The Visegrád Group after 35 years: the story of a region that changed faster than its own project

A project to bring Central Europe back to the West

When Václav Havel, Lech Wałęsa, and József Antall met in Visegrád in February 1991, their aim was to demonstrate that Central Europe was ready to overcome the legacy of the Soviet era. At the time, the region was undergoing rapid transformation, yet it also needed international trust and coordinated reforms.

Visegrád was meant to symbolize a return to European values. Václav Havel famously remarked that “Europe is not only a geographical concept, it is above all a space of shared values.”

That vision was fulfilled: all four V4 countries joined the European Union in 2004, and within a single generation their economies significantly converged toward Western standards.

After EU accession: fewer shared goals, more differences

Once the main objective had been achieved, the role of the V4 changed. What began as an economic integration project evolved into a political platform intended to coordinate positions within the European Union. At times this worked well, for example during debates on migration.

Gradually, however, it became evident that the member states were heading in different directions. While Poland and Czechia strengthened their orientation toward Western security structures, Hungary—and later Slovakia—began promoting a different approach to Russia and to European politics more broadly.

The war in Ukraine as a turning point

Russia’s invasion in 2022 deepened these divisions. Poland views Russia as the primary security threat, and its representatives make this clear during V4 meetings. Hungary, by contrast, maintains close ties with Moscow, leading to tensions within the group and within the EU.

The Czech Republic has focused on energy and military security, while Slovakia, following changes in government, has moved closer to Hungary’s position. As a result, a common V4 foreign policy effectively no longer exists.

Energy policy as an example of diverging strategies

Energy security, once one of the V4’s key themes, now reveals profound differences. Poland and the Czech Republic have reduced their dependence on Russian resources, while Hungary and Slovakia continue to base their energy policies on them.

This complicates both regional cooperation and the ability to present a united front at the European level.

Visegrád today: tradition remains, a common path does not

The Visegrád Group still exists; presidents continue to meet, and cooperation continues in areas where interests overlap—such as infrastructure or industry. Political topics, however, are often set aside, as they would only highlight the differences among the member states.

It is clear that the original idea of a shared return to Europe was accomplished long ago. Today’s differences show that Visegrád is no longer a cohesive bloc, but rather a loose grouping of countries that cooperate where it makes sense—and go their own way where their priorities diverge.