V4 cooperation can currently be described as the most clearly profiled initiative in Central Europe. The backbone of this cooperation consists of contacts at all levels from political summits at the highest level to expert and diplomatic meetings, the work of non-governmental associations in the region, think-tanks and research bodies, cultural institutions and numerous networks of individuals.
V4 HISTORY
The V4 was formed on 15 February 1991 at a meeting attended by the President of the former Czechoslovak Republic, the President of the Republic of Poland, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary. The central motive was the desire to intensify cooperation and friendship among the three Central European states. All of the V4 countries aspired to become members of the EU, perceiving their integration in the EU as another step forward in the process of overcoming artificial lines of division in Europe through mutual support. They achieved this aim on 1 May, 2004 when they all became EU members.
Official website:
http://www.visegradgroup.eu/
V4 PRESIDENCY
V4 operations are based solely on the principle of periodical meetings of the member states representatives at all levels (prime ministers, heads of states, ministers, experts, etc.). An official prime ministerial summit takes place on an annual basis. Between these official summits, which are usually held each June, one of the V4 countries holds presidency over the group. The Presidency of the V4 countries rotates each year.
Presidencies of the V4 for 2026 – 2029:
2026/2027 – Slovakia (July 2026 – June 2027)
2027/2028 – Czech Republic (July 2027 – June 2028)
2028/2029 – Poland (July 2028 – June 2029)
CURRENT V4 PRESIDENCY
2026/2027 – Slovak Presidency
Hungary takes over the one-year presidency of the Visegrad Group (V4) from Hungary.
During its presidency of the Visegrad Group (V4), the Slovak Republic wants to strengthen practical regional cooperation and contribute to a stronger, safer and more competitive Europe.
The ambition of the Slovak Republic is to build on the successful cooperation of the V4 countries in promoting common positions and to renew more intensive political dialogue before the meetings of the European Council and individual formats of the Council of the EU.
During its presidency, Slovakia wants to simultaneously strengthen the V4+ format and develop dialogue with strategic partners in the European Union and elsewhere.
“We also want to discuss current challenges with Germany, France, Great Britain, the United States, Japan, the Western Balkans and Türkiye. We will also strive to deepen relations even further with partners in dynamic regions, including India and South Korea”, said the head of the Slovak Foreign Ministry.
In his view, the Presidency Programme, which the Slovak government ratified today (details on the programme of the Slovak Presidency of the Visegrad Group), is built on four pillars – competitiveness, enlargement of the European Union, sectoral cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
The Slovak Presidency will be carried out under the motto “V4 for a stronger Europe”, which expresses the ambition of the Visegrad Group countries to jointly and constructively contribute to the unity, security and strengthening of Europe.
One of the top priorities of the Slovak Republic in the coming months will be strengthening the competitiveness of Europe. Minister Juraj Blanár in this context pointed out the need for closercoordination of the V4 countries in the areas of energy security, energy infrastructure development, nuclear energy, transformation of the automotive industry, the common agricultural policy and the Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union for 2028 – 2034.
During its presidency, the Slovak Republic will also focus on the enlargement of the European Union as a strategic investment in peace, stability and security in Europe.
The Slovak Republic plans to renew the V4 ministerial negotiations with the Western Balkans, but also to continue the dialogue with Ukraine and Moldova with the aim of sharing experiences from the accession process.
The programme of the V4 Presidency will also focus on further developing sectoral cooperation, especially in the areas of defence, external border protection, illegal migration, healthcare,digitalisation, civil protection and transport infrastructure development.
Minister Juraj Blanár also highlighted the importance of the International Visegrad Fund, which has been connecting civil society, academia and cultural institutions within the V4 and in partner regions for more than a quarter of a century. He also added that the goal of the Slovak Presidency is to further strengthen mutual contacts between citizens of the V4 countries and support projects contributing to the development of the Central European space.