Yes to Visegrad

Article abstract:

Despite the fact that collaboration between Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary within the Visegrad Group has not been highly institutionalised, the level of awareness of the Group's existence and knowledge of its nature is growing in all four countries. There is also popular support, particularly in Poland and Slovakia, for the idea of continued Visegrad collaboration after the four countries join the European Union. A significant part of the Visegrad Group societies consider that their governments should not limit themselves to defending their national interest within the EU, but should also take into account the interests of other Visegrad Group members. Politicians should take advantage of this popular interest in regional co-operation in central Europe, and try to redefine the areas and ways of joint action. A joint policy with respect to their eastern neighbours, in particular Ukraine, should be one of such areas. This paper proposes to move the centre of gravity of Visegrad collaboration even further in the direction of social, cultural and scientific projects. To this end, it would be worthwhile to strengthen the Visegrad Group and increase its budget for grants and scholarships.