The member states of the Visegrad Group also desire to cooperate with their closest neighbours, with the reforming countries in the broader region, and with other countries, regional formations or organizations which are interested and with which specific areas of cooperation are found in the common interest and in the spirit of all-European cooperation.
Visegrad cooperation is not institutionalized in any manner. It is based solely on the principle of periodical meetings of its representatives at various levels (from the high-level meetings of prime ministers and heads of states to expert consultations). Official summits of V4 prime ministers takes place on an annual basis. Between these summits, one of the V4 countries holds the presidency, part of which is the responsibility for drafting a one-year plan of action (see the presidency Programs).
The only organization within the V4 platform is the International Visegrad Fund.
The fund – established in 2000 with the aim of supporting the development of cooperation in culture, scientific exchange, research, education, exchange of students and development of cross-border cooperation and promotion of tourism – represents the civic dimension of V4 cooperation. In the majority of cases, the fund provides financing to activities of non-governmental organizations and individual citizens. Apart from grant programs, the fund awards individual scholarships and artist residencies which contribute to the exchange of views in the V4 region and the neighbouring countries.
The annual contributions to the fund by the governments of the Visegrad Group countries have had an increasing tendency. The 2004 Kroměříž Summit of Prime Ministers increased the funds to the amount of €3 million per year effective from 2005, €3.2 million as of 2006, €5 million per year effective from 2007, €6 million as of 2009, €7 million as of 2012, and €8 million as of 2014.
The Visegrad Group cooperates with other regional bodies, as well as with single countries in the region and beyond on an ad-hoc or regular basis. The Benelux countries, countries of the Nordic Council of Ministers, countries within the EU's Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans belong to the Group's priorities.
Three crucial areas of Visegrad defence cooperation were identified in the recently signed document Long-Term Vision of the Visegrad Countries on Deepening their Defence Cooperation:
- Capability development, procurement and defence industry;
- Establishment of multinational units and running cross-border activities;
- Education, training and exercises.
Acknowledging that the V4 Defence cooperation has moved on over the last year, the already mentioned areas were perceived as a base for the Action Plan of the Visegrad Group Defence Cooperation and hence worked out into following subareas:
- Joint V4 EU Battlegroup
- Defence Planning Cooperation
- Joint Training and Exercises
- Joint Procurement and Defence Industry
- Military Education
- Joint Airspace Protection
- Coordination of Positions
- Communication Strategy
The results of GDP dynamics in Ukraine before the EU integration process and after first major steps are shown in (figure 1). It is clearly seen that GDP was decreasing during 2014-2015. Official statistics state that GDP declining in 2014 in comparison to 2013 was about 7% in the decline was 9% in 2015 in comparison to 2014. The above-mentioned results are usually explained by the military confrontation at the East of Ukraine and the process of reorientation from the Russian market to EU market.
(2000-2017), bln euro (Source:Data from database: World Development Indicators)
On the other side, according to Ukrainian Statistics, the GDP of the second quarter of 2016 is about 18.9 billion euro, which is higher than in the second quarter of 2015 by 18.9%. If we analyze the dynamics of GDP in Visegrad group counties (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovak Republic) we can see that the GDP after EU integration (2004) has been increasing compared to 2000. The same results we can see in Moldova. That is why we may predict that GDP will increase in the medium or long run perspective.
Table 1 Comparison dynamic of GDP in Ukrainian, Moldova and Vysegrad Group (compare to 2000), %
|
Country |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Moldova |
6% |
14% |
22% |
31% |
41% |
48% |
52% |
64% |
54% |
65% |
76% |
74% |
91% |
100% |
99% |
111% |
106% |
|
Czech Republic |
3% |
5% |
9% |
14% |
21% |
30% |
37% |
40% |
34% |
37% |
39% |
38% |
37% |
40% |
46% |
40% |
39% |
|
Hungary |
4% |
9% |
13% |
18% |
23% |
28% |
29% |
30% |
21% |
22% |
24% |
22% |
24% |
29% |
33% |
30% |
134% |
|
Poland |
1% |
3% |
6% |
12% |
16% |
23% |
32% |
37% |
41% |
46% |
53% |
55% |
57% |
63% |
68% |
57% |
57% |
|
Slovak Republic |
3% |
8% |
14% |
20% |
27% |
38% |
53% |
62% |
53% |
61% |
65% |
68% |
70% |
75% |
81% |
77% |
78% |
|
Ukraine |
9% |
15% |
26% |
41% |
45% |
55% |
68% |
71% |
46% |
52% |
60% |
60% |
60% |
50% |
35% |
14% |
14 |
Source: Data from the database: World Development Indicators.
The Visegrad Group has become a well-established brand and a respected partner. It will remain open to cooperation based on common values with countries and other regional groupings through the V4+ format.
