Prime Minister Fiala Signs Security Agreement with President Zelensky at Summit in the United Kingdom

At the Summit's outset, the discussion centred on the new relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU. In his opening speech, the new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, highlighted threats from Russia affecting the entire European continent and the issue of illegal migration. He emphasised that Britain would not withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, a notion previously considered by Conservative governments.

"Czechia has excellent relations with Britain. I took the opportunity to speak for the first time with the new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. We affirmed our mutual interest in developing Czech-British relations. I extended an invitation for him to visit Prague. I also had the chance to speak with King Charles III. Both Prime Minister Starmer and King Charles are very keen on advancing our mutual relations," said Fiala after the Summit.

During the Summit, Prime Minister Fiala also held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which they signed a security agreement. Czechia thus joined the ranks of other European countries that have similar agreements with Ukraine, such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, as well as Japan and the USA. The agreement is not a legally binding international treaty. According to Prime Minister Fiala, it is a symbolic gesture and evidence of further support in areas such as military or economic cooperation, humanitarian aid, and post-war reconstruction assistance for Ukraine.

"This is another step in strengthening cooperation between Czechia and Ukraine. Much of the intergovernmental consultations this week in Prague were focused not only on aid to Ukraine but also on economic cooperation, which is beneficial for our companies. With our experience in accession negotiations, we can help Ukrainians in their EU accession process, which is a crucial issue for them," explained the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Fiala also participated in a roundtable discussion on the defence and protection of democracy in Europe. According to the Prime Minister, disinformation and foreign interference are among the most serious threats facing Europe today. Throughout the day, Fiala also met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović. At the end of the Summit, he also held talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The informal platform of the European Political Community aims to support political dialogue in Europe and contribute to its stability, security, and prosperity. The first meeting took place in autumn 2022 in Prague, followed by the second iteration in June 2023 in Chisinau, Moldova, and the most recent Summit in Granada last October.