Evolution of Sub-Regional Associations within the EU (the Visegrad Group)

The article analyzes the Visegrad group (V-4) activities, identifies its main directions, compares the approaches of the V-4 to the reform of the EU, to the issues of common defense and security, to the migration crisis, Brexit, relations with Russia, Eastern partnership with the EU policy in these areas. The main scenarios of development of the Visegrad group are considered, expert opinions on this issue are analyzed. Although V-4 was created under the auspices of the EU for the European integration of its member States, after joining the Union, the V-4 not only did not stop its cooperation, but, on the contrary, intensified it, seeking to establish a new status and strengthen its influence on the common EU policy. Initially, one of the important activities of the group was the promotion of the Eastern partnership, which was part of the EU policy. The aggravation of migration problems in 2015 forced Visegrad Group to formulate their own agenda. In general, the V-4 approaches to a number of issues do not coincide with the positions promoted by the European Union. There is a desire of the group to declare its interests more loudly, and for the European Union the position of V-4 on the migration agenda has become a certain challenge. The analysis of expert assessments of the group’s development prospects showed a wide range of opinions - from optimistic to pessimistic scenarios: some believe that cooperation within the group will be strengthened, others believe that it is likely to be completely eroded within the EU. A general conclusion is made that, on the one hand, the Visegrad group demonstrates the desire to strengthen its position in the EU and the voice of V-4 sounds more clearly, but, on the other hand, it would be wrong to overestimate the importance of the “Visegrad Fronde†: further strengthening of the independence of the V-4 is prevented by the preservation of internal differences in the group, as well as by the high degree of general dependence of the V-4 member States on the European Union.