Slovenian and Czech foreign ministers push for tighter Central European cooperation

In Ljubljana, foreign ministers Tone Kajzer of Slovenia and Petr Macinka of the Czech Republic called for stronger Central European ties, focusing on energy, defence and transport connectivity. Kajzer said Slovenia aims to play an active role in the expanded V4+ grouping and the Central 5 informal forum that brings together Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Both officials saw significant cooperation potential in nuclear power and defence initiatives, and Macinka outlined a Czech plan to build a major data centre that would act as an artificial-intelligence hub for Central and Eastern Europe, inviting Slovenian participation.

They also discussed securing supply chains, emphasizing the strategic importance of the Port of Koper for Czech export routes, and are working on establishing a direct flight between the two capitals. The ministers linked these efforts to broader EU competitiveness and the security situation stemming from the war in Ukraine, stressing the need for stable peace and a stronger European role in related negotiations.