Based on semi-structured interviews with regionally-assigned foreign diplomats, this study evaluates external perceptions of the strengths, weaknesses
Based on semi-structured interviews with regionally-assigned foreign diplomats, this study evaluates external perceptions of the strengths, weaknesses

Summary/Abstract: This article analyzes V4 cooperation during the first ten years of EU membership of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The external dimension differs from the internal one. V4 was successful in external affairs like EU enlargement and EU neighborhood policies. In EU budget affairs, V4 was able to secure continued EU funding for the region’s cohesion efforts and agricultural and rural development for the period 2014–2020. However, the picture is more varied regarding the internal dimension, especially the Europeanization of sector policies and closer coordination between V4 partners in single policy areas. V4 has had some success in technical, not overly politicized, policy areas, e.g. transportation and energy security. It is recommended that cooperation in the V4 format should go much further, in particular in monetary affairs and economic policies because of the similar economic profiles of the four members. The author concludes that V4 is too reluctant to construct a common Central European identity. This is why highly politicized issues are profoundly circumvented and cooperation has remained a formality.

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