Ministerstvo pro místní rozvoj ČR - Cooperation within the group of V4 countries

Cooperation within the group of V4 countries

The Visegrad Group (V4) reflects the efforts of the Central European region countries to work together in fields of common interest within pan-European integration. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have always been part of a single civilisation sharing cultural and intellectual values and common roots in diverse religious traditions, which they wish to preserve and further strengthen.

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 2025 – 2028:

2025/2026 – Hungary (July 2025 – June 2026)
2026/2027 – Slovakia (July 2026 – June 2027)
2027/2028 – Czech Republic (July 2027 – June 2028)

CURRENT V4 PRESIDENCY

2024/2025 – Polish Presidency

Poland takes over the one-year presidency of the Visegrad Group (V4) from the Czechia. The priorities on the agenda of the Polish leadership are the security of the population, strengthening the interconnection of energy, road and digital infrastructure in the region, and cooperation between the countries in the academic, cultural and tourist fields.