In brief
On 4 November, the V4 presidential summit began in Trencin, Slovakia, hosting presidents from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. For the first time, the EU commissioner attended a V4 summit, which aimed to strengthen the country's collective voice within the European Union. The meeting’s venue, Trencin, a 2026 European Capital of Culture, carries historical significance, recalling the 1335 Treaty of Trencin that inspired V4’s founding.
The V4 presidential summit opened on Wednesday, 4 November, in Trencin, western Slovakia, drawing the heads of state from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland, and for the first time, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.
Hosted by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, the meeting gathered Czech President Petr Pavel, Polish President Karol Nawrocki, and Hungarian President Andras Baka with von der Leyen in attendance, according to the Slovak President's Office.
Officials say the summit’s agenda focuses on deepening regional cooperation and enhancing the V4’s influence within the European Union by leveraging closer collaboration among the four nations.
Von der Leyen’s participation represents the first time the Commission’s head has joined a V4 presidential gathering, signalling a stronger partnership between the group and EU institutions.
Trencin, which has been named the 2026 European Capital of Culture, was selected as a symbolic venue. The city played a role in early Visegrad history, being the site of the 1335 Treaty of Trencin, a meeting of monarchs that inspired the modern V4’s formation.
