Bratislava:President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou is set to travel to Bratislava on Wednesday afternoon to participate in a meeting of parliamentary speakers from the Visegrad Group (V4) and "Friends of Cohesion" countries. This meeting will focus on discussions concerning the European Union's upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the meeting is being organized by Slovakia's National Council on November 12 and 13, under the parliamentary dimension of Slovakia's V4 Presidency. The event is being held at the invitation of National Council President Richard Rasi.

The primary sessions are scheduled for Friday, November 13, at Bratislava Castle. Participants will aim to form a unified stance in support of a robust and adequately funded EU Cohesion Policy and Common Agricultural Policy. These policies are significant components of the EU's long-term budget, crucial for enhancing economic, social, and territorial cohesion, as well as the sustainability of the primary sector. The meeting is anticipated to conclude with a joint declaration.

The gathering will include parliamentary speakers from Slovakia, Hungary, and both chambers of Poland and the Czech Republic, which constitute the Visegrad Group. Other countries under the "Friends of Cohesion" banner will be represented by parliamentary speakers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, and Slovenia, along with deputy speakers from Portugal and Romania, and a deputy speaker from the Spanish Senate.

During the meeting, Demetriou is expected to engage in bilateral discussions with Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic, Maltese House of Representatives Speaker Carmelo Abela, and Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas. The House President is scheduled to return to Cyprus on Saturday, November 14.