2019-02-07 20:19 update: 2019-02-12, 19:31
Photo PAP/Jakub Kamiński
The trans-Atlantic family may have its differences, but the EU and the US are pillars of peace and democracy, PM Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday after a Visegrad Group (V4: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland) summit in Bratislava.
Also in attendance at the summit was German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In his comments on relations between the EU and the US, Morawiecki observed that both needed to cooperate closely instead of "reinforcing commercial protectionism mechanisms."
"We agreed that we can have our differences within the scope of our trans-Atlantic family, but the EU and the United States are pillars of peace, pillars of democracy, and we want to cooperate as closely as we can and eliminate, rather than reinforce, commercial protectionism mechanisms, because we are developing quite well with the free market," Morawiecki said.
Referring to Brexit, Morawiecki said the V4 states hold that Britain's departure from the EU is harmful to the community, but they respect Britain's decision. He stressed that the Visegrad countries are now awaiting for "creativity" in the matter from British PM Theresa May.
"We emphasise that we all now need creative solutions, flexible solutions. We're waiting for proposals on the part of Prime Minister May, and creativity is really very important," Morawiecki said, adding that he "wishes" that Great Britain remains in the EU. "Of course, the final decision rests on the part of Great Britain," he concluded.
The summit also discussed the eastern EU flank and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (PAP)
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