Prime Minister Petr Fiala receives Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament

On Wednesday 14 February 2024, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, received the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, at the Straka Academy. The topics of the meeting included strategic priorities for the next five years, the future of the European Union, but also the current situation in the agricultural sector and the support of Czech citizens in the European institutions.

At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Petr Fiala appreciated the fact that the President of the European Parliament was visiting individual Member States: “The visit also has a special dimension. Not only are we on the eve of the elections to the European Parliament, but this year we are also celebrating the 20th anniversary of our accession to the European Union, and we are holding a series of debates and recapitulating the positive benefits of EU membership,” the Czech Prime Minister said.

“The President and I have discussed a number of topics concerning Europe and I am pleased to have had a very friendly and substantive debate. I think we want the same thing, for European policy to develop in a direction that is useful and helps EU countries. We must take steps that people understand and appreciate,” said Petr Fiala.

The current situation in the agricultural sector was also discussed. “We are aware that we need to cut the red tape that farmers face. We must set reasonable requirements in the area of the environment, and the Czech Republic is ready to participate in the search for a European solution,” said Petr Fiala, adding that this is a topic that will be addressed by European leaders at the upcoming European Council meeting in March.

Prime Minister Fiala also spoke with Roberta Metsola about the enlargement of the EU, which is a strategic priority for the Czech Republic. The Prime Minister also mentioned the support of Czechs in European institutions. “In recent months, Czechs have been successful in gaining high positions in European institutions. This is something that I have been advocating for a long time and it is one of my priorities. It is good that this is succeeding and that we have representatives in director positions in the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission,” he concluded.