accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with his hope that further significant progress would be made under the Czech Council Presidency.

We have a geopolitical responsibility not only towards Ukraine, but equally towards the Western Balkan states. I therefore find it encouraging that, during such an important phase, the EU Council Presidency is held not just by a neighbour and a member of the C5, but also by a member state that has the right priorities for the region,

emphasised Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg during the press conference.

Because the meeting was held at Puskás Arena, Hungary’s national football stadium, the foreign ministers exchanged football jerseys for the group photo. Ever since the Central 5 format’s creation in Vienna in June 2020, the foreign ministers from Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria have met regularly on an informal basis, alternating between one of the five countries.