- Last week, the Visegrád Group premiers met in Prague. While V4 cooperation has had its ups and downs, it is one of the most active and influential within the EU, with a strong historical track record.
The Visegrad Cooperation was established in 1991, after the three countries—Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland—realized that by joining forces and cooperating they could deal with their problems more effectively and demonstrate to the Western integration systems (NATO, EU) that they could resolve their conflicts peacefully through good neighbourly relations and cooperate on important issues.
- With a combined population of 64 million, the V4 countries represent a powerful economic nexus positioned for significant further growth.
In terms of the economic strength of the cooperation, this is a dynamic region with a favorable investment climate. The overall population of the four countries is 64.3 million, their combined GDP would reach 36,000 euros per capita, with which the region could be one of the most developed regions of Europe with high living standards. Although there is still room for development, it has a strong physical infrastructure at the EU level and a highly skilled human resource base, which is familiar with each other’s languages and cultures because of many centuries of coexistence. Finally, it is a relatively stable region politically, without prolonged political crises or instability.
- The V4’s infrastructure is of crucial strategic significance for the broader region.
The region’s strategic location is also highly advantageous from both an economic and infrastructural point of view. The proximity of the Mediterranean and the Adriatic region allows the ports to be linked by rail and road to the markets of central and wider western Europe, which has become increasingly important since the Red Sea became a risky waterway. All V4 countries are interested in this, even Poland, which has a coastline, because of the often better accessibility of southern ports. The region is also an important transit point for eastern Europe and plays a key role in the North-South link, both economically and politically. This is why it is important to coordinate different policies and development plans at the V4 level, even if there is no full agreement on certain political issues.
- The best options for further V4 collaboration are on illegal migration, protection of agriculture, economic competitiveness, and energy security.
Stopping illegal migration. In the current period of security, economic, and social challenges, it is also in Hungary’s interest to find common denominators that can strengthen V4 cooperation in political terms. For Hungary, one such issue is the Brussels initiative on illegal immigration, which requires the distribution of illegal immigrants among the EU member states—if this were not done, the member state concerned would be obliged to pay a fine. This plan is not supported by the other three V4 countries (the Czech Republic abstained, while the other three countries did not support the EU’s pact on migration and asylum).
Protecting European agriculture. Similarly, joint coordination in agriculture is possible, with stronger concerted action on imports of agricultural products and cereals from third countries into the EU. It is in the interest of all V4 governments to protect farmers, to represent their interests properly, and to communicate them jointly in a way that can have a positive impact on EU decision-making.
Strengthening regional competitiveness. It is also in the common interest of the V4 countries to protect and strengthen the EU’s competitiveness. Joint action against the various tax harmonization efforts could also help to resolve this issue, with the four governments acting together to defend the interests of Central European entrepreneurs and farmers.
Pursuing energy transition. A gradual transition to green energy, including the prevention of the politicization of nuclear energy, could also be a common interest for all four states. Likewise, there is scope for closer cooperation on this issue, especially regarding innovation and the introduction of new technologies.
- Although V4 governments diverge on certain current issues, particularly the war, the fundamental connections of the region indicate the need for close continued cooperation.
Views among the V4 countries differ on support for Ukraine, but it is also very important to listen to each other’s views and concerns on this issue—especially because a military solution seems to be moving further and further away. Apart from Hungary, Slovakia seems to show a willingness to talk about this, while the other two states have committed themselves to further military support with uncertain outcomes. Europe must also prepare for a postwar Ukraine in the long term, and cooperation at the V4 level will be essential on this issue, too.
Written by Ágnes Vass