The document discusses the history and evolution of cooperation between Central European countries, including: 1) The original Visegrád summit in 1335 where leaders of Hungary, Bohemia, Poland, and other regions agreed to cooperate on trade and military matters. 2) The modern Visegrád Group formed in 1991 between Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia to promote democracy, economic development, and common foreign policies after the fall of communism. 3) Related organizations like the International Visegrád Fund and Central European Free Trade Association (CEFTA) that further economic and cultural integration among Visegrád and additional Central/Southeast European countries.

1. From the Visegrád summit to the V4 Pálmai Edina, Béres Renáta

2. The Visegrád summit It was held in 1335. Charles Robert ( Hungary ) invited John of Luxemburg ( Bohemia ) , Casimir III ( Poland ), Charles ( Moravian ), Heinrich Wittelsbach, ( Bavarian Prince), Rudolph ( Saxon Prince ) They agreed not using trade routes, which led through Vienna to avoid paying high c u st o ms duty. They agreed to cooperate closely in the field of politics and commerce, inspiring their late successors to launch a successful Central European initiative. Mutual military assistance.

3. The Visegrád group (from 1991) V4 – Hungary, the Czech Republic , Poland and Slovakia 1991 To abolish the remnants of totalitarian systems Protection of democracy Economic development 2004 Long-term cooperation in agriculture Common foreign- and safety-politics were worked out

4. The Visegrád Group Has no fixed centre The the wheel of the EU’s rotating presidency is turning to Hungary then to Poland in 2011. It also has a rotating presidency according to which in 2010–2011 Slovakia is going to take the lead.

5. International Visegrád Fund Centre: Pozsony Strengthens the cooperation in spheres of culture, science, reseach and eduction Visegrád Scholarship Programme

6. Central European Free Trade Association ( CEFTA) It is a trade agreement between non-EU countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe. Members: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo (UNMIK). Originally it was signed by Visegrád group countries: Poland, Hungary and C z ech and Slovak republics on 21 December 1992 in Krakow, Poland. It entered into force since July 1994.

7. CEFTA They hoped to mobilize efforts to integrate Western European institutions and through this, to join European political, economic, security and legal systems, thereby consolidating democracy and free-market economics. Slovenia joined CEFTA in 1996, Romania in 1997, Bulgaria in 1999, Croatia in 2003 and Macedonia in 2006.

8. CEFTA 2006 agreement All of the parties of the original agreement had now joined the EU and thus left CEFTA. On 6 April 2006, at the South East Europe Prime Ministers Summit in Bucharest, a joint declaration on expansion of CEFTA to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, United Nations Interim Administration Mission on behalf of Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro was adopted. The new enlarged agreement was signed on 19 December 2006 at the South East European Prime Ministers Summit in Bucharest. The agreement aims at establishing a free trade zone in the region by 31 December 2010.

9. The future of the V4 According to Marko Papic, there are three principal areas where cooperation between the V4 states could bear fruit: energy, defense and European policy. Lately declared to r educe dependence on Russian gas However is not composed of equals. Poland, with a population larger than the other three countries combined, inevitably dominates the alliance. It is important to harmonise their relationship with Germany and Russia. They should form a deeper cooperation within the EU.