The Visegrad states – Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic – have released a statement to the Bratislava Summit. They dwell on a few key pet points on free movement, migration and clipping the wings of Jean-Claude Juncker’s European Commission, but they’ve avoided anything like the full-blown row that some feared earlier in the week. The Commission softening its line on migration quotas and the impact of more integrated EU defence on the Nato relationship has done the trick.

Key messages:

Less Brussels, more power to national parliaments: It is necessary to strengthen the role of national parliaments underlining respect for the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. By means of this, the Union will be better equipped to deliver legislation and actions that have added value for the European citizens

Stop ignoring the little guys: It is necessary to work out a solution that will enable all countries to feel comfortable in the EU. For this reason, the Visegrad Countries insist that the European integration is a common project and all negotiations should therefore be inclusive and open to all Member States.

EU defence co-operation, if you must, but Nato first: We should strengthen practical cooperation in defense to give it more substance without duplicating NATO and implement without delay the Global Strategy with particular focus on making the key elements of Common Security and Defense Policy truly functional. The December European Council should decide on implementation plan in this respect.

Free movement is why we joined: Effective EU needs to improve the communication of the benefits of the single market and genuine potential of its four freedoms, including free movement of people. The single market is a project of integration, which benefits all EU countries…This is however taken today for granted…it is necessary to inform more effectively ‎the public opinion about the positive outcomes of the Internal Market meanwhile improving the enforcement of its rules to eradicate intra-EU protectionism.