Minister Lipavský Received the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Czernin Palace

Minister Lipavský and Minister Bruins Slot discussed the current state of bilateral relations and the possibilities for their further deepening. "We have been close allies within NATO for a quarter of a century. We share Euro-Atlantic values, we believe in a world governed by the norms and the UN Charter and not by the right of the stronger. That is why we support Ukraine together and unwaveringly," said Jan Lipavský.

Minister Bruins Slot welcomed the Czech munitions initiative, which the Netherlands was the first to join and to which the Dutch contributed 250 million euros. She highlighted the strong Czech support for the embattled Ukraine and Czechia's ability to move away from dependence on energy supplies from Russia.

Also on the agenda were preparations for the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague in May, the Czech munitions initiative, the Czech proposal to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats through Schengen, the situation ahead of the European Parliament vote and the US presidential election, and developments in the Middle East.

The Czech Minister and the Dutch Minister highlighted the strategic nature of mutual economic relations. "The Netherlands is first in Czechia in terms of foreign direct investment. You are our ninth largest trading partner. Our economic cooperation is intensifying year by year - the turnover of mutual trade in 2023 exceeded 330 billion crowns," said Jan Lipavský, who also recalled that natural gas from the LNG terminal in the Dutch town of Eemshaven covers more than a third of the Czech annual consumption for the second year already.

Minister Bruins Slot visited Prague for the first time since her appointment in September last year.