Prospects of the Visegrad cooperation – identifying converging and diverging factors

When this research project was launched in the second half of 2012 the world economy faced an uncertain future after the crisis. The financial and economic crisis set back the growth of the world’s most developed countries – among others those in the European Union – and highlighted existing structural problems. At the same time emerging markets such China, India and Brazil enjoyed the benefits of their economic growth. In a globally integrated world economy where economies and societies are intensely shaped by transformative forces, including economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal and technological seismic shifts, no country can decouple itself from global processes, be that development or decline. Global issues are determinative for Central European Visegrad countries Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. This means that the historical and geographical background of these countries are of special importance. The location of Central Europe, at the intersection of the Western and Eastern interests, and the Western orientation and process of catching up to Europe’s developed core area, determine the system of reference. Europe is facing new challenges not only internally but externally as well. There are several old and new issues which at the beginning of the research had not escalated, but which will influence the future development of the EU. These include among others the new chapter of transatlantic relations with the US, especially free trade issues, increasing economic and the rising political influence of China and Russia, security policy issues of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the national policies regarding refugees and emigrants. This book presents the results of research supported by the International Visegrad Fund in an attempt to summarize those political, social and economic challenges that can influence the future of Visegrad cooperation