On 4 August 2026 representatives of the non-governmental organisation Mayors of Slovakia met František Lukl, chairman of the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic (SMO ČR). The working talks were devoted to the possibilities for systematic cooperation in which contacts between the organisations would gradually translate into joint expert and project activities.
Slovak and Czech municipalities have similar experience of providing public services, regional development and financing local investment. A mutual exchange of good practice can therefore yield concrete insights for use in modernising municipal offices, in digitalisation and in raising the quality of services for residents.
A separate topic was the possibility of drawing on Czech–Slovak experience when establishing partnerships with Ukrainian towns and municipalities. Promising areas include education, mobility, transport infrastructure, energy and the resilience of local communities. Earlier communication had also raised the need for clear contact points and for coordinating the preparation of joint projects.
The meeting did not create an automatic commitment to carry out a specific project. It did, however, help to clarify the range of shared topics and possible further working steps. What will be decisive for a long-term partnership is that each side has specific partners, people in charge and a clearly identified benefit for municipalities.