At the Visegrad Four (V4) Presidential Summit held in Trenčín, Slovakia on November 5, 2026, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and other V4 leaders delivered a clear, protective message regarding national sovereignty, EU enlargement, and the economic burdens placed on European citizens.

 

Polish President & V4 Leaders Send Clear Message to Ursula von der Leyen at Visegrad Four Summit

At the Visegrad Four (V4) Presidential Summit held in Trenčín, Slovakia on November 5, 2026, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and other V4 leaders delivered a clear, protective message regarding national sovereignty, EU enlargement, and the economic burdens placed on European citizens.

Key Messages from the Summit

• Sovereignty & The Veto: President Nawrocki and the V4 leaders strongly opposed abolishing the veto power within the European Union, reinforcing that member states must retain their sovereign voice in central decision-making.
• Protecting Living Standards: Leaders emphasized that the EU should not impose sweeping policies—specifically pointing out aggressive climate policies—that increase the cost of living for Europeans and negatively affect critical sectors like agriculture.
• Enlargement and Security: While the leaders noted they do not always agree on every detail, they aligned on shared geopolitical goals. They discussed the necessity of EU expansion to countries like Moldova, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, alongside securing ongoing support for Ukraine.

The Press Conference Controversy

A major talking point of the summit was European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's decision to skip the joint post-summit press conference with the V4 presidents.

Media reports from Bloomberg indicated that her absence was a deliberate political gesture to support centrist Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk—Nawrocki's political rival—amid a domestic constitutional standoff regarding judicial appointments to Poland's Constitutional Tribunal. By refusing to stand alongside Nawrocki at the briefing, critics argued she was signaling EU opposition to his legal positioning.

However, official pushback followed:

• The European Commission's Stance: A spokesperson for the Commission stated that the scheduling conflict had been communicated well in advance and was not related to domestic Polish politics.
• Domestic Reactions: The move sparked heavy criticism from opposition lawmakers in Poland, such as former Prime Minister Beata Szydło, who labeled von der Leyen's absence a "scandal" that discredited the neutrality of the European Commission.