When pragmatism wins: Slovakia in the Visegrad Group
When pragmatism wins: Slovakia in the Visegrad Group

Author(s): Tomáš Strážay
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Research Center of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (RC SFPA)
Keywords: Slovakia; Visegrad Group; Hungarian and Slovak V4 presidencies;
Summary/Abstract: On July 1, 2019, Slovakia assumed its fifth presidency of the Visegrad Group. Independent observers might have noticed that Slovakia has chosen a different approach to the V4 from Hungary in its V4 presidency in 2017/2018. While the Hungarian presidency had an extraordinarily high number of activities and glamourous events – including fireworks in Budapest on the anniversary of the Visegrad Group – Slovakia’s take has been more modest. This is far from being the only difference in the approaches of the two countries towards Visegrad cooperation. This chapter therefore begins by pointing out the different views of Visegrad cooperation in the four V4 capitals. It then assesses the previous Hungarian and Slovak V4 presidencies from a comparative perspective, while pointing out the most important priorities of each. Subsequently, it summarizes the reasons why Visegrad cooperation remains important to Slovakia. Finally, in the concluding part it outlines some ideas on the future development of the V4.

• Details
• Contents